Lore:Vellosk

Forsworn
The Forsworn were once part of the Gray Wolf Tribe of the Uthgardt Barbarians.

When the Shadovar of Netheril arrived and offered the Gray Wolf Tribe and alliance, it awoke a primal hunger in the barbarians. The Gray Wolf Tribe quickly swore an oath to serve the Netherese in return for any power the shadowy ones might grant them.

Since the start of the alliance, the Netherese have used the Gray Wolf Uthgardt as shock troops. Many Uthgardt grew dissatisified with the pact, and attempted a coup on their leaders. The mutiny failed, and the oathbreakers were dubbed the Forsworn.

The Forsworn generally avoid direct conflict with their Gray Wolf brothers and sisters, although they do not return the favor. The Forsworn have established a camp near Vellosk in an attempt to slay the Shadovar controlling the rest of the tribe.

Gray Wolf Tribe
The Gray Wolf Tribe are one of many Uthgardt barbarian tribes who roam the Savage North.

However, the Gray Wolves have a special distinction from the rest of the tribes. Under the light of the full moon, members of the Gray Wolf Tribe transform into savage werewolves.

A recent alliance with the Netherese have helped the Gray Wolf Tribe harness their savage nature. Now they may transform whenever they desire, making them powerful pawns of the Netherese in their war with the Thayans.

Seeing Both Sides
(Available to Half-Elves only)

The Uthgardt tribes have always squabbled amongst themselves over territory. When the Grey Wolf Tribe contacted lycanthropy, however, the balance of power among them was shattered completely. With such strength at their command, they faced a choice. Would they use their power to protect their way of life, or would they subdue and dominate others for their own gain?

The Forsworn exemplify the best aspects of the Uthgar tribes, and the Grey Wolves perhaps the worst. They share a common root, and there is hope yet for reconciliation. With guidance, they Gray Wolf tribe may too one day use their strength wisely.

Selûne and Shar
(Available to Devoted Clerics only)

The twin goddesses, bright Selûne and dark Shar are opposites bound in eternal struggle. Once extremely close, the two disagreed over whether to create life. This schism widened, and Selûne's victory came at the cost of her sister's hate.

Striking against her sister whenever the opportunity arose, Shar found only defeat. Eventually, she was banished from Toril entirely, until the Time of Troubles, when gods warred openly with one another. She then forged alliances for the first time with other gods, and grew greatly in power.

After the Spellplague, Shar merged her home Plane of Shadow with the Negative Energy Plane from the Shadowfell, over which she rules completely, far for her sister's hated light.

Shadar-Kai
The centuries the Netherese spent in Shadow changed them, as darkness found deeper and deeper roots in their souls. Some shadovar remained human. Some underwent a change, becoming shadar-kai. Like the Fey possess an affinity for the Feywild, so too do the shadar-kai feel for the Shadowfell.

Their souls poisoned by shadows and bitterness, these gray-skinned humanoids move with grace. Shadows follow them wherever they go. Cunning and quick, the shadar-kai make deadly warriors and assassins.

Stones of Sacrifice
The Stones of Sacrifice is a place where the Gray Wolf Tribe brought their sacrifices to their god, Uthgar. Sacrifices entailed a blood offering of animals hunted in his name.

Now the Stones of Sacrifice are stained with human blood. Any of the Forsworn caught by the rest of the Gray Wolf Tribe are tortured to death, their flesh stripped from their bodies.

The Cursed Grove
For many years the cursed grove was spoken of in whispers amongst the Gray Wolf Tribe. It was said to be place where a great evil took place long ago, leaving it a blighted landscape.

Now, the Cursed Grove has become a place of worship for The Dark Hunter, a twisted aspect of Uthgar who hunts its prey from the shadows.

The Dark Hunter
The worship of the Dark Hunter began shortly after the pact was made between the Gray Wolf Tribe and the Netherese.

Shamans of the Gray Wolf Tribe entered Netherese ruins near Vellosk and emerged with visions of their god Uthgar transformed from the Battle Father to the Dark Hunter.

Many of the Gray Wolf Tribe, especially the Forsworn, view this as a perversion, and destroy the Shadow Totems of the Dark Hunter wherever they are found.

The Gray Wolf Spirit
The Netherese of the Xin'kar Enclave spent decades studying the primal magic power they found in the wood. This thriving, natural force fascinated them, but they could never tame it.

When the Shadovar returned to Vellosk, they possessed magic and forbidden knowledge even their ancestors lacked. To ensure the loyalty of their new barbarian pets, they bound the Gray Wolf spirit and began to corrupt it with shadow. Now tainted by darkness familiar to the Shadovar, the Gray Wolf spirit became as obedient as a well-trained dog.

The Sacred Pool
The Sacred Pool is a place where shamans of the Gray Wolf Tribe had come for ages to experience visions from the god Uthgar.

Even though the Forsworn are hunted relentlessly by the Gray Wolf, their shamans are allowed to come to the Sacred Pool to continue their communion with Uthgar.

