Here's an event summary for those who missed it!
On the 7th day of Fireleaf, a band of pirates landed ashore on Kalris. From their beach landing spot, they set out into the island to harass the populace and seek plunder. Some folk wandered into them on the roads; most ran when threatened, some were beaten and robbed, and a few were even kidnapped back to the landing spot and put to work. Eventually, the cowardly fleeing of warriors from the weapons of the pirates led them to give chase into the combat line of Lady Vitta. After a fierce skirmish, her warriors drove them back, but it was a temporary victory.
While they held the line, the pirates devised an alternate plan, and snuck into the castle, menacing a raccoon who fled pathetically behind locked doors, and abducting a beloved red panda, spiriting him away to their prison before the Lady's people could discover they'd been circumvented and mount a rescue. Alas, they snuck their new captive out right under the nose of the search party, and the Castle was forced to meet with the pirates and negotiate a ransom. The first ransom negotiation went poorly; demands were rejected, despite threats on the beloved panda's life, and the pirates retired to their hideout while the Castle planned a rescue.
At the same time, a heroic and noble fox had discovered the location of the pirate's hideout, and rushed to inform the Castle. But there was a flaw: they did not believe they could reach it through the path he had found, so they sent him out to scout another that they could attack by. This time in the forest, he ran into a pirate headed the other way, who gave chase and drove him into a corner; unable to use his vaunted speed, he fell in combat and was captured as well. With this loss the Castle was forced to negotiate and pay a dear ransom to see the prisoners returned safely... at least some of them.
The ransom was paid, and the prisoners returned, albeit all was not in harmony and good cheer between the critters of Kalris. The pirates swore that they would take their plunder and leave, having been paid a bounteous pile of gems and other riches. Will that be the end of it? That remains to be written...
