Molehills to Mountains - Making a King in Mossflower

Game Master Orthos

Kizzirark sighs as the eccentric mouse is add to the team, but doesn't complain. He doesn't really like how he keeps referring to himself as us, but believing he won't like the answer, he decides not to ask.

"Many times a smaller group can do a better job than a whole patrol," Kizzirark says, starting to count on his paw, "ambushes, scouting, murder, infiltration." The way he talks, there is a hint that he had taken part on each of these.

"I'm not at all sure that what we think is going on is the same thing as you think is going on. Please tell us what you think is going on and what you think we were sent to do. In excruciating detail please. Its easier and better if you assume we know NOTHING, that way we'll be sure to know EVERYTHING. Please and thank you"

"It’s easier and better if you assume we know NOTHING, that way we'll be sure to know EVERYTHING."

“I couldn’t agree more!”

Dahlia bows with respect to Oleg. "Well met, goodmouse. I thank you for your hospitality, and for my part, in return, I would be happy to help you and your wife with any chores or other work you may deem proper. I am sorry that we do not know of what exactly you are speaking, but may I venture a guess that it has something to do with the siege engine on your roof?" She draws her sword and points with it. "Do you expect some kind of trouble?"

”Siege engine?” The other mouse squints hard at the sky. ”We’ve never sieged anyone.”

Oleg looks at each of the speakers in turn, blinking as the conversation bounces back and forth among the strangers, before suddenly something seems to click in his head. The gruff mouse's ears flatten back, his whiskers bristle, his eyes widen, and his nostrils flare as he takes a deep breath in... then flings his hammer at the ground and begins ranting in rapid-fire near-shouting, stomping his feet and flailing his arms in impotent rage.

"Con-flabbin'-gast-it-all! Dun-stubbin'-sonovagrub! Shoot-foundin'-woodfire!!"

This continues for almost a full minute, with Oleg mangling his curses and confounding his expletives around each other in multiple new and inventive ways, stomping down the patchy grass and stirring up loose dirt in the tradepost's floor before, at last, kicking his hammer and yelping as he comes out the worse for that exchange; this, in turn, kicks off another string of scrambled oaths and befuddled epithets.

After the first round of such noise, a second striped mouse - this one in a green tunic over a pale cream dress, with a matching green scarf tied around her head and ears - comes bustling out of one of the other nearby buildings, seemingly in response to the sudden uproar. Seeing Oleg dancing about and swearing, though, she simply sighs and sort of slumps in place, before shaking her head and making her way past the raging rodent and approaching the party directly.

"I'm dreadfully sorry you had to see all this," she says, raising her voice just enough to be heard over Oleg's tantrum. "I'm Svetlana, Oleg's wife. I only caught a little bit of what's got him all riled up again... so, I'll do what I can to explain."

She brushes out her skirts nervously as she tries to continue while her husband rants in the background. "We've been living out here for only a few moons now, ever since Redwall started working on the plans for further exploration of the Deep Green. Oleg's always been the sort to prefer to be a little more away from other mice, y'see, so when the Abbot was looking for someone to clean up this old outpost and turn it into a waystation and tradepost, we jumped at the chance."

"Right before winter started, though... well...." Svetlana trails off a bit, wringing her paws awkwardly, not meeting any of the visitors' eyes. "Right before winter, we got some visitors who weren't just peddlers or trackers, our usual passers-through. These folk were... well, they were rats, let's just have it out. A bunch of river rats, ten I think, led by this terror of a stoat. They 'laid down the law', such as it was - made it clear things would be horribly unpleasant for us if we didn't do as they asked. They'd burn down the waystation, to start, and said they'd haul us off and ... well, I'll not repeat the horrible things they promised to do once we got wherever we'd be headed."

By this point Svetlana is shaking, crumpling up her dress in her paws as she fidgets nervously in place, her tail clinging tightly around her left ankle. "They said the only way to keep ourselves and our home here all well was to hand over everything. Every trade, every find, every gift we received, everything except just enough food to get us through that day. Everything else went into sacks and barrels and disappeared into the Green. They've been back thrice since, always arrive at the same time each month - dawn the morning right after the second night of the full moon, though thankfully that horrible stoat hasn't come back since the first, instead sending a rat with a distinctive hood that I think is her right-paw man. They're always in a hurry to gather up their 'taxes' and leave, so I think their hideaway is a bit of a trek into the Green, maybe a day or two's journey."

