Well met, my fellow Furians! Today, we'll dive into a topic I've been sitting on for years since the show, particularly Season 6, back in 2018.
Did Viggo really die in "Triple Cross"?
Thankfully, several other people have had this suspicion besides me, from what I saw after googling it.
There's @kingofthewilderwest 's post here, though it's about Season 4, I feel it applies well here. There's also a discussion thread about Viggo's death on the HTTYD Wiki here if you feel like checking it out.
But I found it really odd that Viggo "died" so anti-climatically when he survived a BLOODY VOLCANO!!! (That still ticks me off, by the way.)
What makes it stranger is that we see Viggo acting injured in this scene when Hiccup turns to Viggo.
And what happens after Hiccup leaves? Viggo straightens, drops the facade, and does THIS:
I mean look at this mad-lad WALKING AND CHARGING like nothing had happened to him!!! It's absurd!
And those arrows didn't look like they went all that deep. Which, when you think about it, makes sense. After all, there's no way Viggo wouldn't have arrow-resistant armor. Being the Chieftain of Dragon Hunters, his armor is probably mostly made of dragon materials. His cuirass is likely made of some tough dragon material, specifically made to repel any assassination attempts. Someone in his position must've had a lot of assassination attempts and even mutinies. Either that or Viggo is just extremely careful and wants to make sure every precaution is taken to ensure his safety and life.
Of course, the Skrill's fire blast might've killed him, but considering that we never see his death, we haven't seen a body, and the fact Krogan and Johann never mentioned it must mean that Viggo is actually alive.
Allow me to explain how this could be possible.
Viggolocks and the Three Accomplices
As you know, there is a special meaning to "Triple Cross". Not only is it encompassing the double-cross by Krogan and Johann against Viggo, but also the triple-cross Viggo did against them.
However, there's also another reason:
The Accomplices!
In this episode, when Hiccup met Viggo, the latter had this to say:
"The Accomplice. One of the most important pieces in all of Maces and Talons, allowing a player to use an opponent's piece for their own ends. You can certainly win without it; but with it, you can attain total victory."
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This entire episode's theme is about accomplices. In fact, it's accomplices who are the episode's catalyst.
How many? Three.
Yes, that's right. THREE!
Hiccup is the first accomplice, obviously.
Who's the second?
A Skrill. Viggo drags Hiccup along to a very cold and snowy place (my theory and headcanon is someplace around the Shivering Shores), and uses a shiny dagger to attract a Skrill to him.
But why a Skrill? Viggo explains this to Hiccup in this scene:
"In ancient times, the Singetail was one of the most feared dragons. However, there was one dragon, whose powerful blast could neutralize the Singetail's fire. Meet our Accomplice, Hiccup. The Singetail's only predator: the Skrill."
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Krogan's Flyers were guarding the Hunter base where the Dragon Eye was located. As such, having a Skrill — the Singetails' natural predator and only enemy — on their side was essential to their plan, even if it was just to be a distraction.
However, there was one more accomplice — a third accomplice — who might have possibly been involved that Hiccup (and perhaps even Viggo) didn't know was involved in their little scheme.
This guy, in Season 5's "Wings of War".
Honestly, I truly view this to be an abysmal display of teasing us with a plot point, only to not do anything with it! Seriously! What a waste of a good plot device! 😤💢😠
Or is it? 👀🤔
When he and Viggo dived into the volcano in Dragon's Edge, he almost fell off the ledge and into the volcano (even though, in reality, it's impossible to be anywhere near a volcano without dying from one thing or another 😑).
However, Viggo saved him from dying, causing the Hunter Goon to say this:
Dragon Hunter: I owe you my life!
Viggo: Perhaps someday you will repay me in some small way.
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Bear in mind, Viggo didn't do this out of the goodness of his heart. He needed an ally — or an accomplice, in this case — who he could use in the tentative ally-cum-rival's camp. And saving his life was a great way to hook him into doing whatever he wanted him to do.
Thus, it is entirely possible that Viggo recruited him to take part in this scheme, fully intending to escape, take back his Hunters, and go to other lands to continue his empire.
In fact, what's interesting is the expression of this Hunter in this scene below.
Of course, as you know, from the earlier GIFs, it could just be that he was surprised at Viggo charging at him. But you never know.
Of course, one could point out that the Hunter might've already paid Viggo back by interrupting Viggo (and thus Krogan's attempt at assassinating him) in "Wings of War". However, I find that to be a flimsy rebuttal, and I don't believe that Viggo would let that slide and would argue that he already knew of Krogan's scheme, and thus, would insist that the Hunter still owed him.
Conclusion
Therefore, it is my conclusion — along with my theory and headcanon — that Viggo survived this confrontation. Albeit injured, he is saved by the Hunter whose life he redeemed for his own use as the unknown accomplice (to Hiccup) for his plans, and helped him escape Krogan and Johann, where they go to some isolated place to heal. And later, Viggo would gather the remnants of the Hunters, reunite with his Tribe, and sail to distant lands, as he had promised Hiccup.
What do you guys think? Do you think it's plausible? Did you also think it unlikely that Viggo perished in this episode? Let me know your thoughts!
Thanks for reading! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Hello, my fellow Dragonmarkers! Today, we'll be talking about another character from the movie/TV franchise and the Books:
Could Heather be loosely based on a character from the books?
(Warning: Spoiler Alert to those who haven't read the books at all, but consider this an opportunity to see if the books are worth reading, eh? ;-) )
Now, I might be 100% wrong on my theory, but I'm still going to present it, and leave to you, my audience, to determine whether or not this is plausible.
Unlike other characters in the movie/t.v. show whom many fans think are similar to certain book characters (cough, cough, Astrid, cough), Heather might possibly have more in common with her other half, Barbara the Barbarian: a minor character that we see only in the last book of the series, How to Fight a Dragon's Fury.
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My Theory | How Heather and Barbara Are Similar:
What makes me think that Heather and Barbara are connected, if somewhat loosely?
Well, let me give you a few reasons:
1) She's a daughter of a Chieftain.
Both girls are daughters (or Princesses, as they're called in the books) of Chieftains — albeit Heather's the daughter of the late Chieftain of the Berserker Tribe, while Barbara is the daughter of the Chieftain of the Barbarian Tribe. They both have a level head on their shoulders and their equipment and even their dragons look somewhat similar, if loosely so.
They are also good leaders who lead their warriors well, and both of their fathers dote on them.
Both are superb fighters, being daughters of Chieftains. They are also intelligent, fierce, brave, kind, compassionate, and love their dragons dearly.
2) Both seem to be brunettes (though Barbara's hair and eye color is never mentioned).
3) Barbara, like Heather, seems to not have a mother, though it's unclear whether the mother died or if she was just not mentioned. The HTTYD books only have a few mothers who are mentioned and shown: Bertha (Camicazi's mother), Valhallarama (Hiccup's mother), Termagant (Fishlegs' mother), Excellinor the Witch (Alvin the Treacherous's mother), and Chin-hilda (Hiccup the Second's mother). Oddly, women are sorely lacking in the books. Maybe it's just because of the Viking culture in her books. In Viking culture, women weren't often mentioned except in folklore and sagas.
4) Both are staunch supporters and allies of their respective Hiccup the Thirds. Heather is a trustworthy ally who's often shown alongside Hiccup and the Dragon Riders in Race to the Edge along with Dagur.
She's always seen with the others around the Hearth giving suggestions and advice. Before she reconciled with Dagur, and when she lived with the Dragon Riders, she often flew with Hiccup and/or Astrid, and was usually the one to go with Hiccup and Astrid when he left to talk to someone — whether a villain or one of their allies.
She and Barbara have the utmost respect for their respective Hiccups and would gladly die for them if need be.
