Matthias' Sword

Lore & Background

Matthias, a young mouse raised at Redwall Abbey, dreamed of becoming a great warrior like Martin. With the help of Methuselah the abbey recorder and his friend Cornflower, he discovered a riddle under the tapestry that led to Martin's tomb beneath a set of stone stairs. There, Matthias found Martin's shield and sword-belt. He later stole the sheath from the Sparra tribe, killing King Bull Sparra in the process, and learned from the Guosim Shrews and Captain Snow that the sword itself was taken by Asmodeus Poisonteeth, a huge snake living in a nearby quarry. Matthias, with the Guosim, followed Asmodeus to the quarry, found the sword, and in a fierce battle decapitated the snake. Meanwhile, Cornflower discovered Martin's old battle-armour in an abbey attic. When Cluny's army finally entered Redwall, Matthias returned dressed in Martin's armour, wielding the sword, and led an army of shrews and sparrows. The sight of Matthias dressed as the mouse from his dreams terrified Cluny. In the final duel, Matthias cut the bellropes, causing the Abbey-bell to crash down onto Cluny, killing him. After the battle, Abbot Mortimer declared Matthias the Abbey warrior.

In Their Own Story

Matthias, after a brief return to the Abbey, set off on an expedition to find the sword, with help from the Guosim. They followed Asmodeus to the large quarry. There, Matthias found the sword, and in a fierce battle with the snake, decapitated him. Later, while Matthias was away gathering more troops, Cluny forced a dormouse to open the gates. Cluny and his army entered the Abbey. Matthias came back, dressed in Martin's armour, alongside an army of shrews and sparrows. He found Cluny about to execute all the Redwallers. The sight of Matthias dressed as the mouse he had seen in his dreams terrified Cluny. During the battle, Cluny kidnapped Cornflower and hid in the belltower. Matthias followed, and a duel began, leading them to the top. Cluny jumped down and caught Cornflower again, threatening to kill her. Matthias swore to come down if Cluny released her. Cluny released Cornflower, but Matthias cut the bellropes, causing the Abbey-bell to crash down onto Cluny, killing him instantly.

Reader's Guide

The sword of Martin is a physical weapon, not magical. Its power lies in the skill and courage of the warrior who wields it. Matthias found the sword in a quarry after a battle with the snake Asmodeus Poisonteeth. He used it in the final confrontation with Cluny the Scourge, cutting the bellropes to drop the Abbey-bell on Cluny. The sword is kept at Redwall Abbey as an heirloom and active defense weapon. It was originally owned by Martin the Warrior, then by Matthias. After the battle, Abbot Mortimer declared Matthias the Abbey warrior, and the sword remained in his care. The sword is a symbol of the Abbey's defense, but it requires a worthy wielder. Matthias trained with it, and later, after the events of Mattimeo, he, Basil Stag Hare, and Orlando the Axe began training Redwall's next generation of defenders.

Did You Know?

• Matthias found Martin's sword in a quarry after decapitating the snake Asmodeus Poisonteeth.
• The sword was originally taken from the Sparra tribe by Asmodeus, according to information Matthias gathered.
• Matthias used the sword to cut the bellropes, causing the Abbey-bell to fall and kill Cluny the Scourge.
• Cornflower discovered Martin's old battle-armour in an abbey attic while Matthias was seeking the sword.
• The sword was kept at Redwall Abbey and later used by Matthias to train the next generation of defenders.