Massie Burnson, The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner, p. 32
WARNING: SPOILERS FOR PRINCE LANDER & THE DRAGON WAR ARE AHEAD; CAUTION IS ADVISED.
- ”Captain Blackstar” redirects here. For the other character sometimes referred to as Captain Blackstar, see Coleden Blackstar.
| “ | Lander: You don't seem afraid, Captain Blackstar. You're smiling.
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” |
Lord Fleck Blackstar, often remembered as Captain Blackstar, was a miner-turned-soldier who served King Whitson Mariner and became the first Lord of Kingston Citadel. He was the originator of Blackstar's oath.
Biography
Background
Fleck was born on Golden Coast to Jon, the latest in a long line of master miners, and his wife, who passed away some years later. Fleck trained under his father to become a coal miner, but with the other rabbits suffered during the Invasion of Golden Coast. Ultimately, Fleck would take ship with Whitson Mariner and most of their community, while many of the old bucks-including Fleck's father-remained behind under King Gerrard to hold back the foe. As they parted, Jon would gift Fleck his coat, which bore the black star signifying the rank of master miner. Fleck would survive the sea crossing to Natalia and become one of the residents of the community of Seddleton.
The Black Star of Kingston
From farmer to captain
| “ | My lord, I would be honored to trade my life for yours. I would gladly die to preserve the queen's life or Prince Lander's. I will be loyal to the end. | ” |
— Fleck Blackstar to Whitson Mariner, The Black Star of Kingston, pg. 84
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One afternoon while attending to a garden, Fleck was hailed by King Whitson, and spoke briefly with him and Queen Lillie as they made their way down to Ayman Lake with Lander. Fleck, who had been looking across the lake at the mountains on the other side agreed with the queen that they were ominous in appearance. Hours after the royal family had passed, Fleck was joined by his friend Galt, another coal miner's son. Where Galt seemed content with their new life, Fleck expressed his misgivings and declared his intention to seek an audience with King Whitson about investigating the mountains.
Fleck turns as the royal family passes by.
A few days later, Fleck was admitted to King Whitson's office for an appointment, and Whitson once again addressed him as "Blackstar" due to the patch on his coat. They briefly discussed Fleck's family before moving on to his reason for approaching the king. Impressed by Fleck's passion, Whitson promoted him to the rank of captain and tasked him with organizing a company of miners. Black Star Company, as it became known, assisted in the construction of the vessel Vanguard and trained not only for mining but for potential combat.
Fleck, Whitson, and Black Star Company make another voyage across Ayman Lake on Lillie.
During the first voyage across the lake, Fleck confronted a young member of the company, Gavin, for being idle during the crossing. After correcting the buck and then expressing his own care for his subordinate, Fleck returned to the side of King Whitson. Upon reaching the shore, Fleck and his company-including his lieutenants, Galt and Burnley-made their way towards the mountain foothills accompanied by a force of soldiers led by Captain Vance. Identifying a potential site, they began digging, and eventually discovered a seam of coal as hoped.
Unexpectedly, the group was disturbed by a loud, unfamiliar noise, and quickly prepared themselves to be attacked. When an intruder appeared, Fleck charged them and knocked them to the ground, only to be struck by an arrow fired off by Gavin. Badly injured, Fleck was carried back to Vanguard, and Gavin fled into the woods in shame after seeing him safely aboard ship. Fleck spent the next two weeks recovering back in Seddleton under the care of Grimes, who forbade any contact between him and his bucks until he was sufficiently healed.
Once released from care, Fleck was distressed by the report of Gavin's desertion, but was pleased to see that two more ships, Lillie and Natalia, had been constructed. Over the next week, Fleck recovered the rest of his strength and was eager to return to the other side of the lake. He also reinstituted the recitation of the vow "My place beside you, my blood for yours" that had been abandoned during Galt's brief leadership of the company. Fleck expressed empathy with his bucks over their shared guilt regarding Gavin's departure, and reminded them of their roles in his own survival.
Fleck mines alongside another member of Black Star Company.
After some time back at work on the mine, Fleck took young Massie Burnson with him to search for Gavin, but had no success in locating him. Presuming his young miner to be dead, Fleck was overcome with gloom in spite of the promising start to the mine. During the voyage back to Seddleton, Whitson encouraged Fleck and, later, explained to him the nature of the Crown of Flames and the Green Ember. Fleck reaffirmed his loyalty to Whitson and his family, awed by the king's trust.
