The War in the Willows - Chapter One

William & Rose

William and Rose sat on the porch of Crooked Spire Tavern in Brightleaf, watching the leaves dance in the breeze. The air was alive with the scent of blooming flowers and the distant tang of adventure.

“I’m sick of this place,” Rose said, her voice lipped with a grin. “We need something new, something wild.”

William chuckled, nudging her with his elbow. “Like what? The Cedarwood, maybe? Heard they have an archery competition coming up.”

Rose’s eyes lit up. “Cedarwood, eh? Could be a start. Make some coin, get our names out there.”

William nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. “And after that… who knows? Maybe head to Argentum, try our luck in the big city.”

Rose whistled low. “Argentum? That’s a whole different beast. Think we’re ready for that?”

William shrugged. “Why not? We’ve got skills, we’ve got guts. What more do we need?”

Rose grinned, clipping him with her tail. “Your optimism’s gonna get us killed one day, Will.”

William laughed. “That’s what makes life worth living, right?”

The sun dipped below the treetops, casting Brightleaf in a warm, golden light. William and Rose shared a look, their decision made.

“When do we leave?” Rose asked, her voice low and ready.

William’s grin matched hers. “How about dawn?”

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William and Rose entered a bustling marketplace, the sounds and smells overwhelming in the best possible way. Animals of all shapes and sizes milled about, hawking their wares or simply enjoying the festive atmosphere.

To one side, a group of beaver craftsmen worked busily, repairing holes in the wooden noticeboard that stood at the centre of the square. Nearby, a young squirrel replaced the old market bell with a shiny new one, its chime clear and bright.

Beside the noticeboard, an old badger with spectacles perched on the end of his nose, checking the adverts posted on the board, beside him, an elegant fox with a green hooded cloak and a bow strung over her back.  William and Rose watched as Bramble, lost in thought, scanned the notices, her expression intent.

The squirrel finished installing the bell, gave it a test ring, and stepped back, nodding in satisfaction. The old badger patted the noticeboard, and the squirrel scurried off to join the beavers.

William nudged Rose, nodding towards Bramble. “Think she’s looking for something?”

Rose followed his gaze, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Looks like it. Wonder what she’s after.”

Bramble remained oblivious to their gaze, still scanning the notices.

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I figured it was about time that I introduced the latest members to join the misfits.

William and Rose are foxes. They have been friends for as long as they can remember.  They don’t have much and dream of making it big by entering archery competitions with the hope of getting to compete in the bigger cities.

As foxes, they both have the Strong (1) skill and are both armed with bows.  Nothing else, no melee weapons and no armour.

This brings the misfits up to 9 models.  The maximum warband size is 10, so I need to make sure the final member, if I make it that far, is a real asset to the team.