The Swans of Blackwater Manor (Copy)

The Mice

There was the Great War in the house. If you are often in the kitchens you might stumble upon what could be an acorn shell that is hard enough to be fossilized. It is a relic of the war. A great fallen hero’s abandoned armor.

Some of the children lucky enough to find these armor plates, place them on black leather cord with the mouse’s skulls as a protection. The mice now are fairly harmless. They have made peace with the House of Bast. The cats largely leave them alone except on the nights of new moons.

Even Cook does not bother much with them. They remain out of her pantry and she leaves them little bowls of food in the highest cupboard. You might even hear them all chattering at night. There is no end to the things the Cook and the mice knows.

A Quick Note on Mouse Heraldry

While the humans take their heraldry in the house with mirth you will find the mice of Blackwater are proud little things. Above each mouse hole you will find their families crest.

Some of the more violent crests have been altered for the cats comfort but you can still hear them whisper from time to time if you hold your ear to the walls in the early or very late gray hours about their families braveries during the Familiar’s War.

If you wish to make friends and I highly encourage you to do so as they are the best navigators and most incredible spies, learn their families true name.

You may even find one of cooks most prized cakes on  your pillow

Saint Maude of the mice

Much has been said and written of the great Mouse War. It is still called such, though, if you wish a thorough history you will remember the official name is, “The War of the Familiars.”

What is a war without official titles and terms after all.

What began as a misunderstanding of the food chain lead

to drawn lines, allyships,  broken treaties (promises for the battle minded), and feelings too large even for the griffons.

Assumptions of character made blanket to cover one and all of one's acquaintance by species much to the detriment and misunderstandings of all.

Here, at Black Water Manor, as a general practicing theory, we do not dictate. Mistakes are not made, but unintentional lessons are.

Small wars are to be studied for tactics, philosophy, literature, and as ever physics. Though the entirety of the Familiar's War gave us much to learn, it gave us much to grieve and divide ourselves.

That last year, we granted no student entry and sent the remaining to their homes.

Only our faculty stayed.

We would start anew.

I am a little sorry.

We do not often release our student's back to the world without proper training. From what I have seen the world will have much to contend with.

During this time of reflection and war Maude, our kitchen girl came forward.

I say forward since few had noted her. She took the Tom Cat General and the Mouse Field Marshal Soft Beard by the scruff of their necks to much hissing, twirling, and scratches.

For three days the door of the pantry was closed.

When it opened again the mouse left with puffed chest and the cat slept behind the sack of flour.

Maude has not been seen for many years, though every mouse hovel and hole has her likeness above the door.

We do not know what was said or done; for mice are as secretive as cats.

Without the mice and cats fighting the other groups lost interest and things have calmed to what you observe today.

It is chittered that the Great negotiations of Field Marshal Soft Beard was to force the meeting well past General Ginger Tom's nap schedule. It was Maud's insistence that none shall sleep until all was negotiated and settled that earned her the title of Saint amongst the mice and quite another title that propriety, if not decency, will keep me from writing here.

With the Sincerity and Memory I am Capable of,