07:07 PM

The Swamplands
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This part of the swamp is slightly different from the normal expanse of brown mud and green algae coated pools. There is a solid lump of rocky ground rising up from the swamp here, tangled shrubs and stunted twisted trees perched precariously on the rocky ground.

There is also a low single story building here, built out of the rock and roofed in slate tiles with a single tall chimney poking up out of the roof to one side. It is quite an inviting looking house with large windows and a heavy front door.

There appear to be only two safe passages off of this lump of rocky ground, one of them snakes away towards the dunes you can see in west and another path snakes off into the depths of the swamp slick with mud and slime.

You can see that it would be treacherous to leave the path, the swamp seems unstable around this rocky lump, bubbling and releasing noxious gases from time to time a truly unpleasant location and not one most beasts would care to linger in.
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Exits: {S}wamp {H}ouse, {W}est out of the swamps, {E}ast

Another day, another patrol out and about searching the area for anything.  Hot and muggy is the area in the swamps, where most of the hares are being eaten from all the bugs flying about.  Major Jarril flicks an ear as he feels another of them biting again and mutters.  "Flipping little things, leave me alone..."  Stopping the patrol he looks about, having a word with another hare who nods, moving ahead a bit to scout as he swats at another bug.  "Alright, the sooner we search this area the better."  Muttering under his breath.  "Not that we find anything like the other patrah's.."

Quinten seems to be one of those lucky ones who does not seem to be bothered by the bugs too much. His ears are flicking back and forth before his eyes to keep the flies away from his head and looks around. Listening to the Major he comes to a halt and looks down at his legs, stood knee deep in the thick muck of the swamp he lifts one paw and shakes it for a moment and then looks across the Major. "What is the search plan sah?"

Jarril replies back.  "Same as the others, any sign of the vermin and our captives.  I'm beginning ta suspect that they've left the area, we've searched pratically everywhere now."  The hare gives a frown.  "If we don't get any luck soon..."  He stops and looks about.  "Well, we can't search forever without anything ta go on."  He moves a paw and motions the patrol to move forwards again.

Quinten shifts his pack so it sits more balanced on his back and slogs forwards again, keeping his eyes peeled and looking around the swamps. He moves to march just behind Jarril and peers ahead. "I hate these swamps sah....fer me own reasons but there are some rocks that way I think, if i remember correctly." He points ahead and to the right a ways. "I stopped to rest near em before i found the beach."

Jarril gives a chuckle on Quinten's words.  "Aye but ya a private now and ya on full patrah duty which means getting the dirty jobs as well as fighting heroically saving the mountain.  Can't have all the good things as well."  He looks in the direction that Quinten has shown and nods.  "Alright, we head that way and stop for a bite ta eat."  Those words give off sighs of relieve from the patrol who haven't eaten since well, since they left the mountain.

Tranbuck trots up with Quinten and Jarril. 'Sah, I think we're bein' watches by some verminy-type creatures.' He says quietly to Jarril, left paw on sabre hilt.

Quinten smiles softlyu and nods his head, "Like being a Recruit sah, just i get to go outside nad do the dirty jobs. Reason i dislike these swamps is cause i lost me..." he pauses and eyes Tranbuck and looks around warily at the dull expanse of the swamp. "Aye don't see nought." he murmurs.

'Ovah to yer lef', be'ind the bush there. Doncha see?' Tranbuck whispers to Quinten.

Jarril coming to a stop, Jarril looks in the direction that the others have pointed out and slowly moves his paw to get hold of his bow.  Speaking quietly he frowns.  "Well, don't look in that direction, keep moving forwards.  And keep quiet..."

Quinten carries on walking along steadily eyes ahead and fixed on the rocks far ahead. A figure moves out from between the rocks. Wearing a long robe with the hood back revealing a very ancient looking mouse. It pauses in surprise when it sees the hares and starts towards them.

Tranbuck sees the mouse emerge from the rocks, but Tran's greeting is cut short as an arrow thuds into a tree a fraction of a centimetre over one of the patroller's heads.

Jarril removes his paw from his bow and replaces the grip onto his blade weapon as he calls out to the old mouse in front of him.  "'ello!  I thought no one lived in this area?"  Coming up to where the mouse is he stops and bows his head.  "Pardon me but ya haven't seen any vermin in this region.  We're searching for them at the moment."

