Prophetic Carvings

‘The prophecies carved on Salamandastron’s walls tell of a time coming when trouble will become a byword. Our fortunes and fates are written in these rocks… Leave the worrying and wondering to the waves and clouds.’

Rawnblade Widestrip

Mariel of Redwall

The Salamanastron Ruse

Salamanastron, "mountain of the fire lizard" is a ruse.  There are neither fire-breathing dragons nor volcanos.  The mountain was one great hall. At its center was huge furnace like forge. The forge was used to manufacture weapons of all description and was kept lit at all the times. From afar, the seafarer imagined the island having an active volcano.  

In a chamber above the forge sat a dragon that had been carved out of rock, which, from time to time was hoisted into a window. A fire was started in an opening in the back of its mouth and smoke and fire would emerge from its mouth, thus causing those passing nearby to see what they thought was a real fire breathing dragon. These activities were initiated to keep the wayward traveler away, far away from Salamanastron.

The Hares of Salamanastron

Boar would send several of his hares out on recon missions. The hares of Salamanastron were the eyes and ears of Lord Boar. As the four adventures got nearer to Salamanastron they were noticed.  Trubbs, Wother, Ffring were sent by Lord Boar to intercept the four and lead them to the mountain fortress.

The hares that live under the mountain of Salamanastron are Trubbs, Wother, Ffring, three doe eyed hares named Harebell, Honeydew, and Willow which rendered Trubbs, Wather, and Ffring speechless with just the flutter of their eyes. There were also a huge hare, Buffheart, his wife, Lupin, and their two children, Starbuck and Breeze.

                                  Trubbs

“Harabell, Honeydew, and Willow,

Each a pretty thing;

Bold brave and fearless,

Wother, Trubbs and Ffring;

Lupin, Buffheart, Starbuck, Breeze,

Swift as winds across the trees,

Rule o`er land and sea herefrom,

Sala-manda-stron.

A song of Gonff for the Hares of Salamanastron, Mossfollower, page 326.

The Quest for Salamandastron

The ship had been lost and the rest of the journey had to be done on foot. As the four adventures drew closer to Salamandastron, the mountain “flared crimson against the dark sky”, and Gonff began to sing this song:

‘Always the tide comes flowing in.

Ever it goes out again.

Sleep ‘neath the shore evermore,

Free from hunger and pain.

Morning light will bring the sun;

Seasons go rolling on.

Questing ever far from home,

For Salamandastron.’

(Mossflower, 285)

The Ships of Mossflower

Although Mossflower is not a maritime story it does have a maritime element to it; there are two ships mentioned within its pages.

Waterwing

Waterwing was built by Log-a-Log, a shrew. (The land of the shrews was sacked by Ripfang and his band of sea rats. The shrews that were not killed were put to the oars as galley slaves.) Waterwing is a gallery that is fit with a sail. She was lost on her maiden voyage after she came in contact with cataracts on the Great South Stream.

Bloodwake

The Bloodwake like the Waterwing is a galley that is fit with sails. Bloodwake is commanded by Ripfang the sea-rat, the “most black hearted sea-rat or’em all”, and is crewed by a crew of murderous sea-rats and other assorted misfits. The Bloodwake is painted black and has a large bleached skull and fin of some sea-fish on its bow.

The Bloodwake, once captured by Martin and his friends and was renamed Wuddshipp. Wuddshipp would be scuttled in order to flood the River Moss. She was eventually refloated and used to ferry stone from the quarry to the location for the new Redwall Abby. 

A Song for a Sailor Mouse

Gonff, Martin, Dinny, and Log-log, the captain of the Waterwing set off for Salamandstron. Gonff sang this song while he was aboard the Waterwing, which was venturing out on its maiden voyage.

“O for the life of a sailor-mouse, it’s better than Kotir gaol,

A rest for the weary traveling paws,

With wind to drive our sail.

There’s a shrew for skipper, two mice for mates and mole for a cabin boy.

When we sight Salamandstron, we’ll shout out loud, Ahoy!"

(Mossflower, 217)

Gonff's Sings a Song as they Start-out on their Quest for Salamandastron

As Martin, Gonff, and Dinny head off to find Salamandastron, Gonff retorts with a little ditty for the occasion. 

“A questing –O the friends did go,

Companions brave and bold,

O’er forest, filed and flowing stream,

Cross mountains high and old.

These brave young creatures journeying,

Along the road together,

While birds did sing through the spring,

Into the summer weather."

(Mossflower, 141)

The Way to Salamanastron

A piece of parchment was found affixed to the bottom of the table that contained the directions, as the crow flies; to Salamanastron, as seen through the eyes of a goose.

"Twixt earth and sky where birds can fly,

I look below to see

A place of wood with plumage green

That breezes move like sea.

Behind me as the dawn breaks clear,

Woodpigeons come awake,

See brown dust roll, twixt green and gold,

Unwinding like a snake.

So fly and sing, the wildgoose is King.

O'er golden acres far below,

Our wings beat strong and true,

Where deep and wet, see flowering yet,

Another snake of blue.

Across the earth is changing shape,

With form and colour deep,

Afar the teeth of land rise up,

To bite the wool of sheep.

So fly and sing, the wildgoose is King.

Beyond this, much is lost in mist,

But here and there I see

The treachery of muddy grey,

'Tis no place for the free.

O feathered brethren of the air,

Fly straight and do not fall,

Onward cross the wet gold flat,

Where seabirds wheel and call.

So fly and sing, the wildgoose is King.

The skies are growing darker, see

Our beacon shining bright.

Go high across the single fang

That burns into the night.

We leave you now as we wing on,

Our journey then must be

Where sky and water meet in line,

And suns drown in the sea.

So fly and sing, the wildgoose is King."

(Mossflower, 142-43)

Another Clue as to the Location of Salamanastron (2nd preamble)

The second riddle pointed to a table in Brockhall, actually under the table. Directions to Salamanastron as seen by a goose while in flight can be found under the table where “ale, bread, and cheese” are consumed.

“Boar is badger, named after wood,

Not after forest, but trees.

Where did you play on a rainy day?

Where did I eat bread and cheese?

Search inside, stay indoors.

Look up and find the secret is yours.

Your castle, your fort,

Or so you thought.

The way is in four trees.

The way is in Boar in Brockhall.

Under ale, under bread, under cheese.”

(Mossflower, 135)

The Quest of Salamanastron-A Clue

Looking for clues that might have been left behind by Bella’s father, Bella, Martin, Gonff, and Dinny took to ransacking Bella’s study. The party was looking through stacks of dusty scrolls that littered the desk and room.

Becoming frustrated, Martin bangs his paw on the desk and out pops a secret drawer. Inside the drawer sits a single sheet of parchment with the following words being written on it in the hand of Boar the Fighter.

This is the first clue, a preamble to the location of Salamanastron.

“To the mountain of fire where badgers go,

The path is fraught with danger,

The way is long and hard and slow,

Through foe and hostile stranger,

The warrior’s heart must never fail,

Or falter on his quest.

Those who live to tell the tale,

First must turn he crest.”

(Mossflower, 132)

The Quest for Salamanastron

“Salamandastron is a large, extinct volcano on the western shore of Mossflower.” Salamandastron is described as “Fire Mountain”, and secret place of dragons. Bella is sending Martin and Gonff to find her father Boar the Fighter which is reported to have traveled to Salamandastron. Boar the Fighter is to be apprised of the situation back in Mossflower.

The location of Salamandastron is a mystery and Bella and her cohorts are looking for clues that might have been left behind by Bella’s father as to its location.