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Jen the Quiet Vice Captain
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 Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 10:38 pm
Donato listened, unsurprised, to the ensuing silence, then looked at the riddle again. He muttered, mostly to himself, "The first line must be a pun, or it doesn't make sense... 'I'? 'Aye'?" Then, realizing that what he was saying would be unintelligible, he glanced at Faith and Eula. "I mean... the pronoun, or the affirmative... I dunno." But he was shying away from part of the riddle he thought he could understand. Run, run from the opening pit... Well, was there any other pit it could refer to? He sighed, avoiding Faith's eyes. "That bit near the end, about the pit, sounds like it means the quarry." A beat. "I- maybe it would be for the best if we called off the plans for the village." He didn't sound convinced. Too many of his charges were woodlanders orphaned by vermin attacks.
((First: omg this suddenly made me think of Lord of the Rings. Creepy. Second: Okay, I'm just BSing via Donato. I have no idea.))
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:27 am
::Faith's head fell a little, shaking side to side:: Well... for the moment, the village is being dismantled entirely...
And that Radaz himself almost confessed he didn't care about the whole thing, he's just using it as an excuse...
Either way, it doesn't really help...
I guess more than anything... it's a question who this poem's really meant to be for! ::She pointed, at the final stanza's first line:: You... Martin meant this for somebeast, whatever it means, that's something at least, right? ::She turned her head, slowly to Eula::
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Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 3:50 pm
Eula was a little surprised to hear Donato speak up, turning to him as he spoke. He had taken the initiative she'd been unwilling to. She offered him just a small smile, no more with the discouraged young Abbess sitting right there. At the fox's last comment, Eula rolled her eyes idly to the ceiling, shaking her head a bit. "Hmm, perhaps you mean the one Martin told the riddle to?" Eula said dryly. "Well, if I-" Eula was spared finishing that sentence as another creature meandered into Great Hall from a nearby staircase.
"Oh, 'lo there all," Jamie said with a smile, strolling over to the assembly. He saw the table spread with food and drinks and wondered what it was he was missing out on. Eyes straying to the riddle hanging up beside Faith, however, he was able to put it all together.
"Hey Jamie," Eula greeted, nodding at him.
"You lot stay up after dark?" he asked jokingly, though chances were he was entirely serious. Without waiting for an invitation, he pulled out a seat across the table from Eula and Donato and dropped into it, pouring himself some of the cordial Eula had requested earlier. Glancing at Faith, he initiated the conversation. "Think of anythin' new?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:58 am
I can't help thinking- ::And quickly, she was cut off too, with the sudden arrival she swivelled attention to Jamie, making sure to get up and give a quick little curtsy to him arriving::
Normally, no, you wouldn't see me this late. ::She confessed with a small laugh, returning back to place:: A and B to the C of D, I can't afford much sleep with so much work to do...
::She rubbed a little at her face there, but still smiled afterward:: Not much luck yet, but would you be any good at riddles yourself?
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Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:22 pm
Jamie gazed over his cup of cordial at Faith for a few moments, then when the vixen glanced away, he looked at Eula with an "Are you all serious?" expression on his face. Though he'd experienced it a few times before, it still shocked him that this little fox was given so much authority. He took this fact in, and the fact that there was a fox outside of the abbey with a hulking great horde, and that yet here they all sat, looking over a riddle as if it might help them in the slightest. Redwall was so very backwards.
Sliding his sea-green gaze back at the fox, he shook his head slowly. "Oh no no, not at all, sorry. We handle things a little... differently back home," he said carefully, unable to keep the disdain from his response.
It was clear, yet again, that Eula recognized Jamie's tone, but still said nothing of it. Instead, she just watched him as she sat back in her chair, tossing a roll back and forth in her paws. Smirking over at him, she shook her head. "Well, if you're going to butt in and eat our food, you have to help."
Jamie held his arms out a bit, giving a very nonchalant shrug, with a smile at Eula. "Would be more'n pleased t'help, wot. Lessee, what I can tell you is that there's a big horde outside... led by this black fox named Radaz an' he-"
"Thanks, Jamie," Eula cut him off, rolling her eyes, knowing exactly what he was doing.