Tranbuck sees the mouse emerge from the rocks but Tran's greeting is cut short as he trips over a root sticking out of the ground, propelling him into a large puddle of... something.

Quinten smiles and comes to a halt near the Major removing his paw from his sabre hilt and nodding the mouse. The mouse is still picking his way across the mud towards the hares and waves back, "Ahhh tis gud tae see some beasts, as been awhile indeed, Aye'm Dofran ye knoo an i live in a house just a short way back."

Jarril turns his head to where Quinten is and speaks.  "Hmmm, not as quiet as I first thought."  Turning his head around as two other hares help Tranbuck up back onto his feet the major nods his head at the mouse.  "Aye, we haven't been in this part for a while.  I take it ya not been having problems with toads then?"

Tranbuck looks over himself after getting helped out of the swamp. 'Blimey...' He says, covered as he is in mud. He draws a paw asross his eyes to clear them and looks at the mouse as if he had just seen him for the first time. ''Ello, chap. 'Ow c'n ya stand livin' in this confounded place?'

The mouse smiles as he comes to a halt before Jarril and bows, "No, the toads are much farther in, they rarely come this far out ye knoo?" he looks over the privates and smiles softly. "Such a strong bunch of hares ye are ta look at..tis good tae see ye are still oot thar looking after us."

Jarril coughs slightly.  "Erm, quite.  So have ya seen anyone else pass through here?  Vermin per chance?"

The mouse looks back at the Major and chuckles, "Oh...vermin? Well there was that stoat ooooh last Autumn ye knoo? he used me huouse for awhile then vamooshed deeper inta tha swamps...oooh that was the last one i saw yes?"

Tranbuck frowns slightly as he is being ignored. Of course, he didn't hear Jarril's first question to the mouse, occupied as he was.

Quinten sidles up next to Tranbuck and offers him his waterflask, "Ere...wash yer face down Tran."

The answer sort of gives back a frown from Jarril as he shakes his head.  "Ah, excuse me, we're sort of looking for some."  Turning his head back to where Tranbuck is.  "Er, could we possibly head back ta ya home so he can get cleaned up?"

The mouse smiles and nods his head, "Oh yis....of course me dearies...come along chucks is this way?" He starts to head off across the swamp, holding his robe up high to keep it out of the muck, which leaves him almost up to his waist in the thicj mud. "Kin get you all out of tha flies an this heat..."

Tranbuck takes the flask from Quinten thankfully. 'Thanks, Quint.'

Quinten nods to Tranbuck and smiles, "Yer welcome, aye had tae live in this swamp for over a season, i know how horrible this muck is."

Jarril sighs with relief as he motions the patrol to head forwards at the old mouse's pace.  THe major coming up alongside the mouse as he nods his head.  "Thank ya, so ya lived here all of ya life then?  Just wondering where ya learnt ta be a brother?"

The mouse smiles at Jarril and shakes his head, "Och no, twas a Brother of tha order of Dumas oop north, washed oop ashore oooh seasons back. Me an Brother Torata, may ee rest in peace...lived ere fer seasons noow ye knoo? Got a lovely liddle place just over yonder rocks ye knoo:"

Tranbuck waggles a paw in one of his ears to clean it out, then pours water over his head and tries to wipe some of the rapidly drying mud off.

Jarril hmms slightly.  "Ah, not heard of any passing mice from up north.  Came from there myself, nevah really had the accent of course.  My parents kept the accent from the mountain.  How long ago was it that ya first arrived?"  The hare looking to where the rocks are in front of him.

The mouse walks up onto the rocks outside the house and looks back at the Major, "Och...twas long back ye knoo? Aye dinnae know tha exact seasons...don't keep tha records aboot ere ya knoo? Coom on in now all of ye?" he points towards the house, "Tis not much but tis ome an safe? We patched it oop when we found it." He looks over the privates an chuckles, "There is a pool of clear water over yon rocks ye kin use em tae wash up if ye like?"

Jarril nods his head and looks at where Quinten is.  "Help him clean up, we can share what vittles we have with our host."  Turning his head around to where the mouse is.  "If ya hungry that is?"

