Mouse Guard - Rescue at the Isle of Andros

[Totally Guy]

Gwendolyn paced back and forth in her map room. The candles were growing dim having seen a full winter of use. Their distinctive aroma was as all Lockhaven candles, the city's bees produced wax of unsurpassed quality.

"Shorestone... My loyal Guard Mice, you are needed in Shorestone."

Gwendolyn looked across the four faces before her. She looked concerned more than worried, she was keeping up her matriarchal aura.

"Before winter we delivered a criminal of Copperwood, Keamy Leafpin, to the isle of Andros just off the coast. He was giving us information on his criminal accomplices in exchange for being kept safe and in the open. There had been a threat made against him, his criminal compatriot's want him dead."

Gwendolyn sighed. A slushy lump of half melted snow fell past the window from the roof with a splatter sound outside.

"It's been a full winter and I have heard no word from the patrol that were supervising him. Sylvia Twiggum, Garret the Hermit and young Harvey Tuck were supervising him but I fear that his Copperwood gang may be involved. The authorities of Shorestone might have also discovered what we were doing. The mayor was not fully informed of why the guard was present."

The room seemed heavy as if Gwendolyn was looking into each mouse's qualities and silently judging them all.

"Once you get there two of you should investigate the Isle of Andros to find the patrol I've heard no word from and ensure the criminal is still detained there. The other pair should take the town, make sure the situation there does not threaten the group on the island, there is a lighthouse beacon that could allow you to communicate coded signals to the island but expect resistance."

The Matriarch pulled Barwick to one side;

"Barwick, Garret is very old now. I gave him this mission because it was very similar to how he likes to live anyway. I'd like for him to stop risking his life for us after this mission. If the opportunity should arise please help him to fully consider his options. I do not want to be the death of him if I haven't been already..."

We'll resolve this scene and then skip on to Shorestone.

[UserClone]

Blanche looks up dewy-eyed at Barwick, waiting for her Mentor's instructions.

[dsmiles]

Gurney casts nervously appraising glances at each of his patrol-mates, in turn, hoping no one notices.

[Fri]

An old and fat mouse listens to the briefing carefully, his head nods almost in rhyme with the flickering candles. Most people only thought of Barwick Leafbottom as an old jolly mouse who jokes and endlessly tell unbelievable stories at the tavern, but experienced members of the guard knows that you become an old guard because you survive. Gwendolyn obviously knows that she could depend on him.

"Thank you for your trust on us, Matriarch." he politely nods, before continuing.

"But Old Garret? I thought he's already retired." Barwick scratches his snout. "But that just sounds like him. I'll try to talk some sense to this old mentor of mine, although you know how many times we must have tried to do so. About the mission, this lack of news is disturbing indeed. Although first, may I know why is this prisoner sounds so important? And why didn't we ask for help from Shorestone's authority or told them the reason for the guard's presence, my lady? They could be helpful"

[Totally Guy]

"We kept the mayor of Shorestone out of the loop as there was rumour that he had been taking coin from the same Copperwood gang. As for Keamy... his squeaking on his former gang has made him a lot of enemies, in the autumn he was very useful to us. Spending winter on the island was a compromise we made in the absence of a truly safe cell for him. Although he's no longer of value to us we make good on our promises and respect life. That is what we are and that makes us powerful."

[dsmiles]

"And this Keamy rat may squeak on the mayor too, given the right incentives. Maybe we can get the information out of him, while we're there," Gurney thinks.

[Fri]

"I understand. Hmm... This might turn into something complicated.'" Barwick pinches his chin as he thinks. "We'll deal with it, my lady."

He then looks around to the team that had been assembled for this mission. All young mice, eager to prove themselves. He smiles. "Before we leave this room, any of you have a question for the matriarch?"

[dsmiles]

"I do, Sir," Gurney states with perhaps just a bit too much conviction in his voice.

Turning towards the Matriarch, Gurney asks, "My Lady, is there any indication that this...gang," he almost growls the word, as criminals are the worst type of predators (and we know how Gurney loathes predators), "is indeed bribing the Mayor? If so, should we resolve the situation quietly, or bring these...criminals to justice properly?" It's fairly clear from Gurney's tone that he's hoping for the latter option.

[UserClone]

"And Madam Matriarch, how do you want the prisoner dealt with when we find the lost patrol? Surely he is to be protected in accordance with the previous agreement?"

