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The Elk tribe was an Uthgardt barbarian tribe of the Silver Marches.[1][2][6][3][9][7]

Lands[]

The Elk tribe's ancestral mound was the Flint Rock,[1][2][6][3][7][note 1] though by 1357 DR they'd largely abandoned it. Without the faithful to upkeep it, it fell into a decrepit state.[10][4][5][11] However, by 1491 DR, they seemed to have returned to Flint Rock, for it was found in better condition. The Elk tribe's greatest warriors were buried in cairns here.[12]

In the mid-to-late 1300s DR, the tribe typically ranged over the Evermoors, the plains east of the River Dessarin, and along the Dessarin and the lower Surbrin valleys,[1][2][6] as well as in the Lurkwood.[13] In the late 1400s DR, they held roughly the same amount of territory, considering the Dessarin Valley their territory and roaming the Evermoors and the lands north of the Dessarin between Noanar's Hold and Yartar, exploring the Westwood and Sumber Hills[3][9] and even as far as Mithral Hall and Nesmé.[7]

Culture[]

Holga Kilgore

Holga Kilgore, an exiled warrior of the Elk tribe.

In the mid-to-late 1300s DR, the Elk tribe were seen as the most arrogant, ill-tempered, and self-indulgent of the Uthgardt tribes and they were regarded by most as little more than raiders and pillagers. They regularly raided caravans and villages, even those of other tribes for food, for women, and just for the fun of it.[1][2][6] They carried away prisoners to ransom, but if the ransom wasn't enough for their liking, they kept the ransom money and sold the prisoner to slavers.[14][2]

By the Year of the Iron Dwarf's Vengeance, 1485 DR, the Elk tribe completely shunned all aspects of "civilized" society.[3] They avoided towns and cities, and typically did not bother homesteaders, shepherds, and other poor folk going about their work. However, they were not above taking livestock such as sheep when they had the chance, nor raiding caravans that were lightly defended, on isolated trails, and far from aid. Their population was too small to make many enemies among the city-dwellers.[9] They still had a reputation as dangerous raiders, and were seen as savage bandits by their neighbors.[15] They hired themselves as guides to outsiders traveling the Evermoors, and were skilled at evading or defeating its monstrous dangers.[7]

Otherwise, they followed most common Uthgardt traditions and beliefs.[7] The Elk tribe's ritual enemy—something young barbarians must face and defeat as a rite of passage and the target of ritual hunts—was "the ancient ones". In practice, any ruin, tomb, or sign of a lost civilization counted.[1][2][6]

Members tattooed their foreheads with the symbol of elk horns.[15]

A gesture of great gratitude among the Elk tribe was to smear one's blood on the face of one's rescuer.[16]

Leadership[]

In the mid-to-late 14th century DR, the Elk tribe was led by Chief Zokan Thunderer, whom many considered a rude and ugly brute[1][14][2][4] but also perhaps the most cunning, wealthiest, and most hated and feared bandit king in the North. There was a reward for his head, but he was hard to catch, let alone kill. He was well-protected by his warriors and a shaman.[14][2] The tribe had two shamans: Berchtwald Bandylegs venerated the Elk totem and Trothgar Grunald led worship of Auril.[1][2][4][5]

In the late 15th century DR, Rond Vaarson was great chief of the Elk tribe, an ancient warrior tired of battle yet clinging to life. Lesser chieftains waited for him to pass on so they could compete to take his place.[3]

Religion[]

Flint Rock SKT

Overview of the Flint Rock burial mound, displaying the Elk in the center.

