Changes: Bleston

Revision as of 08:42, 20 July 2020

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Bleston

Bleston, as illustrated by Zach Franzen.

Biographical information

Name

Bleston

Gender

Male

Species

Rabbit

Family

See family tree

Status

Deceased

Home

• First Warren (formerly; birthplace)
• Terralain (formerly)
• Halfwind Citadel (formerly)

Association information

Abilities

Swordfighting

Possessions

Whitson Stone (formerly)

Also known as

• The Silver Prince (by Heather Longtreader and the rabbits of Halfwind Citadel)
• The Winter King (by Heather, Kylen, Picket, et al.)
• "Traitor" (by Heather Longtreader)
• The Sliver Prince

Book information

Appears

Ember Falls

Mentioned

• The Green Ember
• Ember Rising
• Ember's End

“	There comes a point when a rabbit must know his way and go his way, when he must break the shackles of tradition and be free. . . . Almost every good thing in my life has come from following my own way[.] . . . I became the king I was meant to be by following my own way, and I have raised my son to do the same.	”
	— Bleston, to Picket, Ember Falls

Bleston was the king of Terralain. He was the father of Kylen and Naylen, the son of King Walter, and the oldest brother of Jupiter.

Biography

The Green Ember

As Lord Rake explains to Heather and Picket Longtreader, Bleston was known to be like his wicked grandfather and was therefore passed over as heir by King Walter. Upset by this, he contemplated a revolt against Walter and Jupiter, but instead he left the Thirty Warrens with a number of malcontents who were loyal to him. Years later, Bleston sends his son Kylen-though the buck did not mention his father by name-to Cloud Mountain and infiltrate the Cause.

Ember Falls

Bleston is mentioned during a council meeting preceding his nephew Smalden Joveson's departure from Halfwind Citadel. He subsequently appears at the head of the army of Terralain, of which he became king after his disappearance, during the Attack on Halfwind Citadel. Bleston's forces attack the enemy wolves, saving the beleaguered rabbits of Halfwind. Bleston then takes functional charge of Halfwind Citadel, succeeding Lord Ramnor, who during the attack is slain in his chamber secretly by Perkinson, Bleston's servant.

Bleston later summons Heather and Picket Longtreader to a private meeting in Ramnor's chambers, which he has made his own. He explains the Terralain belief that all rabbits are equal, though Heather and Picket are quick to point out his superiority. Unfazed, Bleston further asserts that he is the rightful king of all Natalia, and reveals that he is in possession of the Whitson Stone. He convinces the Longtreaders not to challenge his authority for the present, and to await Smalls' return, before dismissing them.

The order of things at Halfwind undergoes drastic changes under Bleston's authority, increasing efficiency but also imposing a strict regime upon the inhabitants. Bleston has Kylen and his advisor, Tameth Seer, bring Picket to a private meeting, at which Bleston compares the young rabbit to one of Picket's uncles, without specifying who. He guesses correctly that Picket wants very badly to be sent with an elite rescue group to rescue his mother, father, and little brother from the clutches of Morbin Blackhawk. At their meeting, he convinces Picket that he should follow his own way without considering wise counsel from his elders, so that Picket afterwards decides to tell Captain Frye that he was going to go on a rescue mission to get his family back.

However, Frye warns Picket against taking Bleston's counsel, warning against the dangers of Bleston's path in life. Later, Kylen takes Heather to meet with his father on his own initiative, though the two only speak after Kylen has been gravely injured by an attacking wolf. After embracing a distraught Heather and watching her attend to Kylen, Bleston explains his desire to claim the throne so that Kylen may succeed him. Heather pleads with him to honor his father and brother's decisions by throwing his support behind Smalls.

Bleston is subsequently overheard arguing with Tameth Seer. In a gathering at the Seven Standing Stones, Bleston calls Picket, Heather, and Emma up to the platform on which he stands, at which point he announces to the anxious Halfwinders that he would support his young nephew and hang the Whitson Stone around his neck when he returns. At this point, Heather, Picket, and the Halfwinders all began to see him as a valuable ally.

News then arrives at Halfwind that Morbin's army s going to attack Cloud Mountain, and Bleston gathers the newly united forces to march to the citadel's aid. As the force prepares to leave, they hear a signal, and the Fowlers are sent to investigate. They encounter Wilfred Longtreader, who informs them of Smalls' apparent death, and Perkinson learns that Emma is now Jupiter's heir. After escorting Heather to Cloud Mountain, he informs Bleston of these developments.