[Totally Guy]

"You are not the only patrol involved. There are guards already in Copperwood conducting the investigation and still following up the information Keamy gave us in the fall. We are quite simply unsure of Mayor Mallowick's involvement. Shorestone does not have a formal prison house so his laxness in dealing with known bandits in his town may be attributable to that."

Gwendolyn turned from Gurney and addressed young Blanche, these two mice seemed like two sides of the same coin.

"Keamy is to be treated with caution but basic dignity. His co-operation has earned him a cell in Shaleburrow away from those who would harm him."

"Now onward my guard, to Shorestone."

[Fri]

"At once."

Just after they got outside of the Matriarch, room, everyone can almost see Barwick sagging down in real time and turning into the jolly old mouse that they all know. He then grins. "Quite an experience, isn't it? I know you haven't had that many official mission briefing yet, hoho. I'm proud of you guys."

He then pinches his chin as he thinks again. "So... what do you think about this mission? According to the briefing, we should split this group into two. One to investigate the city, and one to investigate the island. Do you have any preferences?" He smiles. He could just appoint the team, but you need to give responsibilities to the younger members of the guard so they can grow.

[dsmiles]

Looking back and forth between Barwick and his mentor, Kira, Gurney says, "If nobody objects, I'd like to go into Shorestone proper."

[Partysan]

Kira looks back for a moment, then shrugs.
We might as well. Scouting missions are rather frequent, so a bit of town politics might be a good experience for you, and I trust that those two are more than capable of finding the lost patrol.
She makes an overly fast turn over to Barwick, but then speaks on calmly.
As a veteran, the last word yours. But as long as nobody else has a preference I don't see why we shouldn't do it this way. It's as good as the other way round.
Again she turns and gives a nod to Gurney. In any case you should pack. We meet in an hour.

[UserClone]

"That's fine by me, Barwick. My first concern is that the Guard fulfill its end of Keamy's bargain, and that we see to the safety of him and the lost patrol."

[dsmiles]

"Kira, I'd like to check in with the guards conducting the investigation once we arrive in Shorestone. If we have the opportunity, that is. I feel like they should have wrapped it up by now, they've had all winter, after all.

Also, we should work our some sort of code to use in our communication with the other team. After all, we do have the lighthouse in Shorestone."

[Fri]

"That's settled then. You and Gurney should handle the town, and Me and Blanche should handle the island. It's been a while since your last scouting, isn't it? I hope it hasn't rusted yet. Alright, we should pack and leave in an hour." Barwick playfully pats his young apprentice's back.

"But before that... code eh? Well... that would work. Alright, let's make some quick code I guess."


(I guess we're set to shorestone then. So... how do we handle this code. Are we going to pretend that we made some code for situations like 'all safe' or 'need backup' ? Or are we going to use some sort of mouse morse code? And how will we handle it? Use rolls? Or just assume that we can understand each other but other mice won't?)

[Totally Guy]

The mice travelled as a patrol up to the coast where they found the old lighthouse. It was a little way out of Shorestone itself to serve as a warning, "Don't go this way. Approach from the south." But a small, light boat would not dip down too far below the water level. For just a patrol, and one that did not wish to draw attention it was the perfect crossing point.

Arctic rain had been falling and barely helping to melt the slush upon the ground left from the winter.

How would Barwick and Blanche cross to the island?

A boatcrafter test would do it. Multiuse and suitable for a patrol, which is what it'll have to be for a rescue mission. Ob 5 don't you think? You could try swimming but that's going to be very tough and it'll also require a heath test for being so cold too.

The lighthouse itself was locked up. It had not been used since the Autumn. Bird faeces now coated the west side of the structure. How would Kira and Gurney ever get inside?

You could climb up to the window where the light and observation deck is kept up at the top. You could go into town and use Circles to find the lighthouse keeper.

[dsmiles]

"Kira, I might be able to climb it, but I don't think it would be right. I think we should look for the keeper, I'm sure he'll let us in, if we ask nice enough."

[Partysan]

Kira nods approvingly.
It's good to think of all possibilities, but we have to visit town anyway, and I doubt that us breaking in will motivate others to cooperate. We will go ask the keeper. If he refuses we can still climb in, and then we'll have a first suspect to follow.
She wraps her coat around her and starts walking down the path. And maybe we'll find some roof to crawl under. I hate this rain.

