Orlando the Axe was a male badger who was known as the Lord of the Western Plains. His weapon of choice was a vast double-headed battleaxe, hence his name. He was the father of Auma and the widower of Brockrose. Orlando assisted Matthias in freeing Slagar the Cruel's slaves.
Though Orlando occasionally experienced the Bloodwrath, it did not appear to consume him as it did other Badger Lords. In addition to being a warrior, he was a good cook, as mentioned by Auma.
After his wife died of unknown circumstances three seasons prior, Orlando's life revolved around his young daughter. Along with Matthias' son Mattimeo and several others, she was captured by Slagar to be sold to the evil Malkariss.
With his home destroyed by the fox, Orlando pursued Slagar, joined Matthias, and traveled with his group to the southern kingdom of Malkariss to free the slaves. Orlando battled against the Blackrobe Rats and even killed the Wearet. He, along with Matthias, destroyed the limestone statue of Malkariss with his battleaxe. Orlando was instrumental in causing Slagar's death, in which the fox was chased into a well by the badger and Matthias.
With the slaves rescued and Malkariss' kingdom destroyed, Orlando returned to Redwall Abbey, where he lived for many seasons. Constance was his firm friend and together they raised his daughter Auma, who succeeded Constance as Badger Mother when she died. Orlando lived a peaceful life at Redwall and hung up his battleaxe for many seasons.
Eventually, however, he left the Abbey to journey to Salamandastron, where he ruled as Badger Lord for an unknown amount of time.
Nelvana Redwall TV Series[]
Orlando the Axe is the first character to appear in Season 2 of the Nelvana Redwall TV Series, which opens with a scene that features the kidnapping of Auma, the burning of his residence by Slagar the Cruel, and a vow to pursue the fox "to the end of [his] days." This scene does not appear in Mattimeo, which only dedicates a few sentences to his discovery of Auma's capture and refers to his home being "smashed and broken."
Trivia[]
- Orlando the Axe was the second badger warrior to appear in the Redwall series, and the first known to use the war cry Eulalia.