Litany
The land of Mossflower had faced crisis after crisis, but it had always stood strong. From Ungatt Trunn's invasion of the Western shores, to Cluny the Scourge's assault on Redwall, over to the blood-filled Battle of the Ridge, the land had always stayed strong, with goodbeasts remaining victorious for as long as anyone could remember.
But it all changed fifteen seasons ago. Swayed by the ambitions of high-minded beasts, the Kingdom of Southsward swept north, the autonomous communities of Mossflower were powerless to stop its advance. Led by the mighty General Kezda Almenard, legion upon legion descended upon villages and towns, bearing a message: Submit or Die.
Salamandastron, long since the protector of all that was good, was too preoccupied with it's own affairs to deal with the Southswarders, and it was by chance alone that they were spared. Redwall Abbey chose a more active sort of resistance - and was reduced to nought but rubble.
Horrified, the remaining communities sprung into action. Craylock, a prosperous town on the Eastern Shores, Kalno, a small kingdom tucked in the woods, and Ferthorpe, a hamlet of vermin given the opportunity to change their ways, joined together to form the Mossflower Alliance, but their armies were too weak, both in number and in quality, and they could only expect to be swept away.
Hence, every single member of the Alliance independently made the decision to hire adventurers from all over Mossflower. From the strongest of Paladins and Marauders and the quickest of Lancers and Rogues, to the wiliest of Darkmages and Arcanists and the cleverest of Brightmages and Scholars. All heeded the call of a united Mossflower, and were all too ready to stand against Southswarder domination. Mossflower now had the force it needed.
But the Southswarders never came. Kezda's forces had been badly mauled by the avian realm of Tarncrag on their way back home. The Alliance had panicked for nought.
Now, with a surplus of adventurers on their paws, an increase in activity of vermin bands, and the threat of another Southern invasion ever and always on the horizon, the era of long peace in Mossflower had been brought to an abrupt end.
Yet, every end marks a new beginning…
A/N: Here we go! A new beginning indeed - the four hapless beasts from Defenders of Mossflower finally get to embark on their first adventure... but not for a month of two. In the meantime, happy birthday, Smalls.