High Bleaks

Heather and Picket Longtreader and Morbin Blackhawk atop the High Bleaks, as illustrated by Zach Franzen on the cover of Ember Rising.

## General information

### Residents

The Birds of Prey, along with the Rabbit slaves of Akolan

### Appears

• *The Black Star of Kingston*
• *The Green Ember*
• *Ember Falls*
• *Ember Rising*
• *Ember's End*

### Mentioned

*The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner*

The **H****igh Bleaks** were the ancestral home of the Lords of Prey and the chosen base of Morbin Blackhawk.

## History

### *The Black Star of Kingston*

The Trekkers established their first Natalian settlement, Seddleton, on the opposite side of Ayman Lake from the High Bleaks. The mountains were clearly visible from Seddleton, and both Queen Lillie and Fleck Blackstar found the sight of them troubling. Fleck in particular felt that it would be prudent to establish another settlement in the Low Bleaks, as a buffer against whatever might be lurking in the taller and more imposing mountains behind them. This desire, along with the suspicion that coal might be found in the area, persuaded King Whitson Mariner to approve plans to explore the opposite side of the lake.

During the first expedition, an ominous noise from the High Bleaks (though they could not pinpoint its origin at the time) spooked the rabbits, and Gavin later fled into the mountains in guilt after accidentally shooting Fleck with an arrow. He soon discovered the horror of the Lords of Prey among the High Bleaks, and the encounter with these legendary nightmares left him mad with fear. Eventually, he was discovered by the rest of Black Star Company and brought back to the mining site, where he warned his fellows of the danger looming over them. Shortly thereafter, a fleet of raptors descended from the High Bleaks towards Ayman Lake, initiating the Battle of Ayman Lake before returning to the High Bleaks with many captives.

### *The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner*

The High Bleaks were mentioned by King Whitson Mariner when he recounted their previous foes.

### *The Green Ember*/*The Last Archer*

By the time of Walter Good, the Lords of Prey had spread out from the High Bleaks to prey upon the rabbits of Natalia, though relatively few of them actually dwelt beyond their ancestral mountain range. Walter's son, King Jupiter, succeeded in driving these raptors back into the High Bleaks with his armies. This earned him the enmity of Morbin Blackhawk, current king of the Lords of Prey, who soon orchestrated a plan for vengeance against the rabbits whom he deemed usurpers.

In reflecting upon the possibility that Heather and Picket Longtreader and their uncle Wilfred might, in fact, be loyal members of the Cause, Jo Shanks noted that they served among the rabbits of the secret citadels. By contrast, the traitor Garten Longtreader was known to remain almost constantly in the High Bleaks in the company of his Preylord masters.

### *The First Fowler*/*Ember Falls*

While on a mission to rescue the slaves, Smalls commented to Picket that the foothills of the High Bleaks would be the perfect place to keep slaves, as it is deep in a valley and near a river. Picket notes that the Lords of Prey often attacked rabbits from their home, which was the High Bleaks.

Jo Shanks realizes that Solus senses something is up, something that would give him glory back in the High Bleaks if he foiled it. Jo decides that Solus must never return to Morbin's home in the High Bleaks, or ever see Prince Smalls. Jo proceeds to kill Solus with an incredible bowshot.

Heather is carried off to the High Bleaks by a hawk to meet Morbin in his high tower. She describes the mountains as 'haunting'.

### *Ember Rising*/*The Archer's Cup*

A raptor carries Heather through the massive mountains to Akolan. Captain Redthaw later notes that the stone used to fill in First Warren's gates was mined by slaves in the High Bleaks. He also says that the High Bleaks are the most protected place in all Natalia. Whittle tells Heather that the administration of Akolan wants to act like being in the heart of the High Bleaks is a good thing. Akolan being in the heart of the High Bleaks is mentioned many times. During the Battle for First Warren, Daggler tells Helmer that even if Helmer's side manages to take the city, Morbin will send so many birds from the High Bleaks that they will only have the city for a moment. However, no Preylords returned to the High Bleaks with news of First Warren.

### *Ember's End*

A buck who had helped initiate the attack on Harbone Citadel, when questioned by Wilfred Longtreader, revealed that he was a member of the Longtreader Command and from the High Bleaks.

According to Prince Winslow, though Morbin is overall king, each of the Six rules their own part of the High Bleaks. When Falcowit was killed, his sector was a mess, and part of what Morbin's army was doing near Grey Grove was installing the new Sixth, because that was crucial to them. After he was mentioned by the prisoner from the Longtreader Command, Mrs. Weaver said that Farlock was a rumor from the north, beyond the High Bleaks.

## Composition

### Morbin's lair

**Morbin's lair** was the home of Morbin Blackhawk, and was perched high in a pine forest atop the tallest peak of the High Bleaks.

## Physical attributes

The High Bleaks contained a spiraling sprawl of forts and palaces which formed the home of many of the Birds of Prey. The long, winding spiral of nests was a staggering spectacle. Beneath it all was a massive maw which gaped far below as though cut from cold stone, which housed the slave city of Akolan. The mountains themselves were described as 'massive' by rabbits, found intimidating, and described as 'bleak', hence their name.