[Fri]

"Oh boy. Yeah, should've thought about it back then." Barwick says as he faces the body of water. "I guess borrowing a boat from the village is out of the question eh?"

He then looks at the vegetation around them. "Hm. Shouldn't be that hard. Trees float by their own already after all, right?"

[Totally Guy]

Barwick and Blanche gathered materials for a small boat with which to rescue any stranded mice on the island.

After a little thought the pair had crafted a boat out of a stump and some bark. For ballast they tied a rock to a branch to ensure that that point would always be the lowest point in the water.

The boat dipped quite low. The ballast appeared to be working. The boat was stable.

But what they had not realised was that the length of the ballast was too long for shallowness of the rocks. The lighthouse was proof of something sinister in the water here.

As the mice paddled the ballast bumped into something under the water that felt like a rock.

With a thud and a scrape the meanest turtle in the pool was awakened from his hibernation. He did not take rude awakenings kindly and decided to take violent action against whatever had roused him.

Conflict goal: I will tip the mice into the water and devour any edibles I can shake from them.

[dsmiles]

Gurney, with some help from Kira, scours the town of Shorestone high and low for the crotchety lighthouse keeper.

[Totally Guy]

After asking around at the Fox and Grapes pub Gurney was pointed in the direction of the berry sellers stand where somebody had seen him. He was told the old mouse was called Gregor.

At the fruit stand the merchant directed him to the Beehive tavern.

In the Beehive tavern there was a mouse called Gregor, but not lighthouse Gregor. Gurney he was directed to the Library.

The library said that lighthouse Gregor was a regular but he'd filled up on reading material. They even suggested he was back at the lighthouse for spring. They suggested that someone at the docks might know.

At the docks and old sailor called Salty was an old pal of Gregor's and gave directions to his winter home.

It was a decrepit looking building but with a freshly painted sky blue circular door.

After a knocking an oldfur answered the door. "Who are you fellows and why have you been a-rapping upon my door."

He squinted upon the patrol - "Oh, guards mice. What an honour. What brings you to old Gregor?"

Wow what a run-around. Gurney is tired from the full journey to Shorsestone and then being given no rest. Kira is hungry, first the good smells of the pub, the berry stand, another pub, even the fish started to smell appealing! But on the plus side, have a talk with good ol' Gregor, he'll have not a problem with granting access to the lighthouse. But he is a little on the doddery side.

[UserClone]

Blanche leaps into action, cleverly using the paddle to actually push off of the upper jaw of the turtle, effectively keeping it momentarily at bay and at the same time propelling the small craft forward. Barwick assists her escape attempt by yanking the paddle back just at the moment when the creature's jaws would have clamped down onto it.

[roll0]

EDIT: Wow. Awesomely bad.

[Totally Guy]

The snapping turtle rammed his full weight into the side of the makeshift boat. He extended his neck all the way across the vessel and hooked his beak upon the other side. He then allowed gravity to do the rest.

Attack: [roll0][roll1][roll2][roll3][roll4][roll5][roll6][roll7][roll8]

4 successes +1s Bony Jaws.


The boat started to fill with water from the lower side until the turtle let go and the boat retuned to equilibrium with a splash.

Turtle: 11/13
Mice: 4/9

[Fri]

"Oh boy... this isn't looking good..." Barwick says as he tries to scoop the water from the boat, one frying-pan at a time. "Get away you turtle! We're not your food! Blanche, help me here, we're full of water! And keep pedalling too... somehow..."

(Nature+Frying Pan+Beginner's luck for defense) [roll0]

edit:*facepalm* this is quite a start for our adventure!

[UserClone]

((Assuming we aren't already capsized...))

Blanche makes a risky maneuver, stopping the boat cold, and letting the turtle's forward momentum instead surge the boat to its destined shore. Meanwhile, Barwick barely manages to keep them afloat with his frying pan.
Persona point to tap nature, plus 1 for clever, plus one from Barwick's help. Total 12. [roll0]

[UserClone]

((Assuming we aren't already capsized...))

Blanche makes a risky maneuver, stopping the boat cold, and letting the turtle's forward momentum instead surge the boat to its destined shore. Meanwhile, Barwick barely manages to keep them afloat with his frying pan.
Persona point to tap nature, plus 1 for clever, plus one from Barwick's help. Total 12. [roll0]

EDIT: Unintentional double-post. got a 500 Internal Server Error the first attempt, but apparently it posted anyway...with awful results.

