Massie Burnson, The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner, p. 32
WARNING: SPOILERS FOR PRINCE LANDER & THE DRAGON WAR ARE AHEAD; CAUTION IS ADVISED.
| “ | Whitson Mariner: Are we Steadfast?
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The Steadfast was a ship in King Whitson Mariner's Natalia fleet, presumably built at the same time as Desolation.
History[]
The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner[]
Steadfast remained an extra day at Halfway Harbor, while Vanguard and Burnley sailed ahead. During the voyage, Vanguard was wrecked on a rock as part of a treacherous plan by Captain Grimble of Burnley; his vessel was subsequently renamed Desolation by Whitson Mariner. Eventually, Steadfast caught up with the survivors of Vanguard and dropped anchor on the island on which they were marooned. King Whitson addressed the community, telling them of the Grimbles' betrayal. The king then resolved to take a skeleton crew aboard Steadfast and attempt to catch up with Desolation.
Whitson appointed Hamp to steer Steadfast as they took the ship on the more dangerous northern branch of the river around the island. However, as they navigated the turbulent waters, Hamp was washed overboard just as the ship was about to strike a rock. Fortunately, Brindle Cove was able to take the helm and save the vessel, thus earning himself the epitaph of Helmer. As they approached a cliff on the island, Whitson spotted Lillie, Massie, and Galt running along its top with dragons in pursuit, and Brindle steered the ship to enable the rabbits to leap aboard.
On their way away from the cliff, Whitson saw Lander on his way towards them, pursued by dragons. Lander leaped onto the deck, bringing two dragons with him. One was dead after the fall, but the other lunged for Lillie only to be slain by Galt. Whitson learned of Lillie's and Lander's ordeals, then hurried back to the bow. As Steadfast continued downriver, the king promoted Massie to captain for his service.
As evening approached, Massie spotted movement on the edge of the island, and Whitson ordered Brindle to take them closer to shore. Massie recognized the creatures as the supposed dead of the wreck of Vanguard', Mother Saramack included among them. Whitson quickly held a hurried conference with his captains, during which he explained his plan. Just as a small party led by Lillie left the ship with some supplies for the shore, Desolation arrived at the river juntcion.
The crew of Steadfast feigned continuous mistakes, allowing Desolation to quickly gain on them. Once teh ruse had carried on long enough, Whitson ordered Brindle to pull hard to port, then back to starboard so that the ship was now aimed squarely at Desolation. The bow of Steadfast crashed right into the bigger ship's side. Though momentarily stunned, Grimble soon regained control and sent his bucks onto the decks of Steadfast, only to find the deck empty.
Grimble's crew soon discovered what appeared to be lit barrels of blastpowder and began fleeing for their lives. However, Grimble detected the ruse and knocked over the empty barrels. Whitson and his bucks then emerged to engage the now reduced number of enemy fighters in battle on the deck of Steadfast. After a fierce struggle, Grimble's forces were defeated, and Whitson reclaimed the Ruling Stone from the traitorous captain.
Prince Lander & the Dragon War[]
Following the Battle of Steadfast, the ship was secreted in a hidden cove that only members of the royal family were aware of. Lemual Whitson would propose taking it to Barren Point when Grimble called for a supposed peace summit. Whitson declined this proposal, which would have violated the terms of Grimble's invitation to the summit. However, when he and the Third Scouts met Captain Massie returning with Black Star Company from Kingston, Lemual led the newcomers to the ship.
Steadfast arrived just in time to prevent a total slaughter of their friends in the Battle of Barren Point, launching blastpowder barrels that destroyed the Grimble faction boats crossing the river. Those Black Star soldiers who had boarded the ship then left it to engage the dragons attacking Lander and his decimated forces. Afterwards, Steadfast was used to ferry Lander's expanded army across the river in preparation for the Battle of Dragon Mountain. Piloted once again by Brindle Cove, it came in during the battle to help cut off the dragons as they were driven back towards the river confluence.
Fleck Blackstar had been given command of the vessel for the battle but left it in order to join the fighting on the ground. When Steadfast itself came under attack, he raced back to the ship and was joined there by Galt, who had arrived with the Terralain army to join the battle. Despite the brave efforts of the two old friends and their fighters, a fire broke out on Steadfast, and the ship was destroyed in a blastpowder explosion. Fortunately, Fleck and Galt were able to escape the blast, and Lander's forces achieved victory in the battle over the dragons.