Tranbuck smiles fondly at the mouse. 'Thanks.' He then walks off to where the said pool is.

The mouse has already wandered into his house, humming to himself and chattering quietly to Torata by the sound sof it. Quinten salutes the Major and movs off to help Tran chuckling sofly. "Boy i am glad i couldn't see meself when i lived in these swamps."

Doesn't enter for a moment and then does, some of the others follows leaving Tranbuck to get cleaned with help from Quinten.

Tranbuck removes his rucksack and tunic and lowers himself into the cool water. He tries to rub the mud off but it's /very/ hard to clean. 'Rrrrgh!'

The Swamp House

This is the main room of the swamp house, it is a well maintained residence, a wide clear wooden floor with not a single chink in it, Opposite you a large fire place is set into the wall. It is made of curved granite with more then enough space inside to cook and heat food and water.

The wall on the left is bare undressed stone holding up the ceiling, there are no windows and just a row of metal hooks and eyes protruding from the wall, the right wall has a large window set in it, looking south across the swamp/dune border the area is set aside for cooking, preparation for journeys and a row of cupboards and trunks line the wall full of all the supplies and stocks a beast could need for a long journey.

The area in the centre of the room is filled with a huge pile of thick comfortable cushions for beasts to sleep and relax on. they surround the fire place in a semi-cricle so beasts can enjoy the warmth and not get in the way of anyone working or using the fire itself.
Exits: [H]idden [D]oor, [O]ut

Quinten nods and heads into the house lookign back at Tran and winking, "Key to not falling over in this swamp? Feel everything first before setting ye footpaw down." He then opens the door and peers inside. The mouse has sat down in the pile of cushions and fur, all of it ragged and well used looking. He's humming to himself and stirring a large pot over the fire

Jarril has already settled down someplace in the room and looks to where the others have settled down.  Looking at Quinten and Tranbuck enter he turns his head back to the mouse.  "Well, since ya do live on ya own, we be sure ta send a few more patrah's this way and keep an eye on ya for ya own safety, wot."

A damp Tranbuck Walks in and seats himself down near the rest of the hares, hoping that the fire will dry him off.

The mouse smiles at Jarril and nods his head, "Oh of course...guests... twould sure be noice ta see soom other beast from time tae time yis? Tis noice ta be oot ere on me own ye knnoo?"

Jarril nods his head.  "Oh we wouldn't be a bother, we just be keeping an eye out for anyone that shouldn't be in the area that's all."  The hare knowing all about some beasts wanting to live on their own.  "We very much appreciate letting us stay for a short while anyways."

The mouse waves a paw and peers into the pot, "arrr tis good indeed ta ave visitors an ye hares are a nice bunch ah always eard. Now wot ye got ta go in me pot? We got crab an we got some mellowgrass from tha swamp..."

Jarril hmms and looks at where Quinten is.  "Well, ya the one carrying the supplies.  What have we got ta go in there."  Turning to the mouse.  "We usually carry bread or pasties but we may have some carrots or potatoes though."

Quinten chuckling Quinten delves into his bag and nods, "We got a brocoli an some carrots Major.." he glances at the older buck and chuckles. "Is there some un-written rule that means the youngest private gets all tha supplies?" He holds out the vegetables and the mouse takes them, producing a rusty old knife to start to slice them into his pot.

Jarril looks at Quinten.  "Ya new, so aye there is.  Ya end up looking at someone else when they get ta be where ya are."  Looking at the old mouse now, the major speaks.  "So what can ya tell me about the goings on around here, if anything?"

Quinten chuckles softly and offers the mouse his dagger, he takes it and smiles, "Thank ye lad...tis kind of ye." He starts slicing the food quicker and blinks at Jarril. "Happens? aboot ere? Noothing..got me an tha mud...some crabs every now an then. Whoe bunch of otter chaps came up from tha south few days back, going north."

Jarril nods and looks at Quinten.  "There's something ya ordered ta do, think ya up ta the important task I am going ta hand ya, lad?"

Quinten eyes Jarril and flicks his ears back, "Aye think i kin handle it Major...unless ye want me to go do something impossible." The mouse has gone back to stirring his pot murmurring to himself as the mixture bubbles away.

