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| King Crispin | ||||||||||||||
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- “He was Urchin’s hero. If anyone had asked Urchin what he’d like to be, he could have truthfully said, 'I want to be like Captain Crispin.'”
- ―Urchin, about Crispin
- “Urchin, you've had hardly any preparation for being a captain, but I know you will be a good one. Take good care of Catkin. Wear your circlet every day, and wear it well. Remember that sometimes it's when we're simply being ourselves that we make a difference. The most important thing I ever did, absolutely without a doubt the most important, was pick up a half-drowned baby squirrel from the sea.”
- ―King Crispin, to Urchin
Crispin, later known as King Crispin the Swan Rider, was a male squirrel who served as a Captain and later as the King of Mistmantle. He was first married to Whisper, but after she died, he married Cedar and became a father to Catkin, Oakleaf, and Almondflower. His best friend was Padra and his former page was Urchin.
History
Early Life
Not much is known about his childhood, but his mother was from Anemone Wood, where he grew up as well, and his father was a tower squirrel. His father was killed, and what became of his mother is unknown. Crispin is known to have lost family in a massive landslide. He was the best friend of the otter Padra during his childhood, and grew up with Husk.
As a child, Crispin’s parents brought him on visits to an old otter-wife who lived in a cave. The otter-wife had a stone by the entrance of her cave, dark and with veins that, in darkness, resembled a gruesome face. Crispin came to dread his encounters with the stone, whether or not he looked at them. Eventually, however, he realized the fact that he was afraid of a mere rock. After learning that the stone was there to block a draft, Crispin examined and then kicked it, and was thus able to get over his fear.
Urchin of the Riding Stars
Crispin and Brother Fir found Urchin after his mother died in labor. They were then met by Apple, into whose care they placed the newborn squirrel.
On a Night of Riding Stars some years later, he invited Urchin to Brother Fir's turret to watch the stars with him, Captain Padra and Brother Fir. Crispin and Brother Fir explained that it had been he who had found Urchin on the beach the night of Urchin's birth. Crispin then offered Urchin the opportunity to become his page at the tower, rather than working down at the jetty. Urchin accepted, and so began a series of adventures the two would undertake.
Prince Tumble was found dead the next morning, stabbed through the heart during the night. Crispin's fellow captain, Captain Husk, decided to draw lots in order to find the killer. However, Crispin argued against it, alongside many other animals, including Brother Fir. When all the animals were called to the Tower for the drawing, the squirrel token came out of the bag, drawn by Husk. After all the squirrels placed their marks inside, Husk declared that he would draw again, something highly unorthodox, since he was a squirrel himself, although he claimed that since Prince Tumble's death was his responsibility, he should be the one to do it. Husk reached into the bag and pulled out Crispin's token, declaring him guilty of Prince Tumble's murder.
Even though there was no direct evidence against Crispin, King Brushen sentenced Crispin to exile, and he was forced to leave Mistmantle Island. After Crispin was exiled from Mistmantle Island, he sailed for three days, eventually landing on Swan Isle, where he met Lord Arcneck and earned his respect by rescuing a baby cygnet from a water snake. There, Crispin also met a young female squirrel named Whisper, with whom he eventually fell in love with and married. As a token of their marriage, Crispin gave Whisper his circlet. Later, Crispin also saved Lady Arcneck when she was almost dragged under water by weeds, nearly drowning in the process, but he was saved by Lord Arcneck and taken care of by Whisper.
Crispin was reunited with Urchin when the squirrel page arrived on Swan Isle looking for him, and made plans to return to Mistmantle with Whisper. However, Gloss the mole, a spy and assassin for Captain Husk, killed Whisper, leaving Crispin devastated. He later partially recovered from this trauma and returned to Mistmantle, riding on swans with Urchin. Arriving to the Tower in the middle of the battle between Mistmantle animals and Husk's mercenaries, Crispin dueled Husk, forcing him to run down into the dungeons where he perished. After the death of King Brushen, who was mortally wounded in battle, Crispin was crowned King. He appointed new captains and new members of the Circle, and Urchin and Needle were made Companions to the King.