Barbara only nominated Alvin the Treacherous to be King of the Wilderwest, despite knowing the kind of person he was and having fought against him, and being Hiccup's follower, out of practical sense and battle fatigue, for the Vikings of the Wilderwest were close to extinction under the claws of the Dragons' Red-Rage Rebellion led by Furious, and she and everyone else had been fighting the dragons for two years at this point and were war-weary (even Vikings need a break from war once and a while). Only when evidence began to pop up that Hiccup is the Rightful Heir did she have hope again.
She was also one of the Vikings who knelt before Hiccup to swear their swords for his service as their King. And when Hiccup was going to duel Furious, Barbara offered to lend him her cat to take into battle — whether as a weapon, a lucky charm, or both.
And when Hiccup was in danger — and when Alvin incited the battle once again by breaking the Rules of Single Combat by entering the Ring when Hiccup and Furious were engaged so that he could steal the Dragon Jewel and kill Hiccup the Third for good — she flew on her dragon along with her comrades to enter the fray and showed great courage and bravery.
5) Both Heather and Barbara own battle horns.
Heather was given her horn as a gift from Hiccup's father Stoick when she was born. Perhaps Barbara did likewise, or her own father had given her it when she was older. As I've said, she's a minor character so not much is known about her at all; she's only shown in one book — the last one, and only in the middle of the last one.
Heather uses her own to call Windshear to her if they ever get separated. It's also possible that she uses it to call to any allies that are close to her. Barbara seems to use her horn similarly.
In fact, in How to Fight a Dragon's Fury, it says in Page 241 that: "...She brought out her foghorn and blew on it several times, making such a loud noise that the cat's fur stood up like the quills on a sea urchin and she immediately bounced back onto Barbara's shoulder."
So she seems to use it for her pet cat (I believe it was mentioned that the Barbarian Tribe used cats into battle. No clue why, but they do).
Another reference in Page 450 — well after this point, close to the end of the story — when the Second Dragon-Human War was ended and the Vikings were celebrating the new peace and the return of the Kingdom of the Wilderwest. Unfortunately, being Vikings, their celebrating eventually moved into fighting and arguing, and Hiccup eventually asks Barbara for her horn in order to break it up.
Hiccup says: " 'In the meantime, I know what will stop them from arguing... Barbara," said Hiccup now, 'could I borrow your foghorn?' King Hiccup stood up on his Stone, and blew the foghorn as hard as he could. The thrilling sound of the foghorn, when blown at full blast, was so magnetically loud that it hit the ears like an electric shock..."
We actually see this when Heather blows her horn to call Windshear to her in Edge of Disaster Part 2 in Season 2 of RTTE. The sound is high-pitched and loud.
Yet another — and final — reference is in Page 455-456, where, as the Vikings are singing songs during the Feast, Hiccup asks Barbara if she'd like her horn back, to which she replied that "he'd better keep it, as she thought that he was going to need it." (Vikings being Vikings, after all). Heather doesn't do this, but I was basically showing where the horn came from.
Now, it could be that this is just a coincidence, and that this doesn't make Heather loosely based on Barbara the Barbarian. It could be that the horn is just a little reference from the books like the eyepiece (telescope) you see Hiccup and other characters use throughout the Dragons series.
6) Both girls are love interests of their respective Fishlegs characters.
That's right. I'm getting to the JUICY stuff now! lol 😎🍿
Now Fishlegs in the movie franchise is vastly (pun not intended) different from Fishlegs in the books. Fishlegs in the books is small and skinny like Hiccup and has asthma, eczema, a squint, a limp, and numerous allergies, including one to reptiles. He wears glasses. And has red hair. And his dragon is a Deadly Shadow, a dragon not unsimilar to the Snaptrapper dragon — much cooler than a Gronkle, as the Deadly Shadow is a faster flyer, deadlier, and is a Stealth Dragon.
Fishlegs in the movies is... beefier than Fishlegs in the books. He also doesn't really have any allergies aside from Gobber's earwax (which they only did for comedy effect and the episode actually referenced Fishlegs' allergy to reptiles in the books, though Fishlegs seems to have gotten over that allergy as the books wore on). He doesn't have glasses, having perfect vision. He doesn't limp, he's strong, and doesn't squint. And he doesn't have asthma. And it seems like he can swim just fine, whereas in the books Fishlegs was a terrible swimmer and was only able to swim when he saw that Hiccup was in danger. He also has blond hair, not red. And he's a nerd when it comes to dragons, whereas Fishlegs in the books is an up-and-coming poet and bard with only the general knowledge of dragons.
Basically, he's a WIMP.
Fishlegs in the books is also an orphan, unlike in the movie, and also, unlike Movie Fishlegs, Fishlegs in the books also turns out to be royalty, being the son of Termagant, daughter of a Murderous Chieftain, and Alvin the Treacherous, making him the third cousin (according to the HTTYD wiki) of Hiccup and Snotlout. In the movie, Alvin is of no relation to Stoick, Hiccup, Snotlout, and Fishlegs at all, and Fishlegs is of no relation, in turn, to Hiccup. In the books, Fishlegs is also part Berserker on his mother's side, whereas Fishlegs has no such lineage.
One last thing: Fishlegs in the books was love-struck whenever Barbara was around, and couldn't form a coherent sentence together nor could think straight, often fainting. Fishlegs in the films and series never show any of that when with Heather. However, Fishlegs's secret letters to Heather could actually be a reference from the books where Fishlegs writes a secret love letter to Barbara the Barbarian against Hiccup's wishes.
In other words, he's a SIMP. 😂
(Heathlegs by NightOwl374 on Tumblr — though the account isn't around anymore and you can only find these on Pinterest)
Now, there are those who hope that someday Fishlegs and Barbara get together (personally, I don't) like how Fishlegs and Heather do in RTTE.
Another thing that the girls have in common is that both are older than their male counterparts — she is about a year or so (give or take a few months) older than Fishlegs, while Barbara is said, according to Camicazi, to be at least three years older than Fishlegs.
Two noticeable differences are, however, that 1) Fishlegs and Heather were a couple at one point, whereas with Fishlegs and Barbara, it was a one-sided attraction on Fishlegs' part and probably wouldn't be a thing regardless; and 2) both Barbara and Fishlegs were royalty, whereas only Heather is royalty and Fishlegs is just your average Joe (or IS HE? 😏).
But Fishlegs and Heather's relationship could've been a very loose reference to the possibility — and hope — of Fishlegs' infatuation with Barbara the Barbarian in the end of How to Fight a Dragon's Fury (come on, Cressida! Make us a sequel series!), and wanting Fishlegs to at least GET THE GIRL for once! lol 😂
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Conclusion:
Anyway, this is all that I have for you concerning this. What do you guys think? Do you think that Heather could be loosely inspired by Barbara from the books? Or do you think that I'm making mountains out of ant-hills and that these are just a bunch of coincidences! Tell me what you guys think! 😏
Thank you everyone for reading this article! I hope you guys enjoyed reading it! Until next time, my fellow Dragonmarkers! Have a great weekend!
Hello, everyone! After a several-month-long hiatus (sorry for that), I’m back with the second article of the “What’s in a Name” mini-series — and this time, with Heathlegs.
(Minlout | Ruffthrok)
Now, as you can see, unlike with the Minlout chart, in which neither of the characters had much of a selection concerning the meanings of their names, the members of Team Heathlegs actually have a lot of definitions to their names. Fishlegs had so many, in fact, that I had to pick and choose which definitions to have in this chart! And, as you can see, it was a bit of a tight fit; I actually had to resize this a few times in order to fit all of that in his section! It was messy. (I had forgotten how many uses “fish” has in the English language. lol XD)
Fishlegs
Now, of course, Fishlegs, having the disadvantage of not having a name with some historical influence, makes it difficult to pinpoint any exact meaning that be “deep” or anything — but that doesn’t mean that I won’t try! And just because it’s a Hooligan name, doesn’t mean I can’t try to give it some neat meaning, eh? ;-)
Now, if we ignore the most obvious meaning of Fishlegs’ name — that is, literally, “a fish with legs” — the possibilities are endless.
