Although civilization has come to the north in waves throughout history, much of the land is wild and untamed, the unbounded home of the Uthgardt. They avoid cities, the High Forest and the lands around Hellgate Keep. Although some tribes have embraced agriculture and fixed habitations, the Uthgardt have few stable villages. Uthgardt Attitudes Tradition is the centerpole of Uthgardt life.
Yet it is blind devotion to tradition that keeps them savages. Strength is everything and civilization is a weak- ness not to be tolerated. Among the Uthgardt, men are warriors and hunters, and women tend to food gathering and family needs. They have no written language and little art beyond geometric carvings and clothing decoration. Their religions and philosophies focus on war, plunder, and survival in a harsh land. They are superstitious, with a paranoiac dislike of magic.
To reveal oneself as a magic-user to an Uthgardt warrior is to ask him to kill you. The Uthgardt barbarians have little to do with city folk, other than to treat them as prey. Though the Uthgardt prey on civilized folk and frequently fight among themselves, they are quick to unite, even with non-Uthgardt, against their common ancestral enemy: Clothing and Appearances Most Uthgardt show the strong Netherese bloodlines in their dark hair and fair skin, like the folk of Silverymoon and Sundabar.
From Northmen ancestors come mighty physique and blue eyes. The barbarians dress in fringed leathers and furs. Tribal Weapons and Proficiencies In addition to the hand axe, knife, and spear, the Uthgardt favor the battle axe, atlatl and javelin, and the long bow. The most common Uthgardt armor is leather and shield AC 7. Some warriors pos- 21 sess studded leather and shield AC 6. A tribal chieftain may possess chainmail and shield AC 4. In most cases, the shield is a spiked buckler which can be used as a weapon.
The Uthgardt possess all the primary skills known by barbarians survival, first aid, outdoor craft, and tracking and know the following tertiary skills: Religion in the Tribes Within the Uthgardt, all deities are allied to a central religion focusing on beast totems. Each tribe has its own totem. This includes Tempus the Uthgardt war god and Chauntea the earth goddess, although she is worshipped exclusively by tribal women. These nonbeast gods are represented among the tribes by shamans of lesser power rarely above 4th level.
Beast Totem Cults The Uthgardt barbarian tribes each worship one of the beasts whose powers were taken by Uthgar. Shamans have the same hit dice as human clerics. They dress in barbarian garb, but their clothing is decorated with magical symbols and relics fortified with holy power and prayer. When a shaman dies, his relics are buried with him in his ancestor mound. These objects have been gained by the shaman at the request of his ancestral spirits.
Each sacred bundle is protected by a guardian spirit see summon ancestor below who appears from the bag if it is opened by anyone other than its owner. Beast power is a special ability the effects of which are different for each totem cult. In essence, it allows the shaman to wield a special ability unique to his totem. The power may be personally used by the shaman, or its effects may be granted to another devoted follower of the totem.
Although not a spell, this power requires that the shaman possess a sacred bundle and a holy symbol usually a carving symbolizing the totem beast. The individual power effects are given in the Uthgardt tribe descriptions. If the result is 15 or less, the desired spirit comes and the control roll modifier is The spirit takes form as a transparent being, a combination of totem beast and primitive human.
To select the type of spirit summoned, the DM rolls 1d20 and matches the result against the table below. When the spirit appears, the summoner must make a Wisdom Ability Check to control it; otherwise the spirit becomes an uncontrolled ghost and immediately attacks all living beings around it. However, even an uncontrolled spirit may not travel more than 50 feet from the ancestor mound.
A controlled spirit may perform the following functions for a shaman: The spell requires a sacred bundle, a relic of the desired ancestor though another may appear and a small bonfire. It can remain for a number of days equal to the level of the shaman. Unlike an ancestor spirit, it may leave the vicinity of the mound. If summoned, one usually possesses the summoner or someone nearby and then decides what to do with its newfound physical form. The possessed body becomes a 20th level barbarian for hit points and attack rolls with the spells and abilities of a 20th level druid.
The Runemeet The and The the Uthgardt religion is close to nature is tied to the change of the seasons. These huge earthworks mounds, often shaped like the totem beasts, are sacred burial grounds, where only the greatest shamans and chiefs are interred. Here the Uthgardt worship their gods, set tribal policy, perform marriages, celebrate births, formalize adoptions, and mourn deaths. The Uthgardt Tribes Taken as a whole, the separate tribes form the Uthgardt people, yet they have individual distinctions that divide them and quash any possibility of unity as a people.
