Salamandastron: Library - Records Room

-------------- Salamandastron --------------- This room is just off from the library, and a good deal smaller. It seems little more than an oversized closet. But, it apparently suits its purpose, with each wall obscured by a bookshelf, and each bookshelf full of the current records of the Long Patrol, dating back perhaps 30 seasons. After that, they are most often moved off into the main library, to then be considered history. In the center of the room, a desk sits, with a half-full ink well usually in attendance, as well as a nice stack of parchment. Behind the desk a much-used chair sits, obviously used by the recorder of the Long Patrol. -------------------------------------

There is a small cloud of dust in the air of this room, several trunks have been thrown open and Quinten is sat ont the floor, surrounded by pieces of parchment which he is muttering over.

Well, another hare has just entered the library but on another mission of his own as he begins to make his way towards where the history section is. Wriggling his nose, Jarril coughs. "And whom is making such a mess? I know it's not our recorder as I've seen him taking a rare break down below?" A head pops around one of the shelves as he blinks. "Oh Quint lad, maybe I shouldn't ask, wot?"

Quinten looks up from where he is surrounded by parchment, dust clinging to his ear tips, turning them grey. "Major sir, nice to see you," he looks around and grins, "Don't usually see you in here sah."

Letting that one float over his shoulder, Jarril nods. "So er, what are ya up ta anyways?" You say, "Research, I have been trying to find mention of the various types of badges the patrol used to wear. I found this old one but no one is sure what it is for,"

Jarril hmms, leaning against the bookshelf now, crossing his arms. "And what has ya so interested in that? Perhaps ya wanting ta bring it back into service? Maybe get it yaself?"

Quinten laughs, "Nothing as grand sir, just interesting is all, i'm still off duty until Monday and I do not get to do research on your time wot."

Nodding his head still, Jarril replies back. "Well, ya chose ta be on patrah duty." Looking at the desk. "Ya can have all the time that ya want if ya took up that recorder apprentice job that's still available and all."

Quinten smirks at you, "Trying to get rid of me Major? I'm shocked." he winks at you, "But no sir i'm more then happy to be on patrol. I don't want to be a civilian/"

Jarril snorts. "Actually the recorder isn't a civillian, still part of the active patrah really. I mean, have ya thought..." The major heads off to one of the books and pulls it out before flipping it open. "How we still get ta read about what happened in the past but at the time when it happened, most of the stuff was upper rank classifised." Giving Quinten a look. "And no, I'm not going ta say where the recorder keeps the most recent stuff either, they're not released until a certain time." Closing the book again, he smiles. "The recorder knows more about what is happening now than ya evah will really."

Quinten looks around the room a frown on his face, "I have been tempted for months sir, but I keep feeling like i'd let you down if i took the job."

Jarril shrugs. "Like that has stopped others from leaving in the past, it's a job. I can't say either way on what ya should or shouldn't do with ya life, however I don't think ya have much of a easier time being under the recorder than ya have with me." Placing the book back into the shelf he smiles. "Anyways, maybe ya right, don't think ya can be more peaceful or teach. Depends on how much ya learnt from the Abbey's recorder really..."

Quinten looks around, "I spent all my time with the abbey recorder when not on duty, i'm just worried about never being able to advance in ranks if I take up the post. Can I still do that?"

Jarril nods. "I think, there's only like two or three positions within the recorder rank. Recruit, Recorder in Training and actual recorder." The major ponders slowly. "Mostly those in training go off sometimes and get information elsewhere with other patrahs. We like our recorders ta have the lay of the land as well before they end up taking their final role which is basically here in the mountain. That's if no one else takes it mind ya. Some officah's may take it up when they feel like retiring. But nothing ta stop asking ta become in training and write stuff on patrah for him really. A few hares already do that already and if I ain't mistaken ya have yaself from time ta time."

Quinten nods his head and frowns, "Well maybe that be the way to go then, to write up reports and help out when I am here. I mean I can still patrol and keep record of my patrols that way."

Jarril nods as he moves to another book and flips it open to look into it. "So, I hope ya going ta clean this mess up..." Frowning slightly, he closes the book and picks another book which he nods and takes it out before moving to where the recorder's desk is and sits down. Only the cover spine of the book gives sign that it's from the season that the major had hidden away with his ear problem.

Quinten glances up and frowns as he tilts his head to get a look at the spine, "What are you looking for Major? Maybe I can help with that Iknow where alot of things are in here." Lowering the book, Jarril gives a slight frown. "Actually, I be okay. I don't think ya should be anymore part of this, ya may get dragged into something." Placing the book opened on the desk he shakes his head a bit before turning the page.