Here are most of the definitions of “fish”:
Edible vertebrates that live in the water.
The zodiacal sign and constellation Pisces.
A person who is strange in a specific way.
To search, by groping or feeling for something concealed.
A flat piece of metal, wood, or another material used to give additional strength to a beam or joint as a temporary repair, such as a ship's mast or spar.
Let me tell you, I never expected that Fish was attributed to the constellation Pisces (even though Pisces is Latin for “fish”). Though, if I’m honest, I’m not very knowledgeable with the constellations.
To be honest, with Fishlegs being Fishlegs, and with his family clan having a strength in oral and written knowledge, this fits him. In fact, this fits him A LOT!
Not only could this be when Fishlegs was born, as Pisces comes around on February 19th to March 20th (which would make Hiccup a Pisces, I guess), but Fishlegs could’ve very well been named after this constellation by his parents either because of this and/or because of his parents’ love for knowledge and astronomy, knowing the symbolic nature of Pisces. (Or it could just be that they just REALLY love fish.)
Honestly, this is probably the best and most plausible headcanon for Fishlegs’ name I could ever make — aside from the possibility that Fishlegs is just... Fishlegs, and has no relative meaning at all. But I refuse to entertain that possibility.
The next one (that’s not in the chart, but I decided to note it, anyway) is when one is fishing... for fish. With a hook, net, etc. Which, according to my headcanon, fits Fishlegs’ family, as one of their main occupations is the fishing industry and as traders. Which would explain Fishlegs’ appearance: he looks like he comes from a wealthy family. (I’ll explain this more in a later article.)
“Fish” is also a slang term for a person who is strange in a specific way. Which is actually interesting to note, since fish are strange in general; and Fishlegs is most definitely “strange” in that he, along with his family, don’t share the love for battle that the other Hooligans seem to have, and prefer being philosophers than warriors (though that didn’t necessarily stop them from participating during the Dragon Wars and others). Fishlegs is also “strange” for being very affectionate and... compassionate and... stuff — which aren’t Viking traits, to be sure. To prevent from explaining further and making this longer than it already is, I’ll just nip it in the bud and say that, in general, Fishlegs is considered by many to be strange (save us in the modern era, who are similar to him).
Of course, we know that he’s not strange at all. But back then, in Viking Times, it would’ve. But we must take note that Heather never viewed Fishlegs like that. From their first meeting in “The Heather Report”, she’s accepted and liked who he was and was drawn to, and had great respect for, his intelligence. She even told Astrid in “Have Dragon, Will Travel” that she preferred a smart man over a man with brawn — like Fishlegs (who, conveniently, has BOTH). Fishlegs definitely has a different perspective on life and in general that Heather appreciates and Hiccup uses to their advantage during their adventures and battles.
(Though I have to take note that Fishlegs was very fortunate that Snotlout was such a pompous idiot... or else Mrs. Lout probably could’ve ended up becoming a reality had Snotlout been more... I don’t know, like Hiccup. More smart, humble, and sensitive. lol XD)
Another definition of “fish” is to search, grope, or feel for something concealed — like searching for something in your pocket or a bag or sack. Fishlegs, of course, is known for always “fishing” for things: whether it’s documents, information, maps, charcoal pencils, food — whatever! And curiously enough, it also seems to imply and symbolize Heather’s predicament, who has been searching for a home and a place to belong “since the first time he met her,” and it also sums up their relationship quite nicely. It’s beautiful. :’)
(I also think it’d be hilarious if this was also because Fishlegs was being difficult during the birthing process, so one of the midwives had to “fish” for Fishlegs in the canal in order to get him out, hence the name. lol XD)
The last definition is an interesting one — and one I’ve never heard before:
A flat piece of metal, wood, or another material used to give additional strength to a beam or joint as a temporary repair, such as a ship's mast or spar.
I really love this concept in defining Fishlegs; it has something to do with his family — due to my head canon of his family being fishers/traders — and it sums up who he is nicely. Not only is he strong and a steadfast support, but he also is kinda the healer of their group. And aside from Hiccup, Fishlegs is also the mediator within the group and keeps the group balanced. He also helps Hiccup with literal repairs.
To be honest, I can see Fishlegs’ family being shipbuilders, too — having their hands in a lot of honey pots, as it were. lol ^_^
Anyway, now to the “-legs” part of his name. Here are the following definitions:
Appendages of humans and animals.
Used to refer to the sustained popularity or success of a product or idea.
A section or stage of a journey or process.
Again, ignoring the obvious literal “fish legs” meaning.
The definition of “referring to the sustained popularity or success of a product or idea” is actually an interesting one. Another one that I’ve never heard of. Very educational. This fits Fishlegs; he’s full of ideas, and they tend to *usually* work and successful. And like Hiccup, Fishlegs makes things, too. So, basically, this sums up Fishlegs’ character.
The other definition is “a section of stage of a journey or process.” Which, when you think about it, sums up Fishlegs’ entire character arc. I mean, we see him from HTTYD 1, to RoB and DoB, to RTTE, and the latter 2 films, and we gradually see him changing from a timid, cowardly, unconfident, and nervous individual to someone who ends up being brave, heroic, confident, stands up for himself, more outgoing, steadfast, a warrior even, and someone that can be depended on. This entire arc was definitely a journey of self-discovery for Fishlegs. I mean, it was for the entire Gang, but still.
Also, this could also apply to astronomy and the movement of planets and stars, etc.
Of course, leg(s) has LOTS of definitions; but I don’t have the time, room, nor relevance to include them. So these were the three definitions for “legs” that I felt was more appropriate and plausible for Fishlegs’ name.
So that is everything that you now know about Fishlegs.
Now, on to Heather’s name.
Heather
Heather’s name, while having undergone much scrutiny and criticism in the past, does, in fact, fit Heather and her character arc. And is not a Mary Sue name. As you will see below, Heather is a Scandinavian name, and is, in fact, plausible for her to have that name. The Old Norse word for heather is “ling”, so some variant was used for the name (though I’ve yet to find any Old Norse names rooted from this word). Not only that, but as I believe in my head canon that she has some Anglo-Saxon blood in her family lineage, she could’ve easily have been named by one of those relatives.
Here are some fun facts about the name — and the flower — Heather:
Of Anglo-Saxon, Scots, Irish, Dutch, German, and Scandinavian origin.
A hardy and beautiful cluster of flowers that live in hilly and rocky areas and blooms in the winter, giving it the appropriate name, "Queen of Winter."
Symbolises independence, protection, strength, admiration, solitude, beauty, and good fortune.
Comes in white, purple, red, or even pink colors.
Were used to stuff mattresses and induce sleep.
Were also used to make aromatic brooms to sweep and clean their homes.
As Heather is a flower-based name, there’s not really much to add on other than getting into the symbolism and meanings of the flower and its uses.
The Heather plant was often used to stuff mattresses and induce sleep, and were also used to make homemade brooms to sweep and clean house interiors. Interestingly enough, the genus name for this flower is Calluna, which possibly comes from the Greek Kallyno “beautify, sweep clean” — an appropriate choice, I dare say. This is a wonderful reference to her domestic life with her foster family and Tribe.
The flowers also come in a variety of colors: white, purple, red, and even pink. (Heather also becomes those colors as well. Hehe.)
Also like the flower/plant, Heather is independent, wanting to do things herself and is reluctant to ask for help, and she survived for years on her own. Heather is strong, both physically and mentally, and despite the trials and struggles that Life throws at her, she stands strong and fights back; she’s a fierce warrior as well; and like how the heather plant protects, our Heather is willing to fight to the death to protect those she holds dear and cares about.
