Bloodskull Keep was an orc stronghold in Thar. It was home to the Blood Skull tribe, sometimes called the "Bloody Skulls."[1]
Description[]
The Keep was a forbidding fortress that earned its name from the inhabitants' tradition of painting the skulls of fallen enemies and comrades with red dye and haphazardly mounting them in the Keep's great hall. The collection was said to include hundreds of human, dwarf, and orc skulls, as well as prominently displayed giantkin and wyvern specimens.[1]
Geography[]
Bloodskull Keep was quite isolated. It was located in central Thar northwest of the Tormel River's source at Bloodmuck.[1][3]
History[]
The Keep was originally the home of the Black Spear orc tribe. They were one of the stronger tribes among the humanoids and goblinoids of Thar, and from Bloodskull Keep they managed a series of smaller strongholds spread throughout the moorland. Sometime in the mid-to-late 14th century DR, the Black Spears' chieftain passed away and their clerics of Gruumsh seized control of the tribe and the Keep. Shortly after, the Keep was usurped by the half-orc Wertha, who rallied many of the tribes' warriors against the Gruumshites. Wertha and his faction then adopted the Keep's name, calling themselves the Bloody Skulls, as they waged a civil war against the Gruumshites holed up in the tribe's outlying strongholds.[1]
In the late 15th century DR, the Blood Skulls were again one of the most powerful tribes in Thar, and the Keep was ruled by an orc chieftain named Mhurren. In the Year of the Ageless One, 1479 DR, Mhurren formed an alliance with Kardhel Terov of the Warlock Knights of Vaasa in order to conquer Thar and cities on the Moonsea. Mhurren became the leader of a coalition of orcs, goblinoids, and ogres who sacked Glister and marched on Hulburg, but he was killed and his army was scattered at the Battle of Lendon's Dike.[2] With this defeat, the power of Bloodskull Keep was broken, leading to a period of war between the tribes of Thar as they vied to fill the power vacuum.[4]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
- Fangjaws Hold, an ogre stronghold in Thar and ally of Bloodskull Keep in 1479 DR
- Red Castle, a hobgoblin stronghold in Thar and ally of Bloodskull Keep in 1479 DR
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Richard Baker (2007-12-17). “Realmslore: The Tribes of Thar”. Dragon #361 (Wizards of the Coast). Archived from the original on 2013-05-31. Retrieved on 2017-09-12.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Richard Baker (May 2008). Swordmage. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0786947881.
- ↑ Brian R. James and Matt James (September 2009). “Monument of the Ancients”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dungeon #170 (Wizards of the Coast) (170)., p. 56.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 150. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.