Mariel Gullwhacker - Tumblr Posts

Maybe the Gullwhacker had started to fray, the knot staying intact but the ends twisting apart. Maybe it was stowed in the gatehouse in the hopes that someone would get some use out of it. Somebeast with idle paws found it in the corner and wandered outside with it, tying what’s left of the end around a stone at the base of the wall when they were called in to supper. Can’t have that big knot rolling away into the pond.

One day, the gatekeeper at the time is going for a stroll along the wall when they see a shape above them. Some dark bird is coming nearer. Maybe one of Korvus’ gang, maybe a lone troublemaker. Maybe it wants that treat the gatekeeper had been enjoying. In a panic, they stuff the last of their snack in their snout and take off towards the stairs.

“Mmmahhh,” they say, crumbs falling on their footpaws. “Eeeek!!! Bird, somebeast help me!!”

An otter hears them from down below. However, how can they help, having left their sling up in the infirmary as a punishment for knocking themself in the forearm? In their defense, the sling was smaller and swifter than what they’re used to. They jog toward the base of the stairs, nearly passing the gatehouse on the way.

Wait, there, they’ve spotted it. That stone-knot combo on the end of a short rope will do the trick.

The gatekeeper almost crashes straight into the gatehouse door in their effort to open it and take refuge inside. Heaving breaths, they close the door and rush to the window. They watch as the otter turns to face the crow heading straight toward them. It looks like a young bird, not a risk of permanent damage, but certainly a danger to the young abbeybeasts.

“Can’t ‘ave this birdy ‘round our dibbuns,” the gatekeeper thinks.

As if the otter heard those thoughts, they swung the makeshift weapon at their adversary.

“Swoosh!” Miss.

The bird paused in the air for a moment, flapping its wings backward, cawing loudly and rethinking its decisions. But it was a stubborn creature.

“Swoosh, thwack!” This time, the blow struck.

Squawking all the way through its short descent to the grass, the crow flailed and wailed at the otter. The otter backed off steadily as the crow eyed them. A young and stubborn bird indeed. Turning its head to the sky, it seemed the crow had decided the gatehouse of Redwall Abbey wasn’t worth it. It took off, not hardly injured, but muttering to itself about being whacked by that big rope.

Mouse Mummies

Anoxic bogs are most often found in northwestern Europe. What makes these bogs special is their lack of oxygen- thus “anoxic-“ and their content of chemicals called tannins. When living creatures happen to fall into a bog, their tissue is preserved because tannins keep it static and all the little mites that cause decomposition can’t live without oxygen. (Bones, however, are often dissolved if the peat is too acidic.) Not only are bodies preserved, but clothing and trinkets as well. This is how big bodies are made! You might have heard of the Tollund Man or the Yde Girl, both famous examples of European mummies, from Denmark and the Netherlands respectively. These mummies can be preserved for thousands of years.

This is the Tollund Man, probably the most famous bog body

Now, marshes and bogs aren’t exactly the same thing, but for the prevalence of marshland in Mossflower country I’m sure that some of that could be a peat bog.

Slegg, Dirig, Gruntan Kurdly, the victims of the wytes… countless named and unnamed woodlanders have found themselves sinking in the swamp. Countless bodies under the surface.

I recently discussed in this post that “the 22 [Redwall] books cover hundreds and hundreds of seasons, their stories spreading farther than memory can reach.”

That is all to say, imagine what tales are hidden inside Mossflower wood. Imagine what relics of long-gone eras are preserved in the bodies of those who wandered through Mossflower and found themselves an unfortunate end. Imagine (accounting for the fact that not all muggy water is a bog) what the Maudie, Barbowla, and Log-a-Log Luglug were blissfully unaware of when running from the Brownrats. Just one of the thousands of stories Redwall has to tell.

I think (or choose to believe) that if we had gotten to see him live long enough, Askor would have be a morally good character. He would have been someone I could agree with. And you’re right, he’s so interesting! Askor is his own creature, he holds a lot of responsibility within himself even if it’s only about the things he wants.

Listen…Mariel Gullwhacker (and Matthias in the TV show) introduced themselves to the Redwallers through violence as well- violence that was completely understandable. Why not the same for this wolverine? I choose to have faith in Askor. He seems cool.

I am absolutely FASCINATED by Askor from Rakkety Tam. He’s a dangerous cannibal wolverine—but less nuts than Gulo, a better leader, Dramz’s favorite child, surprisingly poetic (wrt his riddle), and, most shockingly, Gulo thinks he would be willing to save Doogy. I’d love to examine motivations behind him stealing the Walking Stone. Was he concerned enough about the kingdom that he couldn’t morally allow Gulo to be king? Was it just to spite Gulo? Did he have enough loyalty to their father that he was upset about Gulo murdering him and that’s where the spite came from? Considering that Askor threatened to eat the first creatures who offered to help him, why does Gulo think that Askor would risk his life to save Doogy? Is he just nuts or is there something to that?

Today’s mouse is Mariel from Redwall!