Heather is also beautiful, like the flower, both physically and in personality; but it’s a mellow beauty, not loud and gaudy in nature. She is also admired by many and admires many in return, reaping great respect from her friends and allies. Heather also represents solitude, and our girl has had a tough time, and has had to deal with her trials alone for so long that she almost prefers to remain alone — until Fishlegs and the Gang came along. She is finally, like the flower, the symbol of good fortune; not only has she found a family in Fishlegs and the Gang, and their dragons, and in her foster parents and in Windshear, but she has also lived a good life and has even managed to build a home with her birth Tribe, the Berserkers. She also has been good luck to Hiccstrid and has been an steadfast supporter for her best friends to get together; and lastly, she has been a source of inspiration and companionship for Fishlegs and they have had a strong bond since they had been reunited.
A fitting name for a fitting maiden. ^_^
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Conclusion
So in conclusion to this very long article, these are the points you should take away from this article:
Fishlegs’ birthday could plausibly be around February or March.
Fishlegs’ parents could’ve named him after the Pisces constellation, or something that was tied to their profession as fishers/traders.
Fishlegs’ name could just be what it is due to a stupid Hooligan tradition of naming children, but we shall ignore that to the best of our ability.
The name Heather is of Scandinavian origin just as much as it is of Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Dutch, and German origin.
Heather’s name FITS her character. End of story.
The Heather flower/plant is a pretty neat flower/plant
It’s also tough and hardcore. Practically shouts “Screw you, Winter, I’m growing and blooming whether you like it or not!” the whole season long. Love it. lol XD
Heather is practically the plant/flower personified!
Heathlegs really are meant to be together.
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Hope you enjoyed reading this article, and I hope that you’ve gained more appreciation for Heathlegs, and the characters themselves. Thank you for reading this and hope to see you soon.
I will be posting the third and final installment of the “What’s in a Name” miniseries at a later date, which will get into the name meanings of Ruffthrok (Ruffnut/Throk). Hope you’ll stick around for that. I promise that it won’t take so long to post it. No several-month-long hiatuses, I swear. lol XD
Dragon Flyer Hierarchy (RTTE Headcanon and Theory)
Hello, everyone! Welcome to another HTTYD article! Sorry it took a while to write and put together since I was basically creating their lore from scratch.
Today will once again dive into the Dragon Flyers, this time concerning the topic of their hierarchy.
This is a continuation of my recent article which you can read here.
Now, be aware that this is a theory and headcanon on this end since the show doesn't really give us much background on the Dragon Flyers — even more so than with the Dragon Hunters — and we know very little about their ranks and hierarchy. This is just me taking a crack at how they function as a unit.
"Dragon-skin Meritocracy": A 300(?)-Years-Old Hierarchal System
The first part of this article will dive into my theory of what I call "Dragon-skin Meritocracy" — a system of hierarchy based on the merits of one's achievements via the possession of certain dragon skins from dragons that they slay. They are forbidden from purchasing any dragon skins to boost their own status, career, or reputation. Even leaders or individuals with wealth or influential families must adhere to this dictate.
Each Tribe in the Barbaric Archipelago has its own customs, cultures, rules, traditions, etc, concerning the etiquette of dragon skins and the art of dragon-slaying. In fact, I even hazard to guess that there are differences even between the Tribes in the Inner Isles vs those of the Outer Isles, as what those of the Inner Isles view as a top-tier dragon to hunt might not be what those of the Outer Isles view as a prestigious dragon to hunt, simply due to exposure to different dragon species that those of the Inner Isles aren't accustomed to.
(You can look for my previous article on the use of dragon skins here)
Aside from the fact that they look aesthetically pleasing to wear and give the user anti-fire protection, it's also a show of one's prowess and status as a man and warrior.
As Hiccup had even said in the first film:
"Killing dragons is everything around here. A Nadder head is sure to get me at least noticed. Gronckles are tough. Taking down one of those would definitely get me a girlfriend. A Zippleback? Exotic. Two heads, twice the status. Then, there's the Monstrous Nightmare. Only the best Vikings go after those."
As such, in Archipelagoan society, there is a hierarchy or meritocracy that is based on what dragons you kill, and how many of them. And it's also based on how difficult these dragons are to kill.
Again, the achievement hierarchy concerning dragon skins differs from tribe to tribe, from region to region — heck, even family to family.
However, I'm going to try to create some sort of hierarchy that the Dragon Flyers might plausibly employ, since it's an organization and must have some semblance of order. (You can find the article here.)
Thus, I created this chart below:
From this chart, you'll see the following:
Flyers wearing Zippleback + Nightmare skins are Elite Flyers.
Flyers wearing yellow dragon skins are Senior Flyers.
Flyers wearing Nightmare(?) + Nadder skins are Junior Flyers.
Flyers wearing brown/poor-tanned dragon skins are Rank-n'-File
I'm only basing this on what I've seen on the show, where the ones showing the most experience and ferocity in battle were those wearing Zippleback and Gold-skins, respectively, while those below them seem to be not as experienced and are more prone to express fear and cowardice. Naturally, there are exceptions, but strictly based on what we've seen, that is my diagnosis concerning the Dragon Flyers and their hierarchy based on the dragon skins they wear. It's likely that Netflix intentionally did it this way, but I haven't a clue.
Those who wear those brown-skins (I can't tell if they're poorly tanned Nightmare skins or Gronkle-skins or what) seem to be more greenhorns than anything. Those without the pauldrons and Nadder-wing skirts appear to be more rank-and-file than the others. In contrast, those with those items seem to be slightly above them in rank — similar to how a Private First Class or Corporal is above a rank-n'-file Private.
The Hierarchy
Now, it's VERY possible that it's just a random configuration of minions without any order of hierarchy. It's possible that the hierarchy is the following:
Krogan > 12 Flyer Disciples (Dawn of Destruction & Wings of War) > Other Flyers > Dragon Hunters
Here is a graph I made which showcases this hierarchy, as I see it.
Of course, this is in Krogan's own eyes, as he deems himself and his Flyers to be above Viggo and the Hunters. In contrast, Viggo would likely have viewed himself as equal to Krogan, despite having no choice but to work with him, as his organization has mostly been absorbed or scattered.
Furthermore, the Flyer hierarchy is further divided into the following:
If you're wondering who I mean by "disciples," it's the 12 Flyers who were personally trained by Krogan and were his BEST warriors in "Dawn of Destruction" and "Wings of War". "Disciples" is what I call them, as a result.
Also, by popular vote, they'll be called "The Deadly Dozen" from now on.
Underneath them are the Squadron Captains and Veteran Flyers who lead the pairs and squads of regular Flyers. After them are the Junior Flyers, who are essentially like the Corporals or Privates First Class of the unit. Underneath them are the Regular Flyers, who are the mainstay of the force; their experience, equipment, and abilities vary. And finally, we have the Recruits, who have recently joined and have only basic training and have little combat experience.
Let us start with Krogan's Disciples, shall we?
"The Deadly Dozen": Krogan's Elites
So then, who are these "disciples," in detail?
In Wings of War, Krogan says this to Viggo after the latter questions him:
Viggo: I haven't seen your Flyers in quite some time. Shouldn't they be preparing?
Krogan: Those are twelve of my most fearless and gifted warriors. I doubt they'll have much of an issue.
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As they are Krogan's elites and are close to him, they will possess the highest place in this hierarchy as Krogan's lieutenants, with Krogan possessing the top-most position as their Chief. As a result, they will be ad hoc and de facto leaders who will be in charge of important and secret projects or missions. They'll also be given limited carte blanche authority at these times, so long as they obey any direct orders from Krogan.
The foremost of whom is the Flyer Leader, who appears to be the Chief Disciple among the "Deadly Dozen", similar to how the Witch-King of Angmar was the Chief Lieutenant of the Nazgul, Sauron's servants. He was charged with hunting down the Riders in "Dawn of Destruction" and "Wings of War", and was later in charge of protecting one of the secret Singetail Nurseries in "Family Matters".
