User blog:Opposite Spectrum Team/Opposite Spectrum Part One: The Island Voyage

Prologue
From the writings of Lieutenant Caruthers, Laird of Bowlaynee and Historian of Salamandastron I must say, there are some very strange things going on in Mossflower Country and beyond. First off, this bizarre foreigner fox named Ejaxk has visited us. The oddest thing about him is that he seems good natured, and not a traitor or thief like most other foxes. He also carries some weapons on him that nobody in all of Salamandastron or Redwall have ever seen before. He says that he comes from Yoruto Island, and that he had escaped when an evil warlord enslaved him and all of his people. I hope this warlord he talks about doesn’t come here, or we could be enslaved! When this Ejaxk arrived on the Salamandastron coast, he engaged in combat with my son CopperJaw, and they almost killed each other. But, they are inseparable now. My daughter Skelva and my nephew Ironbuck still do not fully trust Ejaxk all of the way, but they are getting used to him. Currently, Ejaxk has taken CopperJaw and Skelva with him to do some basic martial arts training at some place known as Kai Town, a town that I have no knowledge concerning its location or appearance whatsoever. They should be returning soon, and I hope they return safe and intact. Another odd occurrence that has happened lately is the discovery of some new species by Ejaxk. He has one of his friends staying at Salamandastron, a creature known as Skulded Dethblo. Ejaxk said that he is a raccoon, a beast I have never seen in my life. He has a mask like a ferret, and the tail and cunning of a fox. He looks like a dangerous criminal we would normally have in the prisons, but he is actually a humorous, slightly obnoxious animal. According to Ejaxk, Skulded is the emperor of Skull Island, yet another place I have never heard of, and I wonder how his people take him seriously. I know for sure Skelva doesn’t, for she absolutely despises that raccoon. It’s actually kind of funny to watch him tell one of his offensive jokes with hidden punch lines to her and watch her react with much anger once she understands the humor. Enough of me reflecting upon the funny things, I need to tell you more about the strange and wonderful thing that have happened lately! Something that happened that isn’t on the odd side is that we have a new Badger Lord! Coldstrype the Scythe has succeeded his father, Goldcrown the Partisan after Goldcrown’s death at eighty-six seasons. There is an issue regarding Coldstrype’s inheritance of the power, however. Coldstrype’s brother Flamewyte was supposed to be the next Badger Lord, but after news of Flamewyte engaging in corrupt dealings with the Duke of Gasterbury and several other enemies of Salamandastron, Flamewyte was banished and Coldstrype became the heir. Coldstrype has re-arranged the jobs and duties around here, and he has appointed Ironbuck to be the next Brigadier General and the holder of the uniform of command! I’m so proud of him! I am getting old, so I need to start thinking of my heir to Bowlaynee. I’m having a hard time choosing between my son CopperJaw or my good friend Skarklin. When I do choose, I will inform you! Caruthers, Laird of Bowlaynee and historian of Salamandastron

Chapter One
The dark towers of Kai Town rose into the afternoon sky like black pikes. The wall that surrounded the town and its inhabitants was just as black, and seemingly impenetrable. On the streets, a fox and two hares were conversing amongst each other. The first hare, a tall male with dark brown fur and an orange-tan fur line that starts from his chin down by the name of CopperJaw laughed, “I’m so glad this training is over, Ejaxk! It was horrible!” Ejaxk was a fox around the same size as CopperJaw, mostly black with brown and tan patches on him. He replied, “And the food was just as bad!” “I know!” said CopperJaw, “And I usually eat whatever I’ve got on the table!” “What do you think, Skelva?” Ejaxk inquired. Skelva was the twin sister of CopperJaw, older by about five minutes. She was a very light tan color, and she had long gold-orange hair tied into a ponytail. She wore a similar green uniform to CopperJaw and a green hat. “I think that both of you are bloody ridiculous,” she answered. “It was the overall strictness of discipline in this town that made it so awful.” “Ha ha!” Chuckled CopperJaw, “One time I opened the door on my dormitory’s closet and a skeleton of a rat fell out!” “That didn’t happen at all, Copp!” “But it would’ve been so flippin’ scary if it did!” Ejaxk gestured to the two hares. “Enough of this banter now, we need to leave the town. CopperJaw and I will go to Bowlaynee to visit his family, while Skelva returns to Salamandastron on Bussiness to report back to Coldstrype that training is over.” “Aye,” replied CopperJaw and Skelva. Skelva walked through the gates of the town and into the forest, while CopperJaw and Ejaxk stayed at Kai Town. “Now CopperJaw, I have an idea,” said Ejaxk. “Wot’s your plan, chap?” the hare asked. “Instead of going back home, why don’t we go out to sea and explore?” “What? I thought we were going to Bowlaynee.” “We were, I was recently informed that a two captain of mine were recently murdered. How about a good old fashioned investigation?” “I can’t believe it,” said CopperJaw, “You are the only fellow I know who has ever get involved in a murder case the day after we completed training, don’cha know.” “Anything can happen, as long as the timing is right. CopperJaw, are you ready to explore some uncharted territory and settle a murder case?” “I guess so. I just hope that Coldstrype doesn’t find you and kill you after this. Going out on your own without backup and without notifying him could really cause a problem.” Ejaxk took out a map of the sea from his robe and the two friends formulated their plan for exploring. “We don’t have time to sit around. If we go to Salamandastron, the villain will be long gone.”