The Seldarine
(Available to Elves only)

While Corellon is the First of the Seldarine, other gods and exarchs friendly to elf-kind dwell in Arvandor. Indeed, in Elvish, seldarine means "a fellowship of brother and sisters of the wood."

Angharradh is the queen of Arvandor and a goddess of fertility, wisdom, and Spring. Deep Sashelas watches over the seas of the world and blessed some elves, the aquatic elves, with the ability to live underwater. The trickster Erevan Ilesere embodies the caprice of elves and spreads mischief wherever he goes. The Lord of the Continuum, Labelas Enoreth governs history and the passage of time, on which elves have special perspective.

Shevarash and Solonor Theladira are both masters of archery, but while Solonor's bow is used in hunting game, Shevarash's arrows are meant only for the Drow whom he hates. Fenmarel Mestarine dwells in Arvandor, but chooses solitude, as the patron of outcasts and wild elves.

The Shadow Pact
The alliance struck between the Shadovar of the Netherese and the Gray Wolf Tribe of the Uthgardt promised glorious conquest for both parties. The Gray Wolf Tribe would aid the Netherese in capturing strongholds, and in turn the barbarians could claim control of the surrounding forests.

In reality, the Gray Wolf Tribe have been used as expendable shock troops n Netherese conquests. Most of the Gray Wolf Tribe are too consumed by bloodlust to notice.

The Wrath of Netheril
When the Netherese first established the Xin'kar Enclave, the wilderness was a dangerous distraction to their research. To protect them while they studied, they constructed the Wrath Eidolon from shadow-magic and dark emotion. The last of the Xin'kar who fought the Uthgardt tried to reach the eidolon, to activate it, but failed.

Over the years, the Eidolon lay dormant with no masters to command it. When bandits disturbed it, the Eidolon immediately identified them as a threat and began to do what it was made for. Destroy.

Thunder Ridge
Thunder Ridge is a sacred place where primal spirits of thunder and lightning are tamed by the Stormcaller shamans of the Gray Wolf Tribe.

It is said that this is where Uthgar the Battle Father first taught the language of the storm spirits to his people.

Thunderhowl
When the Netherese first established the Xin'kar Enclave, the wilderness was a dangerous distraction to their research. To protect them while they studied, they constructed the Wrath Eidolon from shadow-magic and dark emotion. The last of the Xin'kar who fought the Uthgardt tried to reach the eidolon, to activate it, but failed.

Over the years, the eidolon lay dormant with no masters to command it. When bandits disturbed it, the eidolon immediately identified them as a threat and began to do what it was made for. Destroy.

Twilight Crucible
The secrets of the Gray Wolf Den are locked behind the Twilight Crucible. Ancient Uthgardt shamans called upon the power of the sisters Selûne and Shar to help create this mystic pillar long ago.

Uthgar the Battle Father
Uthgar, the Battle Father, is the god of the Uthgardt barbarians and physical strength. He is exarch of Tempus, the Lord of Battles, and dwells within the astral domain known as Warrior's Rest.

Followers of Uthgar are split into different tribes emphasizing different barbaric virtues. Each of the tribes follow a different beast totem who mediate between Uthgar and his people.

Uthgardt Burial Practices
The honored dead of the Uthgardt tribes are sanctified and mourned before their spirits are led by the Battle Father to Uthgardtheim in the Warrior's Rest.

Due to the nomadic nature of the Uthgardt tribes and the cold winters in the Savage North, they rarely bury their dead in the ground. Instead, the bodies of the dead are wrapped in leathers and either covered with stones or burned.

Uthgardt Leadership
Strength is the defining nature of the Uthgardt barbarian tribes. They worship a god who values physical strength above all, and the harsh winters in the Savage North cull the weak quickly.

While there are wise elders are shamans amongst the Uthgardt who provide sage advice, their words mean nothing next to a strong leader who has survived many battles.

Vellosk
Vellosk is the semi-permanent encampment of the Gray Wolf Tribe of Uthgardt barbarians and a sacred place of great primal power.

Ancient Netherese ruins found near the Gray Wolf settlement indicate that Netherese once held power in the area many centuries ago.

Now Vellosk is a battleground between the Gray Wolf Tribe who serve the returned Netherese and the Forsworn who reject them.

Xin'kar Ruins
Xin'kar was once part of the mighty floating Netherese city of Xinlenel. When Xinlenel fell into the Neverwinter Wood, a circle of powerful wizards used their magic to split their sanctum off from the main city and land in another part of the forest.

Cut off from Xinlenel, the wizards established the Xin'kar Enclave. There they studied the curios primal magic and nature spirits in the nearby caves.

In time Xin'kar re-established contact with Xinlenel and many returned to the fallen city to help re-build. The remaining wizards were driven out by invading Uthgardt barbarians who claimed the area for Uthgar and renamed it Vellosk.