According to the plan set out for the ensuing Battle of Rockback Valley, Bleston's forces were supposed to reinforce the Halfwind rabbits under Helmer from a ridge overlooking Rockback Valley. However, Bleston, secretly in league with Morbin, keeps his forces at a distance. Aided by Perkinson, he leads a small force into Cloud Mountain, with some of his rabbits and Garten Longtreader guarding Lord Rake to prevent his interference in the battle. He then finds Emma and Heather at Lighthall, and fires an arrow to destroy the tenth window depicting Smalls as the future king.

Bleston reveals his intent to turn Emma over to Morbin in exchange for a peace between them, fully intending to let the Halfwind forces be crushed. He becomes increasingly angry at Heather's refusal to cooperate, and even cuts off Perkinson in the midst of an explanation about Kylen. When Heather and Emma escape through another window, Bleston and his bucks pursue them, and corner them with the aid of the Terralains guarding Rake. Garten and Bleston exult in their triumph, unbothered by Heather and Rake's condemnation for their betrayal.

The tableau is interrupted by the fall of an eagle, killed by Picket Longtreader on his first glider cape-aided flight. Heather takes advantage of the distraction to attack Perkinson and free Emma, whom Bleston orders killed to prevent her escape. Rake takes the arrow meant for her, and Bleston rushes in to kill his niece himself. Picket's sword then falls, the Green Ember emerging from it when it hits the ground. Bleston gleefully seizes the artifact, but is tackled by Picket before he can reach Emma.

Enraged by the young buck's appearance, Bleston rushes to attack him, and makes a feint before unleashing a devastating strike. Familiar with the move due to his training with Helmer, Picket dodges, but is then carried over the edge of Cloud Mountain's plateau with the rushing Bleston. The pair briefly struggle in midair, but Picket eventually breaks free with Bleson's sword in hand. Bleston then falls to his death, and his scheme is ultimately thwarted by Picket and Heather.

Ember Rising

The Terralains-most of whom are apparently unaware of their leader's pact with Morbin-soon seek vengeance upon Picket for what they deem the murder of Bleston. A force of them, led by Tameth Seer and Captain Vulm, later confront a party of Cause soldiers including Picket at Jupiter's Crossing, seeking justice for the death of their king. Tameth vehemently denies their accusations of treachery against Bleston, but after a skirmish Vulm is persuaded to lead his forces away peacefully. Later, Emma also tries to persuade an ill Kylen of his father's duplicity, but Kylen refuses to accept the accusations.

When confronting Winslow Joveson prior to the Battle for First Warren, Whitbie Joveson notes that he failed to prove himself better than their uncle Bleston. This he did by refusing to accept the appointment of their younger brother Smalls as heir to their father Jupiter.

Ember's End

Bleston's younger son Naylen later brings the remainder of the Terralain army to join Kylen and Tameth Seer's forces in attacking First Warren. Tameth is revealed to have held Bleston and his followers in contempt, and the Terralains finally recognize the truth about their fallen king and his seer and join the Cause.

Physical appearance

Bleston was a large, grey-furred rabbit, who often dressed himself in silver; this led to his nickname of "the Silver Prince." His presence was said to be "magnificent," "regal," and "imposing".^[1] While feigning support for the Cause, he donned a tunic that featured the symbols of Terralain, Halfwind, and the Cause as a whole.

Bleston was a very good fighter, big and imposing and strong.

Personality and traits

Bleston had a jovial, charming, and dynamic personality that drew rabbits to his leading. He was a born leader, as was evidenced by his excellent and ordered handling of all the matters at Halfwind Citadel. He strongly believed that the way to find happiness was to follow one's own way, as he did by taking the Whitson Stone and leaving his father's kingdom for Terralain when the King had passed him over in favor of Smalden Joveson.

Bleston was also very clever and manipulative, as shown in several books. He managed to know about Cloud Mountain and send his son, Kylen, to infiltrate and betray Smalls. Oddly enough, Kylen didn’t quite seem at the time to like the idea when he carried it out.

He also managed to convince Perkinson to infiltrate Halfwind to set the course for the future of his rule. He even successfully managed to appear as the savior of Halfwind, when in truth he was still plotting his personal revenge against King Jupiter.

