I have been doing some research into the history and lore of the Uthgardt tribes, specifically my favorite the Blue Bear Tribe.
I know that the Rime of the Frost Maiden adventure deals with the tribes, but I will be playing that campaign before long and would appreciate no spoilers if the answer is in that adventure.
It is stated on page 32 of The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier that, "...Blue Bear spirit became weakened to such an extent that it was killed by Malar, who subsumed its worship." What exactly happens to such a beast spirit when it dies? Does it simply cease to exist, is there some plane of afterlife for these spirits, or will it be reincarnated? Can it be revived by the faith of it's worshipers? Do the shamans have any kind of connection, like communication, divination, or guidance from it currently if it is not deceased?
Besides the wiki's and adventures, are there any other new lore sources about the Blue Bear tribe?
It’s likely it simply functions like a god when it dies, I don’t know everything about how that works but there’s definitely information somewhere on what happens to a god when it dies.
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"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
It seems that the totem spirit grew weak after the tribe allied themselves with Hellgate keep. However, I found a spot that claims Malar is Blue bear (https://frc.fandom.com/wiki/Malar) They were lead by an Annis Hag in disguise around that time.
Generally speaking it says about the spirit totems of the Uthgart Tribes:
...revered their own totemic spirit beast, each of whom had their power taken by their god-creator, Uthgar.
So in some ways, It's not really clear if their totem animals/spirits existed or held any power. They seem to be manifestations of other gods in some ways?
Yes there is a lot of conflicting information around the beast totems. The wiki you linked says that Malar is Blue Bear, but the older information says that Malar consumed Blue Bear. Still yet other sources say the spirits are just aspects of Uthgar.
Also, I was under the impression that Uthgar had not created the beast spirits, but merely bested them in combat, then each tribe came from the original people that traveled with Uthgar. I don't remember this source which detailed his rise to godhood.
Would love for WotC to create a new book with canon lore going forward!
I know there's been the discussions recently about wiping all previous versions lore etc. But for me, the layering of the lore is great. It creates a rich tapestry with room for variations within your own campaign without breaking the whole world. It provides an element of wiggle-room for DM's too. So if you want to the spirit totems to be more powerful, and able to rise or be freed from the tyranny of Malar and/or Uthgar, then it would make a really cool adventure :)
I had not thought about the years of lore as being layered. I like that take on it. It makes more sense as stories change or evolve as the tales are passed down. In character events, history books other historical accounts would change with different interpretations or be lost over the years. This view makes it much easier to develop my character's personality and beliefs. Thanks!
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I have been doing some research into the history and lore of the Uthgardt tribes, specifically my favorite the Blue Bear Tribe.
I know that the Rime of the Frost Maiden adventure deals with the tribes, but I will be playing that campaign before long and would appreciate no spoilers if the answer is in that adventure.
It is stated on page 32 of The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier that, "...Blue Bear spirit became weakened to such an extent that it was killed by Malar, who subsumed its worship." What exactly happens to such a beast spirit when it dies? Does it simply cease to exist, is there some plane of afterlife for these spirits, or will it be reincarnated? Can it be revived by the faith of it's worshipers? Do the shamans have any kind of connection, like communication, divination, or guidance from it currently if it is not deceased?
Besides the wiki's and adventures, are there any other new lore sources about the Blue Bear tribe?
It’s likely it simply functions like a god when it dies, I don’t know everything about how that works but there’s definitely information somewhere on what happens to a god when it dies.
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
It seems that the totem spirit grew weak after the tribe allied themselves with Hellgate keep. However, I found a spot that claims Malar is Blue bear (https://frc.fandom.com/wiki/Malar)
They were lead by an Annis Hag in disguise around that time.
Generally speaking it says about the spirit totems of the Uthgart Tribes:
So in some ways, It's not really clear if their totem animals/spirits existed or held any power. They seem to be manifestations of other gods in some ways?
Yes there is a lot of conflicting information around the beast totems. The wiki you linked says that Malar is Blue Bear, but the older information says that Malar consumed Blue Bear. Still yet other sources say the spirits are just aspects of Uthgar.
Also, I was under the impression that Uthgar had not created the beast spirits, but merely bested them in combat, then each tribe came from the original people that traveled with Uthgar. I don't remember this source which detailed his rise to godhood.
Would love for WotC to create a new book with canon lore going forward!
It'd be a big book :-)
I know there's been the discussions recently about wiping all previous versions lore etc. But for me, the layering of the lore is great. It creates a rich tapestry with room for variations within your own campaign without breaking the whole world. It provides an element of wiggle-room for DM's too. So if you want to the spirit totems to be more powerful, and able to rise or be freed from the tyranny of Malar and/or Uthgar, then it would make a really cool adventure :)
I had not thought about the years of lore as being layered. I like that take on it. It makes more sense as stories change or evolve as the tales are passed down. In character events, history books other historical accounts would change with different interpretations or be lost over the years. This view makes it much easier to develop my character's personality and beliefs. Thanks!