05:39 PM

Halyard Tavern: Main Room
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Halyard Tavern ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Warmly lit by torches along the walls and lanterns set upon the many tables
scattered around the room, the main room of the Halyard Tavern is an often-
populated area. One corner of the tavern is taken up by a stage, about a
foot or two higher than the rest of the floor, where live entertainment
performs, while circular tables, both large and small, are set up in front
of the stage, spreading out into the center of the room. Meanwhile, around
the perimeter of the tavern, booths are set, and, of course, the obligatory
bar rests against the far wall, a bartender or barmaid always on duty.
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                                Visible Exits:
[O]ut to [E]ntrance

Sitting at the furthest part away from the stage, Jarril lifts a mug up to take a small sip while his head is wrapped up in white bandages.

Brom walks through the door, hat tucked under his arm as he scratches at the top of his head. Making his way to the bar he orders and pays for a mug of ale then looks around as he waits. Spotting Jarril he nods, "G'Mornin' mate."

Jarril gives a reply back, refusing to nod his head at this time.  "Good Morning ta ya."  He goes and takes another sip of his ale.

Brom nods a thanks to the bartender as his mug arrives. He picks up the mug and goes over to Jarril, "Mind if I join you?"

Jarril looks at the otter and nods.  "Sure, no one else is sitting at this table, wot."

Brom smiles and takes a seat, placing his hat on an empty table next to them. "Feelin' better I hope?" The otter asks, taking a drink from him mug afterwards.

Jarril gives one of his whiskers a flick as his nose twitches before replying. "Got a splitting headache but aye, feeling better than er..  Exactly how did I get here by the way?"

Brom scratches at his jaw as he says, "You got carried here with the rest of the wounded. A big hare had you, not sure of his name though. Think I heard Keita call him Ox something."

Jarril raises a brow and nods slowly, then winces a bit from doing such an action.  "Ah, Ox, aye I know him."  The hare frowns.  "Didn't think he was about, but it's to be expected..."

Brom chuckles and says, "Better be careful with that noggin mate. Looks like it had a nice cut yesterday."

Jarril shrugs.  "Oh it's been knocked about a bit, comes with the job, doncha know.  Can't get away from it, anything could happen."  Ending the sentence with a smile.  "Besides from what happened I think I rather have a headache than.."  The hare moves a claw across his neck.  "I think that's what this weasel had in mind when it crept up on me yesterday."

Brom smiles and nods, "Aye, I'd say that would have been worse." He takes a sip from his mug then sets it down, "I'm Brom Stormalong."

Jarril nods.  "Jarril."  He goes quiet again and then gives a grin.  "I won't give the full name, I know how some others that aren't hares roll their eyes on hearing it."  The hare takes another swig from his tankard.

Brom grins at that and says, "I'm sure I'm thankful for that then." Taking his mug back up he takes a swig. "So what's the story? All the one healer hare said was that there was a battle."

Jarril sighs slightly and places his tankard down on the table.  "Routine patrol, new major.  Got ta give them the most experience as soon as they get into rank.  I was there for ya know, experience and all.  Wasn't looking for the vermin horde that has settled in the area but I think our luck just like, went and drifted away."  Giving a frown.  "I allowed the new major ta go and make a decision, should've stepped in and all but we thought we could take them..."  He goes quiet.  "Apparantely we couldn't."

Brom listens to all of this and nods at the end. "Well I'm sorry to hear that. At least some of your hares managed to get away then. So this vermin horde, do they go by the name of Blood Thirsters?"

Jarril nods his head, which comes with another frown.  "Aye, that they are known."  The hare goes quiet in thought.  "Didn't meet up with their leader though, bit hard when he's ta scared ta come out and play with all his bodyguards about him."

Brom hms a bit and scratches at his chin. At Jarril's second statement he smiles and chuckles a little, "Typical of vermin leaders. Lead from behind seems to be their style."

Jarril doesn't reply at first but after a few moments he answers.  "I don't know, I had a clash with Daclon before but he's er."  The major goes quiet for another moment and takes a sip of his ale.  "Honourable."  He coughs and looks away for a moment towards the bar.

Brom arches a brow at that, "Honorable? That's not exactly typical."

