Joseph the Bellmaker
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Joseph the Bellmaker is an anthropomorphic mouse in Brian Jacques' Redwall novels Mariel of Redwall and The Bellmaker.
A skilled bellmaker, Joseph is the father of Mariel. He was commissioned to create the then unnamed Joseph Bell for Badger Lord Rawnblade Widestripe of Salamandastron. However, in the journey to deliver the bell, Joseph's ship ran afoul of Gabool the Wild. The Searat King took Joseph hostage, and wanted him to construct a tower so he could use the bell himself. Joseph refused, and Gabool threw him out of a window on the island of Terramort.
Joseph was then saved by a fellow enemy of Gabool, a vole named Tan Loc. The two hid, and formed Trag-the Terramort Resistance Against Gabool-from freed slaves. By using secret tunnels under the island, they were able to steal needed supplies and weapons.
Joseph's life in hiding came to an end when Mariel returned to Terramort in the company of Lord Rawnblade, Dandin the Sword Carrier, and various others. Banding together, they attacked Gabool's fortress, and killed the evil searat. Joseph then came to live at Redwall, and his bell was given to the Abbey.
Some seasons later, Martin the Warrior gave Joseph a dream of Mariel, who had departed to the south with Dandin. Together with Rufe Brush, Durry Quill, and other Redwallers, Joseph set sail for the kingdom of Southsward aboard the vessel Pearl Queen. Whilst journeying, Joseph became great friends with the captain, Finnbarr Galedeep. Eventually, the group arrived, and Joseph placed Finnbarr's swords in his hands and faced him towards the sea as the brave sea otter lay dying after suffering a wound from the evil Urgan Nagru. Joseph stayed on at Southsward, though he would later visit his friends at the Abbey.
Joseph was a gray-furred mouse of great age. Despite this, he was incredibly limber, and wielded an assortment of weapons, usually daggers. He was voiced by Gordon Hall in the full-cast audiobook of Mariel of Redwall.