This diversity is expressed as cultural variances, devotion to their unique totems, and tribal goals. Each tribe has an ancestor mound where they worship their totems and other gods each fall during the Runemeet. Several share mounds with other tribes, while some mounds are lost or abandoned. Each tribe is ruled by a chieftain, who may also style himself as king. The chieftains are barbarian class fighters, usually of 8th to 13th level. Chief shamans are the most powerful in their tribe, usually 7th level or better and normally accompany the chieftain.
Other shamans of lesser or even equal power exist within each tribe. The ritual enemy is a foe whom young barbarians must challenge and overcome in order to become adults. It is also the focus of ritual hunts during the annual Runemeet. Orcs are the common ritual foe of all Uthgardt, but each tribe has its own personal enemy. As described previously, the beast power is a magical ability possessed only by tribal shamans. Black Lion Tribe Ancestor Mound: Alaric the Strong Cleric: Bogohardt Blackmane Ritual Enemy: Deafens foes for 1d6 turns if they do not make a saving throw vs.
Only Bogohardt can still wield this power. The black lion is long gone from the north, yet the tribe that bears its name lives on. Here, the complacent Black Lions have forsaken tradition to become farmers and herders. Hunters still roam the wilds, but the tribe no longer depends upon them for survival. Agricultural success lets them trade with others for their needs. In forsaking their barbarian traditions, they have also cast aside their tribal totem. The folk here sense its eldritch nature and fear it more than they revere it. During Runemeet, the Red Tiger tribe performs the required rituals while the Black Lions avoid entering the well.
Blackraven Tribe Ancestor Mound: Griffon tribe and foreign merchants and clerics Beast Power: The wily raven gives his shamans the power to assume the form of any natural animal not dungeon monsters native to the North. Pureheartman and his assistant, Wulphgehar, are the only shamans tolerated by the tribe. As far as the caravans who ply the north are concerned, the Blackravens are the worst of the tribes.
T h e y s e e k t o destroy that which may threaten their way of life. The tribe is aided in their quest by their totem, the gigantic ravens of Ravenrock. The raiders sit astride massive ravens, swooping down out of the sky to rob and terrorize caravans. The Blackravens have little respect for tribes who dwell in towns particularly the Thunderbeast and Griffon tribes , since those tribes have adopted foreign ways. In return, they are enemies of those tribes. Because their raiding spoils are tainted with foreign influence including gold, jewelry, weapons, fabric, etc.
The Blackravens protect their shrine closely and do not welcome foreign intrusion. Blue Bear Tribe Ancestor Mound: Tanta Hagara Ritual Enemy: Civilized farmers Beast Power: The recipient of this power grows claws, increases in strength and can claw and bear-hug attack like a cave bear.
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This tribe is evil, a pawn of Hellgate Keep. The Uthgardt tribes stand united in their enmity towards the infamous Blue Bear tribe. Likewise, the tribesfolk have degenerated and become brutal, possibly even more savage than orcs. Tanta Hagara is not human; she is an annis, a haglike giantess from Hellgate Keep. Elk Tribe Ancestor Mound: This is the same as the clerical spell commune, except that it causes elk antlers to grow from the skull of the shaman.
Each use causes additional horn growth. Of all the tribes, they are the most arrogant, surly and self-indulging. Considered by many to be little more than bandits, they often raid other tribal settlements for food, women, and sport. They have loose ties with the rulers of Luskan but are unwelcome elsewhere.
Chief Zokan Thunderer is regarded by most as a vulgar thug. Under his rule, clerics of the Talos alliance have gained a strong hold on the tribe. Great Worm Tribe Ancestor Mound: Great Worm Cavern Chieftain: Evil creatures Beast Power: Breathe fire three times as a red dragon of same hit dice. The most notable feature of this tribe is its chief shaman, Elrem the Wise. Unlike most other tribal shamans, Elrem is not human. Elrem sleeps year round in the depths of Great Worm Cavern, waking once each year at the Runemeet to prophesy of the future, based on his dream travels.