Before she can continue, Oleg - his fit of anger apparently mostly exhausted - cuts in, having meandered his way back over and put an arm gently but firmly around his trembling mousemaid. "The bastards threatened to take m' hands that first time, and that stoat pulled Lana's weddin' ring right off her finger, near took the finger with it in the process," he practically snarls as he continues the tale. "Said it were 'payment for not shortenin' me reach', she did. But aye, she ain't come back the next few times. And they been sendin' fewer and fewer o' their filthy rat-bandits each time - last time they only had five of 'em, plus th' hooded one. Thinkin' they think we ain't gonna make trouble so ain't sparin' the effort."

He takes a deep breath and shakes his head. "Sorry 'bout earlier, ain't yer fault. I sent word t' Redwall some two moons ago, when we knew this weren't gonna be just a one-time visit, askin' for some proper guards from the Long Patrol what could be spared t' hop their way out here an' give us a proper fightin' force t' keep th' bandits at bay. We heard a few days back that one was finally on th' way, then the lad here -" he nods toward Bertram "- showed up an' said more folks'd be here before the full moon. I 'ssumed you all were th' help I'd asked for, but it's clear that ain't the case."

"They'll be here tomorrow," Svetlana resumes, picking up the speech once more, now that she seems to have calmed a bit. "First thing at dawn. Everything's packed and ready for them to take. But... you're all capable-looking woodlanders, and Redwall wouldn't have sent you out here if you weren't able to deal with a few bandits and rats. I know it's a lot to ask, especially as you've just arrived, but... I'm certain we can find some way to make it worth your while, if asking you to help us out of the goodness of your hearts is too much."

She finally meets the group's gazes, expression pleading. Oleg in turn drops his, looking shamed and defeated. The two huddle together, surrounded by the Redwallers, looking every bit the small and defenseless merchant couple in need of heroic aid.

Bertie’s smile never falters during Oleg’s tirade. What was one more screaming voice when his head was frequently full of them? The mousemaid’s explanation and plea does garner a reaction. He frowns as he listens, then nods to his left, speaking to the empty space. ”Good question.”

He turns back to the mousemaid, ”Wuh… I would like to help. Three questions: Do these ruffians come into the fort to take your goods? Can the gate be closed and barred? And…” he points to the wrong tower, ”Does that siege engine work?”

"They come with a wagon, pulled by a big beetle," she explains. "First time they brought it inside, but all the other times they just bring it up to the door and make us haul it out while they watch."

"Gate closes just fine," Oleg confirms. "Crossbeam's there on the left. Usually only bother when the bigger beasties come by - most'll usually sniff around, figure there's no way inside the 'box', an' move on."

Both follow Bertram's pointing, but Svetlana gently points toward the correct tower instead. "That old catapult? I think it works. We've never had to use it... and honestly I don't know if we would know how."

"It can't be that hard," Oleg scoffs. "Just throw summat in the bowl part an' pull the stick, right?" He grunts and looks to the group. "I hauled some rocks up there last autumn jus' after we arrived, figured we could use it t' scare hawks off. Haven't had a chance t' give it a try."

"I'm very sorry that this has happened to you, Master Oleg and Madam Svetlana. The rest of us have just come from Redwall, dispatched by the Abbott himself, and we heard no mention of soldiers heading this way, nor even of your troubles. It's possible that the Abbey never received your message.

"However, you have done an admirable job restoring this site, and we are here now. Let's see..."

Rowan lifts his staff and points various features of the outpost. "This place has got sturdy walls, sound buildings inside those walls, a functioning barricade, and even a catapult! And these rats come tomorrow, you say?

"No disrespect to High Seer Zjeva, but I'm doing some fortune-telling of my own: I see an ambush on the morrow!"

“I fully agree, Rowan, as such I volunteer to draw the enemy’s attention while the rest of you catch them with their trousers down - so the saying goes.”

Squakowk draws his sword and points it in the air.

“My good man and lady, rest assured we will deal with these miscreants. For I, Squakowk Igbert Delrany Esquire, hereby pledge to aid you in your hour of need until my last dying breath!”

