Trukkle is a rat 19 years of age and about five foot eight tall with impressive orange/red fur from head to toe. His tail stretches out behind him for a good four feet hairless and pink like any good rats tail. His ears are also pink on the inside with a soft covering of fur on the outside. There he goes now wearing a pair of blue jeans and a blue T-shirt with, Hmm what is that it says on it,

Bah silly rat creature, any way there he is one cute orange ball of fluff Trukkle the rat isn't he cute. Now I'm sure your all dying to hear some more about him so here we go.

Trukkle was born in the early spring 19 years ago in 1984 in a small village in southern Aredria in the Duchy of Vardenai, He lived with his parents. He went to school and such like any normal fur and lived quite happily. He did however have one tragic accident in his young life at the age of ten he lost his grandfather and almost died himself in a tragic boating holiday. Trukkle and his grandfather took a boat out for a turn around the bay but they strayed to far from the shore and were caught in a ferocious storm blowing in from the western sea. Their small boat capsized and Trukkle and his grandfather where swept over board. His grandfather was never seen again.

Now as we all know Trukkle.. What? Yes, yes I know Trukkle is alive, he's sitting over there buried up to his whiskers in that block of stilton, now as I was. Stilton! Hey that's mine. no, no you keep it now you've eaten most of it already.

Anyway Trukkle was rescued by a young sea otter called Fireor Lareska and taken into the safety of their underwater Holt until the storm had passed and then returned to shore.

Now at the age of 17 just before his 18th Birthday Trukkle took part in an ancient rite held in Vardenai where young males would take a solitary trip into the swampy lands near the estuary of the great Phoenix river where they are to spend four days in meditation and contemplation. This trial is traditionally held in the first week of march and any male fur whose 18th birthday falls in the year will make their way to the swamp to take part in the rite. They would all be sent a set of co-ordinates where they were to enter the swamp by the Duke in January where they must enter the trial. Now on the second day of his trek he was passing along the shore of a small tributary when he came across another male fur, this time a skunk also wearing the traditional head scarf proclaiming that he was on his own trek. As is traditional the right to pass can only be won by friendly combat so adhering to the ancient tradition of not letting any form or possession impede their conduct throughout this battle they stripped and set too battling together arms locked together and straining to push their way past the other. An hour later they were still there sweat running through their already sweat soaked fur but they were too evenly matched and it was only when they both tried to trip the other at the same time that they tipped together into the muddy water of the tributary.

Looking at each other in the moonlight, dripping mud and looking like two strange mud monsters they started to laugh and soon they were talking together and had become very good friends. Following custom Russet for that is who the skunk was, invited Trukkle to join him in some food and the young rat was glad to attack the food. The two young males talked together exchanging stories and experiences on their two days in the swamp so far. As traditionally a draw signified that they were intended to travel the rest of the way through the swamp to the great gathering at the southern edge of the swampland. Where a feast would be held to celebrate their coming of age. The two soon became fast friends and after two more days of travelling together, trekking across the vast swamp lands, slogging through streams and deep mud bank, over rush covered islands or islets. By the time they arrived on the eve of the fifth day at the southern edge of the swamp, they did not resemble a skunk and a rat. The Dowager Duchess awaited them as she was acting for the Duke, as he was not yet of age to greet the males as they arrived. When Russet stepped up to her she officially transferred her holding of his inheritance to him formally making him the Grand Duke of Vardenai.

After taking advantage of the facilities provided the two showered and cleaned up before proceeding to the feast where they ate and drank their fill and then long after midnight they retired to sleep happily drunk on both beverages and the euphoria of the occasion and Russet invited his new friend Trukkle to share the Ducal lodge the only real permanent building there as all the others were in tents pitched around it and he happily agreed.

So a year on both now 19 the two furs are still great friends more so after the death of Russet's grandmother earlier this year. Russet now upholds his duties as Duke of Vardenai and Trukkle has a job working for a landscaping firm and now lives in North Cliffs as it is his job to maintain the Grand Duke of Vardenai's gardens at Fair View House. So there he is your friend and mine Trukkle Margfroein the orange furred floof ball of a rat and a great friend he is at that.