That being said, aside from these times, they'll most often act as Krogan's personal entourage, who accompany him whenever and wherever he goes anyplace, or to hunt down anyone he wants.
These Flyers would prove to be the Riders' greatest adversaries capable of besting them in air-to-air combat. However, later in the war, the Riders would end up on top as the numbers of the "Deadly Dozen" dwindled — either because of war attrition or because of reassignment to other bases or missions — or were replaced by regular Flyers who had less training and teamwork abilities than their predecessors.
By the time Krogan's and Johann's forces attacked Berserker Island, the "Deadly Dozen" would lead their fellow Flyers into battle to intercept the Riders and provide close-air support to their ground forces.
The "Deadly Dozen" is definitely a force to be reckoned with, and were Krogan's fiercest, most experienced, most loyal, and most fanatic warriors under his command, and were warriors whom the other Flyers respected and wished to emulate.
Squadron Leaders / Veteran Flyers: Backbone of the Dragon Flyer Warband
As such, whenever Krogan's Disciples were absent, the squadron leaders and veteran flyers were next in command. These two groups were the backbone of Krogan's Flyers and were essential to the command structure.
Based on what we see in the show, these Flyers often wear Zippleback or golden dragon skins. The Gold-skins, interestingly, are the only Flyers with a one-horned helm, possibly indicating some senior NCO-esque rank, as these guys are purposefully distinct from the other Flyers. They are usually tough, cruel, and experienced.
Squadron leaders were responsible for leading their squads on patrols and missions and for ensuring that their unit was battle-ready and prepared to fly at a moment's notice. It's possible that this position is less of a rigid rank and was more of a fluid position that interchanged hands frequently, depending on the mission and circumstances.
Veteran Flyers, as their name implies, are those who have accumulated a lot of experience and were essentially the NCOs of the Thunderband. They were the wing leaders of every pair of Flyers — the Senior Flyers, if you will, accompanied by their wingman.
As you can see from the pictures above, the Gold-skin Flyers seem to hold this position more often than not. This seems to imply that they are often veterans or have some commanding ability.
However, this doesn't seem to be restricted to just them, as we see in the photo below. As such, it can be speculated that either anyone who is senior can be a wing leader, or such a position doesn't even exist and pair groups are more of a teamwork-oriented unit than having a true hierarchy.
For example, look at these two Flyers as they take down Stoick in "Darkest Night".
Or these two Flyers when the Twins were chasing their tail in "Dawn of Destruction".
So it's very possible that in pair-units, it's more of a fluid, teamwork-focused unit with a dash of hierarchy, similar to the Riders' command structure (albeit less flexible since they have to obey Krogan's commands to a T).
On to the next group!
Junior Flyers: The Runner-Ups
Junior Flyers are those below the Veteran Flyers and often fill the wingman roles in the pair-units, and would probably be similar to the corporal or sergeant ranks, in contrast to the Goldskins' senior sergeant or ensign ranking. The one above is one of those "Deadly Dozen" Flyers prominently shown in Seasons 5 and 6.
Junior Flyers are often portrayed wearing one pauldron, white markings, Nadder wing skirts, and Nightmare tunics. This implies they have some status in the Flyers organization, since Nightmare and Nadder skins are impressive skins. (However, as Hiccup mentions that slaying a Nadder only "gets you noticed", it's probably more of an expected minimum requirement in order to even start ascending the hierarchy.)
Similar to the Zippleback and Gold-skin Flyers, they seem to be experienced, ruthless, and tough warriors. Unlike the former two, however, the Junior Flyers seem to be far more expressive and more likely to express fear or uncertainty if something doesn't go the way they expect.
Which leaves us to our next layer in the hierarchy.
Regular Flyers: The Rank and File
The rank'n'file. The wings on the sky. The wannabes. The grunts. The minions. Whatever you wanna call them, this what makes up the Regular Flyers, the second-lowest part of the hierarchy, who are given no command positions, few protections, and fewer distinctions and trophies to set them apart as warriors.
Often portrayed as Flyers who lack pauldrons and even shields, they are often given menial tasks and missions that those further up the hierarchy can't be bothered to do. In fact, they can be called the apprentices, disciples, or even squires to the Flyers of the Upper Ranks. Their wish is to be recognized and gain much fame, wealth, and glory for themselves and rise up the hierarchy. Their ultimate ambition is to become a part of the "Deadly Dozen," their Chieftain Krogan's personal retinue.
However, even then, they're not the bottom-feeders of the hierarchy. There's one more group of Flyers.
Ranker/Fledgling Flyers: The Snubs of the Litter
The Fledglings. These are basically the greenhorns, "boots", or "Shinies" of the Flyers. They just passed their Flyer Cadet Training School exam and are easily recognizable by their distinct lack of everything aside from a helm and a vambrace made of Monstrous Nightmare skin. Other than that, the rest of the outfit looks badly tanned and not as quality as the others further up the hierarchy. They're also noticed for their distinct expressive natures, easily showing their lack of experience and emotions too easily — particularly fear and uncertainty.
Due to their bottom-most rank, and derisively called "Stubs" (basically wings that haven't come out and developed yet, practically meaning "flightless bird") or "Shedders" (as in discarded scales) by the more experienced Flyers, they are basically given all the unwanted tasks, chores, errands, and assignments as a form of hazing. Despite this, they are proud to be a part of the force and look up to the Higher Echelons, and look down on those beneath them, such as the Riders and the Dragon Hunters, often using them to feed and clean the Singetails in their place.
Dragon Hunters: The Grunts and Footstools of the Organization
While not strictly a part of the Dragon Flyers, the Dragon Hunters are the grunts who do the heavy labor, patrols, security, garrisoning, as well as the capturing, feeding, and cleaning of Singetails. They also serve as walking target dummies for Flyer training. They do all the dirty or unwanted work for the Flyers, who view such work as beneath them (which is usually the case since they're always high up in the air 😎).
Flyers always outrank the Hunters in status, similar to medieval knights and men-at-arms.
Often called "Tuskies" in a derogatory manner (viewing them no better than boars), Flyers aren't afraid to look down on them with disdain or indifference; they [the Flyers] often throw all the unsavory jobs to them, particularly when it comes to caring for the maintenance of the Singetails. They view them as clumsy, unreliable, vulgar, noisy, and stupid, and make it a point to never get close or communicate with them anymore than necessary except when giving orders. They don't hesitate to use them as fodder against the Riders and dragons, and even enjoy forcing them to act as target practice for them.
Neither side trusts nor likes each other. Nonetheless, their mutual fear of Krogan drives them to work together for the sake of his plans. They often use the Hunters for ground-to-ground and ground-to-air combat, while the Flyers provide cover for the Hunters in close-air support.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this is my idea of what the Dragon Flyer hierarchy might've been like.
Again, keep in mind that I could be totally wrong and that Netflix had no rhyme or reason or purpose for the Dragon Flyer designs or outfits. Meaning that the Flyers could be much more fluid than I expected.
However, I personally feel that my theory and headcanon is plausible, even possibly correct. Even if the canonical hierarchy is literally just consisting of Krogan, the "Deadly Dozen," and everyone else below them, with the Dragon Hunters being at the very, VERY bottom.
What do you guys think about this? Like the hierarchy? Or think that there's anything I'm missing or should add? Or perhaps got your own thoughts? Let me know what they are! 🤓
Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I plan in the near future on posting an article with some fanedits on what I think the Dragon Flyers could look like if they were a large organization, and what ranks they would have. Look forward to it!
