Many-Arrows

The Kingdom of Many-Arrows, sometimes called the Kingdom of Dark Arrows, was an orc kingdom in the North founded by Obould Many-Arrows. It stretched from Mithral Hall in the west to the Moonwood in the east and to the Evermoors in the south.

As of the late 15 century DR, the Kingdom was known as the homeland of orcs who valued civilization, and who found as much pride in building their own realm as in tearing down others'. It was suggested that the Kingdom's success had done much to improve the reputation of orcs overall.

Geography
Much of Many-Arrows territory was confined to the icy and windswept mountains of the Spine of the World. Crude signs warned visitors when they had entered the Kingdom's borders.

History
Prior to the founding of the Kingdom, the Many-Arrows tribe was known as the largest, most notorious, and most successful orc tribe in the North, boasting about 40,000 members as of the mid–14 century DR. They operated out of the Citadel of Many Arrows until they were ousted in the, at which point they moved west to Dark Arrow Keep, which they claimed from its giant inhabitants. Although their numbers were decimated, they began waging war with Mithral Hall within three years and were widely expected to raise a horde and launch an invasion of the whole Silver Marches.

The Kingdom of Many-Arrows was founded in the, as a loose coalition of tribes in the Spine of the World brought together under Obould’s rule by violence and war. This centralization of orc leadership made the prospect of recognizing the Kingdom appealing to the realms of the North as they believed it would be easier to negotiate with a single king than with the various belligerent orc tribes. Thus, tired of warring with the orcs, several members of the Silver Marches recognized Many-Arrows as a sovereign realm in the, with the signing of the Treaty of Garumn's Gorge.

A glimpse into the future made it known that the kingdom would last at least 100 years to the reign of King Obould VI, but even then, renegade shamans of Gruumsh attempted to return to the old orc ways and wished to attack their neighbors instead of continuing to foster peaceful relations with them.

Following the Spellplague, there were commanders within the kingdom's army that were spellscarred.

The Obould dynasty reigned almost uninterrupted from the kingdom's founding into the late 15 century DR. Although there were some civil wars, one of which lasted a decade during which time the realm was divided, these interval conflicts had ended by the.

The Many-Arrows orcs were in constant conflict with the Uthgardt of the region but were ostensibly at peace with their neighbors in Luruar, and some trade did occur between the two realms. However, the relationship was rarely friendly and always tense even if open conflict was avoided save for the occasional raid. The peace and stability of Many-Arrows fell into disarray in the, when the drow Quenthel Baenre incited the orcs into war. The orc Hartusk, a known detractor of Obould's peaceful methodology, took control of the Kingdom of Many-Arrows. Hartusk began to conquer large portions of Luruar, from Nesmé and Sundabar, and laid siege to the great dwarven strongolds of Mithral Hall, Citadel Felbarr, and Citadel Adbar. The tide of the battle turned however, when Bruenor Battlehammer rallied the dwarven forces, and began to crush the opposition.

As the battles raged, Bruenor and his men were able to defeat the last of Chief Hartusk's forces at Dark Arrow Keep, before restoring control of the fortress to Lorgru, the son of Obould XVII, who had been framed for the assassination of his father. His name was cleared, and he took control of the remnants of the Kingdom of Many-Arrows, retreating back to Dark Arrow Keep and the Spine of the World, to try and continue his father's legacy of peaceful integration with the people of the Silver Marches.

Government
Many-Arrows was a monarchy ruled by kings famous for being far more peaceful than a typical orc ruler.

In 1479 DR, Many-Arrows was ruled by King Obould XVII from his skull-adorned, horned throne in Dark Arrow Keep.

As of 1484 DR however, Many-Arrows was ruled by King Lorgru in the wake of his father's assassination and the coup staged by War Chief Hartusk.

Possessions
The fiercest warriors among the Many-Arrows orcs wore distinctive belts decorated with the traditional totems of the Many-Arrows tribe.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * Legend of Drizzt (The Orc King • Vengeance of the Iron Dwarf)