[Totally Guy]

Apologies, I posted the Turtle's Attack against Fri's defend in the other thread. Turtle wins!

With a hook of his jaw from the opposite side of the boat the turtle pulled down and started filling it on the other side.

The boat turned over spilling the mousy pair into the water!

[dsmiles]

"Sir, we are on an important mission from Lockhaven. You see, sir, there is a missing patrol, out on the island somewhere. Another pair of Guardmice have been sent to the island to look for them, while we take care of some business here in Shorestone proper," Gurney pauses for effect, "We would like to procure the use of your lighthouse to maintain contact with our comrades on the island."

"It would only be short-term, of course," he hastily adds.

[Totally Guy]

"How exciting, how adventurous! Let me get my cane and we'll travel over to the old place."

Old Gregor hobbled into his house and picked up a hook which he used to help himself walk long journeys. He also picked up a keyring with 2 keys upon it.

"I'm glad you are here. I usually have a couple of the guard escort me about this time of year, usually later. Everyone knows the old lighthouse is abandoned during the winter. Once when I was younger I found some young mice that had climbed in and were making merriment. They spilled my coal bucket and blackened everything! Since then I've gone with the guard in case next time it's an animal."

[dsmiles]

"Thank you so much for your help, sir. As I said, we'll need to be able to use it periodically to relay messages to our companions on the island. I'm sure we'll be able to handle anything that may have decided to take up residence your lighthouse over the winter," Gurney says as he walks along beside the oldfur.

[Totally Guy]

The two mice in the water thrashed about in shock for a brief moment. The turtle roughly bumped them about. He saw sheets of parchment flow from Blanche's bag. The turtle followed the paper trail consuming it in one long bite.

By then he was closer to Barwick who had started to regain his wits.

The snapped up the trail rations before they could spread out underwater.

But at this point the flour Being carried by Barwick had breached its container and had started spreading out in a way the the turtle was unfamiliar with. Seeing it as potentially threatening he considered his revenge complete, turned around and swam out to deeper waters.

The mice arrived at the shore of the island of Andros, soaked and bedraggled.

They saw their vessel wash over to the shallows near the shore.

[Fri]

Sore, wet, and puffing tired from all of the unplanned swimming, Barwick climbs to the island's shore and pants.

"Puff.. puff... Ho... ha... what an experience. Taught us not to... this taught us... taught us what again? Huff, It's kinda hard for an old mice to learn something new I guess. Are you okay Blanche?" He says, before sneezing comically.

[Partysan]

As Gurney speaks up, Kira begins lifting her paw as if to interrupt him, but then lets it sink again.

[Totally Guy]

As the trio trudged through the wilderness they came upon the sight of the lighthouse.

"Look it it! Some bird has done it's business all down one side!" Gregor exclaimed.

Gregor held aloft the shiny keyring with a loud jingle in his paw to open the door. But then he stopped.

"I think we should walk all the around the lighthouse and check for any any signs of intrusion."

As he walked around it. He stopped and pointed up with the end of the key. "There's an intruder up there! Do you mice know anything of criminals lying low? Everyone know my lighthouse is abandoned during winter."

Keamy the bandit looked out of the window to the pair of guards below with a worried look upon his face.

But then a small bird swooped down and landed upon the roof of the lighthouse.

"A shrike!" yelled Gregor lifting his hook from the ground and hopping about on his good leg.

Keamy in the top of the lighthouse looked ready to climb down and run away!

[Totally Guy]

The two mice on the island didn't need to spend a long time before finding evidence of bandits. The island was bigger than a town but the landscape was sparse in comparison to forests on the mainland. The trees were smaller here.

The pair saw two burley looking thugs keeping watch over their camp whilst a third sat inside the tent.

On a nearby small bald tree hung a sack adorned with the deep blue of Garret's cloak. The sack moved every few minutes, whoever was inside was fidgeting.

[Partysan]

Gah! Bird****, this is a bit much at once. We can't have casualties, but we shouldn't let him run either...
Kira whirls out her staff and takes posture before Gregor, while shouting commands.
Don't let him run, Gurney. Just stay low until I get Gregor to safety and I'll come back to help!
She backs up slowly while talking to Gregor, not letting the shrike out of sight.
Listen, we'll back down before that bird until we get you into the Lighthouse. You slam the door shut and wait until things are calm out here, understood?

[dsmiles]

"Don't worry, Kira, I won't let him get away," Gurney shouts to his mentor.

