Swartt Sixclaw

Swartt Sixclaw the Warlord, also known as The Pitiless One, was a tall, sinewy male ferret. He was the father of Veil Sixclaw, husband of Bluefen, and the son-in-law of Bowfleg the Warlord.

Swartt had a painted face and dyed his teeth red; his belt was made out of snake skin. He wore the teeth and claws of his dead enemies around his neck, and on his left paw there were six claws. Swartt started out as a member of Bowfleg's horde, then became leader of a band of vermin, initially numbering 60 then expanding to 30.

Eventually, he captured Sunflash the Mace, and taunted and humiliated him by riding on his back and calling him "Scumtripe." One winter night, Swartt's band caught a young kestrel, Skarlath. Swartt left Sunflash to guard him, but Sunflash instead freed Skarlath, who then returned the favor. Sunflash ran into the camp and attacked Swartt, paralyzing his six-clawed paw. Swartt wore a metal gauntlet over the useless paw from then on, using it as a battering weapon, but swore an oath of revenge that he would hunt down Sunflash and kill him for the injury.

Swartt's band pursued Sunflash for many seasons, but Sunflash and Skarlath constantly picked off random members of the gang by using guerrilla tactics. Realizing he would soon have no one left to command, Swartt retreated to find Bowfleg. He cunningly poisoned Bowfleg and his bodyguard Wurgg, and killed Greenclaw when the stoat challenged his having killed them. Swartt also had his seer Nightshade dramatically receive a vision regarding their deaths and his ascension to chieftain, and assumed the role of Warlord. Swartt was unaware that when he became leader he was expected to marry Bowfleg's daughter, Bluefen, as it was an unwritten tradition. He did not contest the ritual, but ignored her for the most part, and continued to track Sunflash.

Swartt's travels led him to Mossflower Woods. About this time, Bluefen had their son, Veil. Swartt took no interest in the child and entrusted him to the care of an old rat. Nor did he care for his wife, who died in childbirth. As his army marched onward, it started to stray closer and closer to Redwall Abbey, which caused the residents great alarm. Using a series of hit-and-run guerrilla attacks, a group of squirrel archers and otters from the Abbey managed to get Swartt to veer away from Redwall. During the attack and Swartt's subsequent retreat, Swartt's son was lost due to his caretaker rat's death, though Swartt paid no attention.

Seasons later, Swartt teamed up with a group of corsairs led by Zigu, adding to his numbers. More importantly, however, was the fact that Zigu knew where Sunflash was located, Salamandastron. Swartt waged war on the mountain stronghold, and actually captured his nemesis at one point. But the unforeseen aid sent by the Guosim, and the superior skills of the Long Patrol, destroyed his allies and his own army, causing Swartt, Nightshade, and 30 others to retreat.

After a very long run, during which his valuable seer Nightshade was killed by Sunflash, Swartt and his depleted forces arrived at Bat Mountpit. There, he was reunited with Veil. Though Veil had originally wanted to meet his father, it soon became clear that the two couldn't stand each other - Swartt had no use for an unknown youth and Veil was angry that he was not accepted as family. As Swartt patrolled the top levels of the Mountpit, he encountered Sunflash, who had come to hunt him down, facing the other way. Seizing the opportunity, Swartt knocked out Sunflash, dragged him to his camp at the top of the Mountpit, and tied him between two poles. But before Swartt could exact his long awaited revenge, Bryony arrived and tried to liberate Sunflash. Swartt hurled a javelin at Bryony, but it was intercepted by Veil, killing him. Before Swartt could react, Sunflash regained consciousness and freed himself from his bonds. He hurled Swartt from the top of the Mountpit, killing the Warlord.

Trivia

• Coincidentally, both Swartt Sixclaw and Slagar the Cruel share the title of "The Pitiless One", though Slagar is more commonly known by his title "The Cruel."