Jarril replies back.  "I know but me and him had a fight once when they had this whole place under their control.  It was fencing and he didn't bally well tried ta cheat once.  In fact, he stopped any of his lot from getting involved.  Which makes it more confusing as ta how he actually works...."

Brom arches a brow, "Well I'll be a barnacle. That definitely isn't what you'd expect." He takes a drink from his mug as he ponders on that. "Sounds like he's not your typical brick headed horde leader then. His horde must be getting pretty small though now I would imagine after getting booted from this place."

Jarril shakes his head.  "You'd think that but I think he's coping alright.  He's got brains and he's using them properly ta keep that horde of his as well.  Hence we ended up getting a bit over our bally necks yesterday.  We were outnumbered by four or six ta one and we only had about a score or two in our patrol as well."  He pauses for a moment.  "Speaking of which, how's the security on this place?  Still in place I hope?"

Brom nods and says, "Aye, from what I can tell anyway. I just arrived here four days ago so I don't know much about this place."

Jarril hmms.  "Oh, so where ya from?"

Brom takes a drink and says "The sea." Smiling a little.

Jarril grins.  "Oh, always from the sea then?"

Brom chuckles and nods. "I was born aboard the ship that my parents sailed on and grew up on it, so I always like to say I'm from the sea."

Jarril nods.  "Ah I see, so what made ya come back ta land then?"  Taking a sip from his tankard.

Brom frowns a bit, "Well I was captain of the SSS Starfire but the Silver Star has dissipated a bit so they no longer were able to fun the ship. And my own funds ran out so when the crew isn't getting fed, they tend to leave. My ship's docked up in Fraterin now."

Jarril hmms.  "Not looked about for a new crew?"  The major pondering something and coughs.  "Well, ya never know who may want a ship for hire."

Brom shrugs and says, "Well its not really fair to ask a crew to sail with you for little food and no pay. So I'm here hopin' to find some sort of job to earns some coins." At the second part he raises a brow, "You have any beast in mind?"

Jarril ponders.  "Don't know, have ta talk about it ta someone else.  Mind ya, should pop over ta the mountain sometime, got a few non hares living there so ya never know."  He smiles.  "Never hurts ta ask politely."

Brom hms and scratches at his chin. "Interesting. Well maybe I'll try that. Although I hear that there are a number of jobs available here, includin' mention of an empty sheriffs office."

Jarril hmms.  "Well, ya could do that job but ya be in the front line no doubt against the vermin in these parts now.  Could tie ya down for I don't know, build a port here and bring the ship up for fishing.  Get someone else ta sell the fish or something."  He gives a slight wink.  "I mean, there's a whole big mountain not far from here that eats like anything so don't think ya run out of business."

Brom chuckles, "Well the Starfire isn't exactly a fishing schooner. She's a warship. You remember the BlackShackel horde out of Marshank that was stirring up trouble a number of seasons back?"

Jarril headtilts for a moment.  "Name doesn't ring a bell, do remember a lot of sea corsairs here a few seasons back that their leader took my eye though..."

Brom nods, "Well this horde out of Marshank had attacked Fraterin coming in from the sea. The Starfire and an old Red Lightning ship were called in to help out. The Starfire took out half of the vermin fleet itself including their flagship. I'm not sure if I could see her turned into a fishing ship."

Jarril checks his tankard, blinks and finishes the last of it before he speaks, placing it down on the table.  "Not many things that are peaceful end up as tools of war either.  It depends on the path that you wish ta take and what ya own ta use as tools ta accomplish it."  He frowns though on that one and coughs.  "Sorry, starting ta sound like my old pa."

Brom chuckles and shrugs, "Eh, it's alright mate." He then takes a drink from his mug. "But anyway, I do like your idea of getting a port built out here. Not to many ports this far south for ships."

Jarril hmmphs slightly.  "Be a big job that though, lot of beasts will be needed for that but what as the situation is around here at the moment, don't think it be safe ta make one.  Be too big a temptation for them."  Frowning, the hare gets up and winces.   "Be right back, think I have enough for one more drink at least."  He slowly makes his way over to the bar.

A great brown eagle suddenly bursts through the door, flapping and squaking.