Urchin and the Heartstone
Crispin welcomed some animals from Whitewings Island to Mistmantle after they arrived on a battered, gale-lashed vessel. However, two of the destitute creatures, Trail and Bronze, kidnapped Urchin with the aid of Scatter.
During this time, the Heartstone was discovered to be a fake, and when Brother Fir announced this, a search was mounted to find the real Heartstone. It was revealed that Lady Aspen had crafted a fake Heartstone so that when King Brushen was dethroned and Captain Husk made king, it would appear that he was the true King of Mistmantle even though he was not. During this time, Apple decided to marry Crispin and used much time on sending him young squirrel females to the tower; he was polite and kind but sent them away.
A group called the Hedgehog Host attempted to assassinate King Crispin, believing that the true kings of Mistmantle should be hedgehogs, but they were caught and arrested. Sepia played a key part in ensuring that King Crispin knew about the plot.
Urchin returned safely with Cedar, who left Whitewings for Mistmantle, and they were welcomed by Crispin, who fell in love with Cedar. They both married soon after. During the ceremony, Crispin held the recently rediscovered Heartstone in his paws, confirming his position as ruler of Mistmantle.
The Heir of Mistmantle
King Crispin and Queen Cedar had a daughter named Catkin. During the subsequent celebration for the new princess, a squirrel called Linty, who had a panic attack after she thought she saw Husk, kidnapped her, and hid in one of her secret hideouts in the Tangletwigs.
Unexpectedly, the Fouldrought disease struck the island, and Yarrow the squirrel spread a rumour that Queen Cedar had brought the disease with her from Whitewings Isle. More and more animals agreed and spread the word to everyone on the island until almost all of them believed that the Queen was at fault. Padra's younger brother, Fingal, found a fish that died and decayed in the water and realized it was the source of the Fouldrought.
Crispin called a meeting of all the animals, in which he decried the rumours about Queen Cedar and also those of Captain Husk's supposed return from the dead.
Finally, with the help of Sepia and Fingal, Linty the squirrel - and more importantly, the princess, - were found in a small boat rowing towards the Mists. With the help of Sepia, Lugg and Fingal, Linty was prevented from going through the Mists with Catkin, and was brought back to shore. Princess Catkin was reunited with her distraught parents soon after. Sadly, Captain Lugg passed away after the rescue due to his heart giving out.
Urchin and the Raven War
The King and Queen sent Princess Catkin to another part of the island where Corr lived, and the two soon became friends.
Lord Arcneck and some other swans from Swan Isle requested Mistmantle's aid to defeat the ravens that attacked their home.
King Crispin slew the Archraven, but the bird wounded him severely. After he was healed, the ravens attacked Mistmantle. They kidnapped Catkin and held her hostage. Urchin, however, wisely turned the ravens against each other, and they soon began to slay one another. Gleaner slew the Silver Prince, bringing joy to Mistmantle and ending the war.
Urchin and the Rage Tide
As King Crispin sought to prepare the islanders for the coming Rage Tide, the delusional squirrel Mossberry convinced a group of animals that King Crispin was not the true king, and that Juniper was not the true priest. Mossberry believed that he was the rightful master of Mistmantle, and that the Heart had chosen him to deliver the island from doom.
Soon Mossberry and his rebels tried to leave the island. Crispin reasoned with them animals and Mossberry, and saved many creatures, but some were killed when the Rage Tide struck. Sepia was also swept away, leaving Urchin devastated. Corr, being a Voyager, chose to rescue her. He visited Whitewings, but she was not there. He then visited Swan Isle, and Lord Crown informed him that some swans saw her. From there Corr was able to bring Sepia back.
However, Brother Juniper had a prophecy, and Crispin knew that he had to sacrifice himself so that Sepia could return through the mists. Before his departure, Crispin made Urchin a captain and gave him clawmarks giving him permission to marry Sepia and to promote Hope to a member of the Circle. He then reveals to his family and Urchin that his old wound from the Raven War was slowly killing him, and that the only reason he is still alive was because of the constant care from Cedar and Juniper. He reveals to them the prophecy and what it means, and that night, at high tide, he gets into a boat and rows to sea. Urchin swims out to sea to say final goodbyes, and then leaves Crispin to paddle out into the mists. His last words of "It's you!" seem to imply that he was greeted by Whisper as he died.
