Polar bear

Polar bears were a type of bear adapted to cold environs. They were favored by the polar god Ulutiu.

Description
Polar bears had white coats and were long and lean. When standing, they stood taller than brown bears.

Behavior
A polar bear was a superb swimmer. Its white coat also gave it an advantage when hunting in snowy areas.

Combat
When a polar bear attacked, it primarily used its powerful claws, tearing at its prey, as well as its bite. It would also pull its opponents into a grapple.

Ecology
Polar bears heavily populated the region of Nakalpgotak on the Great Glacier. They preyed upon many animals, including even those as large as ghost rothé.

Uses
Polar bear meat was barely edible to most people. It was tough and stringy and hard to digest. The Iulutiuns ate polar bear meat and used its fur for clothing. Likewise, Nakulutiuns consumed polar bear meat, as did the Ice Hunters of the Sea of Moving Ice. Among non-humans, the Innugaakalikurit wore polar bear fur as well. White dragons and tirichik also preyed upon polar bears.

Polar bear bone was carvable.

Reputation
Polar bears were important in the culture of the Iulutiuns of the Great Glacier, where a child's first polar bear kill was celebrated with a ritual known as the nukiewquak, in which the bear's head was kept on a pole outside the family house for many days. The first polar bear kill of the year was also celebrated. Polar bears were associated with the virtue of courage within the Iulutiun culture.

Powerful druids and rangers sometimes had polar bears as companions.

History
The famous wise man of the Iulutiuns, Inum, had been crippled by a polar bear. Heafstaag, king of the Tribe of the Elk of Icewind Dale had had his hand mauled by a polar bear.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * The Great Glacier, "Snow Baby" • The Rise of Tiamat
 * Video Games
 * Baldur's Gate • Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast • • Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms • Baldur's Gate III