Battle

Battle is the eleventh episode of Season 2 and the twenty-fourth episode overall of the Nelvana Redwall TV Series.

Summary

At the Kingdom of Malkariss, a Blackrobe rat shows Mattimeo, Tess Churchmouse, Auma, Cynthia Bankvole, and Sam Squirrel a look at slaves constructing an underground city.

Matthias, Orlando the Axe, and Basil Stag Hare try to solve Abbess Germaine's riddle about the Lord of Mossflower. They decide to follow its shadow to a rock. Matthias strikes it with the sword of Martin the Warrior, but nothing happens. Jess Squirrel suggests the tree may have been taller in the past, and Matthias continues onward until he finds a set of Loamhedge Abbey stairs. The group determines that they're standing on the Abbey roof, as its sunk underground over time, and descends the staircase. They come across a closed stone door. Jess places the necklace that the Old Rabbit gave Matthias into an empty slot, and the door slides open.

Cornflower Fieldmouse and Constance discuss their success with scaring members of Ironbeak's Flock. The birds converse about the "ghost", while General Ironbeak assures them that the "ghost" doesn't even exist. Cornflower and Constance continue the ruse, and Ironbeak tries to attack her to prove that the ghost is corporeal. He fails, much to his embarrassment.

Above the Loamhedge entrance to Malkariss' kingdom, Matthias directs Sir Harry the Muse to take the remaining members of Slagar's Gang south. Matthias and his companions prepare to do whatever it takes to rescue their young ones.

Nadaz presents Mattimeo, Sam, Auma, Cynthia, and Tess to the statue of Malkariss. Malkariss commands them to build his kingdom, and when Tess protests, he instructs Nadaz to lock them up.

Stryk Redkite struggles with flying. She sees Redwall Abbey in the distance, and heads in its direction. At the Abbey, Ironbeak's flock attacks Stryk. Cornflower awakens Abbot Mordalfus, who was dozing in Cavern Hole, for help. He has Constance and Foremole scare off the birds, and they bring Stryk inside Redwall. Ironbeak can't believe his flock let them get away. Mordalfus and Cornflower care for Stryk, who they determine has a broken wing.

Matthias and his companions make a decision as to which way to head, while Nadaz and Slagar the Cruel meet with Malkariss, who informs them that Slagar will receive a horde of rats and a selection of slaves to build him a fortress above ground. On his way up to the surface, Slagar runs into Matthias. Orlando charges him, and the woodlanders join in. A battle ensues with the Blackrobes, however Slagar retreats. As the adults pursue Slagar, their children hear them run by their cell and yell for help. Malkariss activates even more Blackrobes, and a huge conflict breaks out. Log-a-Log observes Slagar throw a spear at Matthias and hurls himself in front of it, taking the hit. Basil and Cheek provide defense so Matthias, Log-a-Log, and the Guerilla Union of Shrews in Mossflower can retreat.

Log-a-Log, with his last breaths, asks to be taken to the surface. Matthias addresses the Blackrobes, calling for a duel with their best fighter. Nadaz reveals his challenger, the Wearet.

Official Synopsis

Underground in the kingdom of Malkariss, Mattimeo and his friends see the slaves building a huge city. Brave Tess refuses to be a slave and Mattimeo is brutally attacked when he tries to save her from punishment. The slaves are thrown into a dank cell. Matthias unravels the last secret of the Loamhedge parchment and finds the way into Malkariss-- the Old Rabbit's amulet is the key to enter!

Redwall Abbey is also successfully fighting back with Martin's Ghost and adds a new friend to its ranks in the form of Stryk Redkite, an enormous but injured kite-bird who crashes to earth nearby. Cornflower repairs her wing-- and gains a formidable ally.

While Slagar and Malkariss deal for power, Matthias and friends descend the honeycomb passages into the kingdom. A fierce battle ensues in which Log-a-Log saves Matthias' life, but is mortally injured. To prevent more bloodshed Matthias challenges the rats to bring forth their champion for him to fight-- none other than the ferocious Wearet-- the Slavemaster. Everybody's fate now hangs on the outcome of a paw-to-paw fight between the monster and Matthias the Warrior.

Differences from Mattimeo

• In the book, it is Sister May who tends to Stryk Redkite, not Cornflower.
• Slagar leads his small army of Blackrobes, whereas in the book, he and Nadaz both go. As such, Slagar is the one who warns Malkariss that his realm is being invaded.
• In the episode, Slagar is seen taking the torches from their holders, not Nadaz.
• Before Matthias and company make it to the ledge, Slagar stays, and watches the battle. In the book, Slagar keeps on running and he finds a place to hide.
• In the book, Log-a-Log is mortally wounded by a random Blackrobe soldier instead of being killed by Slagar.

Featurettes

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This episode includes the exact same featurettes from "Slagar the Slaver."

Segments include:

• "Medicine"
• "Medieval Herbalist/Doctor"
• "Redwall Trivia: the true identity of Slagar the Slaver is?"
• "Character Spotlight: Slagar"
• "Ask the Author: Brian Jacques - How did you come up with the Redwall Characters?"

• Brian Jacques transcript:

(introduction) Hello, I'm Brian Jacques and welcome to Redwall. When we last saw Slagar, had he made it to the city of Malkariss with his slaves. Matthias also reached the underground kingdom. But will he be able to enter? Will Martin the Warrior's ghost be able to keep Ironbeak and his allies out of Redwall? Stay tuned to find out my friends.

(on medicine) Medicine, doctors, men are constantly coming up with new recipes for cures. New drugs, wonder drugs, things - they all go back to this, they all go back to nature. To herbs, to things that people knew about in times long ago. And the herbs were widely used at Redwall.

If I could go into some friendly little old mouse, and he would make me something to settle me stomach, like "I'll do you some dandelion and burdock for that little scratch you've got there. We've got some sanicle." Sanicle is a wonderful herb for healing, put that on. Be better than rolling your sleeve up and you see this injection coming your way wouldn't it? I think I'd soon have the medieval doctor actually.

(on Slagar) I've got a secret for ya: Chickenhound wasn't gone. In Mossflower, Chickenhound, being a healer fox, healed himself. He stayed out in the forests. And his face, even though he lived, was horribly disfigured by the snake's bite. So, Chickenhound wore a silken harlequin mask of many colors. And he became Slagar the Cruel, the slave trader, and the robber.

(on how he came up with the characters) Well, some of them came from the imagination, but some of them are people I've known in my life. And it's an author's job to observe the human condition, as well as the animal condition. I could look at my little dog and think he's somebody else.

Streaming

Battle is available for streaming on Nelvana's official Treehouse Direct YouTube channel.

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de:"Das Reich im Untergrund"