The Mystery Behind Astrid's Wolf-Pelt Cloak (HTTYD 3)
Hello, my fellow Furians! Welcome to another HTTYD article! This is one of my older ideas, but again, I just plumb forgot and it was just left sitting there collecting dust. 😅
Today, I want to talk to you about a realization and possible revelation that just has me in fits of excitement! When I watched the end of HTTYD 3 with Hiccstrid's wedding and their cloaks, I never thought much about it. However, when I watched the RTTE Season 2's 4th episode "Bad Moon Rising," I suddenly connected the two dots.
Take a look!
I paused and thought about it for a bit, and then I realized that... wait, wolf. Wolf pelt. A pelt that comes from a wolf. Wait... did the wolf pelt come from THIS wolf?! 😲🤯
I mean, it could be possible, right?
I could totally see Snotlout killing the wolf and gaining a nice pelt from it for his troubles, and then 3 or so years later, when Hiccstrid have their wedding, he gifts it to Astrid as a wedding gift. Or maybe he gifts it to her as a reconciliation gift after having stepped on her wrath one too many times. 😅 Such a time could've been after Season 5's episode "Snotlout's Angels."
Of course, this could just all be an uncanny coincidence, and this is a completely different pelt that had absolutely nothing to do with Snotlout's wolf, and that he either still has it, or Tuffnut has it as an apology gift for the... prank and making him think that he was turning into a Lycanwing.
But hey, I personally support this headcanon. What about you guys?
Let me know what you guys think! I'm always open to other interpretations. It's why theories and headcanons exist.
Thank you for reading this article! See you next time!
Is There a Dragon Flyer "Elite"? (RTTE Headcanon/Theory)
Hello, everyone! Welcome to another HTTYD post! Sorry for the hiatus, but I'm back with another article of lore on the Dragon Flyers. Please enjoy!
This article is a continuation of my previous post on this topic (here) about dragonskin uses. And this will start my other articles about Hierarchy and Ranks.
Today's topic will discuss if these skins provide an established hierarchy of elitism in these Flyers (and Hunters) — particularly the Malevolent Twelve, a squadron of Flyers personally led and taught by Krogan who defeated the Dragon Riders in Season 5's episodes "Dawn of Destruction" and "Wings of War".
This is probably just me, but I have a headcanon that there's an elite among the Dragon Flyers under Krogan's command. Of course, naturally, there'll always be an elite group — "veterans," in other words — in every organization or unit. Doesn't matter if it's a small unit, a military or business organization, or anything else. The same with the Dragon Hunters and the Dragon Flyers.
In fact, Viggo even talked to Ryker about moving the "elite guard" (of Hunters or more possibly the Grimborn Family's personal guards) to prepare for the Riders' attack on their secret base in Season 4's episode "Twintuition".
But back to the Flyers. I've noticed something very interesting. As you know from both the picture earlier above (the top photo), and down below, you'll see that the only Flyers that are often seen with Krogan are these guys. Particularly this guy below that's standing next to Krogan in Season 6's episode "Chain of Command".
Of course, since this is DreamWorks Dragons, and since there isn't any rhyme or reason when it comes to the minion character design, I may be just imagining things and that them being near Krogan is just a coincidence.
However, as I've stated in my previous article, when it comes to the Flyers with the Zippleback skins and the gold dragonskins, respectively, they look to be more seasoned and ruthless compared to the Flyers with the poorly tanned Nightmare skins (or whatever those skins are), who often look nervous or act like they just graduated from Dragon Flyer Cadet Academy. 😂
In the Season 6 episode "Darkest Night", one of Stoick's main attackers is this guy in a gold-dragon-skin outfit, and also the Flyer with a similar outfit but different dragon (compare to the Flyer above) who tag-team to grievously wound Stoick.
(You'll find him again in later photos)
It's possible that these two were part of the "Deadly Dozen" from Dawn of Destruction and Wings of War, since it's likely that Krogan or Johann would've sent some of their best Flyers to take out an important figure, especially since Johann would've known about Stoick's legendary martial prowess and would've most likely not wanted to take any chances. Taking out Stoick would've stalled Berk's capability to continue their fight against the Hunters.
in "Dawn of Destruction", this Gold-skin Flyer was able keep up with Astrid and was able to hit her if it hadn't been for Hiccup's trap.
And let us not forget the infamous Mr. "Murderous Pile of Yak Dung", the Gold-skin Flyer that the Gang captured and interrogated in the Season 6 episode "Guardians of Vanaheim". Even while held captive, "Yak-dung" not only tries to recruit the Twins and use them to help him escape, but takes his chance to break free and steal the Dragon Eye Lens that Fishlegs and the Twins were turning Osvald's hut upside-down and inside-out to find, before leaving to escape the island. That is, if he hadn't fatally run into a pack of very hungry Grim Gnashers. RIP. His sacrifice will be remembered. 💀
"Krogan's Best"
In the Season 5 episode "Dawn of Destruction", we are met with a squadron of 12 Flyers who commence a surprise early-morning raid on the Dragon Riders' main base and quickly neutralize the Riders and forcing them to make a tactical retreat.
These Flyers are well-trained, well-armed, and well-coordinated, able to work together to out-maneuver the Riders and corner them. It's obvious that Krogan trained them in air-to-air combat for this very purpose.
In this very same episode, Ruffnut and Tuffnut even commented after nearly getting roasted by a passing Flyer protecting his wingman's six:
|| Tuffnut: Hey, not for nothing, but these guys are pretty good! ||
|| Ruffnut: They're are kicking our butts! ||
And Snotlout even warns Hiccup that:
|| Those Flyers are all over the place and well-trained. ||
In "Wings of War, Part 1", after getting harassed and pursued by those Flyers from Caldera Cay (DOTW's home), Snotlout and Tuffnut say this about the Flyers:
|| Snotlout: Whoa! Oh, man, those guys are good! ||
|| Tuffnut: I'd like to train with their trainer. ||
In the same episode, talking about that particular team of Flyers — whom I'd like to call "Krogan's Disciples" and "The Malevolent Twelve" or "The Deadly Dozen" — that were chasing the Gang from Dragon's Edge, Krogan himself told Viggo:
||"Those are 12 of my most fearless and gifted warriors. I doubt they'll have much of an issue."||
The Flyers which made up those 12 elites are those with Zippleback and the gold-scaled dragonskins. So it's very much possible that these skins are only given to elites, of a sort.
Furthermore, most of the Flyers I saw in those shots had Nightmare dragonskin skirts (kilts? lol). The Flyers with the gold-scaled dragonskin shirts seem to have vambraces made of Gronkle dragonskin, based on the coloring. Don't quote me on that, since I could be wrong. Since these dragons are hard to kill, that would definitely make them skilled dragon slayers.
Also, speaking of which, there was at least ONE Flyer amongst the "Deadly Dozen," wearing Nightmare(?) skins and a Nadder wing skirt, and flying a green Singetail. You can find him if you squint in "Wings of War, Part 1".
I've edited the shots to make them more easier to see, but please forgive me for the blurry close-up shots. Nothing I can do to prevent that unless somebody has a better photo editing software than I do (I use Canva).
You see him again, here, with the others when they hit the fog bank, which covers the length of the Inner Isles.
(That alone makes me wanna do an article that goes in depth into the reason the Inner Isles in Berk seem to have a different climate from the rest of the archipelago.)
Here's a clearer shot from "Chain of Command", in S6. Considering that he's wearing the same garb and riding the same colored Singetail, he could be the same guy. However, with DreamWorks Dragons being DreamWorks Dragons, who enjoy making clones of the minions, we can only guess. 🤷♂️
Not gonna lie, though: that's a really nice getup. 👀
Flyer Leader: Krogan's Right-Hand!
In several episodes, but most memorably in "Family Matters," one notable Flyer stands out from the others: the Flyer Leader.
As far as elites go, he's probably as far up as one can go outside of Krogan's position as Headmaster of the "Flyer Warthunder". He's his right-hand man. His leftenant/lieutenant. His chief subordinate.
