Slagar the Slaver

Slagar the Slaver is the season two premiere episode of the Nelvana Redwall TV Series, and the fourteenth overall episode.

Summary

Orlando the Axe picks flowers in a field for his daughter, Auma, when he detects smoke in the air. Running towards the conflagration, he discovers his home on fire, while Auma is missing. Noticing tracks nearby, he deduces Slagar the Cruel has taken her, and rushes into his burning abode to grab his battle axe. Vowing to find Auma, he sets off after the slavers.

Slagar traverses Mossflower Woods, heading to Redwall Abbey in search of revenge.

At Redwall, Mattimeo and Vitch get into a physical altercation, which is broken up by Sam Squirrel, Jess Squirrel, and Constance. Constance disciplines the pair, directing Vitch to The Kitchen and Mattimeo to his father, Matthias.

Slagar and his gang arrive at Saint Ninian's Church, where they quickly establish a base of operations.

Matthias and Foremole meet in The Gatehouse and prepare for an upcoming feast when Mattimeo enters. Cornflower Fieldmouse and Matthias talk to Mattimeo about his recent behavior, with Matthias providing an inspirational skill demonstration with the sword of Martin the Warrior and tasking Mattimeo with taking on Vitch's kitchen responsibilities. Mattimeo believes that there is something wrong with Vitch.

Mattimeo goes to Great Hall and speaks to the Tapestry of Martin, while Vitch reveals himself to be a spy for Slagar, meeting the fox at Saint Ninian's and informing him of the time of the feast, which is scheduled for the next day at sunset.

The following day, Mattimeo visits Ambrose Spike in The Cellar and encounters Tess and Tim Churchmouse and Sam amidst the barrels.

Cornflower and Mrs. Churchmouse gather flowers with help from Basil Stag Hare. Mattimeo walks up to lend a paw as well. Matthias and Abbot Mordalfus greet them on the way to go fishing at the Redwall Abbey Pond.

At Saint Ninian's, Slagar and his gang make their final preparations for Redwall, as Auma and his other captives cower in fear. Several vermin disguise themselves as a traveling circus, and they venture to the Abbey.

The Redwallers raise a glass for Mordalfus when Slagar's gang knocks on the door and are invited inside Redwall, where they perform at the feast and drug the drinks of the attendees. Slagar impresses the Redwallers by naming and describing Ambrose, Basil, Mrs. Churchmouse, and Matthias before insisting that they all drink together, after which the Redwallers pass out from the sleeping potion.

Slagar and his gang kidnap Mattimeo, Sam, Tim, Tess, and Cynthia Bankvole, and depart.

Official Synopsis

In the Kitchens of Redwall Abbey, Mattimeo, son of Matthias the warrior and Cornflower, fights Vitch, a mean little rat. Mattimeo is punished by his father for discourtesy to a guest. But Mattimeo's instincts about Vitch are validated when it transpires that Vitch is a spy for Slagar the Fox, a slaver for the terrible underground kingdom of Malkariss. Slagar gains entry to Redwall disguised as a leader of a troupe of magicians. At a great feast he is able to drug the drinks and capture Mattimeo and his friends, Tess and Tim Churchmouse, Sam Squirrel, and Cynthia Bankvole.

They join a group of slaves among whom is Auma, little daughter of Orlando the Axe - who even now is hunting the fox. As the slaves are taken away Slagar is revealed to be Chickenhound the treacherous fox from Series One, "Redwall", seeking revenge against Matthias the Warrior.

Differences from Mattimeo

• The slavers tell the young captives that they're taking them to Malkariss and laugh mockingly; in the book, the slavers have no idea where they are going, but when Slagar tells them, they're terrified.
• In the book, when Mattimeo is punished, Matthias raises his voice at his son; in the episode, Matthias is more calm.
• When Slagar assigns the roles for his slavers to play, Scringe is one of the few who stay behind; in the book, he joins his fellow vermin to Redwall.
• In the book, Skinpaw sings to get the dwellers' attention at the Abbey gates; in the episode, Threeclaws performs this role.

Featurettes

• Brian Jacques transcript:

"Hello, I'm Brian Jacques, and welcome back to Redwall. Several seasons have passed since we last saw Matthias and his friends in the Abbey. Much has happened. The Abbot died and appointed Matthias the warrior mouse of Redwall. Cluny was defeated, and Redwall Abbey rejoiced. Matthias the Warrior has wed Cornflower, and they now have a son of their own, Mattimeo. Meet him in this episode of Redwall."

This episode includes the exact same featurettes from "Battle."

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?"

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Streaming

Slagar the Slaver is available for streaming on Nelvana's official Treehouse Direct YouTube channel.

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de:"Slagars Rache"