Plugg Firetail, Captain

Gender: male

Species: fox

Appears In: Triss




Plugg is the well-known leader of the Freebooters and Captain of Seascab who originates from the Northlands. He wields a large double-bladed battle-axe and has silver-grey fur except for his tail, which is brilliant red hence his surname. He is liked by his crew and asked by Agarnu to take Bladd and Kurda south to Mossflower, but while he accepts the job he secretly plans to kill all three ferrets upon returning to Riftgard so he can be sole ruler. Not long into the journey he finds himself amused by the Prince, who initially acted childish until the corsairs inspire him to be more fierce. However he and Kurda immediately dislike each other and often argue, eventually reaching the point where they unsheathed their weapons in preparation for a possible fight. When they arrive on Mossflower's west coast they manage to capture Sagax, Scarum, and Kroova but the fox is impressed by Scarum's level of intelligence and education as well as Sagax's claims that their parents are rich so he spares them. The trio are rescued by Shogg and Triss, and Plugg is thrown into the sea during the ensuing chaos. He and Kurda pursue the group upriver to Redwall, unaware that Shogg and Kroova have hidden a sharpened pole in the river. This results in the vermin boat getting speared but while none are killed, Plugg's famous tail is chopped clean off. He demands that Grubbage and Scummy glue it back onto his rear as well as follow him everywhere so it does not fall off. Following an failed attack on Redwall he and Kurda's tempers finally boil over and they duel, and at one point during the fight his axe becomes lodged in a tree; nobeast is strong enough to pull it free except Sagax, who later spots it and takes it as his own. Before either leaders can kill each other, the three Brockhall snakes suddenly appear and snatch up Plugg in their venomous jaws before dragging him away. While he is no means a "grey characters", Plugg is one of the few vermin leaders to not kill a member of his own crew (who also do not attempt a mutiny).