Brom nods as the hare heads off then looks to the bird as he enters, paw going down to the hilt of one of his scimitars. He arches a brow at the bird but relaxes.

Jarril doesn't flinch, back to whoever came into the bar as he makes his order and slips a coin out before placing it on the bar itself.  "Another of the fine ale ya have here."

Keerahyh looks at Jarril and says, "You Long 'troll hare!?"

Brom relaxes a bit and moves his paw from his scimitar back to his mug to finish off the remainder of his ale.

Jarril blinks, sighing slightly before turning around to face the bird.  "What of it?"

Keerahyh takes a scroll out of his beak,a dn pushes it to the hare. "Missidje frim abee! Beastmadeslave!"

Keerahyh drops Scroll.

Jarril rolls his eyes and goes to slowly pick up the scroll but looks in pain from doing so.  Looking at it he nods and gives it a look.

A neatly written scroll: Long Patrol-A redwaller ha sbeen taken slave to an evil plac enear you. Nova Hall, on what to you would be the far side of the mountains of the plains. I fear if nothing happens similar events will follow. Please help. Sincerely, Furgo T. Sprucetail-Novice of Redwall Abbey

Brom sets down the mug and looks to the scroll that the bird takes out. Standing up he makes his way to Jarril, trying to read the scroll.

Jarril frowning he shakes his head.  "I ain't ready or prepared for such a long journey and even so.."  He hands the scroll to Brum before turning his head to the hawk.  "We have a problem here ourselves right now, getting there would take a while.  I can't make that decision though, ya have to send that message on ta someone higher up than me at the mountain itself."

You room-page, "Sorry, I don't do the zoom off to another part of the world and back in a day thing :)  But yeah, it's a slight issue with IC events in the area right now.  Not sure the LP would touch it but it's not up to me ICly anyways."

Keerahyh room-pages, "Yeah. I guessed. It's simply that Icly Keerahyh heard there were hares in halyard, and it was closer than the mountain, so he checked halyard first.".

Keerahyh takes the scroll in his beak, and flies out with a screech.

Brom takes the scroll and reads over it, frowning a bit before rolling it back up and holding it out to the hawk.

Jarril hmmphs slightly.  "Be a big job that though, lot of beasts will be needed for that but what as the situation is around here at the moment, don't think it be safe ta make one.  Be too big a temptation for them."  Frowning, the hare gets up and winces.   "Be right back, think I have enough for one more drink at least."  He slowly makes his way over to the bar. *repose*

Brom chuckles and nods, taking his mug and gulping down the remainder of his ale. "Aye, that's true enough. Would be hard to keep the port safe too from any other vermin that would care to come and wreck it or something, this town's too small to offer it much protection." He then scratches at his chins some more, "Still, I know a good deal of sailors that wouldn't mind some sort of port near here."

Jarril nods to the bartender and slowly makes his way back to where his seat is.  Gently settling himself down, he nods.  "Well, there was an idea I had a few seasons back on getting the long patrol their own boat."  He blows some of the froth off the top of his ale and sips it.  "Why have corsairs run away ta the safety of their boat.  Only problem, hare's aren't that much good at being on water."

Brom smirks and says, "You want a ship mate, not a boat." He then hms. "Aye, they haven't exactly been the greatest shipmates from my experience hanging on the railing all the time. Still, a few hares I've met have had the right stuff."

Jarril ponders.  "I wouldn't know.  Not been on a ship ta find out.  Had no need ta though.  Not that there isn't something I need ta do but it's an impossible task anyways."  He stops and blinks with his eye.  "Sorry, thinking ta myself again, besides probably dead or killed the way they live by now anyways, even if I knew who it was."

Brom nods, "Aye, probably. When the Starfire was still sailing these seas, we never saw many other ships at all, let alone vermin corsairs."

Jarril grins.  "Probably frightened them all away.  Just need ta do the same for the land vermin and maybe I can retire."

Brom smirks and nods, "Aye but then the next generation of vermin grows up and starts the cycle up again."

Jarril hmmphs.  "Would help if some of them were brought up properly from the start, wouldn't be a problem then."  The hare gulps some ale down, the look of pain on his face disappearing as time goes on.

