I started an article on blackrobes. I added descriptions of the horde and its weapons. I also added a compare/contrast section where I added some tables. Please add to or delete as you see fit. (I know this is Wiki policy but I want to encourage it) I will see what images are uploaded already that I can add. I particularily think that the cover art for the PAL format movie, Mattimeo "The Abyss". Also it would be good to see images from the book, particularilty Mr. Chalk's art for Chapter 43 and maybe Chapter 50.

Also, the link from hordes should be redirected to the list page but I don't know how. thx, JEV 68.82.31.156 18:29, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

The above user contributed the following, it belongs in an essay under a registered name. --LordTBT ^Talk! 00:12, 27 November 2008 (UTC)

Analogies & SimilaritiesEdit

The rats of Malkariss, the Blackrobes, are probably one of the most unique vermin groups in the Redwall Series. Their eerie description and also the fact that they only appear shortly in Mattimeo add to the mystery surrounding them. Whether intentional or providential, there are many similarities that can be drawn from within the series, and from without.

Blackrobes to RedwallEdit

One of the most striking resemblances of the Blackrobes is the contrast between their community in Malkariss and that of the Redwallers.

Contrasting Malkariss to Redwall

	Redwall	Malkariss
Clothing/Color	Green; Color of the forest and trees	Black; color of darkness and oppression
Statue	Statue of Abbess Germaine, founder of Redwall Abbey	Frightening statue of Malkariss, ruler of the Kingdom of Malkariss
Life	Abbot governs fairly with help of Badger mother; everyone helps, everyone eats	Malkariss presides over all; Nadaz speaks for rats only on Malkariss's behalf
Reputation	Good and abundant food with kind creatures; only to be imagined in dreams	Lands of slavery whose mention brings a shudder; sometimes called the land of nightmare
Setting	Bright, green forest blooming with life	Black, dark kingdom delved deep under the an old abbey with memories of death

Malkariss to MoriaEdit

The idea of innumerable cave-dwelling foes was also used in the Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien. Despite the fact that Brian Jacques has never read this series, there are striking similarities between the two kingdoms and their inhabitants.

Comparing Malkariss with Tolkien's Moria

	Malkariss	Moria
Fear/Awe inspired obedience	Statue (Malkariss)	Sauron
Frenzied fighting caused by	Drums accomp. by Nadaz chanting	Drums; lust for slaughter
'Brute-ish' Champion	Wearet with chained net and heavy spear	Large Orc (cave troll in movie) with large spear
Large battle	Four travellers and shrew army	Nine travellers and no army
Demonic leader	Malkariss in person	Balrog, Durin's Bane
Heroic Fall	Matthias in the chasm then meets Malkariss	Gandalf falls into abyss fighting Balrog
Climactic Escape	Kingdom falls at the destruction of the statue	Mountainside falls at death of the Balrog