Obould

Obould
Basic information
Power level	Exarch, formerly Barbarian 5 Fighter 4
Influence
Domains	Warriors
Rules information
Alignment	Chaotic evil

Obould, known formerly as King Obould I Many-Arrows, is an exarch of Gruumsh and formerly the mortal king of the Broken Arrow tribe. Obould was a large orc who was intelligent even by human standards. Considering that the blessings bestowed upon him calmed him somewhat he had become able to see things in a far broader perspective than any orc before him. This led to a change in orcish society under his leadership and the founding of Many-Arrows. Obould was known to have four wives and at least eight sons. It was said his only fear was that when he dies his sons will destroy all he has created in their fight to succeed him.

Equipment

As a mortal, Obould was known to wear a ridged suit of black plate armor that was adorned with numerous spikes and decorations. Obould was also known to own a set of magical boots, which enabled him to leave no tracks in the snow, walk on ice without slipping and endure the coldest blizzard without harm. In battle he used a magical greatsword enchanted to catch fire at will. His black iron crown had four large rubies set into it each of which could generate a large fireball. His main shaman and adviser, Arganth Snarrl, also made him a helmet shaped like a skull with a protective lens of the rare glassteel.

Biography

Obould Many-Arrows as a mortal.

Some time previous to his current conquest of the lands around Mithril Hall he managed to capture and for some time hold Citadel Felbarr, which he had renamed the Citadel of Many Arrows. He lost this city due to infighting and the cunning of the original dwarven inhabitants who came to reclaim their city.

He retreated to Dark Arrow Keep where he plotted his return to the Marches whilst building a new horde. The infighting wouldn't stop and seven of his eight sons plotted against him. 3 of them, Scrauth, Araug and Brymoel, had the gall to do so openly! All the while Obould plotted to sweep back down south, Reclaim the Citadel of Many Arrows and from there, conquer Silverymoon. After that, his plan was to conquer all of the lands north of the Rauvin to create the empire of Obouldar. Eventually, the murmuring of his troops about his apparent weakness was too much for him. In a rage, he put his plans into action, quite possibly killing the sons who plotted against him and realising his goal of uniting most of the Orc tribes in the Spine, also forging an alliance with Gerti Orelsdottr. He tested his army against the human settlement of Shallows and, despite many setbacks his forces easily won the day.

During his next assault, on the dwarven settlement of Mithral Hall, he underwent a religious ceremony where he was blessed by the orc god Gruumsh, which gave him greater strength, speed, and intelligence (the strength of a bull and the speed of a wildcat), and made his name synonymous with that of the orc god. He is commonly referred to by other orcs as "Obould-Who-Is-Gruumsh". Something changed within him though, and a desire for peace became gradually more apparent, much to the displeasure of many of his followers.

Obould's last living son named Urlgen Threefist was Obould's top commander. Urglen was slain in combat by the moon elf Innovindil.

In spite of this, Obould went on to sire another heir, who lived beyond his own death. Upon his death, Obould was raised by Gruumsh to godhood as an exarch in Nishrek, where he continues to exist as one. His legacy on Toril remained behind however and the first stable orcish state was created, the Kingdom of Many-Arrows, which by 1479 DR had established itself as a major power in the North.

Appearances

Computer Games

• Obould is encountered by the player during the events of Neverwinter Nights. Neverwinter Nights. However, his death, while possible, is not canon.

Novels

In the book The Two Swords, Obould battled Drizzt Do'Urden in a vicious duel, but it was interrupted before a clear victor could be determined.

As of Road of the Patriarch it seemed that Obould has withdrawn from Mithral Hall and had begun to secure what land he had already taken. This was confirmed in The Orc King, and later in that novel Obould and Bruenor Battlehammer agreed to a truce, signing the Treaty of Garumn's Gorge and putting an end to hostilities between Mithral Hall (and its allies) and the Kingdom of Many-Arrows. In Gauntlgrym, it is revealed that Obould remained at peace with--and was an occasional ally of--Mithral Hall, until dying of old age.

Children of Obould Many-Arrows

He is believed to have eight sons.

Scrauth

The eldest of Obould sons.

Araug

Brymoel

Urlgen Threefist

Ugreth

Notes

• Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 175. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
• Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.