Quinten frowns and stands up, dusting grey dust from his smock and walks over, "I think i'm already involved sah and I am on your team afterall."

Flicking an ear, the major leans back in the chair and gives a questionable look to the younger hare. "Oh and may I enquire on where ya logic comes from here?" He pauses for a moment and then continues on, speaking quietly as though not to disturb anyone else in the library. "Ya only been a messenger so far, without knowing what was going on. I know ya in my patrah but I rather ya keep from this as much as possible. Me and Taye will have ta deal with this, besides getting involved may make them turn their attention on ya, which I ain't sure if ya would want that. Especially if we don't know who they are?" Giving Quinten another thoughtful look. "I mean, would ya be okay if they sent a letter saying do this or someone ya care for dies? We don't know who they are or where they're from and even when I do find out. There's nothing ta say it could be easy ta fix this. They have spies and all apparantely."

Quinten frowns and reaches up to fiddle with one of his ears, "But are they just targeting you and Taye or the whole patrol? Sounds like they be playing games with yu major, trying to make you do something stupid."

Jarril shrugs. "I don't know what they want at the moment. They just want me ta get some patrah out and sort out some toad and lizard problem in the swamps. They wouldn't come out onto the beach, they would dry out too fast, some of them don't like dryness, the sands would kill them easily." Giving a sigh. "Which confuses me since it's only the swamp that offers enough moisture here in this region so someone wants us ta help clear out the swamp but for what I don't know. I ain't sure if I will do it yet, not until I get reports of sightings outside but I doubt it."

Quinten nods his head nad chews on the end of a quill, "Maybe they want us distracted from something else? Turn our eyes south or east and miss something?"

Jarril shrugs. "I haven't a clue, don't like this hide and seek tactics either but not been able ta see either Taye or my cousin yet so not willing ta do anything until I do."

Quinten nods his head, "Well lets hope they don't get tired of waiting for your response, they could take it as a sign you won't even talk. I think that would be bad."

Jarril snorts. "If they have knowledge of what goes on here in the mountain then they already probably know I can't do anything until I've talked ta my superior. They just have ta be patient, it's a good job I ain't a colonel, I wouldn't have breathing room really. At least being one rank down has managed ta give me some breathing room. Taye I suspect will have more though I haven't a clue on what his letter says..."

You ask, "Did they even send a letter to him?""

Jarril looks at Quinten. "Well, ya know.. Ya were the messenger..."

Quinten looks at Jarril, "I didn't deliver any messages just those bundle of fur." Quinten frowns, "Oh...you know I never thought to look. I wonder if taye got one."

Jarril shrugs. "Anyways, I have a plan, just have ta see what happens if I get another letter." The major gives a look on not to question this as he's not going to go into it.

Quinten nods his head and salutes, "yes sir." Looking down at the mess. "Okay, I think ya should start clearing this mess up before the recorder comes back. May work in ya favour if ya want ta take this position in the future."

Quinten chuckles and moves over to start gathering papers up, "I always tidy up after me sir, got to keep everything organised

Jarril nods. "So I've heard." Closing the book, he smiled. "I got a report from the majah that ya were with as well on ya patrah. Seems he was a bit impressed with ya."

Quinten shuffles some papers into a file and glances back at Jarril and grins, "He was? was just doing my bit."

Jarril nods. "Well, sometimes patrah's do different things, different rituals and all. Some don't exactly managed ta get into it. So no mistakes then?"

Quinten shakes his head, "Not that I was told about, think I did pretty good keeping up with them all and doing as I was ordered."

Closing the book now, he shakes his head. "Anyways.." Getting up to place the book back into the shelf, the hare goes back to the table and grabs a piece of parchment, scribbling down something before folding it up and sealing it with some candle wax, then stamping it down. "Right, I have ta get going." Placing the letter on the recorder's desk, he looks at Quinten. "I mean it, until I say so, I rather ya keep out of this for the moment. Just if ya can before me, find out what happened with Taye."

Quinten nods his head, "If i hear anything sir i'll come to you straight away."

Jarril gives a thoughtful look. "Hmmm, well don't eavesdrop, don't want ya ta be thought ta be the spy yaself, eh?" He nods and then turns to leave but stops. "Think about talking ta the recorder anyways, though he's got a fair bit of seasons left, he's only replaced our female one a season ago, so ya have enough time for patrah'ing before sitting down in here." With that, he says nothing more and leaves.

Quinten salutes as you leave and then resumes his tidying up of the files he has had out.

• End Log