Namakata	Aldin Busheytail	Other Squirrels	Council of Elders	Our History	Moxie's alt.dbs page

The Ruling Council of Elders

First conceived 31 March, 1998
Last update 15 November, 2002

In 1984, soon after Aldin was turned into a human (see History of Namakata), the remaining squirrels of Namakata rose-up and left the warren. Under the weakened state of his few bun troops, Commander FlopEar didn't stop them. They moved several miles away from the lab, but still close enough that they could keep an eye on the devilbunnies.

The squirrels realized that though they would have to live like their wild cousins, they still would need to work together to survive. Occasionally, disputes between squirrels would need to be settled. Soon a ruling council was formed and it was decided that the oldest of those among them, being the wisest since they have seen more seasons then the others, would take-up seats on this council. Puffcheeks, the last surviving member (other than Aldin who was now living among the humans as one of them) of Aldin's original rebellion group was chosen to head the council. Seven squirrels as a group would work together for the betterment of all the others.

The first winter had been most brutal and many had not survived that winter. Those that had, met with the surviving members of the Council of Elders to decide their options. As a group, they decided to continue living in the wild, for death as free squirrels was preferable to life as slaves. The Council immediately declared all survivors of that harsh winter as "First Generation" no matter their true age, and that the first litter would therefore be known as the Second Generation. All approved of this notion. The Council also asked for replacements for those on the Council who did not survive the winter and these were voted in, again, the eldest of the survivors were looked to with respect to lead them all into this new life.

The Council had little to do other then direct the sharing of the harvest of the trees through that year. They did not need to make another judgement in a dispute until the following mating season where some of the younger members of the First chose Seconds as their mates and an argument arose as to whether the litter of such a union would be Second or Third Generation. All abided by the Council's decision to go with the elder mate's generation in the decision--any litter from a union with a First would be considered Second Generation, no matter what generation the First's mate happened to belong to. This has since, provided a few confusing moments to those outside of Namakata.

Under the Council's guidance the squirrels stayed to themselves away from the devilbunnies for 11 years. Over the years, one by one, the First Generation died-off of old age and other natural causes (predation), until only old Puffcheeks was left. He had even outlast all his children, except Ash who had been born only a few years earlier. Now the Council had been called upon again with the return of Aldin Busheytail, still human. Together they attacked the devilbunnies of Namakata to stop their evil ways once and for all. Many joined the battle, few lived to tell about it. One of the many victims was Puffcheeks.

With the death of Puffcheeks and the mysterious transformation of Aldin back into a squirrel, all the squirrels agreed that Aldin should take-up Puffcheek's old seat and lead the council. He politely refused stating he had unfinished business elsewhere. After his departure, the others turned to Ash. Though younger then many of the later generations, she was Puffcheeks' daughter and as such was Second Generation. The only surviving member of this class. Reluctantly at first, realizing the burden now placed on her shoulders, Ash took the seat that had been held by her father. Under her guidance, the squirrels rebuilt the old bun warren to use for communications with the Fudds, training, food storage, and emergency shelter in case of severe weather or attack. But they remained mostly isolated as Ash tried to continue her father's policies.

This isolation backfired in mid-summer 1996, when a rabies outbreak devastated the squirrels of Namakata. Word got to their Fudd allies who brought medical supplies as quickly as possible, but not soon enough for some. Those for whom it was too late to help chose to go on a suicide mission against the devilbunnies of Bangor. The mission was very successful. The Council of Elders took-up a vote of confidence and Ash barely held her seat 4-2. She realized they would not survive if they tried to continue living in isolation.

Soon afterwards, groups of 6-10 squirrels were assigned on 2 week shifts as scouts for their Fudd allies in southern Maine and elsewhere in the state, providing many with some combat experience against their common devilbunny enemies. Many proved their worth in aiding their Fudd allies in battle. After the China (Maine) Battle in the fall of 1996, Namakata's small factory was put to use, turning-out squirrel-sized crossbows based on a model captured from a dead devilbunny marine, complete with hollow-pointed shafts that could be dipped in HVE™, HU™, or Moxie™.

Upon Aldin's return in 1997, Ash offered to step down, for the head seat should be Aldin's. Again, Aldin refused citing that the Council had done well so far under her guidance, why should that guidance be changed? Since that time, Ash won Aldin's heart and they became mates. Ash maintains the head seat on the Council of Elders and Aldin sits in as an advisor to the council.

The current council includes:

Head: Ash Puffckeeks--Second Generation, born 1992, daughter of Puffcheeks the Elder. She is the mate of Aldin Busheytail.

Oakleaf--Fourth Generation, born in 1990.

Amaeru (Squirrel Ronin)--first member to serve who was not born at Namakata, he replaced Broadleaf on the council. Amaeru is written by David Barrett.

The other 4 have not been named as there has not been a need to come up with names in stories yet.

Advisor/honorary member: Aldin Busheytail, squirrel mentat--First Generation, born 1979 as a wild squirrel. He does not have voting privileges, but the others listen to his words intently when he chooses to speak.

Former Members:

Broadleaf--retired from the council in 2000.
Puffcheeks the Elder--perished in the battle to retake Namakata in 1995. He led the council from its formation until his death.

This page is ©1998-2002 by Scott Bernier except for Amaeru/Ronin who belongs to David Barret. As Aldin has warned you several times on the group:

Copyright violators will be pelted to death with walnuts and the
remains divided among Fudd Scientists, devilbunny mentats and the
War of Four for experimentation!