History Fanfic / TheUrthbloodSaga

* GadgeteerGenius: Lorr the bankvole, with a sprinkling of AbsentMindedProfessor.
* GovernmentInExile: Urthfist and his Long Patrol hares briefly become this after Urthblood conquers Salamandastron while they're at Redwall. [[spoiler: It becomes semi-permanent after Urthfist is killed and his remaining hares choose to settle at Redwall.]]

* [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7238599/1/Tug_of_War Tug of War]]

* FunnyAnimal / UsefulNotes/FurryFandom: Naturally, considering the [[{{Literature/Redwall}} series]] it's based on.

The saga is so far composed of three completed novels. The novels in turn are composed of separate parts, or "books" of several chapters each, and they are published on the site in those parts.

* DoingItForTheArt: Much of The Crimson Badger was written in the late 90's before the author found out about the ROC or expecting anyone else to ever read it. That's right: a ''novel-length'' fanfic was written by someone who never thought it would ever get read by anyone except himself! And not only that, but most of both TCB and The Shrew War was ''written by hand!!''

* JumpedAtTheCall: After learning that Urthblood's army is travelling to Salamandastron to confront Urthfist, Cyril decides to sneak out of Redwall, dress as a soldier and come with them, [[WhatAnIdiot despite not having any combat experience or fighting skills]]. Subverted, quite fortunately, since he's immidiately found out and [[RefusedByTheCall told to go back to the abbey.]]

* TheSleepless: Urthblood, apparently.

* [[TrainingThePeacefulVillagers Training The Peaceful Abbeydwellers]]: Not exactly a straight example, since the Redwallers are already good fighters and knowledgable about how to defend their abbey. However, they have lived in peace for so long that their standards have become rather laxed, and Urthblood reminds them of this and introduces changes to their security that they wouldn't have thought of otherwise.
* TreasureRoom: Salamandastron is revealed to have a magnificient one underneath the throne room were Urthblood first carved his prophecy.

[[/folder]]

* PsychicBlockDefense: Urthblood is apparently able to do this to the ''[[UpToEleven entire era he lives in.]]'' More specifically, Geoff the recorder finds an ancient version of an old nursery rhyme that turns out to have been a poem about how a seer living in a specific era prevents past seers from being able to make predictions and prophecies about that era.

* UpToEleven: The battles, the seer powers, and the technology have all been taken UpToEleven.

* AtlantisIsBoring: Wonderfully [[AvertedTrope averted]] when Winokur, a river otter who at first feels a great deal of trepidation at the prospect, decides to take a swim in the sea by the side of Salamandastron. The chapter goes into a great deal of [[IncrediblyLamePun depth]] about all the wonders of the underwater world, with [[SceneryPorn lavish descriptions]] of the countless varieties of ocean life.

The saga develops and examines ideas never touched upon in the official Redwall novels, and ditches their strict BlackAndWhiteMorality for a [[GreyAndGreyMorality complex moral conflict]] that constantly forces the reader to reevaluate whose side he should be on and who is good or evil. It starts simple enough, but soon turns into a complex, multifaceted epic involving [[AlwaysChaoticEvil vermin]] being taken under Urthblood's arms and retrained into noble warriors, two badgerlords at war, a massive conflict with the [[ArchEnemy searats]], a shrew rebellion, [[LensmanArmsRace escalating arms races]], [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters dozens of characters all getting their own time in the spotlight]], unexpected plot twists and character development and all the action, drama, humour, horror and tragedy you could possibly hope for in a story.

* UnfortunateNames: Of the "Rhyming Names" variety; one of Urthblood's captains is called Perrett... the Ferret.

* LivingLieDetector: As a result of his [[{{Seers}} prophetic powers]], Urthblood is able to detect whether someone is telling the truth or not almost flawlessy, and is even able to engage in limited [[{{Telepathy}} mind reading]] to gauge the general character and trustworthiness of his target.

* NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine: A heroic example ([[AntiHero more or less]]): Urthblood invites Colonel Clewiston, the lead hare of the Long Patrol [[spoiler:who've been taken captive after his takeover of Salamandastron,]] to dinner to try to persuade him to switch loyalties from Urthfist to him. It goes about as well as you'd expect.

