Page 94 - D&D - Player's Handbook

Now, sad to say, this situation might be changing for
the worse. According to recent letters I have received
from friends in these hills, parties of Najaran raiders
have become more common and numerous. My friends
fear that the threat from the Serpent Kingdom to the
north will force Trieltans to seriously consider putting
up an active defense of their lands for the first time in
generations.
UTHGARDT LANDS
When I was newly departed from my homeland and first
found my way to the North, I encountered a band of Uth-
gardt nomads on the trail-a part of the Elk tribe, led by
a warrior named Gyrt. It was a tense meeting.
are in residence. Halfling families often focus on agri- I think the only reason I was not killed on sight is that
cultural endeavors (aside from the small fungi gardens I was an elf traveling alone. I think they feared I was a
many gnomish households maintain in their cellars), wizard. Uthgardt hate all magic but that of their sha-
while the area's miners are almost exclusively gnomes. mans and any enchanted weapons and armor they find,
Both folk work as herders, with halflings favoring but a wizard willing to walk the wilds alone could be a
sheep, and gnomes goats, as well as artisans of all powerful one. Traveling as we were on a grassy plain,
sorts. Each community has a sheriff who maintains we could see one another for some distance. Since I
peace and leads defense-a role most often fulfilled didn't strike them down with lightning from afar, they
by a halfling, I've found, though gnomes will certainly were willing to approach peaceably.
rise up in defense of their homes and neighbors when Still, they stopped when they were within bowshot
called upon. and seemed to be arguing about whether to shoot me.
Some of the rural settlements mark the former I waited as patiently as I could until one who seemed
locations of mines that have been played out. It isn't to be their leader addressed me in heavily accented
uncommon for halflings to move in where a gnomish Common. I replied a greeting in Bothii, their own
mine have been abandoned, fixing up the surface ancient language, which again set the group to argu-
entrances into acceptable, comfortable homes, with ment. At last, the leader dismounted and approached
built-in tunnels that worm through the settlement. me, giving her name as Gyrt. Glad was I then that I took
These passages might be helpful for defense or escape, the time to learn the language from a learned friend
but they are most often used when it's raining out to in Evereska!
reach a neighbor's door and borrow a cup of honey, so In anticipation of any demand, I offered Gyrt a fine
as not to get oneself wet or track mud everywhere. dagger from Evereska, as well as a necklace I wore. For
On occasion, a community that sports large dwell- her band I offered a bag of baubles I'd brought for such
ing-tunnels, with ample space for larger folk (or an occasion. Pleased with my gifts and assured that I
"big'uns," as the local gnomes say), turns its settlement was no wizard, Gyrt and I sat down to talk. I asked to
into an establishment that caters to such clientele. The share her campfire for the night, and Gyrt made space
inns I know of are the Merry Mine-Lass, the Pipe and for me. That was my first meeting with Gyrt, but it
Hearthstone, and the Giants' Respite, my favorite. wouldn't be my last, nor my last encounter with Uth-
Each of these settlements is impressively self-sus- gardt. I'm grateful to my friend Gyrt for teaching me so
taining. When official leadership is needed, the eldest much about her people, for it has allowed me and many
halflings and gnomes are called upon to act in that fellow travelers to see Uthgardt and live to tell the tale.
capacity, but amity is the heart of community life in Over the years, as I earned Gyrt's respect and she
these hills. It is a shameful act among the Trieltans to mine, we became friends, and I came to know her three
refuse to reach a peaceable accord with one's fellows sons as well. Though Gyrt died some decades ago, I still
over some dispute. The folk here enjoy their simple visit her children, whom I played with when they were
lives, although I've come across a half-dozen or so young. They now have children of their own, and all call
young adventurers who hail from here, seeking out the me auntie.
newness of the world as a contrast to the familiarity of During my time with Gyrt and her kin, the people of
their homeland. the Elk explained much to me about the workings of
Few dangerous creatures lurk in the hills- they are so their tribe- their view of the world and their place in
densely settled (on and beneath the surface) that there it, their traditions and the laws they live by. I came to
is little space for monsters to lair. Cruel or ravenous realize, as I came across other Uthgardt tribes in my
creatures do occasionally creep into Trielta, mainly travels, that much of what is true for the Elk tribe is true
from the Forest of Wyrms, but such incursions don't last for other Uthgardt. Though they comport themselves in
long- after a few sheep (and possibly a shepherd or two) seemingly disparate groups honoring different totems,
are eaten, the sheriffs waste no time in forming a posse Uthgardt have much in common. What follows is what
to hunt down or chase off the predators before they can I have learned of the people who call themselves "chil-
do more harm. dren of Uthgar."

CHAPTER 2 I THE SWORD COAST AND THE NORTH