Drekkers

*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.**

## Drekkers

Chief Heckle, leader of the Drekkers at the time of the Dragon War.

## Association information

### Purpose

To uphold their ancestral oath to the line of Flint and Fay

### Location

Golden Coast (formerly)
Natalia

### Members

Heckle
Biggting Pusher
Doove
Haldorn
Nickel Drekker
Winnie Drekker

## Book information

### Appears

*Prince Lander & the Dragon War*

The **D****rekkers**, abbreviated from **Dead Trekkers**, were a rabbit tribe or alliance of tribes in the time of Whitson Mariner.

## History

### Origins

The Drekkers, like other rabbits, were descended from the rabbit civilization founded by Flint, Fay, and the other Leapers in the Blue Moss Hills. Like their fellows, these ancient rabbits swore oaths of fealty to Flint, Fay, and their heirs, acknowledging them as the rightful rulers of rabbitkind. After the conflict with Firstfoe, many of these rabbits left their first homeland and began the Trek, a journey that would eventually take them to Golden Coast. However, during their travels, the company became separated, with an unknown number of the Trekkers becoming lost in the Mistenlands. Believing the lost ones to have perished, the remainder-including the royal family-continued on without them.

Unbeknownst to these rabbits, the lost ones survived and banded together to overcome the perils of the Mistenlands. Centuries later, their descendants arrived at Golden Coast to find their distant cousins had built a flourishing civilization. Due to their separation and differing experiences, the two groups of rabbits now had developed disparate cultures. As a result, their reunion was far from a happy one, and the so-called Dead Trekkers found an uneasy welcome in their new home.

Over the remainder of the rabbits' time on Golden Coast, the Drekkers were effectively treated as second-class citizens, regarded with disdain by many of their neighbors. Even those who deemed them of some worth apparently did so because they could set the Drekkers to perform undesirable labors. According to Mother Saramack and Whitson Mariner, even the kings, princes, and lords of Golden Coast clashed with the Drekkers and made little, if any, effort to reach an understanding with them. However, after the invasion of Golden Coast, the Drekkers board Whitson's ships and made the Crossing to Natalia.

### *Prince Lander & the Dragon War*

Contrary to the expectations of a number of the other survivors, the Drekkers remained faithful to Whitson Mariner's following even after a portion of the group broke away to form the Grimble faction. Despite this, they were seen as troublesome allies, due in part to their commitment to their own traditions. These included several aggressive and potentially lethal sports, which King Whitson attempted to ban for a time. He relented, however, after the Drekkers defied his orders and simply refrained from speaking of the games outside their stronghold at Lener's Crossroads.

Things began to change between the Drekkers and their comrades after Nickel and Winnie Drekker, together with several of their cousins, aided Prince Lander Whitson in his rescue of several Grimble younglings intended to be sacrificed to the dragons. Afterwards, the Division of Lener's Crossroads became particularly violent, with several malcontents actively seeking to remove an ailing King Whitson from the throne. During a conversation with Lander and his brother Lemual, Mother Saramack suggested that the two princes might be well served by approaching the Drekkers. Though it took some convincing, Lander eventually agreed, due in part to the fact that the Drekkers had joined or allied with a number of other outsider factions within the camp.

With this in mind, the pair made their way to the Drekkers' hold, and were brought to meet with Chief Heckle, the leader of the group. Lander spoke with him privately and Heckle refused to take sides in the ongoing turmoil, preferring to wait until a victor had emerged. However, he changed his mind after Lemual, in a feat of daring, bested the Drekker athlete Haldorn in a game of fling-a-ding. Later, Lander invited Heckle and Nickel to join his father's council to discuss Lord Grimble's proposed peace summit and the betrayal that they all expected. Though some bickering ensued, Whitson made an effort to ensure that the Drekkers were treated with respect and their advice considered.

Following Whitson's death and the Battle of Barren Point, Lander proposed an attack on Dragon Mountain in hopes of bringing an end to the Dragon War. Inspired by his display of leadership, and his family's efforts to treat them as equals, the Drekkers pledged themselves to the fight alongside the rest of the camp and the newly arrived Black Star Company. The Drekkers were part of the second wave of assault during the Battle of Dragon Mountain, rushing in to relieve King Lander and his decimated scalebreakers unit (who cheered and raised their swords in salute). Their bravery, along with that of the other rabbits, saw the day end with a victory over the monstrous dragons.

## Sociocultural characteristics

The Drekkers acted and spoke differently from the other Trekkers, and were often seen as inferior or odd. They did not respect the king's rule as much as the other Trekkers did, but did not join the oathbreakers, choosing instead to stay with Whitson. Prince Lander says that no one ever knows what the Drekkers are thinking, something that Mother Saramack says should be changed.

Chief Heckle tells Lander that the Drekkers will wait for things to shake out before deciding if they are still loyal to the king, telling Lander that while he may see this as cowardice, the story of the Drekker ancestors is not the same as Landers'. King Whitson tries to mend the rift, inviting Nickel and Heckle to a war council. Whitson apologizes for not always welcoming the Drekkers and listening to them, and tells him that those days are coming to an end. The Drekkers presumably became more a part of the Trekkers and were treated as equals.

The Drekkers were formidable fighters. While they used short blades when needed, they preferred slings, which they were very adept with. They are described as brave.

## Notable Members

* Chief Heckle
* Nickel Drekker
* Winnie Drekker
* Haldorn
* Biggting Pusher
* Doove