Becoming a lord
The following day, as the rabbits made their way back across the lake, Prince Lander was discovered in the hold by Galt. King Whitson made his son apologize to captain and lieutenant for his disobedience, though Fleck was quick to express forgiveness for the youngster. Upon reaching the shore, Fleck and Vance learned from the soldiers left on guard that they had sensed something them during the night. Fleck's party made its way to the mine site, only for their work to be disrupted by another strange cry that the members of Black Star Company charged into the woods to investigate.
Fleck and his companions located Gavin, now in a ragged and frenzied condition, and carried him back to the mine site. His feverish warnings regarding monsters were proved true, as birds of prey rose from the mountains and descended on the rabbits. Fleck and Vance managed to keep a number of their bucks from panicking as they made their way back to the ships. Upon reaching the shore, Fleck briefly argued for taking King Whitson and Lander to the mine site for safety, but when Whitson chose to depart Fleck hurried aboard ship to help protect him.
Fleck attacks a bird of prey.
Aboard Lillie, Fleck and his comrades prepared for the onset of their attackers, whom they briefly hoped they might beat to Seddleton. Busy with steering, Whitson charged Fleck with looking after Lander, and the captain sought to encourage the frightened young prince. Looking into Lander's eyes, Fleck saw a vision in which Lander ruled over rabbitkind in peace and prosperity and smiled at the sight. Unfortunately, the moment did not last long, as the raptors soon began attacking both the ships and Seddleton itself.
Unable to wait for them to attack him, Fleck climbed the rigging of Lillie and hurled himself at one of the birds. He fell into the lake injured as a result of the clash, but climbed back onto the deck to find it embroiled in battle. Fleck ran to help Massie defend the weakened Gavin, then hurried to free Galt from assault. Both bucks were picked up by birds, but Massie firds an arrow into their attackers, and Fleck and Galt plummeted into the water near Dobble's Point.
Fleck charges back into the midst of battle.
Panicked, Galt deserted and fled into the forest, but Fleck returned to the fray, crying the Black Star Company oath with the addition of "'Til the Green Ember Rises, or the end of the world!" He reached Lillie and climbed back aboard, making his way through a porthole into the hold where he found Gavin and several other members of the crew. Fleck urged the bucks to go back up on deck and fight and was preparing to do so himself armed with a pickaxe when an idea struck him. He prepared to set off a blastpowder explosion, warning all the ship's crew of the imminent blast as he charged back onto the deck.
Fleck carried King Whitson off the ship just before it was destroyed and was struck by a rain of wooden shrapnel and left unconscious. Whitson swam with him until he was able to pass Fleck over to a raft carrying survivors, and Fleck was carried back to shore. He was attended to by Doctor Grimes, and awakened briefly before falling unconscious again. After waking up again, he honored an earlier promise to Prince Lander that he could join Black Star Company by giving him the bloodstained black star patch from his own father's coat.
In the time after the Battle of Ayman Lake, Fleck was made a lord by Whitson and agreed to stay behind when the king resolved to take most of the community and leave the ruined Seddleton to search for a new, safer settlement. Instead, Fleck promises to continue working on the mine, now called Burnley's Colliery and aspires to build a secure underground warren, called Kingston, for himself and the others. In what would prove to be their final exchange, Whitson called out to Lord Blackstar from the deck of Vanguard using the oath that Fleck himself had authored. For years afterwards, Whitson would recite Fleck's deeds of heroism, and his oath eventually became a rallying cry for all those loyal to Whitson and his heirs.
The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner
Massie Burnson recalled the events of the Battle of Ayman Lake and how Fleck Blackstar had risked his life to save King Whitson Mariner. Massie and Prince Lander both lamented that Fleck was not with them following Lord Grimble's betrayal. Galt asked after his old friend and was stunned to hear of his elevation, though he readily agreed that it was deserved.
Prince Lander & the Dragon War
| “ | Lemual Whitson: Is that Father speaking through you once again, my tall handsome elder and most faithful brother?
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When Prince Lemual expressed his displeasure at having to leave with the Third Scouts if things get bad, Prince Lander tells him that they don't always get to decide what their role is. He quotes Fleck Blackstar, telling Lemual that, while their duty might be a pleasure, their duty isn't to find pleasure. Lemual asks him if he is quoting King Whitson, but Lander responds that he is speaking of Lord Fleck Blackstar. Lemual muses about Fleck, whom he has never known, saying that he was a hero who stayed and fought. Lander adds that he was a hero who knew his duty, and Lemual responds that he only wants to keep Blackstar's Oath, fighting beside Lander. He touches the Green Ember as he repeats the oath, and Lander looks at the emerald, signifying his right to rule, and says that, if the end of the world comes, Lemual must go on with the Third Scouts. He adds that he'll love Lemual to the end of the world.