Jarril nods his head.  "Our cook, forgot all about the otters heading up here again.  He's been through a lot, think ya can take him there.  See if he likes being with his own kind for a while.  Help with the recovery."  The major frowns on that.  "Ya know, after what happened?"

Quinten nods his head and salutes, "Orf course Major...aye'll see ta it as soon as we git back ta the mountain. am sure they'll all be pleased ta see him. I hear every clan an crew is up there doin there thing." The mouse looks up and smiles, "Ok stew is ready hares.....everone erm...grab a spoon i guess...i don't really have any bowls."

Pulling his bowl out, Jarril smiles.  "We always come prepared."  The major gets up and pads over to where the pot is and looks into it.  "Right-o lads, lets be civil about this and leave some for our host, er, wot."  The major gets his fill and moves back to where he was sitting again, nodding his head of thanks to the mouse.

The patrol move up to fill their bowls, leaving Quint to fill his last and then the mouse sticks his grey furred head in the pot and seems to be lapping up his fill. Until Quinten nudges him and offers him a spoon. The elderly mouse stares at it for a moment and smiles. "Oh a spoon...well jist look at tha." He smiles at Jarril and chuckles. "So...wot ye all doin in tha swamps anyhow?"

Jarril pausing in his eating, Jarril swallows his fill and simply gives a answer.  "Oh we're searching for something, like vermin and other things.  Besides these lands are ours, best ta patrah them from time ta time."

The mouse frowns and scratches his ears, "Aye wasna aware tha ye hares owned tha land? Aye thought twas fer anyone ye know? Ta live on...don't owe ye any dues or tithes do aye?"

Jarril shakes his head.  "No, we're not like that.  As long as anyone lives peacefully it's all fine ta us."  The major looks at the food in his bowl.  "It's those that don't that should be worried.  Best not ta wake us up really..."

The mouse smiles and puts his spoon down, having eaten his fill, leaving the rest to bubble away until he gets hungry again. "Och thar is good tae knoo? anyway as aye said only vermin aye've seen tis tha stoat last autumn an a frog or toad ere or thar...though those otter pirates might count...ne'er did unnerstan all tha arrring an mateying."

Jarril chuckles.  "Its they're way of speaking..."  Another hare mutters something in between mouthfuls.  "It's those moles ya should be worried about, sure they talk code, can't tell what they're saying half the time."

Quinten laughs softly at the talk about moles and whaps his companion with his empty bowl. "It is the sparrows you got to watch out for, at least moles still speak out language wot?" The mouse chuckles and dithers around near the Major. "So....how much longer you all gonna be in the swamps?"

Jarril replies.  "Until we find something we're looking for, I think we have more patrah's happening.  Someone woke the sleeping giant so ta speak.  All I can say is that we be back ta check up at any given time.  I'm not allowed ta say anymore on the matter."  The hare changes the subject.  "This is quite good food though, thank ya for sharing it with us."

The mouse smiles and nods, "Well thar is nice...aye kin usually be foond jist ootside ye know? Or in ere cooking or talking ta Torata...may he rest in peace."

Jarril nods quietly without saying anything at all.  Looking at the others he finishes what he has eaten and nods.   "Well, we best get on with it, can't sit here all day and all."  Getting up he nods his head again.  "Thank ya for ya hospitality."  Turning to the others.  "I think we head back, no need ta rile up the toads right about now."  The major knowing they haven't the numbers for that.

Quinten nods and stands up, packing away all the supplies and equipment and slinging his pack back onto his back. "Ok Major...i'll wash up and take Skip up ta tha Hullaballoo when we get back." The monk waves a paw and smiles, "All do take care"

Jarril nods his head as he looks at the mouse.  "Aye, we always do, ya take care as well.  The lands around here aren't exactly that safe at the moment.  We check on ya more since ya live on ya own.  I would see if ya can get someone younger ta stay with ya, just in case."  Nodding for the patrol to head out he stops at the door, heading out last and nods.  "Thanks again."  Moving outside the hares voice is heard.  "Alright, in formation, aye, ya can scout ahead..."  The voices as well as paw sounds fade into the distance.