Corr later went back beyond the mists to retrieve the body of his King and give Crispin a proper funeral. His grave, which was in the middle of Anemone Wood, has white stones and mending moss on it. Crispin was remembered by the islanders as a beloved and selfless king who lived and died for Mistmantle.
Personality
Crispin was a very noble and brave squirrel, and was praised as one of the finest Mistmantle Captains. He was also shown to be very kind and didn't think himself any better than anyone else.
He was very protective of his beloved ones and in The Heir of Mistmantle when Catkin is kidnapped he never gives up searching for her. When Lugg tells Crispin that he can’t have every animal search after Catkin because they had to harvest food, he becomes slightly irritated before he remembers that he is right.
Relationships
Crispin had many close relationships with the other creatures of Mistmantle.
Cedar
"Thank you for every moment. Thank you, Crispin of Mistmantle." - Cedar, after her husband's death.
Queen Cedar was Crispin's second wife, and the mother of his children. From the moment she arrived on the island, Crispin was entranced with Cedar, and he later made her his Queen. He constantly admired her courage and wisdom, and valued her as a companion. She was brave in return, and loved her husband and her family dearly.
Catkin, Oakleaf, and Almondflower
"You haven't really left me, have you? You'll always help me. You must. You knew what to do, and I don't." - Catkin
Princess Catkin was his first born child and oldest daughter. When she disappears as a baby, he constantly searches and worries for her. As she grows up, she begins to test his patience. For her to learn freedom and responsibility, he sends her away to learn how to live outside the tower. After his death, Catkin takes over the throne with help from Oakleaf and Cedar.
"I've promised Oakleaf a fencing lesson, but I'll see to Mossberry after that." - Crispin
Since Oakleaf was Crispin's only son, they are alike in many ways. They have a good relationship with each other. In his young age, Crispin taught his son to fight with a sword. After King Crispin's passing, it was said that Oakleaf looked more like his father than ever before.
"Do you think I want to leave my family, especially when Almondflower's so little that she may not remember me?" - Crispin
Princess Almondflower was his last child and second daughter. After the Raven War, they became closer. Crispin was glad to spend time with his youngest child before his death, knowing that she would remember him when he was gone, when he had previously feared she would not.
Whisper
"You were the only one from Mistmantle who ever met Whisper, so please, for my sake, remember my Lady Whisper." - Crispin to Urchin
Lady Whisper was Crispin's first wife, who he met while living on Swan Isle. When he nearly died saving Lady Arcneck from drowning, Whisper cared for Crispin, saving his life. When they married, Crispin gave her his Captain's Circlet as a sign of their marriage. After Whisper was murdered by Gloss, Crispin made a grave for her and placed his old circlet on it, but took it back to Mistmantle at Urchin's suggestion when he left. Later, as king, Crispin had a Threading made of her that was hung over the door to the Throne Room.
Urchin
"Heart keep you forever, Urchin of the Riding Stars." - Crispin to Urchin
Urchin always looked up to Crispin, and in return Crispin kept an eye on the young squirrel in the forest. He was so pleased with him that he made him his page. When Crispin was exiled, Urchin was so devoted to him that he offered to leave with him. They became close friends in later years. Crispin eventually made him into a member of the Circle, and finally a captain.
Padra
Padra was a close friend of Crispin, and remained so after Crispin became King of Mistmantle. Crispin looked to him for help and advice in many situations. After Crispin's death, Padra was distraught about losing his closest companion, and mourned his loss.
Fir
Crispin spent much of his time together with Brother Fir. He enjoyed helping him and listening to his stories.
Gallery
 Take a look at our gallery for Crispin by clicking here. |
Trivia
- The name Crispin has both Latin and English roots, and means "curly haired."[1]