Family tree

- The Royal Family of Natalia -

Unnamed descendants

Unknown wife

Unknown wife

Unknown wife

Unnamed descendants

Unknown wife

Bleston

Unnamed son

Unnamed children

Unknown wife

Unnamed children

Note: Broken lines indicate relation through affinity or adoption or distant relation; unbroken lines indicate relation by blood.

Relationships

Walter Good

“	So you've done it again. You've spat on your father's grave and betrayed the true heir again.	”
	— Heather to Bleston, Ember Falls, p.280

King Walter was Bleston's father, but the pair were not alike in temperament or their ideas of ruling. When Walter chose his third son, Jupiter, to succeed him instead of Bleston, Bleston was outraged, and plotted against his brother in defiance of his father's decree. Ultimately, Bleston left First Warren, and was never reconciled to his father before Walter's death. Years later, despite Heather Longtreader's pleas for him to do so, Bleston once again rejected his father's will by attempting to usurp Natalia's throne for himself.

Trivia

In a Q&A, S.D. Smith revealed that Bleston became a part of Terralain culture and ultimately altered it to suit his own purposes. He also purposefully kept Kylen in the dark about certain details, such as his plans to betray the Cause to Morbin, that others agents like Perkinson were fully aware of.^[2]

References

↑ Ember Falls, Chapter Sixteen: A New Order (Page 112)
↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QapNpBnC9ek

This article has received The Green Ember of excellence.

[1] Ember Falls, Chapter Sixteen: A New Order (Page 112)

[2] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QapNpBnC9ek

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 ==Biography==
 ===''[[The Green Ember (book)|The Green Ember]]''===
-As [[Lord Rake]] explains to [[Heather]] and [[Picket Longtreader]], Bleston was considered to be like his wicked grandfather and was therefore passed over as heir by King Walter. Upset by this, he contemplated a revolt against [[King Walter|Walter]] and [[King Jupiter|Jupiter]], but instead he left the [[Thirty Warrens]] with a [[Bleston's Waywards|number of malcontents]] who were loyal to him. Years later, Bleston sends his son [[Kylen]]-though the buck did not mention his father by name-to [[Cloud Mountain]] and infiltrate [[the Cause]].
+As [[Lord Rake]] explains to [[Heather]] and [[Picket Longtreader]], Bleston was known to be like his wicked grandfather and was therefore passed over as heir by King Walter. Upset by this, he contemplated a revolt against [[King Walter|Walter]] and [[King Jupiter|Jupiter]], but instead he left the [[Thirty Warrens]] with a [[Bleston's Waywards|number of malcontents]] who were loyal to him. Years later, Bleston sends his son [[Kylen]]-though the buck did not mention his father by name-to [[Cloud Mountain]] and infiltrate [[the Cause]].
 ===''[[Ember Falls: The Green Ember Book II|Ember Falls]]''===
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 {{Royal Family Tree}}
+==Relationships==
+===[[Walter Good]]===
+{{Quote 2|So you've done it again. You've spat on your father's grave and betrayed the true heir again.|Heather to Bleston|''Ember Falls'', p.280}}
+King Walter was Bleston's father, but the pair were not alike in temperament or their ideas of ruling. When Walter chose his third son, Jupiter, to succeed him instead of Bleston, Bleston was outraged, and plotted against his brother in defiance of his father's decree. Ultimately, Bleston left First Warren, and was never reconciled to his father before Walter's death. Years later, despite Heather Longtreader's pleas for him to do so, Bleston once again rejected his father's will by attempting to usurp Natalia's throne for himself.
+===[[Jupiter Goodson]]===
+{{TBA}}
+===[[Kylen]]===
+{{TBA}}
+===[[Naylen]]===
+{{TBA}}
+===[[Tameth Seer]]===
+{{TBA}}
+===[[Garten Longtreader]]===
+{{TBA}}
+===[[Perkinson]]===
+{{TBA}}
+===[[Heather Joveson]]===
+{{TBA}}
+===[[Picket Longtreader]]===
+{{TBA}}
 ==Trivia==
 *In a Q&A, S.D. Smith revealed that Bleston became a part of Terralain culture and ultimately altered it to suit his own purposes. He also purposefully kept Kylen in the dark about certain details, such as his plans to betray the Cause to Morbin, that others agents like Perkinson were fully aware of.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QapNpBnC9ek</ref>