Bertram enthusiastically taps his cane on the ground at the bird’s zeal. ”Well said! But… uh… you are a bird with a sword and they are rats… expecting mice. You might make them leery. But a blind and clueless mouse could draw such bullies in easier, eh? I’m no warrior but I can be good bait.”

"Yes, we'll definitely defeat these rats!. Ok, so driving them off is no good. We have to ambush them, destroy all the ones who come tomorrow, and then track them back to their lair and destroy the others. Otherwise, they'll just come back in a week or so. And I think we have to kill them since we have no way of dealing with captives"

Tawny pauses for a minute, quite surprised at how bloodthirsty he seems to be. But it just feels right somehow. Something in him just relishes the thought of fighting and, yes, KILLING the rats. Very un rabbit like thoughts.

"I suggest that we let the wagon approach but nobody comes out to greet it. With any luck, one or two of them will go inside to see what is going on. We then hit the ones inside AND outside by surprise. How does that sound for a cunning plan?"

At first, Dahlia hesitates for a moment-- her natural inclination to immediately pledge her sword in defense of the innocent tempered somewhat by her being mindful of their mission. She is not sure if her companions will be as willing to leap to Oleg and Svetlana's aid. Then Bertram and Rowan and Squawkowk and Tawneystripe all respond positively, and Dahlia feels reassured. "Of course, master mouse, we are now engaged in your cause. My good right arm is yours for the duration. If we can divide the enemy and catch them unawares, all to the good!" She frowns slightly as the cat seems to advocate for (and even relish) killing the creatures, and she privately hopes that they can avoid wanton murder, though she recognizes that taking captives will be difficult. She thinks, This is the frontier, I suppose, and perhaps there are different rules out here in the Green. Still, they are people, with thoughts and dreams like us, and slaughtering them mislikes me.

Bertram seems buttressed by the team’s resolve. ”I think I can draw some - or most - of them in. If the rest of you are hiding inside and out… once they come for me, you can slam the gate and deal with them. You will need patience... they may get rough with me.”

”Master Oleg, do you have pulleys and rope?”

Here’s what I’m thinking. We pile the ‘taxes’ across the courtyard in front of the building, far from the gate. Bertram will be at the pile when the baddies arrive. He’ll explain that Svetlana is ill and Oleg has gone to find medicinal herbs for her, leaving clueless Bertram to pay the ‘taxmen’. I’ll lure them in. Svetlana will be hiding somewhere and Oleg may be on the tower with the catapult. That’s a variable we need to discuss. Anyhow, when the trap is set, the rest of you guys pop out and we deal with the baddies.

The catapult : If it is currently aimed away from the gate, it might be suspicious to turn it. But, if it works (and Oleg has pulleys and rope) we could use it another way. We crank it to fire and string ropes from it to the gates so that when it fires, it pulls the rope to slam the gates shut. That’s all very speculative but I figured I’d throw the idea out there. The danger with this idea is our inside people and outside people won’t be able to assist each other.

Thoughts? Amendments? Anyone got a better idea?

Here’s what I’m thinking. We pile the ‘taxes’ across the courtyard in front of the building, far from the gate. Bertram will be at the pile when the baddies arrive. He’ll explain that Svetlana is ill and Oleg has gone to find medicinal herbs for her, leaving clueless Bertram to pay the ‘taxmen’. I’ll lure them in. Svetlana will be hiding somewhere and Oleg may be on the tower with the catapult. That’s a variable we need to discuss. Anyhow, when the trap is set, the rest of you guys pop out and we deal with the baddies.

The catapult : If it is currently aimed away from the gate, it might be suspicious to turn it. But, if it works (and Oleg has pulleys and rope) we could use it another way. We crank it to fire and string ropes from it to the gates so that when it fires, it pulls the rope to slam the gates shut. That’s all very speculative but I figured I’d throw the idea out there. The danger with this idea is our inside people and outside people won’t be able to assist each other.

Thoughts? Amendments? Anyone got a better idea?

I love it, Squakowk may be a nobleman prepared to die, but he has ancestry of an interesting nature.

Kizzirark is nonplussed by Oleg's outburst as it was nothing compared to the bloodwrath. Nothing at all.