The tribal totem was the Elk,[1][2][6] a great spirit serving Uthgar.[4][5] Shamans of the Elk totem possessed a beast power known as the Horns of Wisdom; this was similar to commune, but had the side-effect of elk antlers sprouting from the shaman's skull. Every use of the power (usable once a day) made the horns grow further.[1][4][5] If they grew too long or heavy, they were shed in winter with a new set grown in spring, darker in hue. They could not be used to fight, as the human body was not built for it. They could however shapechange into elks.[4][5] A barbarian empowered by the Elk spirit was swift-footed and could roam far and wide, as could their compansions. When in a battle-rage, an Elk barbarian could move especially fast and charge their enemies and knock them over.[17]

However, in the 1300s DR, much of the Elk tribe worshiped other gods,[10][4] primarily Auril the Frostmaiden but also Malar the Beastlord, Umberlee the Queen of the Depths, and Talos the Destroyer, whose clerics had gained a grip on the tribe by 1357 DR. This turn away from the Elk was attributed to Zokan Thunderer's lax rule.[1][2][4][5][6] The followers of Auril, Talos, and Malar almost stamped out worship of the Elk totem.[18] Auril's deep influence over the Elk tribe and turning them away from the Elk earned her Uthgar's ire.[4][5][8] They seemed to have abandoned these gods and returned to the Elk totem in the late 1400s DR, however.[3][7]

Relations[]

During the mid-to-late 14th century DR, the tribe had gained loose ties with the leaders of Luskan, but they had few other friends.[2][2]

By 1372 DR, the Elk tribe were considered one of the 'better' Uthgardt tribes, at least in regards to settlers and city-dwellers of the Savage Frontier. Neither friends nor enemies, so long as the frontier did not encroach on their lands, they directed their ire elsewhere, to monsters and orcs and others.[19] However this contradicts other accounts that claim the Elk tribe was no better than bandits during this time.[6]

History[]

In ancient times, early followers of Uthgar who would found the Elk tribe interred a magical giant-crafted spearhead—a massive piece of mithral weighing 75 pounds (34 kilograms) and 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length—under the altar at Flint Rock to empower the ancestral mound.[12]

Once a proud people, the Elk tribe joined the Uthgardt Alliance[20] when, in the Year of Watchful Eyes, 705 DR, the mages of the Covenant began to manipulate the various Uthgardt tribes. By the end of the season, all the tribes stood united and ready to battle the goblinoids of the Savage Frontier.[21] These Uthgardt were tasked, in the Year of Hungry Jaws, 715 DR, with hunting down and killing as many orc chieftains as possible. Twenty were eliminated over the next five years, preventing the formation of a horde.[22] For another 80 years, the Alliance went from victory to victory over orc and goblinoid forces despite heavy losses. Notably, during the Goblin Wars in 753 DR, the Covenant forces drove the goblinoids out of Mirabar.[23] Finally, they stood against an army of goblins and orcs led by ogres that marched out of the Evermoors in the Year of the Bloody Stone, 775 DR. Though the Uthgardt defeated the horde, the Elk tribe warriors were nearly annihilated when they defended the Flintrock ancestral mound. The loss of the Uthgardt warriors and the suffering of the tribes led to the dissolution of the Alliance over the following five years.[20]

In the aftermath, the Elk tribe was close to dying out. Though they survived, they eventually became not much more than brigans[20] who harried the surrounding lands by the mid–14th century DR, when they were led by Zokan Thunderer. Under him, they turned away from the Elk totem toward gods of evil and practiced banditry, raiding, and slavery.[1][2][6]

Elk tribe and Rakor

The Elk tribe and Cult of the Dragon clash, as Rakor swoops overhead. Note the Elk totem in the middle.

Battle of the evermoors

The thick of the fighting between the Elk tribe and Dragon Cultists.

Yet they would rise to heroic defense once more. On the Evermoors sometime around 1400 DR, the Elk tribe battled the Cult of the Dragon for control of the helmet of disjunction, a relic with the power to break all magic,[24][25] which was in the possession of the Elk chief Stanhard Grimwulf. In the conflict known as the Battle of the Evermoors, the Elk warriors outnumbered the Dragon Cultists, but they had the black dragon Rakor on their side and vomiting acid on the barbarians' ranks. Stanhard ordered a retreat and entrusted the helmet to his fastest rider, Ven Salafin, to carry to safety, before the chief was dissolved as well.[24][26] Ven passed it to Xenk Yendar as he too died,[24][27] and the paladin would remember the Elk tribe's brave sacrifice in defense of the helm.[24][28] The fallen Elk tribesmen were buried at a sacred burial ground on the site.[24][29][note 2]

