Mariel Of Redwall - Tumblr Posts

The Bellmaker and The Warrior Mousemaid

Mariel is aroace. Dandin is aroace. They are queerplatonic partners. Next question.

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.

Dandin: I know this is going to sound sarcastic, but this is a great plan and I’m really impressed with you guys.

Mariel:

Tarquin:

Mariel: Don’t listen to him, this is a great plan.

Actually I know it's a lil weird but I wanna ramble about Redwall for a bit

(cut so this ain't a long post)

It's really fitting how both Martin and Matthais were both just random kids in the eyes of Redwall. (Well, Mossflower in Martin's case.) Like we know Martin's origins and where he came from and even who his dad is, but to those who live in the Mossflower area he's just a plucky kid who shows up out of nowhere, gets jailed by Queen Tsarmina, then fights himself nearly to death in order to overthrow her. Meanwhile, Matthais is a kid who grew up at Redwall with uncertain origins and ends up being Martin's ancestor / reincarnation?? This kid outta nowhere really got a whole plot puzzle dumped on him and then ended up a hero hahaha.

On that note, I don't think I'll ever forget Matthais' name or call him that because of those puzzles. In my head he is always first and foremost "I, am that is". (Which is followed always by "My sword will wield for me" that part stuck in my head it lives there thanks Brian Jacques)

I have forgotten a lot though, like I don't remember a lot of other notable character names unfortunately. I remember Chickenhound, Cluny the Scourge, and that's about it. Is there a notable Mole character? The moles have always been my favourite, I love their chill and soft cadences while also possessing their big ol' claws, but they all had the same voice in my head so telling them apart was hard. (For that matter, their accent was hard to interpret at times, but that's a dyslexic thing.)

The Hares and Squirrels gotta be my second favourites, though it is a little strange that both were warrior races. Squirrels always being ready to throw down while Hares are master tacticians (and big eaters) is a lot of fun, though. It just makes sense. And I think the one hare and the mom squirrel became good friends in one book? (Can't remember if Mossflower or Redwall) and I adored that.

Hey actual Badgers are not that peaceful. It's weird that all male badgers were lords of the forge and fighters while the females were usually matriarchal and capable of fighting, but usually super nurturing. If one of the later books had a female lord of the forge that's sick as hell but where is my male badger wetnurse. (Sunstripe is another name I will remember forever. I think he was the son of the Redwall mother? And they found that out in Mattimeo?? I really have to reread these books.)

Yo shoutout to my girl Mariel for getting blasted onto the scene by choosing violence as her answer to most things. Girl woke up on a beach with amnesia, found a rope with a knot at the end, and scared off the seagulls looking to eat her with only that and then screamed into the ocean that she was gonna fuck shit up. We stan a legend I love her forever.

That's all the memories I got. I love this series it carried me through middle school ;w;

Joseph: [to Mariel] We need to go over the ground rules for tonight.

Joseph: No boys, no parties, no summoning spirits or switching bodies, and no filling the house with soap bubbles.

Speaking of Cluny's characterization, did you know that four out of the twenty-two books have rats as their main villain?

Mariel of Redwall with Gabool the Wild, a searat

Redwall (of course) with Cluny the Scourge, a bilge rat

The Long Patrol with Damug Warfang, a greatrat (apparently)

and Loamhedge with Raga Bol, written in the wiki just as "rat."

Interesting, huh? That's 18%

Ooooooo do I have the mind to bring an old project backkkk!!

"The Mousemaid From the Sea"

Something not-Vivziepop related, wow, lol, but I've been getting back into the Redwall series, and Mariel is absolutely iconic, so I decided to try drawing her and her trusty Gullwhacker ^^

Hon Rosie: Just tried to make a reservation at the library

Clary: You don’t need to make a rese-

Hon Rosie: But I couldn’t get one

Thyme: Rosie, please stop-

Rosie: It was fully booked

First of all, LOVE Hon Rosie, I’m Hon Rosie’s #1 fan.

Second, nothing but love to the creator because the poll wasn’t a Redwall post and “named after flowers tournament” is such a cute idea- but I’ve NEVER seen her referred to as just “Rosemary” before lol. I was genuinely confused when I read her name. That’s The HONORABLE Rosemary to you, sah!

Anyway, all fun and games, shoutout to Hon Rosie

Botanic Tournament : Main Bracket !

Round 4 Poll TTT

(Juniper and rosemary)

Posts to illustrate my love of Hon Rosie:

Originally from @lostmousemaid

If Hon Rosie has a million fans, then I am one of them. If Hon Rosie has ten fans, then I am one of them. If Hon Rosie has only one fan then that is me. If Hon Rosie has no fans, then that means I am no longer on earth. If the world is against Hon Rosie, then I am against the world.

I was Hon Rose (basically) for Halloween once as a child. My dad even made me a longbow out of a big branch.

She's my favorite

Botanic Tournament : Main Bracket !

Round 4 Poll TTT

(Juniper and rosemary)

Tarquin: There are some things beyond our understanding. We must accept them and learn from them. Because these moments of crisis are also potential moments of faith. A time, when we either come together or fall apart. Nature always has a way of balancing itself. The only question is, what part will we play? Mariel: Did you just make that up? Tarquin: No. I read it in a fortune cookie once. Mariel: Tarquin: A really long fortune cookie.

Saxtus: What's wrong?

Dandin: Sparring is cancelled because of the storm.

Saxtus: Well, the good news is, we can just call it a night and get a super early start on our homework tomorrow!

Mariel: Ooh, that is great news! And, you know, now we might even have time for Boring Club! Do you know who the president of Boring Club is?

Saxtus: ...Me?

Mariel: Nope. You lost the election because your speech was too boring.

Dandin: I lost Durry! Mariel: Well, he’s a small kid. Did you check behind a potted plant? Or perhaps a family sized can of tomatoes?

Mariel: *walks by with a knife in her hand*

Dandin not looking up from his phone: No.

Mariel, turning around and walking away: *grumbling* They deserve it.

Dandin, still not looking up: I’m sure they do.

Ublaz Mad Eyes

Emperor Ublaz is the first character I’ve drawn that’s from a book I haven’t read yet! (Pearls of Lutra) I read up on him like the others, and fell upon the description that he was “tall, handsome, and polite, as well as very cunning.” I decided against doing the usual ‘evil look’ for a villain sketch, and instead draw him in a more charismatic, and disarmingly friendly way. I improvised on his clothing a bit too, since it seemed to vary a lot. This is my favorite sketch of the series so far!

Durry: You people always drag me into your crazy schemes! Mariel: Well this time we can make do without you. Durry: What's wrong with me all of a sudden?! Mariel: Well alright, come along if you want to. Durry: No, I don't want to. I just wanted you to ask me.

You know what to do!

Any Redwall Artists out there?

I'm enjoy Mariel of Redwall and curious if there are any artists who'd be able to capture the art style of the 1999 animated adaptation. I'm curious to see what other scenes from the books would look like if adapted in its art style.

Tarquin: I sent you letters but never heard back.

Rosie: Weird. I never got both of your letters.

Tarquin, to Rosie: I don’t know how to flirt but I can make things awkward if you're into that