"I will help," he says at last, "but we'll discuss our payment this evening." Already anticipating some backlash from the goody two paws he found himself bound to, he adds to Oleg. "Nice words and good gestures are for weddings and occasionally friends."

"You want a job well done you hire. If you are good at what you do, you charge for it. That is how deals are done, a spit on the paw and a handshake, eye in the eye, no promises or vows, just good business."

Turning to the madmouse, he adds. "I like the plan. I'm too large to be sneaking around, but you lock them inside with me... I'll get rid of them if they do not do so with me first." To Dahlia, he adds. "This is why they sent me."

"If you want to join me in the business, so be it, but you better give me some room... and remember, animals become beasts when trapped."

"Aye, I ain't gonna ask you to lay your tails on the line for nothin'," Oleg replies, meeting the badger's eyes with a firm nod. "Y'all got a solid set o' heads on ya, sounds like a good plan t' me."

"It seems we'll be having guests tonight," Svetlana adds. "I'll get started - no sense sending you all to a brawl on empty stomachs and no beds." Without another word the mousemaid bustles off to busy herself with her tasks.

Having been at the fort for a couple of days, Bertram is familiar with the layout. He considers if there are any good hiding spots for the large badger.

GM, is there any place Kizz could hide, something with double-doors, or maybe just a wide enough space between buildings so he could remain unonbserved until the action starts?

Also, guys, we'll need to figure out who is inside the fort and who is outside. Bertie has to be on the inside as the bait.

Dahlia nods to Kizzirark, a bit nervously but also with a healthy respect for his abilities. "If we are dividing our forces between inside and outside the gate, perhaps Squawkowk and I should remain without and try to surround the creatures who stay with the beetle?" She frowns pensively. "We might want to have some sort of signal to open the gate again if there is a need," she adds.

"Ideally, I'd like to find a spot where I can look into both fights and inspire the participants in both fights.

You'll find that you do quite a bit better when I sing."

"And they better not call it caterwailing, damn it"

Dahlia nods to Kizzirark, a bit nervously but also with a healthy respect for his abilities. "If we are dividing our forces between inside and outside the gate, perhaps Squawkowk and I should remain without and try to surround the creatures who stay with the beetle?" She frowns pensively. "We might want to have some sort of signal to open the gate again if there is a need," she adds.

“Good idea, Dahlia, I will take the right flank and you can take the left flank. Tawnystripe may have to be the one who gives the signal.”

Is the gate one or two doors that swing to the side, or is it like a portcullis that is lowered up and down?

Are there even any hiding places outside the walls of the fort? I'd hate for one of us to be spotted before the bandits take the bait.

Having been at the fort for a couple of days, Bertram is familiar with the layout. He considers if there are any good hiding spots for the large badger.

GM, is there any place Kizz could hide, something with double-doors, or maybe just a wide enough space between buildings so he could remain unonbserved until the action starts?

Also, guys, we'll need to figure out who is inside the fort and who is outside. Bertie has to be on the inside as the bait.

There's a large barn-type storage building with big double doors Kiz could fit in. He could also just hide behind any of the buildings, they're all large enough to accommodate him.

Is the gate one or two doors that swing to the side, or is it like a portcullis that is lowered up and down?

Are there even any hiding places outside the walls of the fort? I'd hate for one of us to be spotted before the bandits take the bait.

It's a single section of the wall that raises up and down like a drawbridge, just without anything to be a bridge over.

The tradepost is a bit away from the treeline, so there's no immediate hiding spots outside the walls.

Rowan starts talking about the ambush like it's a problem to be solved instead of preparation for a life or death situation.

"There's no place to hide outside the walls, so we'll need to be inside. If we split them up by closing the wall with some bandits inside and some outside, we risk the ones outside fleeing, maybe getting reinforcements, and us not being able to get to them. I don't see much value in that.

"To me, it makes sense to lure them all inside, and then interpose ourselves between them and doorway so they can't escape while we take them down. Master Oleg and Madam Svetlana should stay out of sight the entire time."

The madmouse considers the fort's layout. "There is room for everyone to hide inside. If they don't all come, then some of you must be ready to get them."

