(open for hares): Search for a Sword Doctor

[blackfox7]

The strong, tall ferret had been traveling for seasons over plains, mountains, woodlands and dunes that reared into the sky. He had reached the western shores five days ago, setting off north along the ocean's edge. The leiutenant was not doubtful about where his path would lead him: He had forded the Great South Stream two days ago. He was on the right track.

Now the white-masked ferret could see a looming shape up ahead, partially masked by the haze and spume from the sea's spray. It could only be one place in all the world: Salamandastron!

The ferret's free paw absentmindedly touched the black scabbard hanging from a strap about his shoulders fondly. Inside was a famed claymore, the symbol of freedom from tyranny in his homeland, the Grandblade... Though it was hardly "grand" anymore. It had been a blade used for battle for over 30 years, and its once keen edge was dull. The ferret's eyes dropped sadly as he remembered how it used to shine in any light; a beacon of hope for oppressed creatures in the Southeast Kingdom. He found himself caught up in memories of his son, and how he must be dealing with being King. True, it had been his son's choice, but he was a father after all, and there was always that nagging doubt.

He shook it off for now. The ferret tightened his grip on his long lance, looking to its serrated blade as if for guidance. He was closing in on the mountain, so much so that he could see tiny figures lolloping around on the many vegetated terraces higher on the mountainside. Hares, he wagered, many hares. By the size of this place there might be 500 of them. It was not so much the hares he was worried about; hares were common in the open lands of his home, and though they were naturals at combat they had always been loyal to their King.

It was the Badger Lord he thought most dangerous. He could be afflicted by Bloodwrath, or maybe he had those wild views that all of some races were evil and all of others were good. The ferret knew the world did not work that way: there was no solid black line between good and bad. The badgers of his homeland would have been wise to learn this, but alas, they didn't. That was why the prospect of a badger in charge shook his nerve so.

Now the mountain towered over him. The ferret lieutenant turned abruptly to face the main entrance, with his scarred back to the sea. He straightened his lance and stood in straight military fashion, unafraid of any retaliation from the hares within. Turning his head to face a window slit, he barked out a greeting in a booming voice.

"Harken masters of Salamandastron! I am Lieutenant Cullen Stalanji the Grandblade from the Southeast Kingdom, requesting counsel with your Badger Lord! Be not alarmed, for I come here in peace!"

[Tausend Awyth]

Tausend moved around his forge, straightening up the clutter. He'd been busy for the last week forging and fixing the newest recruit's various weapons. It seemed that the least experienced hares had a tendency to break or dull their weapons fastest.

Going to his cache of varied weaponry, he ignored his broadsword, instead taking a longbow with a quiver of arrows. Heading through the maze of corridors, he met Sergeant Seasand, who was leaning out a small window.

"What's so interesting, sergeant?" He asked the pale hare.

" 'Tis a great big ferrit, sah, 'e's standin' oot front and yellin' ta beat th' band. Lootenant o' the Southeast Kingdom, comes in peace, wants council wi' th' badger lord, all that." The northern hare replied, moving aside for her lord to look out the window.

"Huh." Tausend bent his head, squinting out into the bright sunlight. "Invite him in, why don't you, Seasand?"

~~~

The great oak doors in the side of the mountain opened, releasing one hare, who promptly loped down the sandy slope towards the ferret. "Lootenant Cullen Stalanji?" She asked, stopping a few feet from the oddly colored creature.

[Kal Skirata]

Colonel Sev Longshot watched from above. He had watched the ferret for some time, and saw the hare go out to meet the ferret. Withdrawing from the window, he buckled on his quiver and slung his bow over his shoulder and started off for Lord Tausend's forge room. Sev had a feeling that he would like to know about the strange ferret. Almost to the forge room, he suddenly spotted Lord Tausend in the hallway. "Sah! Ferret on the beach below, asking to meet with you." he said

[blackfox7]

The white-masked ferret nodded slightly.
"This is he," he replied, and eyed the hare silently for a beat,"Be most gracious and most truthful; is this the Salamandastron of legend?" As he spoke Cullen's eyes were drawn to the open doorway and the shadows within

[Tausend Awyth]

"Sah! Ferret on the beach below, asking to meet with you."

Tausend straightened from the bent form he had taken to look out the window. “Yes, thank you, Colonel, I have sent Sergeant Seasand out to bring him in. Would you like to join us?” He led the way down hallway towards a room he had turned into a library. Settling into large chair by the fireplace, he awaited the ferret’s arrival.

~~~

"This is he," he replied, and eyed the hare silently for a beat, “Be most gracious and most truthful; is this the Salamadastron of legend?"

Seasand nodded curtly at his answer to her query. He went on, and the Northern hare was momentarily surprised at his question, but recovered quickly.

“Yes, sah, ‘tis Salamandastroon, home o’ th’ fighting hares and o’ the badgerlord, who guard these shores an’ th’ surroundin’ country.”

She lifted an inviting paw towards the mountain, “Lord Tausend invites ye inside, seein’ as ye were so eager earlier. An’ I wager still be.” She said, following his line of sight.

“Coom now.” She turned and led the way at a trot into the mountain and to the badgerlord’s library.

“Sah!” She stopped at the door and saluted, both to the badger and the hare, who out-ranked her. “Lootenant Cullen Stalanji, o’ th’ Southeast Kingdom, sah!” she stood at attention.

[Kal Skirata]

Sev appraised the ferret. He looked to be very strong and able to hold his own in a grand old scrap. His sword needs a bit of attention though Sev thought to himself, his own polished hand-and-a-half sword shining in the light. Sev returned the salute and said "At ease, Sergeant." speaking to the ferret he said "I am Colonel Longshot of the Long Patrol. This is Lord Tausend, the ruler of this mountain."