Brom nods once again, "Aye, true enough mate. Doubt that will ever happen though."

Jarril blinks.  "Oh I don't know, there have been rumours of one or two in the past...  Not sure if ya can bally well believe them though."

Brom shrugs, "I wouldn't tend to believe them myself, but still, there's always an exception to a rule."

Jarril blinks.  "No, I am sure I read something about one in the old logs back at the mountain."  The hare frowns before shaking his head.  "It was a very old log, in the old writing I think, got help from another hare who understood it.  One gave his life for a woodlander, that's all I can remember, though it was a season or two ago that I read such a report."

Brom hms, "Well that's interestin'." He then leans back in his chair so only two legs are on the ground. "So how long do you and your hares plan on staying here before heading back to your mountain?"

Jarril ponders.  "When I get the word that I can travel safely enough and defend myself in case of runing into trouble on the way back.  Don't think I be able ta withstand a bump on the head at the moment, never mind a club.  It's really up ta the healah's ta decide on that one."

Brom nods. "That's makes sense. You don't think the horde will try and retake the town here do you?"

Jarril shakes his head.  "To tell ya the truth, I haven't a clue.  But er, don't think any followed us but my mind wasn't up ta the mark on checking on that one.  I haven't a clue on how Daclon will react ta what happened yesterday, it's mostly his move now but I have a feeling we won't wait long for a response either."

Brom hms, "Lovely. Looks like I've walked into a bit of an excited area." He smiles, "At least it'll keep my mind off of being land locked. Haven't been on land this long since I was with the Knights of Valor."

Jarril nods.  "I would keep an weapon on ya at all times if it is possible, not a safe place ta be here, want that.  Go head off ta the abbey or something, I think trouble just moves about these days."

Brom smirks and pats his scimitars, "I've been in trouble plenty of times Jarril. I can handle myself. Anyway, at least here I'm near the ocean, and I might be able to be of some help here anyhow."

Jarril grins.  "Didn't think ya like being more inland, doesn't have that nice smell of salt in the air."

Brom grins and nods, "Aye, you've got that right mate. Too quiet inland too without bein' able to hear the surf either."

Jarril chuckles.  "I remember being inland once on duty at the abbey during the summer.  Didn't like it one bit, too hot and dry, no real breeze.  Was hard ta keep an eye out for enemies then, couldn't get a scent at all."  The hare frowns.  "Don't like thick undergrowth warfare either, it's anyone's game ta get killed without seeing it coming."

Brom chuckles, "And here I thought Long Patrol hares were game for any environment."

Jarril hmmphs, wriggling his ears.  "Most yes, but I am a northern mountain hare, I like the cold and the sea breeze from up there."

Brom chuckles and ahhs, "I see. Good enough excuse I suppose."

Jarril nods while taking a drink of his ale.  "Aye, thought so myself, wot."

Brom grins and glances about, "So how old is this town anyway? I don't remember it always being here when I sailed these waters."

Jarril ponders.  "Not that old, I think it was built a few seasons ago.  We were trying ta get a few more living in the area.  Gets a bit lonely when ya on ya own in a mountain and nothing else is about for nearly a season walk away."

Brom nods, "Aye, I'm sure the hares don't mind being able to go somewhere when they have some leave."

Jarril blinks.  "Leave?  Well, yeah but mostly we're on duty all the time, every day with a few off time though but it's a fact of life for us ta be on duty.  I just can't seem ta stay on duty without being injured these days."  The hare points to his eye.  "Majah disadvantage in fighting, wot.  Going ta be the end of me I know."

Brom chuckles, "Yeah, fighting will do that to a beast." He then hms, "I'm suprised with all of the hares you have in that mountain though that you don't get a day or two off every once and a while though."

Jarril ponders.  "We probably do but I've been known ta work myself ta exhaustion, much ta the annoyance of some of the healahs."  He coughs and swigs some of his ale.

Brom smirks and nods, "Aye I would imagine so." He then signs and says, "Well I think I'm going to take a walk around town" setting his chair back down on all fours and collecting his hat. "It was good meeting you Jarril."

Jarril nods.  "Same.  See ya around if I haven't been given the word ta leave."