"Sounds like a plan. Lets draw as many as possible inside. Kizzarark, are you willing to lead the group that rushes outside? I think we'll need you there"

"I'm no squad leader," Kizzirark almost barks in response. Not anymore. Never again. "We badgers are infamous for our bloodwrath, Tawnystripe, ye are a storyteller, ye know for sure."

"But I was banished to the North for mine... so no, you do not want me to lead you into battle. You put me somewhere, point me to my enemy and, more important, get away from me." Kizzirark was no hero and the sooner he could make his companions understand it, the better for them.

"Won't need to tell us twice," Svetlana replies, and leads those of the group looking to the tradepost's larder, where the cart of "taxes" has been prepared for the arrival of the bandits on the morrow. It's generally what any of them would have expected from a small borderlands trading post: gathered seeds, plants, and lumber, foraged building materials, supplies, food and wine, and of course money, all arranged and orderly. It's clear they've had the time to get used to their unfortunate lot in life, and have streamlined the process to be ready to get the bandits in and out as swiftly as possible. There's barely enough not in the wagon to get them through the next few days after paying their "taxes", unless a fortunately-timed trader happens to come by to restore their stock.

"This is the whole of it. They like us to have it out and waiting when they arrive, they shuffle it into their wagon and head off. The first few times they made us do it, but they eventually decided we were too slow and take care of the work themselves, thank the ancestors for small favors."

Oleg likewise has no immediate complaints, though he does raise one contradiction. "So just double-checkin'. Do y'want me hidin' in the inn with Lana, or y'want me up on the catapult? I'm a flexible mouse, but even I can't be in two places at once." He chuckles a bit at his own joke.

Once you're all satisfied with your plan, we'll jump to morning - the night will be on its own fairly uneventful, unless one or more of you has Plans!

Bertie scratches at his ear. ”If we can’t risk closing the gate, you won’t need to be on the catapult, Oleg. You should hide as well. Umm… have you ever had to fix a wagon wheel? For this to work best, we’ll need to break yours.”

Basic Plan: We make it look like the cart broke right by the building, away from the gate. We ‘disorganize’ the taxes in it. That’s where Bertie meets the baddies and tries to draw them in. Then the team jumps out and we have a proper donnybrook. :) Everyone good with that?

Bertie has no plans for the evening so I’m good with fast-forwarding as desired.

"I think you are going in the wrong direction with this ruse. I've been in a fair number of ambushes. On both sides of it. Ambushes that were good and that were bad." Kizz chimes in.

"Ambushes go wrong when the target sees something makes no sense." He points to Oleg and Svetlana. "These folks have an agreement with the bandits, a routine, and they've been promised violence if they do not do so."

"Say I'm the bandit, I come here and see the wheel broken, but I do not see the couple here to explain and beg for their lives, I'd say this smells bad." He shakes his head. "I come here and don't see one of them, I think they are dead or gone. If they dead, this loot is a trap. If they gone, they'd have taken the stuff with them."

"Best ambush is changing nothing and having the couple present, but that is risky for them." The badger reaches for his flask and takes a big gulp. "Next best thing is when you force your target to act fast, no time to think."

"How about." Before he continues, he raises his eyebrows. "Here me out, I'm not well studied as ye folks, but I know more than my share of bandits ne'er-do-wells, outlaws and other scum. How about Tawnystripe and Rowan rough up their outfits and pretend to be bandits by the cart, talking aloud how lucky they are for finding this stuff here?"

"Say I'm the bandit, I come here and see two smart asses trying to take what is mine. Just two. Have to deal with them. I bring my mates, have them cover the exits and overwhelm the f!#&ers."

Alternative Plan: Two of us pretend to be bandits to hopefully have then overcommit and rush it. Then others jump them.

Tawny turns to Kizzark.

"I like that plan! And it would make sense if when we see a whole bunch of them we run away inside, drawing them in? Right? So, as soon as they see us we basically run away?"

"Hope they don't have bows."

“I have no qualms about stalking the area ahead all by myself, I can easily pose as a wealthy merchant, an ideal target for bandits.”

Tawny turns to Kizzark.

"I like that plan! And it would make sense if when we see a whole bunch of them we run away inside, drawing them in? Right? So, as soon as they see us we basically run away?"