Finally, in the mid–15th century DR, the armies of Mithral Hall and Nesmé broke the strength of the Elk tribe, ending their persistent raiding. In the decades after, though they recovered their numbers, they focused largely on hunting and foraging.[7]

The elf explorer Aedyn Graymantle managed a peaceable meeting with a band of Elk tribesfolk led by Gyrt—aided in large part by them at first fearing her to be a powerful wizard, her greeting to them in Bothii, her valuable gifts, and her reassurance she was not in fact a wizard. Aedyn befriended Gyrt and through her learned much of Uthgardt and Elk culture.[7]

Nevertheless, the Elk tribe continued to trouble the people of the Dessarin valley in the late 15th century DR.[30] In the Year of the Scarlet Witch, 1491 DR, a wandering band of Elk barbarians arrived in the Westwood, drove out some bandits there, occupied the woodcutters' camps, and began to hunt and explore. They were no friends of the elemental cults at Rivergard Keep and Scarlet Moon Hall.[9] That year, Elk tribe warriors led by the berserker Fennor confronted Wiggan Nettlebee and adventurers who'd desecrated the barrow mound tomb of an early Elk chieftain, Javor, and welcomed the risen revenant. The adventurers resolved the situation one way or another.[15]

Notable Members[]

Appendix[]

Notes[]

  1. The original 1st-edition sourcebook The Savage Frontier and the 2nd-edition The North spell it as "Flintrock", whereas the 3rd-edition Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting spells it "Flint Rock". Later sources use this form.
  2. It's unknown how and why the Elk tribe had the helmet of disjunction, nor why the Cult of the Dragon wanted it beyond its magical and monetary value. The product description for the Rakor Nerf blaster toy describes Rakor as unleashing acid breath on adventures who dared challenge him or touch his treasure, which is perhaps meant to imply the Elk tribe stole the Helmet from his hoard. This at least fits the Elk tribe's usual habits.

Appearances[]

Novels
The Junior NovelizationSon of Thunder (referenced only)
Adventures
Storm King's ThunderPrinces of the ApocalypseIcewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
Film & Television
Honor Among Thieves
Comics
The Feast of the Moon

References[]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Jennell Jaquays (1988). The Savage Frontier. (TSR, Inc), pp. 11, 12, 17, 23–24. ISBN 0-88038-593-6.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 17. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 66. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 67, 69–71. ISBN 978-0786906574.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), pp. 29, 31, 33, 34. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  6. 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 168. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 92–93. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 255. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 39. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Jennell Jaquays (1988). The Savage Frontier. (TSR, Inc), p. 54. ISBN 0-88038-593-6.
  11. slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 46. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  13. Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 32. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Jennell Jaquays (1988). The Savage Frontier. (TSR, Inc), p. 59. ISBN 0-88038-593-6.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 169–171. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  16. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 144. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  17. Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 122. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
  18. slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 21. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  19. Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 95. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 103. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  21. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 97. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  22. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 99. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  23. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 101. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley (2023). Honor Among Thieves. (Paramount Pictures).
  25. 25.0 25.1 David Lewman (February 28, 2023). Honor Among Thieves: The Junior Novelization. (Random House Worlds), chap. 12, p. 83. ISBN 0593647955.
  26. 26.0 26.1 David Lewman (February 28, 2023). Honor Among Thieves: The Junior Novelization. (Random House Worlds), chap. 14, p. 96. ISBN 0593647955.
  27. David Lewman (February 28, 2023). Honor Among Thieves: The Junior Novelization. (Random House Worlds), chap. 15, pp. 100–101. ISBN 0593647955.
  28. David Lewman (February 28, 2023). Honor Among Thieves: The Junior Novelization. (Random House Worlds), chap. 16, p. 107. ISBN 0593647955.
  29. David Lewman (February 28, 2023). Honor Among Thieves: The Junior Novelization. (Random House Worlds), chap. 13, p. 93. ISBN 0593647955.
  30. Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 17. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  31. Thieves' Gallery. D&D Beyond. Wizards of the Coast. (2023-03-07). Retrieved on 2023-03-08.

Connections[]

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