Grey Wolf Tribe Ancestor Mound: Clovis Greenteeth Ritual Enemy: The orcs of Gauntlgrym Beast Power: Regardless of the phase of the moon, the shaman may assume wolf form, or awaken latent lycanthropy in another tribesman. Though they are not the most numerous or the most powerful, this is the most feared of the Uthgardt tribes. Long ago, the tribe adopted human refugees from the lost city of Gauntlgrym.
The evil that had possessed the city caused the tribe to be cursed with lycanthropy. Any tribesman who possesses Greywolf blood becomes a wolf under the light of the moon although those who are adopted by other tribes slowly lose the curse. On moonlit nights, the entire tribe roams the wilderness in search of prey.
Adalfus Stormgatherer Ritual Enemy: The cities of the North Beast Power: Chief Kralgar Bonesnapper is a popular man of great charisma, and even greater ambition. Since assuming leadership, he has pushed his people t o w a r d s g r e a t e r accomplishments, making the Griffons foremost among the tribes in power, skill, and learning. His great goal is the conquest and possession of one of the northern cities. To this end, he has declared ritual war on the cities.
Unallied clans seeking either plunder or the benefits offered by cities have joined the Griffons, swelling their ranks. While the tribe wages incessant warfare against the cities, they welcome contact with outsiders, considering all as potential allies in their quest. Red Tiger Tribe Ancestor Mound: Garinen the Maker Ritual Enemy: Blue Bear tribe Beast Power: Shapechange to tiger, as the 7th level druid ability. Like their totem beast which is also called the snow cat, since its fur changes color in winter , this tribe is wild and solitary.
They hunt in very small family groups and roam widely, primarily in the Cold Wood. They are wary of all strangers and would sooner avoid contact with things or folk which they do not know. The men of the Red Tiger tribe are strictly hunters, leaving gathering and trading to the women, elderly and children. The Red Tigers believe that the true test of a hunter is the ability to bring down prey unaided.
The hunter holds these so the daggers project between the fingers like claws. The Red Tigers are loyal to King Gundar Brontoskin of the Thunderbeasts, who won their respect during a Runemeet Runehunt by bringing back a leucrotta, slain with only a pair of tiger claws. Thunderbeast Tribe Ancestor Mound: King Gundar Brontoskin Shaman: Wisteria Borsdotter Silvanus Cleric: Sigurd Gandolfsson Tyr Ritual Enemy: Cause skin to temporarily become tough and gnarly like dinosaur hide AC 5.
As the recipient of the spell walks, the ground shakes. The Town of Grunwald on the edge of the High Forest is home to this most civilized of the tribes. Although, he wields no official power over the other tribes, King Gundar has the charisma and respect necessary to call the tribes together into a horde. The tribe takes its name from the apatosaurus brontosaurus , which in ancient times roamed here.
Tribal shamans claim that thunderbeasts still dwell in the High Forest. In addition to the Beast Cult shamans, the Thunderbeast tribe in Grunwald has grown civilized enough to tolerate priests of other religions, primarily the druids of Silvanus, and the clerics of the Tyr alliance. Tree Ghost Tribe Ancestor Mound: Chungred Ghostheart Ritual Enemy: Evil undead creatures Beast Power: The shaman may perform any one druid spell up to 4th level may be different each time. The Tree Ghosts are wanderers who search for Grandfather Tree, their lost and abandoned ancestor mound.
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At Runemeet, they worship at whichever ancestor mound is most convenient before resuming their wandering again. Unlike the other Uthgardt tribes, the Tree Ghosts totem is not a beast. The Tree Ghost is a woodland spirit, similar in some respects to an elemental, but drawing life, energy and intelligence from the forest and giving back its energy to the forest as a caretaker and guardian. Supposedly, each forest has a Tree Ghost whose power depends on the size of that forest.
Although as a rule the barbarians hold the civilized folk of the north in disdain, the Tree Ghost warriors owe allegiance to High Lady Alustriel of Silverymoon and would die to a man for her. Spent night in Hall of Four Ghosts. Dragon agrees to take us as far as Everlund! Were it not for an occasional sighting made of manlike forms flying above the High Forest, mankind would be totally unaware of their presence here.