The isle of Sampetra was a formidable sight, formerly covered with jungle and cannibals, but now the site of a town that had heavy influence from the corruption of the Black Market. The Black Market was led by a crafty fox known as Venchezco de Martisani. He lived on his private factory island far from Sampetra and even the reaches of the map. But on Sampetra, he had guards, and plenty of them, to force his influence on the towns. Stumbling out from one of the taverns of Sampetra, two very intoxicated weasel corsairs were shouting curses and insults at each other. “That was me last bottle o’ grog, ye lily-livered son of a she-wolf!” “I(hic) beg to differ, barnacle sucker!” “Ah, so you (hic) wanner foight, eh? “Draw yer sword, matey! Ye (hic) deserve ter die, ye cowardly, scrofulous lowloife!” The town crier was on the scene instantly. “Hear ye, Hear ye, thar’s gonner be a fight ye don’t wanner miss! Come ter the Blue Swordfish Tavern immediately!” Vermin townsfolk began to form a circle around the two corsairs that were about to have a death duel. The corsairs drew their cutlasses and began to fight. But, right when the fight was about to really escalate; a bizarre creature clad in a trench coat, hat and plague mask entered the scene. He was a very forbidding character, the sleeve of his right arm was rolled up to reveal a broadsword blade grafted into his elbow. He shouted at the two weasels in a foreign tongue that they didn’t understand. “Porre fine a questa lotta! Fuori dai piedi, sciocchi!” One corsair asked the other one, “Wot didde jus’ say?” “Paga in su!” The stranger growled. “Wot are ye saying, beakface?” The other corsair asked the creature. The stranger spoke in English this time. “Come away from this crowd. I wish to speak with you.” They enter a side alley behind the tavern. “Pay jour dues to the Black Market, or jou can face-a your death!” The masked creature growed in a foreign accent. “Excuse me sir, I don’t ‘ave any money. Wot’s yer name anyway?” “My name is Luchesi Markachino. Now if jou don’t pay-a jour taxes, death awaits jou!” “He,he (hic). You talk funny, Mr.Louie,” The first corsair giggled. Louie chuckled and slashed the corsair across the chest with his broadsword arm, killing the weasel instantly. “Wot the ‘ell did ye do that fer? I was gonner kill ‘im meself!” the other corsair yelled. “The Black Market always gets its money!” Louie hissed at him. And venomously he added, “And he called me a Mr. Louie. How-a disrespectful.” “En guarde,” the remaining weasel growled, but it was too late. Louie hacked him down as soon as the corsair opened his mouth. Upon killing both corsairs, Louie pinched their money off of them. But that isn’t the strange part. After taking the coins, Louie pulled a cigar of rolled up tobacco out of his coat pocket. He lifted up his mask, his face enshrouded in the night shadows, and began to smoke. Then he took the cigar and left a burn mark on the sides of each of the slain weasels’ necks. Louie pulled down the mask, threw the cigar aside, and disappeared into the night. The Black Market always gets its money, through whatever means necessary!