Fling-a-ding

*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.**

**Lander Whitson**: Fling-a-ding?

**Winnie**: Aye. A rock is flinged at the head, If it strikes the iron it dings, nearly blasting the loser's head off, and the match ends. Fling-a-ding.

—*Prince Lander & the Dragon War*, p. 130 |  | ”

**F****ling-a-ding** was one of a number of sports played by the Drekkers prior to the conclusion of the Dragon War.

## Information

### Gameplay

**Winnie Drekker**: Quite a few. But only if they play close and the face is accidentally struck. The helmet covers only the topmost part of the head. But this'll likely be long range, and, though Haldorn the Hulk there has power unlike anyone else, if they're far enough away the injuries do be far less certain.

—*Prince Lander & the Dragon War*, p. 130 |  | ”

Fling-a-ding was played between at least two competitors, each of whom donned a dome-shaped helmet with holes to accommodate the ears of rabbits. The objective was for each participant to propel a stone at their opponent's head-typically using a sling-and strike their helmet, producing a loud ringing noise. Opponents could face each other at either end of a number of distances, with the chances of injury or even death increasing the closer they were to one another. If nothing else, the impact of the stone on the helmet could render the victim unconscious.

Competitors were equipped with, in addition to the helmet, a sling and pouch of stones for ammunition. However, at the time of the match between Lemual Whitson and Haldorn, the rules did not specify that a sling had to be used to propel the stone. Furthermore, it was apparently permissible to throw more than one stone per turn, and to not aim every stone thrown directly at the opposing player. Visitors to the Drekker compound in Lener's Crossroads, and those who accepted a challenge to a fling-a-ding match, were granted the choice of what distance they and their opponent would face each other from.

## History

### *Prince Lander & the Dragon War*

While visiting the Drekker compound with his brother Lander Whitson, Prince Lemual was challenged to a game of fling-a-ding by Haldorn the Hulk, a renowned player. Lemual accepted the challenge both to defend his father Whitson Mariner's honor, which Haldorn had insulted, and in hopes of winning the Drekkers over to the royal family's side in the division of Lener's Crossroads. Lander, fearing for Lemual's life, attempted to halt the match, but was informed that doing so would lose them any good will from the Drekkers. Reluctantly, he was forced to allow the contest to continue, with Winnie Drekker outlining the rules and risks for him.

Chief Heckle, who presided over the contest, equipped the two competitors, but was appalled when Lemual asked to throw from the closest possible distance. However, Lemual-having quickly learned the rules of the game-took advantage of a loophole, first throwing a stone high into the air rather than at Haldorn. Then, while the other buck was distracted, Lemual-throwing by hand rather than using a sling, at which he was inexperienced-threw a second rock and struck Haldorn's helmet. Haldorn was knocked unconscious as the result, and Lemual's ingenuity greatly impressed the onlooking Drekkers, who gifted the prince with a sling in recognition of his feat.