They dwell in six small villages on the upper slopes of the central mountains. At least one village is located at the headwaters of The Unicorn Run. Each village has a shaman 6th level cleric with access to the spells listed for tribal spellcasters in the DMG and the spells cloudburst and speak with dead. The men of the tundra are tall, taller than most southerners by a head. They tend to be fair haired blond, red or light brown and blue-eyed. Like all barbarians, they are suspicious of magic, equating it with both weakness and evil.
Each of their several tribes was formerly ruled by a king. The barbarian warriors were destroyed. Wulfgar, a barbarian youth whose life had been spared by the dwarf Bruenor, slew Heafstaag in a challenge combat and became king. He brought the barbarians to the Ten Towns, but as allies of the Townsfolk, not enemies. Now only a few small tribes roam the wilderness, the others dwell in the TenTowns, slowly learning the ways of civilization. Their leader is Revjak, an older barbarian who succeeded Wulfgar Dragon-slayer, and who rules from Caer-Konig, w h i c h t h e b a r b a r i a n s rebuilt along with Bremen after the battle.
The tundra barbarians worship tribal beast totems and Tempos god of battle their name for the war-god Tempus. These barbarians are identical to the fighter subclass described in Unearthed Arcana. The barbarians dwelling on the tundra can raise a horde of men. The barbarians in the towns can manage Dwarves In the North, the grim, dour dwarves normally choose to separate themselves from other folk.
They stand alone when other races band together for safety. It should be no surprise that few dwarven communities survive here. Frigid Ironmaster on the shores of The Cold Run and Citadel Adbar in the Ice Mountains to the east are the only dwarf holds of any consequence remaining in the North, though several Northern cities, notably Mirabar, Neverwinter, Silverymoon, a n d S u n d a b a r , h a v e dwarven quarters within their walls. Dwarves in the North acknowledge but one dwarven king, Harbomm of Citadel Adbar and are more loyal to tribe and clan than to king.
The dwarves of the North are the finest forge-men and metal-crafters in Faerun so they say and produce armor and weapons beyond compare. Mer- chants of Sundabar still bring magical weapons south from Citadel Adbar for sale in the markets of the realms. While the demand for such wondrous weapons and armor is high, the production of them is rapidly diminishing. Every year the number of dwarves dwindles; the birth of young dwarves does not keep pace with battle losses and the deaths of the aged and infirm.
Craft masters die with their secrets and young smiths find too much call for their services in battle. Dwarven NPCs and warbands who hail from Adbar or Ironmaster will usually be armed in the best possible armor and each dwarf has a percentage chance equal to his level multiplied by 5 per item of having one of the following: They tend to be short, dark haired, broad-faced, with light-brown skin. They were the original primitives dwelling on the shores of the Trackless Sea.
The Ice Hunters have stolidly resisted the culture of other peoples. On land, they travel by dog-drawn sleds. At sea, they use small water-tight boats of seal-hide called khyeks and larger boats call oumyeks. Though quite primitive, the Ice Hunters are noted for their wisdom.
They are protective of their real names, and use only nicknames when dealing with outsiders. Ice Hunters have higher wisdom than other peoples. Ice Hunters are usually of lawful alignments. An Ice Hunter witch doctor uses spells as described on page 40 of the DMG, but may also use the following spells upon reaching 4th level as if they were 2nd level spells , but each only once per week: Lizardmen The lizardmen of the Mere of Dead Men are the degenerate descendants of a reptilian creator race.
While they do not hate mankind or demi-humans, they have no interest in them either. In fact, they treat all other sentient beings, except dragons, as animals which are used for food. Sightings of lizardmen usually describe them dancing wildly around megalithic stone menhirs rough stone pillars or skulking about Uthgardt ancestor mounds.
There is a 1 in 20 chance that the group will be in the service of a lizardman lich and an additional 1 in 20 chance that the lich actually accompanies the lizardmen! If lizardmen encounter either bullywugs or aarakroca, the lizardmen attempt to capture them for later sacrifice. As described earlier, these orcish gods are identical to the descriptions given in Unearthed Arcana.
The shamans and witch doctors who worship these gods devote themselves to a single deity. In addition to the clerical spells granted by the god, they may control creatures associated with their deity, using them as mounts, familiars, or body guards.