| “ | But he will always be Captain Blackstar to me, shining in my memory of those days. He turned the tide for us. He fought for us. He showed me what it meant to be a soldier during formative days for me. I know it was only a kind thing, but his giving me his Black Star Company patch meant the world to me. It was like getting the Green Ember from you, if you'll allow me to say so. | ” |
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When Lander and Whitson are about to dig up the starsword, they begin reminiscing about Fleck Blackstar. Prince Lander tells Whitson that he is a faithful son, a great king, and a wonderful father, Whitson thanks him, saying that Fleck was right about him. Lander reminisces about his young days, remembering how good Captain Blackstar was to him. Whitson reminds him that he's Lord Blackstar now, to which Lander says that he remembers, but that Fleck will always be Captain Blackstar to him. He tells Whitson how much it meant to him when Fleck presented him with his father's Black Star Company patch, to which Whitson says that he understands, that Fleck saw the grown buck he is seeing now; he saw greatness and goodness growing in Lander. Lander adds how much Fleck's oath has helped bind the community together.
During the Battle of Barren Point, Lander (now King Lander) sees the ship Steadfast coming in to shore, and at the prow of the ship he sees Prince Lemual and Captain Massie. Then, to his great joy, he sees that behind them there is a black-furred rabbit with flecks of grey (revealing why Fleck's parents named him that), and sees the chain of office, medallion of his lordship, and, for his coat of arms, a single black star. Lander yells ahoy, and Fleck leaps into the water and wades into battle, his soldiers pouring from the boat behind him. Lander nearly weeps with joy. Later in the battle, Fleck Blackstar joins Lander and Lemual in fighting the dragons and they become a deadly team. After the battle, Fleck bows to Lander, saying that he's at Lander's disposal and that his army is at Lander's service. King Lander thanks Fleck, telling him there is much to discuss, and Fleck orders Blackstar Company to come with them to Lener's Crossroads. There, Lemual tells that he led the Third Scouts although he didn't want to, and on his way they found Fleck and Massie returning, and led them to Steadfast so that they could arrive quickly. Fleck tells Lander that he is a big buck now, that his brother speaks very highly of him, and how proud Fleck is of Lander. Lander tells Fleck that it was his dream to see him again, and corrects himself to Lord Blackstar, to which Fleck tells him that he is still the old captain, and reminds Lander that he is still a member of Blackstar Company. Lander shows him the black star patch, and tells him that he is so honored to wear that, and compares it to the honor of wearing the Green Ember, and then also reveals that he is wearing the Ruling Stone, revealing that Whitson is dead. Fleck drops his sword and falls on his knees, saying that Whitson was the greatest rabbit that ever lived, and that he was too late. Massie comforts him, saying that all Whitson fought to defend is not lost, and that they must honor Whitson by protecting what he loved. Lord Blackstar says that Massie is right, and he gets up, saying that the dragons will be back.
Later, Lander requests that Captain Massie, Captain Gavin, and Lord Blackstar join him at Whitson's grave. After paying their respects to the old king, Lander leads them to where the starsword is buried. He tells them about the sword as he digs, but Lemual is skeptical of Lander's tactics, saying that he is doing things Whitson would never do, and questioning if this is honoring Whitson's way. Lander says that he thinks it is, being who he should be, with his particular gifts, and working to accomplish what Whitson wanted to accomplish in the best way that he knew how. Fleck supports him, saying that Whitson only wished Lander to go farther and do better than him. Lander makes a vow with Lemual, that Lemual will only give him the antidote to the poison he has ingested if he voluntarily reburies the starsword in a place he needs Lemual's help to access. Lander tests Lemual by pointing the sword at him and demanding that Lemual give him the antidote. Fleck joins Massie and Gavin in standing up to Lander. After that, Fleck says that it will be too easy for him to take the bottle from Lemual by force, and proposes that they will bury it in a place that they only know of, and will never tell him where it is. Lander says that he will return to camp and wait for them there, but Fleck decides to go with Lander, saying that they can tell him later where they have buried it. Lander startts to object, but he leaves with Lord Blackstar, making himself tell that he wanted them all to go together because he wanted to follow them and see where the antidote was hidden. Fleck praises him for sharing this, saying that it was a brave thing to say, and that Fleck wasn't sure that even he would have had the courage to share it. Lander says that he can't let his pride end this, and Fleck muses that perhaps that is what happened with Flint.