Sadly, we don't know anything about his past or about his history with Krogan and the Flyers. 😔 (I should just go and write a fanfic and create my own lore for the Flyer Leader at this point. 🤩) However, at some point, after passing his training as a Flyer, I assume he became a direct disciple under Krogan in the same way Krogan was under Drago, and he was competent enough to be entrusted with various administrative and martial tasks and to lead warthunders out for certain missions whenever Krogan either wasn't available or couldn't be bothered to do it himself.
As seen in every episode he's been in, the Flyer Leader is shown to be a capable and reliable man to whom Krogan can leave things without much thought. This is amazing considering Krogan isn't the type who shares power with anyone but himself — as evidenced by his treatment towards Viggo and Johann. Though it probably helps that, so far as we know, the Flyer Leader isn't interested in more power and authority and is content being the Chief Lieutenant. (Though it would be pretty interesting if he is capable due to his ambition to aim higher and eventually replace Krogan as Chief of the Flyers.)
Anyway, the Flyer Leader is, aside from Krogan, the head honcho of the Flyers, and, as such, has much field command whenever Krogan's not around. He's Krogan's representative, almost (if Krogan was interested in allowing that).
The fact that Krogan was confident enough to entrust the all-important task of protecting the Singetail Rookery from any intruders once again proves, in my opinion, how adept the Flyer Leader is and how much Krogan trusts him enough to leave this vital facility to him.
And he's not stupid. Even when the Riders were able to free the Singetails captured in Deathsong amber, the Singetails, in order to protect the eggs, didn't leave as expected, unexpectedly giving the Flyer Leader extra pieces to drive the Riders into a corner. And instead of attacking them, knowing that doing so in cramped quarters and risking attacks from the Singetails due to the rookery being in the cave labyrinth, he instead orders word to be sent to Krogan about the incident and to focus everything he has onto the cave entrance and pin the Riders there until help arrives.
Little did he know that the Riders (thanks to Fishlegs impromptu problem solving) did something completely unexpected and did something that no-one could've thought that they would dare to do: lure a Cavern Crasher — an egg-eating dragon — into the Singetail Rookery and cause a disturbance that would cause a panic, allowing them to escape.
Honestly, if they hadn't done that, I think he would've been able to either capture them or kill them. The Riders themselves, before Fishlegs came with his crazy plan, were beginning to doubt they'd be able to break out before reinforcements arrived.
He is sadly left behind in a cocoon of amber. How tragic. 😔🙏🏻😂
I kinda find it ironic how he lost because of plot armor. I mean, when you watch the episode, you notice that he was given everything he needed to make sure that the Rookery stayed in their hands: About 100 or so Hunter grunts to do the patrols, guard-duty, and menial tasks such as taking care of the dragons; a squadron of Dragon Flyers, assumedly all elites from his own squad (so probably between 4-8 Flyers, certainly no more than 12); no more than 5 or so catapults and ballistae; presumedly several trap devices like net ballistae or whatever; and I'm assuming he has a reserve force of men at hand to rotate shifts and replace any troops that are injured, killed, or absent. So around 100-200 men, give or take a hundred. This is a LARGE GROUP to be commanding and organizing.
I don't care what the episode showed, you'd need that much personnel, if not more, just to do patrols, manage the dragons, man the catapults and traps, etc, etc, AND have a reserve to use to rotate shifts — this is an important base, after all! It's a BIG JOB!
That being said, I could be overestimating the numbers here a bit based on my assumption that they'd need that much personnel to deal with the Riders AND any Singetails they capture and guarding the two Deathsongs and Singetail eggs as well. With that being the case, I will minus this and assume that he has, at minimum, no less than 100 men, split into companies of 50 men so that they can rotate around the clock.
Regardless of the actual numbers, the fact that he was given a lot of resources, and still lost due to an unexpected wild card the Riders played on him is just bad luck.
Personally, I don't think that Krogan would let him live for having failed his expectations and mission so thoroughly. They basically lost their source of Singetails and the island is now useless and can't be used further.
However, that being said, perhaps after hearing the explanation, and not wanting to lose a valuable fighter, he could've just let him live but demoted him, since after this, we no longer see him again, and Krogan takes over direct command in the finale episode.
Or heck, maybe the Flyer Leader deserted, knowing what his fate would be, and didn't want to be there for Krogan to find.
I'm considering the possibility that losing his Singetail Rookery didn't waylay Krogan that much, since he had a bunch of Flyers scout out and attack the Sentinals and the Riders for the next two episodes. And in the final two, it appears that Krogan came with a force no greater than 50 Flyers, including himself. I don't know if he already had this force gathered up some time before "Family Matters," or if he had another Rookery(ies) besides the one handled by the Flyer Leader.
If that's the case, then it could be likely that Honcho is doing swell but demoted. But since we know that Krogan dislikes failure, much like Drago does and — like master, like apprentice — punishes his failure with DEATH.
For more on the Flyer Leader and his possible fate after "Family Matters", click the link to my old article here.
What's also interesting is that the Flyer Leader is also the one who led that certain "Elite Dozen" team that pursued the Gang in "Dawn of Destruction" and "Wings of War, Parts 1 and 2" as well.
Personally, I love this character, and I personally wish he showed up in more episodes. He was quite the competent minor villain who was able to corner and pressure the Riders more than a few times. (He certainly did a better job than Savage and Vorg did.😤)
Conclusion:
So I conclude this article by stating that I believe that those 12 Flyers — and any other Flyers with the same garb — are elites due to the garb they wear and experience in combat. They're also, presumedly, among the most fanatical and ruthless of Krogan's Flyers (though the same could be said for all of the Flyers, as a whole). Plus, they were the ones who gave the Gang the most trouble with their excellent training, coordination, and teamwork.
What do you guys think? What are your thoughts on this? I'm curious.
Anyway, thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this article! See you in the next one!
Who Ruled the Berserker Tribe in Dagur's Absence During His Subsequent Imprisonment and Outlawry? (DreamWorks Dragons)
Hello, everyone! Welcome to another HTTYD article! Once again, we'll dive into another Berserker article/theory/question.
So I'm not sure about you guys, but I've always wondered who was managing the Berserker Tribe while Dagur was enjoying a 3-year vacation in Alvin's dungeons. Granted, different production companies made Defenders of Berk and Race to the Edge. And since the Dreamworks Dragons series usually doesn't get into details of external family and stuff, we can only speculate.
But hey, that's why you guys are here, right? lol 😂😉
But anyway, while Dagur was sipping the ale of losers in Alvin's dungeons, just who was leading the Berserkers? We know Captain Vorg was in prison with Dagur and the others. One possibility is Savage, since he was able to escape; and this could explain why he was able to rally a coup d’état against Dagur when he turned traitor and became soft for dragons and Berk in particular. However, with Savage the way he is, I doubt it. Also, we see that after Dagur's absorption into Viggo's camp, and then eventual desertion, Savage wasn't anywhere to be found.
Eventually, we see him in "Darkest Night" when he captures Hiccup, now as a mercenary/bounty hunter/still-Outcast. So it's likely that's what he was doing before he broke Dagur free. Of course, we don't know why or how he ended up returning to Outcast Island to free Dagur. Due to the unfortunately added "Traitor Johann Arc" (I can't STAND that arc!), it could be assumed that Johann had led him there or even hired him and a team to free Dagur. After all, I highly doubt that Savage would've bothered doing it by himself if he hadn't tried to free Dagur sooner. Three years is a long time, you know.
Again, though, we can't know for certain. It could be that Savage had tried several times but couldn't get past the defenses; or maybe he wanted to wait for the right moment when the Pro-Alvin Outcasts had their guards down; or maybe there's another reason we're not aware of.
And we know that, with Osvald dead, Heather living peacefully with her adopted Tribe, Great Uncle Haggard long dead as well (probably), there wasn't any other family member that we know of who could've taken over the Berserker Tribe after Dagur's defeat. That we KNOW OF, at any rate.
