Tugga Bruster was the Log-a-Log of the Northwest Guosim and the father of Dubble. He was rude, unkind, and a bully, even unpopular in his own tribe. Tugga was no ally of Redwall Abbey or the Guosim; he wounded many good creatures in his efforts, and rubbed just about everyone he met the wrong way.
When Tugga first arrived at Redwall Abbey, he refused to allow his shrews to mingle with the Abbey residents until he found out if anyone had seen his lost son, Dubble. During his investigation, Tugga Bruster acted extremely rude to all Redwallers, making enemies of Bosie and Skipper Rorgus.
Bosie, Rorgus, Dwink, Umfry Spikkle, and Samolus Fixa accompanied Tugga Bruster and his shrews in a search for Dubble and Bisky, both of whom were taken captive by the Painted Ones; during the search, Tugga got on Bosie's nerves once too often, and the hare felt compelled to kick him into submission.
When the battle against the Painted Ones began, the vermin got the first licks in, attacking the band by surprise and forcing them to duck for cover. The Gonfelins soon came to their aid, completely cowing the tree rats; Tugga, however, ignored the surrender and went after the wounded chieftain Chigid. Rorgus tried to stop him from killing Chigid, but Tugga smashed the rat's face in with his club anyway, earning the wrath of Chigid's wife, Tala.
Tugga's treatment of the prisoners caused several arguments on the return trip to Redwall. The last quarrel ended with Tugga breaking Dwink's footpaw; Pikehead Nokko of the Gonfelins subdued the shrew this time, by head-butting him and knocking him unconscious. Nokko also humiliated Tugga in a battle of insults, and the shrew swore revenge.
Tugga attacked and wounded Aluco, stole one of the Doomwyte Jewels, and tried to frame Nokko for it. He nearly succeeded, until Rorgus found the emerald where the none-too-bright shrew had concealed it on his person. He tried to rally the Guosim to attack the Redwallers; this final atrocity led to his immediate deposition and banishment from the Guosim in disgrace. He wounded Garul in the shoulder when that tribe member told him he was no longer chieftain; the enraged Guosim pursued Tugga, and he made a dash for it. As he fled, Tala jumped from a nearby ditch and stabbed Tugga through the heart with a sharp piece of wood, avenging the murder of her husband.
After Tugga Bruster's death, Dubble succeeded him as Log-a-Log. However, he was so ashamed of his father's appalling legacy that he abdicated his birthright and gave the chieftaincy to Garul instead.
Tugga Bruster's Tribe
Trivia
- Tugga Bruster was renowned as a powerful warrior in songs and legends, even though he was a cowardly, blustering bully in reality.
- Tugga Bruster is the only known Log-a-Log who wished harm upon Redwall, and the only Log-a-Log known to have disgraced himself and lost his title.
- Tugga Bruster is the only known Log-a-Log to be a "grey" character.