Late Rose Summer Wars

Occur In: Redwall

Mentioned In: Mattimeo




This ongoing war between Cluny's horde and the Redwallers is so named because it occurs during the Summer of the Late Rose. It starts when Cluny arrives in Mossflower with his large army as he is determined to conquer the Abbey, and his first attempt is bargaining his way inside where he tries to force the woodlanders to surrender. Constance and Matthias stop him, and he is forced to flee. He then orders Shadow to sneak into Great Hall and steal Martin's tapestry, which the rat does successfully but at the cost of his own life. Meanwhile, Matthias begins his quest for Martin's missing sword as he believes it will help them defeat Cluny. The Scourge tries many times to gain access into Redwall including ladders and grappling hooks, but the inhabitants pour dirt onto the battlements which destroy the ladders. At one point the tapestry piece is recovered by Basil and Jess, who return it to its rightful place. Cluny has some of his soldiers climb a tree and move a plank over to the wall, however Constance shoves the piece off and Cluny is injured in the fall. After his recovery he has a siege tower and battering ram constructed as well as ordering some vermin to dig a tunnel. These fail when the Redwallers throw a barrel filled with angry hornets onto the battering ram, Cornflower hurls a lit lantern at the siege tower which causes it to burst into flames, and boiling water is poured into the tunnel. During all this, Matthias learns that Asmodeus took the sword many seasons ago and keeps it with him at the Quarry so he heads there with the GUOSIM. After some tense moments he kills the adder and reclaims the famous weapon, returning to Redwall just after Cluny has breached it thanks to him capturing Plumpen and forcing him to open the gates. An armoured Matthias appears as Cluny is threatening Mortimer, and the final battle ensues. The two leaders duel across the Lawns and into the Bell Tower, where Cluny snatches up a hiding Hugo and threatens to kill him. Matthias, who is not at the top of the tower, tells Cluny that he will come down if he lets the Friar go. The Scourge agrees to this but is suddenly frozen in place as the mouse Warrior cuts the ropes holding the Joseph Bell, and Cluny is crushed to death by the falling Bell. Any surviving soldiers are slain by a waiting Julian and Snow, Matthias is named Abbey Warrior, Mortimer passes away from his wounds, and Mordalfus succeeds him as Abbot.