"Any time," he replied smoothly, shooting her another grin as he cupped his chin in his palm on the table.
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Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:18 pm
Donato nodded silently to Jamie at his entrance, and let Faith answer his question. He frowned, however, when Faith started scrubbing at her face. He sighed quietly; there was no convincing her to get some sleep.
He heard the tone of Jamie's response, and turned from Faith to look at him. His expression darkened, but what could he say? When Jamie offered his "help," however, Donato had to say something. "Look, the four of us can't plan a defense strategy right now. And we've got this riddle, and it was sent to us for a reason, so it's hardly a waste of time to try to figure it out," he said, annoyed.
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Jen the Quiet Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 5:07 pm
Eula turned to Donato when he argued with Jamie. Almost asking him to just let it go, she hesitated, wondering why she would chide Donato and not Jamie. After all, Jamie was the one being a p***k. She was so used to how Jamie acted... how many Long Patrollers acted, in fact, that she never felt the need to call Jamie out on it. It seemed pointless. However, in the same token, she was not used to Donato being confrontational, so it bothered her a little when he threw up a defensive wall, even if Jamie deserved it. Although agreeing with Donato, she understood Jamie's feelings so well that she was reluctant to take a side, and so remained silent on the matter, dropping her gaze to read the riddle on the parchment before her as if it wasn't burned into her memory.
Jamie set his cup down and looked across the table at Donato for a long, quiet moment. "What d'ya mean you CAN'T plan a defense strategy right now?" he asked in a low voice. "Y'really mean to tell me that solving this little riddle here will help you more than findin' a way to protect everyone in the abbey? Terribly sorry, chap, if that seems jus' a little backwards to me."
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 4:39 pm
Wot, ye aven't 'eard the great ole' tales'a Redwall, ye daft-eared lummox? : biggrin ux laughed, hitting her knee, suddenly interrupting Donato and Jamie together:: Ye'd 'ave to be 'ead in the sand, tail uppin' the air wif a crab at yer backside before ye can tell me ye don't know!!
Please. ::The Abbess' voice came with a sudden firm tone that was certainly NOT like the little one, as her brow was furrowed heavily, trying to part anyone else adding to the friction that seemed to be heating up slowly::
There's a reason Turan's in charge of the Abbey's defenses, and I'm just watching over the day-to-day activities... but the riddle is important, Jamie.
As far back as any Redwall records can tell you, whenever the Abbeybeasts have found themselves in danger, Martin-
Martin th' Warrior comes right back from th' mists o' the black forest to warn his Abbey!!!! 'im an' verminsbane, if they wuz 'ere-
Martin's sword IS still with us, obviously... ::Faith laughed, despite herself, making sure to stop Dux before she got a full head of steam going:: That lies with Turan, but in times like this, Redwallers find themselves visited in their dreams by Martin, and the many other spirits of this Abbey.
It's unclear why they can't tell us directly, but, each time, their warnings become riddles, and although there are many we don't understand, in the end, these words of ink and quill hold as much sway as any other blade.
I might not be able to form a defense strategy, but if there's a chance I can do something for my friends and fellow Abbeybeasts, Jamie, I'll certainly do everything I can.
::Faith sat back, seemingly worn out just from that... of course, her own lack of sleep could have accounted much to it as well...::
...But... maybe it is getting too late an hour now... ::They'd hardly been there long... only so long and now Faith was ready to call it quits?::
I'll keep working here, if any of you want to head off, don't worry.
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Jen the Quiet Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:46 pm
Donato looked at Eula with a raised eyebrow when she turned to him. Did she really expect him not to respond? The look only lasted a second before he turned back and met Jamie's eyes for that long, quiet moment. Donato looked away slightly even as he sat up straighter to respond in a terse voice, "I mean we-". He was saved from further elaboration, however, but Dux and Faith. With an effort, he re-adopted his more casual posture and watched the Faith as she spoke.
He was quiet for a second. "If we're going to break this up, why don't you go get some sleep, Faith? Otherwise, I'll stick around."
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:57 am
::Faith just smiled back, as once again she plucked up the quill:: I appreciate your worry, Donato, but if you'd like to stay back and help, then I'm grateful.