| “ | Good soldiers, it is time. We take our fight to the dragons, led by our brave king. A long time ago, I pledged my life to him and to his father, to every blessed heir of their line. I had no sword then, but we have a sword on our side that none have seen in battle for ages. I had been forsaken by my dearest friend then, but today I stand beside countless volunteers who are ready to do as I did—to fight for the king and his cause. We will make our oath together, friends! | ” |
— Lord Fleck Blackstar to King Lander's army, Prince Lander and the Dragon War
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Before the final battle against the dragons, Fleck helps Lander make a plan for attack. Then Fleck Blackstar gives a rousing speech to the army, standing on a high cart beside King Lander. After Lander gives his speech, Fleck Blackstar leads the army in pledging their loyalty to Lander through Blackstar's Oath. During the battle, Fleck Blackstar captains the ship Steadfast alongside Prince Lemual, with Brindle "Helmer" Cove piloting the ship expertly along the shoreline. The crew of Steadfast sent arrows and lit blastpowder barrels into the dragon lines. Later, Lemual and Fleck leave Steadfast to Brindle Cove and join Lander at the front. But then dragons start to board Steadfast and Fleck takes a small band of rabbits and runs to help the crew. Lander thinks he may have seen Fleck fighting bravely on deck, but he is too busy with the dragons he is fighting to watch Fleck Blackstar fight those near him. Lander lates sees that Steadfast is on fire, and before he can do anything, the blastpowder on the ship causes it to explode, and it is completely destroyed. Lander falls to his knees, devastated that Fleck is dead.
After the battle, Captain Gavin informs Lander that Lord Blackstar's son Jon is assuming command of Black Star Company, and that Galt was with Lord Blackstar on the ship, and they both fell fighting. Massie comments that it is extraordinary, his old captain and his captain's lieutenant going down fighting together. He reminisces about what an honor it was to him and Gavin when they were asked to join Black Star Company. Lemual proposes a toast to the fallen, which they do, mourning Fleck and Galt gravely.
During the epilogue, Fleck and Galt wash up on the shore of the Flint River, unconcious, until Galt come sawake, coughing, and asks Fleck if they have survived. Fleck wakes up, telling his old friend that they might have. Fleck lays his hand on Galt's back, happy that his old friend has stayed. They watch King Lander descend the mountain with Captain Massie, Captain Gavin, and Prince Lemual beside him, and Fleck says that now Lander has a chance, and they have a chance too. Galt praises Fleck for always being faithful and never wavering, to which Fleck says that he's wavered plenty of times, but so far has had a good life. He adds that, somehow, he likes Galt's story better, because there is more drama. Galt laughs, then asks if they will be okay. Fleck says that, although he thinks there are many troubles ahead, he believes they will eventually find the mending. Galt says he hopes so, and they watch the army cheer King Lander seven times, and, to Fleck's great joy, he sees that his son Jon is alive. He watches Massie lead the army in reciting the oath, and he kneels to join in, reaching for his blade to raise it in the air. Finding an empty scabbard, he prepares to join in the vow without a sword. And Galt is beside him, and they both kneel in the snow as they shout Blackstar's Oath together.
The Green Ember
Fleck's heroism would be remembered many years beyond his time, with Whittle Longtreader and others sharing stories of his deeds with their children. At Cloud Mountain, a statue depicting Fleck alongside King Whitson was the namesake for King Whitson's Garden.
The Archer's Cup
Fleck was mentioned by Slimmo, who greatly admires the long dead captain-turned-lord. He also noted that Fleck built a stronghold known as Warren Fortress, a name Slimmo later applied to his own hideaway.
Ember's End
Fleck was mentioned by his distant descendant Cole as he stands in for his father, Victor Blackstar, in the marshaling of the Kingston forces just prior to the Siege of First Warren.
Physical appearance
Fleck was a grey rabbit with blue eyes, a grey nose, and a pale muzzle. He wore a long, dark coat as well as a white tunic, a belt, and brown trousers. He used to wear his father's black-starred mining patch on his shoulder, but after he gave this patch to Lander, he wore the late Burnley's patch.
Personality and traits
| “ | You are harsh, Captain Blackstar, but also tender. | ” |
— Whitson Mariner, The Black Star of Kingston, pg. 38
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Fleck was described as being loyal and kind. He served his king, queen, and prince faithfully, even going so far as to be willing to lay down his life in protection of the royal family. A natural born leader, Fleck presided over Black Star Company with a "harsh" yet "tender" manner, treating every buck as if he was his own brother and feeling personally responsible for each of them.
Family tree
| Jon Blackstar | Unnamed wife | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Whitson Mariner | Lillie | Fleck Blackstar | Unknown wife | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jon Blackstar II | Dane Blackstar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lucianne Blackstar | Lord Blackstar II* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unnamed descendants | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lady Blackstar | Victor Blackstar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coleden Blackstar | Heyna Blackstar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trivia
- The surname "Blackstar" is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "blaecan," which means "to bleach."[1]
Gallery
 Take a look at our gallery for Fleck Blackstar. |
References
