Thaw Daggerslash

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In the fiction of Paul Stewart, Thaw Daggerslash is a young forthling Sky Pirate. Charismatic and handsome, he is popular with many that he meets. He dresses in fine clothing and equips himself with all the necessities of a Sky Pirate Captain, but he is not one, as it is claimed that he won't sign up as a crewmember and work his way up to the position of captain, as is the common way of Sky Pirates.

Despite this, he seems to have a good understanding of Skyships, and possesses many skills necessary to keep a Skyship running (This includes basic maintenance of Flight Rocks, Cooking, and a knowledge of the many mechanics of a Skyship).

Thaw desires the Galerider, Wind Jackal's ship, more than anything else. He seems to have offered to be Wind Jackal's second-in-command on numerous occasions, but has always been denied, as Wind Jackal intends his son Quint to be his successor.

Thaw also keeps a pet Ratbird, which was housing in the barge he buys from Glaviel Glynte (Owner of the Tarry-vine tavern).

Hubble is an albino Banderbear. He belonged to Thaw Daggerslash and was the only crew member of Thaw Daggerslash's Mireraider. Hubble was only a cub at the time, he was badly mistreated. After Thaw Daggerslash's death he joined Captain Cloud Wolf's crew. In Stormchaser, when the quartermaster attacks Cloud Wolf, Hubble left the helm and injured Mugbuttt and saved Cloud Wolf from the quartermaster by braking his back.When the crew abandon the ship Hubble sustained internal injuries. Although these injuries didn't reveal themselves in the Twilight woods. When the remainder of the crew ventured out onto the mire, it was then that his injuries took their toll. Hubble died in Twigs arms in Stormchaser.

His surname derives from a Deepwoods creature of the same name which resembles a harmless log. Whenever an unsuspecting creature walks across it, the Daggerslash acts like a bear trap, trapping the creature within it. The Daggerslash eats only carrion, so therefore its unfortunate victim remains trapped until it dies.

Given the events in Clash of the Sky Galleons, it is somewhat fitting that Thaw is given the surname of a creature that catches its prey and never lets it go.

Thaw Daggerslash appears solely in Clash of the Sky Galleons, where he is a main character. In the story, Thaw is an acquaintance of Wind Jackal. He appears many times, purchasing a small barge, along with the albino Banderbear Hubble (Who is present as a crewmember on board the Stormchaser in the Twig Trilogy); meeting up with the Galerider and tagging along as a helpful crewmember, and eventually as someone different entirely.

It is revealed at the end of the book that Thaw Daggerslash has been setting traps for Wind Jackal, posing as the Sky Pirate Captain's ex-Quartermaster, Turbot Smeal. He eventually lures Wind Jackal to a deserted Sky-shipwreck, joining him as a friend, then turning around and murdering the man. Quint finds Orlis, and Thaw convinces him that it was Turbot Smeal that attacked both Orlis and Thaw, but Quint need not fear because Thaw has killed Smeal.

Thaw then attempts to become Captain of the Galerider, but Quint is elected the new Captain, despite Thaw's plans. Thaw leaves the Galerider and, masked as Turbot Smeal, joins the League Ship Fleet, where he manages to find his way on board the Galerider, its crew reduced to two occupants: Wind Jackal's son, Quint, and the Banderbear, Hubble.

Ironically, Daggerslash (under the alias of Turbot Smeal) joins the Leagues Fleet on the terms that he may have the Galerider, while the Leaguesmen will take the other ships for themselves. He seems to travel on the "Bringer of Doom". Thaw escapes before it is destroyed, then tries to kill Quint, and almost succeeds, but Hubble strikes Thaw (His former master), and fatally injures him him. In his dying breaths, Thaw admits to Quint that he created all of the lures for Wind Jackal because he wanted to be rid of him, so that he could Captain the Galerider, which he seemed to consider the only Skyship he ever wanted.