Shamans of Baghtru are often mounted on mighty oxen. Shamans of Shargrass can summon bats, including giant bats and the colossal doombats which can be ridden as mounts. Shamans of Yurtrus may animate dead to create skeletons and zombies. Priestesses of Luthic also shamans are often protected by several cave bears. Orc holy spots are marked by huge cairns piles of skulls, including orc, human, elven, dwrarven and other humanoid races.
Orcs are so devoted to their holy sites that they become berserk if they discover a desecrated site, destroying all they encounter in their frenzy see Northmen berserker rules. Orc Regional Distinctions In the North, the orcs are grouped into five rough divisions, based on geographical location: Spine of the World Orcs In these bleak mountains, the most powerful orc tribes skulk in stone fortresses stolen from the dwarves and renamed.
Eyegad, Tarne and Vokan with their gloomy squat buildings and oppressive black temples are the visible tips of sprawling underground tunnel and cavern complexes that house tribes with names like Skortchclaw, Skreetch, and Bleeding Eye. Others like the Slashers and Orcs of the Severed Tongue lurk in the unnumbered small caves that pepper the valleys and passes of these mineral-rich mountains. They worship a demipower called the Wild Hunter, a lawful evil variant of the Master of the Hunt as described in the Celtic Mythos section of the Legends and Lore cyclopedia.
Due to their woodland habitat, orcs of the High Forest have the non-magical abilities of rangers but gain no pluses in battle against goblin class creatures. Wild Hunter shamans actually grow stag antlers from their heads and may substitute druidical spells for clerical spells. The mithril is apparently being sold in great quantity to someone in the High Forest. Trollmoor orcs have only witch doctors, never shamans. They worship the non-orcish god, Bhaal. The rest over 40, in the Citadel of Many Arrows alone follow Obould, an orc of giant stature and fighting prowess though Obould is said to pay fealty to Graul.
The Ice Mountains orcs wage constant war with the dwarves of Citadel Adbar and stage frequent raids against Silverymoon and Sundabar. To the south, many petty orcish kings wage constant battle against each other. More often than not, orcs encountered in the southern region will be involved in battle with other orcs. Most mounted orcs have short bows and lances. Trolls After orcs, trolls are the scourge of the Savage Frontier. The trolls in the Evermoors Trollmoors travel in bands of trolls. It is just beyond reason. Were it not for the good Lady Alustriel our trip should have been for nothing.
Gone gooney, I knew it. What they eat is none of your business. That is none of your business either. Larger towns and cities have thick stone walls. Smaller towns and villages are surrounded by wooden palisades. In addition to their standing militia, most cities in the north have ballistae and catapults mounted on their wall towers, which can be trained on larger foes.
Although they are not shown on the map, the fortified frontier steadings of large farms or ranches and more powerful independent landholders are not shown. A typi- cal frontier settlement would house 10 to 50 people in a cluster of wood and stone lodges, longhouses and huts within a high wooden palisade. Most of these small holdings are ranches and farms concentrated along the western banks of the Dessarin River and fishing communities on the Sword Coast. Council of directors, chaired by innkeeper Feston Bargewright.
Located at Ironford on the river Dessarin, Bargewright Inn is not truly a village, but more a collection of businesses that grew up to serve the needs of travelers and then later the farmers and ranchers who settled along the west bank of the Dessarin.
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Aldon Bargewright brother of Feston , a 5th level ranger, leads five 1st 28 level fighters and 20 0-level villagers. The Forge-Mark of the king, an upright single-bladed handaxe enclosed by a circle of flames, in red on a silver field. Built by the dwarven king Adbar during the waning years of ancient Delzoun the dwarven Northkingdom , only the tip of this fortress shows above ground.
The rest, miles and miles of granite corridors, can house 60, dwarves. Some of the finest mithril mines outside of Mithril Hall are found in Adbarrim the proper name for the underground citadel. The number of dwarves who dwell here has been dwindling slowly, as few dwarves are born to replace those who die. Mithril mining, metal refining, weapon and armor smithing. Noted for sword blades, forge bars, and ax and pick heads. A total of 9, dwarves can take the field. Citadel of Many Arrows Population: Ruled by self-styled King Obould, a giant, powerful orc.
This fortified city was once the dwarven hold of Felbarr, part of the realm of Delzoun. When that ancient realm began to falter, the dwarves abandoned ancient Felbarr which was far from any productive mines and turned it over to troops from Silverymoon.
