Mossflower - Tumblr Posts
Occurs to me reading this book, pretty sure Outcast has the most instances of winter out of all the Redwall series. Skarlath frees himself and Sunflash during the winter, Veil is born in the winter. Most of these book are set solidly solidly in the summer, which honestly makes sense for the Medieval-inspired seige warfare that tends to crop up a lot. But then this book also covers a larger span of time too.
See, I would never survive in these books. All it would take is me going "Herrrrrre kitty kitty kitty pspspsp" at Tsarmina, and I'd be dead.
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;
Occurs to me though. Felldoh is very much what Martin could have become if he'd let his need for vengeance overtake him. Very nearly does become later in this book, as I recall.
I love Gingivere so very much
Welp, finished Martin The Warrior. Next up, Mossflower. Which, as much as I remember enjoying, I'm mostly looking forward to sweet Gingivere.
Also, on the subject of Gingivere, I was last week-old when I put together that his name probably means "ginger fur". Though "vair" usually refers specifically to a squirrel's pelt in heraldry.
Gonff: We should get married Columbine: We've been dating for less than a month Gonff: And I think I've shown incredible restraint waiting this long
Do you have the Mossflower book from the Redwall series?
Yes, I have it. However, we call this book "War with Kotir".
I particularly love headcanons of these two and what they were doing between book events.
Gonff: I am beginning to think we made a mistake.
Martin: What gave it away? The guards, the chains, or my stab wound?
Gonff, to Martin, Dinny & Log-a-log: Okay, so I know that this is MY fault entirely, but this is OUR problem now.
OK. This is not TMNT fanart. It's Redwall. >w<
Martin and Tsarmina have always been my favorite hero x villain duo in Redwall. Although they don't have much drama and events between them, their stories actually have quite a lot in common. Like two parallel lines going in the same direction. Both are leaders with some legacy before them. Both are trying to live up to their fathers' legacy. Or at least how they see it. Both have a slavery theme. Former slave and enslaver. Both are dealing with some loss that they caused. Intentionally or not. They are both almost equally monstrous. With this whole "red glitter of total war shining hot in his eyes, his teeth bared in a wild laugh" thing)) And they both come to the last point completely alone by their own decision. And both would've die there. The main difference is that Tsarmina left everyone behind so as not to risk herself. And Martin left everyone behind so as not to risk them. So there was someone left to save him. There is some beauty in their similarity. It's as if the hero is fighting more than just some villain. It’s as if he is fighting his own crooked reflection. Brings his own ending. Just like Tsarmina herself walked into the lake.
Martin: I've always been a little anxious. Martin: Then I died. Martin: Which did not in fact calm me down.
Columbine: There is a thin line between being a genius and being a complete idiot. Columbine: My husband and his friends use that line as a fucking jump rope.
Things that I wasn't expecting in the children's animal woodland book @saunters-vaguely-downwards convinced me to read:
Evil lesbian cat and fox
Said evil cat be cartoonishly evil, like yeah you're the bad guy but seriously?! That was the course of action you decided on?!
Something something an eagle's unending quest to eat a pine martin going completely unfulfilled and resulting in his death while being used as a tool by said evil cat (through manipulation of another fox - no not her lesbian sycophant , she's already dead and unmourned)
Siege warfare
A balista
A character being named after said balista
None of the "totally not queer/in a more than friendship v poly relationship" to not die given all the death flags they threw up
Same with the 2 trios of hares that definitely were in some kind of polycule together
And yet here we are
Omg I can hear him saying this 🥺 that was so sweet. I was just reading through and all of a sudden there he is 🥺
They sat upon the bank with the otters around a bright fire, eating thick wedges of carrot and parsley bread, which they dunked in a steaming bowl of river shrimp and bulrush soup, seasoned with fiery ditchnettle pepper. It was delicious, but extremely hot.
Brian Jacques, Mossflower
Tsarmina: I was just doing a little test to see if you'd gone crazy. Brogg: Well, we've passed your test, you can let us out now. Tsarmina: I can't let you out. Brogg: Why not? Tsarmina: Because the King of the Potato People won't let me. Brogg (humouring her): ... Can we see him? Tsarmina: Do you have a magic carpet? Brogg: ... Yeah. A little three-seater. Tsarmina: So let me get this straight. You want to fly on a magic carpet to see the King of the Potato People, and you're telling me you're completely sane?
Tsarmina: You know, maybe I ask too much of you Fortunata: I agree Tsarmina: Maybe if I want something done right, I should just do it myself Fortunata: I'd love that Tsarmina: I'm trying to say you're incompetent- you don't even feel shame properly
Gonff: You know, it’s nice to feel wanted Bella: Yes, but not by the ENTIRE KOTIR GUARD
it them boys
i forgot that Logalog is from Mossflower... not Legend of Luke. But that's fine. I really wanted to draw him.
Skipper (Warthorn) and Lady Amber
