Battle of Dragon Mountain

*You are right here in your story. Don't skip ahead.*
Massie Burnson, *The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner*, p. 32
**WARNING: SPOILERS FOR *PRINCE LANDER & THE DRAGON WAR* ARE AHEAD; CAUTION IS ADVISED.**

## Battle of Dragon Mountain

Lander Whitson's army kneels in homage to him as he passes on his way to face Namoz Dragonking

## Event information

### Notable participants

Rabbits
Trekkers
Drekkers
Black Star Company
Terralain army
Dragons

### Outcome

The rabbits are victorious and the dragons are driven to virtual extinction.

## Book information

### Mentioned

*Ember's End*

**Chief scout**: Sir, I've watched the dragons for years. I know their ways. I would bet my fortune—if I had one—that they will not march until evening tomorrow.

**Lander**: Then we attack at dawn.

—*Prince Lander & the Dragon War*, p. 260 |  | ”

The **B****attle of Dragon Mountain** was a battle in which Lander Whitson led his subjects and allies in attacking Dragon Mountain at the conclusion of the ancient Dragon War.

## History

### Preparation

For many years, the rabbits of Lander's following—or rather his father, Whitson Mariner's, following—pursued a defensive strategy against the dragons. Lacking the numbers and means to face the dragons in pitched battle, they maintained their defenses at Lener's Crossroads. Following the Battle of Barren Point, however, and the death of King Whitson, Lander realizes that attacking the dragons is their best chance. He feels that this will surprise and unbalance the far more powerful dragons.

King Lander creates a volunteer army, so that the only ones fighting beside him are those who want to. Lord Blackstar has all the soldiers come from Kingston to help, and Lander even unburies Flint's sword to wield in the battle. He creates the scalebreakers, an elite team of soldiers, to lead the attack.

King Lander met with him commanders and scouts, with the chief scout informing Lander that the dragons are massing on the central mountain. Lander realizes that the dragons are preparing to attack, but not prepared to be attacked. Captain Walters tells Lander that Grimble's camp is nearly deserted; they seem to have fled toward the dragon stronghold. The chief scout informs him that they do not have their own scouts out. Lander asked the scout what his guess would be for when the dragons would be prepared to attack, and the scout said that the dragons would not march until the next evening. Lander decided that they would attack at dawn.

### Attack

The scalebreakers hid behind a hill and watched the dragons, and when the first light of day was just beginning, Lander ordered his scalebreakers to follow him up the mountain. They quickened as they neared the camp, and Lander led the charge. An alarmed dragon leapt at Lander as soon as it had gathered itself, but Lander killed it in two strikes. More dragons came, and Lander struck them all down with Flint's sword. The dragons were afraid that the rest of the scalebreakers would be like Lander too, but while they were not, they fought bravely. Lander's soldiers were able to invade the camp well, but then the dragons organized, and the scalebreakers began to buckle. Lander darted around, helping all the desperate cases he could, but he couldn't keep up. Captain Walters is struck down, and Lander realizes that half his scalebreakers are dead, and the dragons are winning.

The Drekkers then came in, with Chief Heckle leading the deadly, sling-swinging warriors. The scalebreakers cheered, and were relieved as the dragons had to fight this fresh, numerous force. Lord Galvet led the left flank in too, and while the dragons were still stronger and more numerous, they were clearly surprised.

As the dragons are regrouping and preparing to crush the rabbits, *Steadfast* arrives, with Fleck Blackstar, Prince Lemual, and Brindle Cove in command. The crew sent hails of arrows and lit blastpowder barrels into the dragon army. The dragons wavered, but the dragon captains organized a maneuver to hit Lander's force on the southwest side where they were weakest. However, a band of tall, wild-looking rabbits stepped in and created a strong barrier. Lander asked who they were, and Massie laughed, saying it was Galt. Lander led the exhausted rabbits down the mountain to finish the dragons. Lander held up his sword and his free hand, and both armies stopped. Lander asked if the dragons would yield, hoping this would give his soldiers a moment to rest. The dragon captain nearest, however, ordered a squad of dragons to send crossbow bolts at Lander. He dove to the ground, but two still hit him, wounding him badly. Lander asks some medics to patch him up, but they do not know what to do, saying he is hurt all over. He asked them to remove the bolt still stuck in his neck, but they think it could kill him if they did it then. So he thanked them, switched Flint's sword to his left hand, and continued on. Fleck Blackstar and Prince Lemual, having left *Steadfast* in the hands of Brindle Cove, come to fight beside Lander. Lander sees that they have cut the dragon force in half, but that some were trying to board *Steadfast.* Fleck and some other rabbits ran back to help.

After being punched in the jaw, Lander faints. He is eventually woken by Prince Lemual, asking if he is okay. Lander blinked, then said that he was dead. Lemual leaned down to help him up, saying that Lander was not dead yet, and said that there was something Lander must see. Lemual points toward the big mountain, where Namoz Dragonking was leading a fresh horde of dragons out of a cave. Lander reeled, realizing that the battle was about to be lost. He sees *Steadfast* on fire, and watches as *Steadfast* explodes. Falling to his knees, Lander begins to mourn the apparent death of Fleck Blackstar. Massie knelt by him, saying the army needed Lander, just for one last effort, and that if Lander could not lead Massie would do his best. But Lander stood through his tears, with help from Massie, and marched back toward the mountain. The army knelt with their hands over their hearts, and when Lander passed they fell into line and followed Lander to the mountain, even though they knew they were headed towards Lander's doom and theirs. Namoz reached the halfway point between the two armies and stopped. Lander walked ahead, wondering how he, a small half-dead rabbit, could face off against Namoz.

**King Lander**: I feel like a pretty good nightmare. A memorable one that shakes you awake. Have you seen me in your dreams with my black sword flashing? One day this blade will break, and every enemy will be defeated.

**Namoz Dragonking**: You will be broken this day.

**King Lander**: Maybe so.

—*Prince Lander and the Dragon War*

Namoz told Lander that he would kill him, and that there were many dragon eggs to be woken, and that the dragons would still conquer the world. He told Lander that Lander would be only a hazy memory, but Lander was undettered. Namoz growled a challenge, taking a second sword out and clashing it against his first. Namoz assumed an attack posture, telling Lander to defend himself. Lander only shook his head, telling Namoz to defend himself instead. Lander proceeded to attack the dragon, Flint's sword cutting through both of Namoz's blades, and Lander then cut off Namoz's head. Lander fell down, saw that Flint's sword had not broken, and wept. He then blacked out.

### Aftermath

Massie woke Lander from his faint, and after exchanging words, Lander walked around the mountain. Massie followed, as there could still be a stray dragon on the mountain. When he catches up with Lander on the top of Dragon Mountain, he told Lander that the lords were awaiting his decision. King Lander decided to bury the dragon eggs and the starsword together. He also decided to create First Warren near Dragon Mountain.