Braggio Ironhook's journal, day twenty-one of our journey.
Shekra and I have been discussing her visions again. She sees me stand astride the parapets of a red stone castle. Redwall, as it is named, is destined to be our home. Whilst it saddens me to think that our days as corsairs might be coming to an end, it makes sense to those of us a little longer in the tooth.
After a certain age, you don't get faster or stronger. Too many of our crew are young and careless; they're the firebrands brandishing cutlasses, who think they cannot die. They wear red neckerchiefs and put on swaggers and boastful airs. So very like a young ferret sailor that got his paw sliced off by a sea-otter's blade.
Enough of this fond reminiscing. Whilst Shekra and I have been talking with Jiboree and Mowlag about battle plans, I haven't as yet come up with my battle speech. Ordinarily I don't get much to say before a fight other than 'We're under attack!' or 'Surprise! We're attacking!'. However, I think we'll have some time before the assault when I can say a few words. I might as well draft my speech here.
My sea rats and wave weasels, sailing stoats and ferocious ferrets! Corsairs, seascum, and our partner in crime, Shekra the Seer. For weeks we have toiled over the building of this ship. We've sailed by sea and by land. We sought plunder and fame, well here it is. Redwall lies before us!
Know ye not of Redwall? Let me furnish you with a description of the property. Situated on the stone ruins of Kotir, it has a rustic décor and commanding views of the River Moss. Several hundred bedrooms, banquet-capable kitchens and the historic Great Hall, complete with ornate tapestries.
The most attractive feature of this countryside manor is the rivers of gold, good food and fine living currently in possession of the tenants. Ordinarily such an illustrious property would cost an arm and a leg, but today lads, we're taking it for free!
Our battle plan has taken into account likely enemy strategies. We will be prepared for any hot-porridge-based forms of attack. We shall take Redwall much as if she were a ship at sea. Sharpshooters with your bows will climb to the tops to sweep the walls of the enemy. Ballista crews will provide similar support.
The second part of the plan is to secure said walltops. Using our boarding planks, First Mate Mowlag will take a group of corsairs, with the best armour and weapons we have, over to capture a section of the wall. Archers will then follow us and rain arrows down on any foebeast below. We shall use their walls against them!
I assume most of the Redwallers will die in the battle, so the rest of the plan is mostly mopping-up duty. Hopefully no huge armies of shrews, otters, squirrels, rabbits or an elite band of warriors turns up in the meantime.