Studge

*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 *THE ARCHER'S CUP* ARE AHEAD; CAUTION IS ADVISED.**

**Jo Shanks**: Folks use the term *hero* pretty lightly, but—

—*Ember's End*, pg. 242

**S****tudge** was a buck, a soldier of Halfwind Citadel, and member of the Bracers.

## Biography

### *The First Fowler*

Having presumably traveled to Cloud Mountain along with the other Bracers, Studge was present when Jo Shanks arrived at the Halfwind camp after being released from medical care. He watched as Nate Flynn and Jo engaged in a brief shooting exercise, commenting that Jo couldn't hope to make a better shot than Nate. Despite this, Studge seemed disappointed when Jo "missed" the target Nate had struck, only to realize that Jo had aimed for another, more distant target which he successfully hit. The Bracers later attended a meeting in which Prince Smalden Joveson's court discussed a journey to Halfwind, and agreed to take part in the mission to insure his safety.

**Jo Shanks**: I never don't not clean my sword, Studge. Come on. You never don't not know that.

—*The First Fowler*, pg. 41

The following morning, the Bracers met in the Savory Den, and Studge questioned jokingly whether Jo had remembered to clean his sword. He subsequently complained as Jo, in rapid succession, cracked jokes and made sober comments about the danger they were soon to face. When the forces headed to Halfwind were divided, Studge was assigned to Lord Captain Helmer's advance team along with Jo, Owen, Captain Frye, Emma, Heyward, and Aubray. He and Jo engaged in some banter over the course of the journey, and Studge laughed when Jo and Owen displayed a moment of clumsiness in response to a terse order from the imposing Helmer.

Studge's merriment ceased when Jo and Owen returned from their scouting mission to report a large force of wolves in their path, commanded by a massive Preylord. The group deliberated over how to respond to this development, and decided to split into two teams to distract the predators from two different directions. Studge, Owen, and Aubray were teamed with Captain Frye on Helmer's orders, and set off a blastpowder explosion in hopes of drawing some of the wolves away and out of Prince Smalls' path. Regrettably, the raptor known as Solus recognized the attempt for what it was and swooped down on the rabbits as they broke cover, killing Aubray and threatening the rest of the team.

Owen became separated from Studge and Frye and reconnected with the other rabbits under Helmer, with the group fearing that Studge and Frye had shared Aubray's fate. However, once Solus had been killed and the advance team linked up with Prince Smalls' larger party, Frye and Studge appeared safe and sound to join them in making the final leg of the trip to Halfwind.

### *The Archer's Cup*

Together with the other Bracers, Studge traveled to Blackstone Citadel to reinforce Princess Emma's entourage at the request of Lord Victor Blackstar. There they reunited with Jo, now a member of the Fowlers along with Coleden Blackstar. They were later called upon to aid in the search for Breelia Wilder, and Studge and Owen were paired with Jo and Cole as part of the search. Led by Slimmo, the four headed out into East Wood and in the direction of Black Lake.

The four rabbits failed to catch up to Wilder's party, and were forced to hide in Slimmo's lair to avoid patrolling wolves. Studge and the others soon made their way back to Blackstone, and the next day Studge took part in the Ultimate Archer's Cup. He and his comrades discussed Cheltham, the dislikable favorite to win the tournament; Studge failed to make it to the final round. Fortunately, this allowed him to join Cole and Owen in coming to Jo's aid in preventing Slimmo from abducting Lady Elisabeth and murdering Lord Ronan. Studge and the other Bracers subsequently took charge of security during a ceremony at which the inhabitants of Blackstone pledged their loyalty to the Cause and recognized Emma as heir to the throne.

### *Ember's End*

During preparations for the Siege of First Warren, Studge and his comrades were incorporated into the Highwall Wardens. They were visited one day by Jo, and Studge voiced his complaints about seemingly endless formation drills that never led to any shooting. When Jo suggested that their superiors were aware of their ability to shoot and wanted to insure that they didn't make a mistake that would aid the enemy, Studge was so surprised that he was briefly left uncharacteristically speechless. When the final battle finally came, Studge took part in the fighting but disappeared at some point, leaving a badly injured Nate unaware of his whereabouts. He was likewise absent when the surviving Highwallers, Nate and Owen included, came to Jo's aid against two of the Six, though no mention was made of his death.

## Personality and traits

**Deever**: I'd say *likely*.

**Owen**: We have confirmation.

—*Ember's End*, pg. 241

Studge pokes fun at his fellow Bracers often, and they do so in return. Studge, while not as good as Jo and Nate, is an excellent archer.