"When folks run, they run to safety. If you do, they will think you have backup." Another gulp. A little burp. "You need to hold your ground at least until they all enter the outpost."

Since Bertram had a point, Kizzirark adds. "If you see bows, you use the cart as cover. We decide on a signal. When they are in place we jump them."

Tawny turns to Kizzirark

"Now I'm confused. If we're outside and hold our ground then they'll just get to fight us first and then fight you when you come out. How does that draw them in so we can ambush them? And how the heck do the two of us survive if we're holding our ground for awhile before you lot come out? I'm hoping that there is something that I'm not understanding"

"You and the cart with the stuff will be inside the outpost, but in the open. Gate is down. The rest of us hiding inside the buildings." He points as he explains. "You hold your ground just long enough for all of'em to cross the gate."

Dahlia nods, following the badger's strategy. "The rest of us lie in wait somewhere just inside the gate, and when we see that they are engaging Bertram and Tawnystripe, we charge?"

Gets to a hiding spot that he feels is just right for him.

“I’m already in position for a trial run, since the bandits won’t come until the dawn.”

Is there a map of the layout, or can we just assume there's plenty of appropriate buildings to hide in where we can block their exit when we reveal ourselves?

Any plans that Rowan may be thinking of are just variations of the plans already being discussed, so he lets the others talk until the group decides on which course of action to take. Then he volunteers for a spot to hide that is likely to get him into action quickly.

Is there a map of the layout, or can we just assume there's plenty of appropriate buildings to hide in where we can block their exit when we reveal ourselves?

Here's a map! The entrance is the south, the barn/storehouse is the western building, the northeastern building is Oleg and Svetlana's home, the north-central building is a larger-sized badger room, and the southeastern building is mouse/etc.-sized rooms.

Tawny goes to the spot just to the West of the cart (alongside the building). That way he has a clear path west to run away (I'm assuming that the space between the building and the outer ramparts thing is wide enough for a cat to get through)

If there are any ground floor entrances to those towers, Rowan will hide in the tower on the southwest corner of the map. If not, he'll hide around the corner of the southwest building, out of sight from the gate.

Either way, he'll have to hoof it to get between the bandits and the gate so that they can't escape.

Squakowk is currently in southeastern building, eating some jellied eels.

“Don’t worry, I’ll not let any of it stain!”

Bertie will be hiding in the southeastern 'bunkhouse' building by the door nearest to the open square. If Dahlia plans to attack from there as well, I'll be her door-opener.

Will be waiting on the Badger-sized room. The current plan has Tawny and Rowan as the "bandits", no?

Bertie will be hiding in the southeastern 'bunkhouse' building by the door nearest to the open square. If Dahlia plans to attack from there as well, I'll be her door-opener.

That's fine with me, although we might not even need to be inside the building once we hear the bandits are drawing near. Might be wise for one of us to hide on the eastern side of the mouse-building and run to the gate to close it once the bandits are inside. Dahlia is willing to do that, or someone else if we want her to attack instead.

So, shall we hold position ready for the morning, or are we able to get some proper rest before hand?

Will be waiting on the Badger-sized room. The current plan has Tawny and Rowan as the "bandits", no?

Oops, I missed that this is the plan we were going with. I thought it was just one option, but not decided. That's fine. As long as we're moving forward. Disregard my previous post.

But they won't help him look like a destitute bandit, so he puts them away for this charade.

The morning of the bandits' expected arrival, Rowan follows Tawnystripe's lead. The cat seemed like they were better skilled at acting than the magus.

Dahlia is curious about the hedgehog's scarves, and asks him about them while they all prepare. "That is good thinking. Are all hedgehogs as clever as you?" she laughs.

When they settle down for the night, Dahlia counsels that they sleep in separate buildings, just in case anything unexpected happens in the night. She wakes early in the morning, nervous about their first battle, and spends some time walking the inside of the keep, to familiarize herself with the terrain. She murmurs her thoughts to calm herself, sounding almost like a prayer in the crisp, still air.

Noticing the colourful scarfs Rowan has, for the first time, Squakowk briefly speaks to Dahlia.

”How are you finding the multicoloured scarf I gave you? I honestly think it suits you!”

As he settles down for the night, Squakowk remembers the High Seer’s words as he looks at his sword before falling into a dreamless sleep.