: biggrin ux however, stood up, wringing her limbs:: Ehhh... I'm just steppin' on footpaws wi' this 'ere riddle... I'll catch some winks, but anybeast 'ere past the darkest hours is gettin' chased to bed, ye hear?
Goodnight, Dux. ::Faith kept her smile, trying to stop herself from heaving a sigh of relief that she wouldn't be hearing about any more cakes or lies regarding the riddle...::
::And Dux made her way out, then back again, promptly grabbing a mound of food that she stuffed in her tunic, made a quick curtsy of sorts, and then went off like a flash!::
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 2:52 pm
Jamie didn't seem at all humbled by Dux's sudden tirade and name-calling, having decided early on that the eccentric raccoon wasn't much worth his serious consideration. Judging by how the Redwallers acted around her though, it seemed like he was in fairly good company with how he felt toward Dux. All but ignoring the raccoon, he nodded at Faith. Perhaps if the "abbess" was anything other than a foxgirl half his own age, he'd be able to take this whole riddle-solving business even a little seriously. But... there he was.
Glancing around at the others momentarily, he pushed himself away from the table and stood, bowing his head politely at the others. "Well, terribly sorry for interrupting you lot, I wish you all the best o' luck. I think I'll be headed off t'bed though. G'night." Turning away, he left, whistling quietly to himself.
Eula had been quiet for awhile, paws flat on the table as she looked around. Not wishing Jamie a good night, she watched him leave. Placing her chin in her palm, she barely contained a sigh, shaking her head. A little upset and too preoccupied to worry over a riddle, she went ahead and took Faith's invitation to head off.
"I should head off, I have a lot to do tomorrow," she offered up as a lame, if true, excuse. Standing, she turned and lightly brushed her paw over the top of Donato's head. "Don't stay up too late," she said before stooping to set a soft kiss on Donato's cheek. Moving away, she nodded over at Faith. "Good night you two."
Heading out of Great Hall, she walked into the cold darkness of the late autumn. Fiercely mumbling an angry speech she was preparing to unleash on Jamie, she found herself brought up short when she couldn't find the hare anywhere. Apparently Jamie really had gone to bed. Sighing, you couldn't blame him... it was quite late. She would love to go to bed and know she could look forward to a good night's sleep, but lately that hadn't been the case. Deciding that maybe if she walked around enough, she could fall asleep, she walked across the grounds toward the stairs that led to the ramparts.
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:26 pm
Donato nodded vaguely to Dux as she left. He smiled a little at Faith; she wasn't the only one overwhelmed by the raccoon.
"Good night," Donato replied expressionlessly to Jamie. He didn't know why the other hare got so under his skin- well no. He did know, but he didn't like to think about it. The hare made him feel like a coward - no. Wrong again. He felt like a coward already; Jamie just served as a constant reminder. Whatever. Anyway, Jamie's attitude towards the Redwallers' non-martial activities was still irritating, and legitimately so.
Drawn from these thoughts by Eula's excusing herself, Donato both was and wasn't surprised that she had decided to leave. Of course she would want to solve the riddle, but then she really was sick of thinking about it. "Goodnight," he replied, giving her a one-armed hug around her waist. "You too. Get some sleep."
He watched her leave, then turned to Faith. "Well. I'm not sure where to go with this riddle. What's jumping out at you?"
((Hint, hint, Jas. Lol.))
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Jen the Quiet Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:18 am
((Blech, sorry it's taking me so long between replies here >_>))
((But yes, lol, it looks like we had little luck riddle solving x3))
Good night. ::Faith offered in return to the parting hares, waiting until both were gone before looking now to Donato...::
I wouldn't say jumping... maybe more hobbling along... ::She gave her own tired smile as she went ink to parchment once more:: Asides the three letters... and the fact that the riddle could be meant excusively for Eula...
