Nettlebrand

Nettlebrand is a fictional dragon from Cornelia Funke's 1997 novel Dragon Rider.

Creation and Early Years

Nettlebrand was created by an alchemist, using the life of a toad, along with the twelve homunculus brothers. He was made with golden armor that was impervious to dragon fire, many sharp teeth, and claws that could shred diamonds. His purpose was to destroy the silver dragons, who survived on moonlight. Because of his heavy armor, he couldn't fly, causing him to learn to move through water quickly. His most famous attack was when he ambushed the silver dragons bathing in a sea and attacked them. He had his ravens block out the moon, leaving the dragons helpless. Nettlebrand was attacked by two sea serpents, who bound his jaws shut with their tails. When the ravens dispersed, the dragons fled to the Rim of Heaven, leaving Nettlebrand with no dragons to hunt. Knowing that the Rim of Heaven was in the Himilayas, he searched all of the mountain range,but never found the hidden cave. He then went to live in his creator's castle, growing increasingly bored. He eventually ate his creator and eleven of the twelve homunculi, leaving Twigleg as his armor cleaner.

Role in Dragon Rider

Return to the Hunt

Nettlebrand made his first appearance in Dragon Rider, when Gravelbeard alerted him of the silver dragon in exchange for one of his scales. Nettlebrand takes interest in this report and sends Twigleg to tail the silver dragon, who is actually Firedrake. When confronted about his promise of a scale, Nettlebrand enslaves Gravelbeard, making him his new armor cleaner.

Nettlebrand remains in his castle, taking reports from Twigleg, until Twigleg betrays him and sends him into a desert. In the desert he gets in trouble with the sand people and is buried in the sand. Although he is dug out, he tells Gravelbeard to tell Twigleg that he is dead. Twigleg is cautious to believe this, but the others believe it and head for the Rim of Heaven, not knowing that Nettlebrand is silently following them.

Final Battles and Death

Once reaching the Valley of the Dragons, Nettlebrand hides in the lake, so he can ambush Firedrake. However, Twigleg tells Firedrake not to fly over the lake, and he goes into the mountains. Twigleg and Lola Graytail go to distract Nettlebrand while Firedrake goes and finds the other dragons. Lola and Twigleg successfully distract Nettlebrand and his hunt is delayed. He sends Gravelbeard to find Twigleg and Lola, but he is captured

Twigleg eventually comes up with a plan to kill Nettlebrand, after watching Sorrel and Firedrake destroy one of his scales with brownie spit and dragon fire. He replaces Gravelbeard's polish with brownie spit and releases Gravelbeard, making sure he polishes Nettlebrand's scales. Gravelbeard then tells Nettlebrand where to go, and polishes his scales with the browie spit, causing his scales to dull. When Nettlebrand goes into the cave, he is attacked by Firedrake and Maia, who breathe dragon fire on him. The spit reacts at once, and Nettlebrand's armor melted into a golden pool and the toad is revealed, ending his treachery.