[UserClone]

Blanche is just starting to feel hopeless as she looks around for some way to get to the bundle, inside of which she suspects might be the Guardmouse himself. Just as she's starting to give up hope, a drop of rain falls. Then another and another, and in no time at all, a torrential downpour has begun.

[Totally Guy]

Gregor shouted forth, "Go Gurney, get that bandit! We'll hold the bird off!"

As the bird started to flap Keamy climbed from the window. On all fours like an animal and head first he scaled the structure. But instead of going straight down he arched around the lighthouse like it was the helter skelter from the old carnival.

He was using the building as cover!

[dsmiles]

"If you've seen one trick, you've seen 'em all, thinks Gurney, "the old tricks aren't always the best." Gurney quickly ducks around the opposite side of the lighthouse, keeping out of sight.

[Totally Guy]

The Shrike eyed her prey. 2 mice stood together. She thought the others would run but it was no matter, her dinner had doubled.

She flew just off the ground then she surged her beak trying to skewer a mouse to the ground. THe weather was turning foul and raindrops had started to fall.

[Totally Guy]

On the Isle of Andros the mice guarding the sack left their posts leaving the sack on the tree unguarded but still within view of their tent.

[Totally Guy]

Keamy headed straight for an obstructive bramble patch. That hadn't been his intention. But he was still young and naive enough to not be afraid of rushing through brambles. He was running on all fours only caring about speed and the pursuit from behind.

[dsmiles]

Gurney follows Keamy into the bramble field, almost dancing his way among the thorns. "Poor Keamy, those thorns must sting," Gurney thinks to himself.

[Partysan]

Kira runs towards the tower, always staying between Gregor and the shrike.
It will be difficult for it to fly too close to the building, so we better move along the walls to restrict it.

[Totally Guy]

Keamy leapt under a particularly thick bramble. He moved a little way off the path he was running and kept very quiet. He was hoping he'd not been seen as he heard Gurney approaching.

[Totally Guy]

The Shrike indeed had a hard time flying close to the lighthouse. She was a clever old bird though so she landed between the mice and the door. She extended her wings out as if to say "You shall not pass." and stepped closer and closer to the tasty pair.

[Fri]

"Huh, that can't be good." Barwick whispers to his partner-in-crime as he sees the sack.

"I think we can catch those bandit off guard now with this rain. Let's circle around and get them from behind. Don't let them get away and alert their comrades. Then we can examine that... sack in leisure."

[Totally Guy]

Keamy was watching Gurney looking for him, he was close, very close. His hiding place would not keep the guard befuddled for long. He had to take some action, and soon.

[dsmiles]

"Come out, Keamy. We can do this the easy way, or we can do this my way," shouts Gurney, "I'd rather not have to hurt you. I'm here to uphold the Guard's end of the bargain, and I'd like to ask you a few questions."

[Totally Guy]

Keamy decided it was time to make a break for it. But as he launched himself out of his hiding place with all the force he could muster he found himself face to face with Gurney.

He jumped into the air and turned to run in the opposite direction.

[dsmiles]

"Keamy! Hold still, dammit! I've no reason to hurt you, don't give me one," Gurney shouts as he jumps at Keamy.

[Totally Guy]

Keamy ran as fast as he could, out of the brambles and amongst the trees until he felt the inevitable grab of Gurney upon his back and neck. He was pinned. With a little scrabbling with his front paws that got him nowhere he conceded defeat.

"Phew, you caught me. We sure got away from that shrike didn't we! You must have a cold heart to get your buddies to die for you like that." said the exhausted brownfur.

[dsmiles]

"They're not dying for me. They're dying for you," Gurney states with more than a little venom in his voice. "You shouldn't have run. Now we may have to do this my way."

[Totally Guy]

"Hey hey, I ran because someone yelled "Shrike!" I thought my time was up!" he looked left and right as he lied to the tenderpaw. "I was running from it. Not you."

[Totally Guy]

Barwick headed to the old tree in the storm. Blanche headed over to the sealed up tent.

As Blanche approached she heard voices from within the tent.
"Tell us where Keamy is!" yelled a mouse to another inside the tent.
"I've already said I don't know." said a female mouse, also inside.
"Well tomorrow will be quite unpleasant for the oldfur!"
"No! Besides he's the only one who can fix your boat."
"When the rescue party arrive for you, you'll be our hostage and we'll take their boat!"