Blaggut the rat originally served as boatswain on the ship Pearl Queen; however, after a war party led by Finnbarr Galedeep and Joseph the Bellmaker captured the ship to sail to Southsward, Blaggut and his Captain, Slipp, were the only surviving members of the crew. After retreating into Mossflower, the pair found two lost Dibbuns, Furrtil the mole and Mousebabe. They befriended the two infants, and accompanied them back to Redwall Abbey, where Blaggut discovered his skill as a boatbuilder.