There's not much more we have, except the idea it involves Gem... somehow... ::The vixen frowned a little, and then groaned a little... as much as she would hate to say it out loud, these long hours were getting to her... but it was far better than closing her eyes, far better than seeing that Thing again...::
~~~~~~~~~
::As Eula came to the ramparts, there was one thing strange in the evening, carried in this bitter night, the guard's light was cast... but there only appeared to be one guard on the whole North wall!::
::Usually there were supposed to be two for this job, in case something happened to the first... but where had that other guard went off at this late hour?!::
::Maybe if Turan were here he could have gave a strict word or two about the guard's proper duties, but of course, it was only Eula... with no sign of that second guardmouse::
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Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:58 pm
Eula's mind clearly wasn't on the fact that Radaz was out in the Wood with a large amount of dangerous followers. Her foremost thoughts and reason for her overwhelming frustration were far more personal and considerably more petty. Folding her arms against herself, she stared into the thick darkness. There was no moon, no stars to light the night, only the guards torches on the wall that made the surrounding woodlands even more foreboding. It was cloudy and foggy and cold, the signs of a swiftly approaching winter.
Sighing, she forced herself to calm down and clear her head. She was angry with Jamie, but had been far too nervous to confront him, and so up until now had almost entirely avoided being alone with him. She realized that Jamie didn't annoy her for how condescending he was being as much as she was annoyed by how he made her feel about their efforts. Having been at Redwall for so long, she was used to how things were handled here. But now here was Jamie talking about defense, offense, war strategies, battling... and it all seemed so logical. It all made her loathe sitting about working on a riddle. No matter how much she had connected with Redwall, no matter how many dreams she had concerning the fate of the abbey, she was still a Salamandastron hare, born and raised.
On top of all this, she felt guilty for feeling that way. She couldn't say she didn't want Jamie around. Despite his arrogance, there was still some real good in him... and honestly, he was very fun, but apparently he was determined to not let any of that show to Donato.
Donato... who she'd just abandoned and left to work on a riddle that was really her own responsibility. Groaning and rubbing her eyes with the heels of her hands, she resolved to fix these problems - whatever that entailed - tomorrow. She would try to sleep tonight. Pushing away from the ramparts, she glanced down the wall and it was only at the point that she realized anything was wrong.
Taking another glance up and down, she sighed and angrily shook her head. Didn't these guards understand what they were up against? Well, if Turan wasn't here to take care of it, she certainly had enough authority to do so herself. Striding up to the one guardmouse on duty. "Well hello there. How are you this evening? Care to tell me where the other guard-on-duty is? I know you're not the only one that should be up here."
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:17 pm
::The guard mouse didn't turn to face Eula, the torch light slightly obscuring him as he kept staring out into the wood...::
Well, I couldn't tell you rightly... ::Came a familiar voice that could have sent chills up Eula's spine, and raise the hackles of fur on her neck...:: ...But I'd think he's taken a bit of a headache...
::It was only then, that the pole propping up the mouse slipped, and his head fell backwards, the neck entirely cut open but a flap of skin and fur that let it hinge and fall backwards, dead eyes staring up at her, reflecting the figure behind her::
::Suddenly, Ublaz's black furred paws were around her, and a metal pressed against her neck, as cold as the night around them, and as sharp as the fox's tongue, as he leaned in slowly aside her face to view, the red eyes, the maddened expression, the prized fangs:: Hello there, poppet...
Now... I'm not going to tell you to be quiet or I kill you... ::He hissed as he pressed the blade against her throat just a little more, almost nipping at the skin as he stood there::
Oh no, by the fang no... ::He laughed cordially, before returning to his dark and hideous whisper:: No... I want you to scream for me... very, very loudly...
::He held her tight, almost to the point his arm around her waist was squeezing her chest into her lungs, and the blade held just as closely!!!::
::There were too many questions, like how the fox had managed to get in undetected and slay the guards, or how he'd stayed out of Eula's senses... had he used this late hour as a time when their senses dulled to make his move!?::
::He had came out like the beast that haunted her dreams... but this wasn't one of Eula's nightmares, there was no waking up from this, wherever Radaz had found his way in, he had... and now... what DID he want of her, to be quiet, or to raise an alarm?!::
::What did he expect of her? More importantly, what would she do?::
((Gah, I feel out of practise with this fox, gonna need to get in his head again, lol))
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