* TheMole / ReverseMole: [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant No, not the moles]] Urthblood employs as his [[TheEngineer Tunnel and Trencher Corps.]] Browder, a woodlands hare and [[ThePowerOfActing travelling thespian]] that he employs as a spy and infiltrator, and uses to lure Urthfist out of Salamandastron by having him claim that he's put Redwall under siege. YMMV on which type of mole he is, [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation depending on which badgerlord you view as the "bad" one]], and in any event Browder himself is not a bad creature.

The saga is so far composed of three completed novels. The novels in turn are composed of seperate parts, or "books" of several chapters each, and they are published on the site in those parts.

* TheSouthpaw: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] with Broggen, who's actually right-pawed, but since the manacle to his chain is bound around it, [[TheDeterminator he's trained himself to fight with his left paw.]]

The saga develops and examines ideas never touched upon in the official Redwall novels, and ditches their strict BlackAndWhiteMorality for a [[GreyAndGreyMorality complex moral conflict]] that constantly forces the reader to reevaluate who's side he should be on and who is good or evil. It starts simple enough, but soon turns into a complex, multifaceted epic involving [[AlwaysChaoticEvil vermin]] being taken under Urthblood's arms and retrained into noble warriors, two badgerlords at war, a massive conflict with the [[ArchEnemy searats]], a shrew rebellion, [[LensmanArmsRace escalating arms races]], [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters dozens of characters all getting their own time in the spotlight]], unexpected plot twists and character development and all the action, drama, humour, horror and tragedy you could possibly hope for in a story.

** WhiteAndGrayMorality: The general shade of the conflict between the Redwallers, who are for the most part truly good and striving to do what's right, and Urthfist and the Long Patrol (and to a lesser extent Urthblood and his forces) who are also convinced they're doing what's right, but are decidedly more willing to use more [[ShootTheDog questionable means]] in their struggle.

The saga is so far composed of two completed novels and one in progress. The novels in turn are composed of seperate parts, or "books" of several chapters each, and they are published on the site in those parts.

Thus begins the Urthblood Saga, a {{Literature/Redwall}} fanfic written by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/76153/Highwing Highwing]], and one of the old classics of the Redwall Online Community. Drafted between 1995 and 1997 and published on the [[http://www.redwallfanfiction.com/forum/ Redwall Fanfiction Board]] in the early 2000's.

BonusMaterial

* [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7076532/1/Highwing_A_Sparras_Tale Highwing: A Sparra's Tale]] is a [[{{Prequel}} prequel]] about the sparrow Highwing's early days when he was adopted by the Redwallers.

During a great feastday, the [[FunnyAnimal beasts]] inhabiting [[{{Literature/Redwall}} Redwall Abbey]] are stirred from their reveries by the thunderous cry of Urthblood, a grim, emotionless badgerlord of Salamandastron dressed in [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin blood-red armour]], who possesses the gift of [[{{Seers}} prophetic foresight.]] Invited into the abbey, he tells the gathered beasts of a dire prophecy he received in his youth; a prophecy foretelling a great crisis that will sweep over the lands of Mossflower, and cast them into war, conflict and calamity, but leaving it unclear as to [[VaguenessIsComing whom or what will be causing it.]] Ever since, he has striven tirelessly to gather a great army, fight against the evil beasts of the lands and to unite Mossflower and its surroundings into a strong, unified nation that will be able to withstand or even avert the coming darkness. Now he is offering the Redwallers to strengthen their defenses and help them prepare for the times ahead, for great changes are coming to the lands, and old certainties and beliefs will be challenged in extraordinary and unexpected ways...

Thus begins the Urthblood Saga by veteran Redwall fanfic author Highwing, and one of the old classics of the Redwall Online Community. Drafted between 1995 and 1997 and published on the [[http://www.redwallfanfiction.com/forum/ Redwall Fanfiction Board]] in the early 2000's, this {{Doorstopper}} fic so far spans two novels, [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6788438/1/The_Crimson_Badger_Book_I_The_Warlord The Crimson Badger]] and [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7242385/1/The_Shrew_War_Book_I_A_Fire_in_the_Night_Sky The Shrew War,]] with a combined 200 chapters, plus related side stories.