It's also possible that some subordinates were ruling as de facto, temporary substitutes until either Dagur came back or somebody else took over. But that's also very unlikely.
However, there's an important clue that Seasons 1 and 2 give us: After Dagur is freed, he doesn't return to Berserk! Why? Besides the fact that he's deranged, he should know better than to fight the Dragon Riders without the support of his Tribe, right? What's interesting to note is that his ships and men are significantly less than during his war against Berk 3 years before! Also, he had to "P-A-Y" for new ships after being released, since he only had the one ship that he stole after escaping imprisonment.
Again, why? Why would he do that? Was he that desperate for revenge against Hiccup? I mean, yes, but there's more to it than just that. Why would he not return to his Tribe and reclaim his authority and rally his fleets and warriors to attack Berk again? Why did he have to buy ships, only have his men that escaped with him and some outcasts/mercenaries, and had to turn to the Dragon Hunter power in order to defeat Hiccup? Did he realize he couldn't win by himself or by his Tribe's strength? No, because Dagur is stubborn and is a Berserker supremacist.
Don't forget this important detail: Dagur is an OUTLAW. A CRIMINAL. A WANTED MAN. As such, several Tribes will want his head and won't stop until they do. Even if he was able to return to his Tribe, they won't have the strength. As such, when he couldn't defeat Hiccup by himself, he turned to the Dragon Hunters for sanctuary and to help him defeat Hiccup and the Riders.
Also don't forget that Dagur is a LOSER. He was DEFEATED. In Viking society, no matter if you're the leader, if you are known to lose a lot of battles, no one's gonna want to follow you. Vikings want to follow leaders who are generous, charismatic, ambitious, and, most of all, VICTORIOUS. Nobody wants to join a loser. Berserkers most of all. That's just not the done thing. It's not common sense. Remember that they lost to Berk over 50 years prior and had to have a non-aggression treaty with Berk for that long due to Osvald's passive stance and preference for peace. For Berserkers, there's no greater shame or weakness than losing battles or refusing to take part in them. Raiding, after all, is in a Viking's nature. Dagur was popular because he promised to bring back the Berserker traditions and to go back to raiding. He was aggressive and pro-war. And he had many victories. However, once he started losing to Berk repeatedly until his eventual complete defeat at the hands of the Berk-Loyalist Outcast Alliance, he lost his popularity and his support after that. Even if they ignored his outlaw status, just the fact that he had failed his people and had too many defeats under his belt was enough to justify not reinstating him as Chieftain.
But there's also one other important and possible clue: there's a possibility that someone who's plausibly a family member of the Berserker Royal Family has taken control of the Throne — like, say, a cousin or uncle or whoever. It makes sense since a Tribe without a legitimate leader wouldn't be very good. And a subordinate can't do as good a job as a proper leader would, usually.
Of course, you might wonder why would that supposed family member then relinquish his rule for Dagur to take over again? Good question! I haven't a clue either! That family member would have to be as agreeable as Osvald to let a deranged person like Dagur to take control again. Even if he is "reformed" or "enlightened", there's no way in helheim that I would've let him back into the fold. In fact, I would've killed them then and there. But blame that on Netflix scriptwriting. Realistically, Dagur reforming, when he is a deranged being, is impossible (unless he was an excellent actor and pretended to be deranged). And he was rather great as a villain, but then to just... "reform" him like this is just lame.
So in my headcanon, Dagur is still Dagur, and thus, if he had a family member ruling the Tribe in his stead, and since he's still an Outlaw and a Wanted Man, it stands to reason that he wouldn't be able to have the strength to survive let alone defeat the Dragon Riders, and couldn't return to his Tribe and resume being their leader; thus, Dagur had to turn to the aid of the Grimb(j)orn Tribe led by Viggo and Ryker, as seen in the first 2 seasons of RTTE.
A new leader, like said unknown relative, could've risen up to lead the Berserkers if Dagur had died in "Twinsanity", had Stoick gone through with his assassination plot as I detail in my article (here).
Another possible death scene was when Dagur lost the battle against Alvin, and after the war, Alvin ends up executing him with his head put on a spike in quite the treacherous fashion. 💀
Personally, I think it would've been cooler if, after Dagur's death, Heather traveled to Berserk Island to become its new ruler. "High Chieftess Heather" just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it? 😏😉😂
Hail Heather Iron-maiden, High Chieftess of the Berserker Tribe! O Hear Her Name and Tremble, Ugh, Ugh! Long may she reign! 🤣
What Would Have Happened if Stoick Slew Dagur? (Riders of Berk)
Hello, fellow Furians! Welcome to another HTTYD article! Today, we'll dive into the what-if scenario that could've happened in the Riders of Berk episode "Twinsanity".
In this scene, Stoick was clearly about to end the Berserker Dynasty right then and there, until DreamWorks Hiccup and the Gang came along and interrupted it with their fake "Dragon Raid" forcing the Berserkers to retreat.
Thus, the question is this: What would've happened if he had succeeded or failed in doing so had he NOT been interrupted?
Obviously, of course, there would've been war between Berk and Berserk. Reason for this is that there would be witnesses who'd see Stoick strike Dagur down from behind. There are four Berserk Guards who are with Dagur (as seen below).
There's a risk of the one who's not encumbered with a task — and is closest in proximity to Dagur — intercepting Stoick's strike. However, when Stoick closes the distance with Dagur, the other guards, along with Dagur himself, are far too preoccupied with Barf and Belch to notice Stoick's actions. So it's possible that Stoick could easily succeed in assassinating Dagur.
However, it's what happens afterward that's important. The guards would've seen Stoick slay their chieftain and will want to exact vengeance. Of course, as we know, the moment Stoick slays Dagur, Hiccup and the Gang come in with their fake dragon raid on the Berserkers. There might be a 5-10% chance that Stoick, depending on the timing and the Berserker's POV, might get away with it if the Berserkers immediately focus from Barf and Belch to the other dragons without noticing Dagur's fall. But I doubt that Dagur would go down without a fight or without making any sound, hence why the percentage is so low.
So we will continue with the assumption that the Berserkers saw Stoick slay their chieftain. Stoick and the others would have to deal with them, or else they'll report this to the armada waiting near Berk's docks.
Of course, if Berk fails to cover their assassination up, they'll immediately have to deal with an entire armada of angry Berserkers. Even if the Berkians are battle-hardened and every person who can hold a weapon is recruited and the dragons join in the fight, and even if the majority of the Berserkers haven't seen many battles or wars, it can't be denied that the Berserkers have been well-trained and are, of course, Berserkers. It'll still be a very difficult fight. There will be severe casualties on both sides. In the end, though, Berk will probably pull through this with a victory in the end. But at what cost? It'd be a conflict that could've been easily avoided, and Berk suffered losses that it can ill afford to take when they're still fighting with the Outcasts — with little gains to show for it. And there's no guarantee that the conflict will even end there.
So, in summary, if Stoick wasn't interrupted and succeeded in ending Dagur, he'll need to get rid of the guards as well. This will be pretty easy since they have the dragons, and they can easily make it look like a dragon raid killed them and hopefully Berk can relax and keep an alliance with Berk, while Berserk is reeling from their chief's death and busy running around killing as many dragons as they can. And — even better — Berk could masquerade this as something that Alvin, an Outcast, did and can better solidify Berserk's involvement in Berk's war against the Outcasts.
So yeah, so long as the Berserkers don't look too closely at the bodies, the Berkians would have a pretty good chance at getting away with it.
What do you guys think? What would've happened had Stoick went with his plan? Do you think that Berk would've been able to get away with it? Or would it end up sinking in defeat, with Alvin taking advantage of the chaos? Tell me your thoughts!
Thank you for reading! I hope you found this article intriguing and I'll see you in the next article.