The human garrison of 3, troops immediately came under attack from orcs. Fifty years later, an orc horde of awesome magnitude poured down from Dead Orc Pass to the east, surrounded the citadel and, heedless of their own losses, slaughtered the human defenders to a man in what became known as the Battle of Many Arrows. The orcs in the citadel are far too numerous to dislodge. The citadel has too many residents, most are hungry and poor even by orc standards. Chief manufacturer of orcish-made weapons and armor of all types.
The citadel has 1, orcs on guard and another 1, patrol the wilds at all times. In times of need, 18, warriors can be summoned. Council of six Elders. A true road along the Evermoor Way between Everlund and Yartar. Rumored to deal in plunder obtained from bazaars in the orc Citadel of Many Arrows. A crossed blade, pick, and shovel at the base of a leaping flame on an ice-blue field.
This isolated mining town on the frigid tundra of the Cold Run is the site of extremely rich veins of copper and silver. Everything else is imported: The ruling triumvirate seeks to ensure that the valuable ores of Fireshear fall under the control of no other city in the North particularly Luskan. All miners bear the responsibility of defense; essentially, Fireshear has a standing civilian militia of 10, As in Waterdeep, the folk of Everlund are tolerant of other peoples, races and religions, but must be constantly wary of the monsters who lurk in the wilds.
Subsistence level farming, hunting, woven baskets and containers which are sold to visiting traders , and gold panning in Shining Creek. King Gundar Brontoskin This tiny village is built upon the ruins of a dwarfhold. Most homes are built of stone rubble and timber from the forest. The tunnels beneath the city are known, but are taboo, off-limits to villagers and foreigners alike.
Sells logs and lumber to Mirabar and Longsaddle. Dark Shanut wood from Grunwald ends up in the hands of craftsmen in Sundabar and Waterdeep. A red anvil on a gray, diamond-shaped field, the long points of the diamond vertical. Carved into the rocky walls of a frozen valley on the Cold Run, where the Shaengarne River flows into the Sea of Moving Ice, stands this isolated, stone-towered city of dwarves.
Its tunnels and storage chambers weave in and out of stone and never-melting ice. The deepest mine shafts lead down to extensive iron deposits, far greater than any found elsewhere in Faerun. Lord Pelindar Filmyra, Lord of Leilon. This small human mining town on the Sword Coast sprawls along the High Road. Unlike most northern towns, it lacks walls. A wooden palisade atop an earthen bank shields the landward side, but the wall has no gate. The mines east of Leilon are rich in copper, nickel and silver.
The mountains are honeycombed with mine shafts and tunnels, including several that open up into the town itself, and some that go very, very deep. Leilon has no proper harbor. During good weather, a dozen massive ore barges are loaded in the shallows, then poled and rowed out to unload their cargo on waiting transport ships. Even in the best weather, the operation is tricky. Lord Geildarr LE 7th level magic-user.
The folk in the isolated town of Llorkh still delve in the old, nearly worked-out mines that honeycomb the mountains to the north and east. Now, many citizens find more profit in assisting the Zhentarim caravans that come in from the east. The old lords of Llorkh, respected and retired former miners and fighters, never would have tolerated the Zhentarim in their midst. Overnight, a new Lord seized the Keep and the Throne. Since Geildarr the mage took power, the Zhentarim caravans have been arriving, bringing gold into the town, and the dwarves have been quietly leaving there are whispers that many have been murdered as Phintarn was.
Still, he is not loved or even liked by the townsfolk. Mining, farming, caravan services. The town is ruled by a council of elders. This tiny agricultural village is home to the Harpell family which has produced a number of influential mages in the North including Malchor Harpell who now splits his time between Longsaddle and Waterdeep.
Local stories say that griffins are bothering Longsaddle, preying upon cattle, horses and longriders who stray too far from local ranches. Longsaddle is noted for beef and mutton. Large ranches continue to expand, encroaching further into monsterheld frontiers. Longriders ranch-hands from surrounding estates can be summoned to form a militia of men. Most fight with spear, bow or lariat. Griffons living nearby have slain the residents of several farmholds.
Orc and Griffon tribe Uthgardt raid the herds. Ruled for 45 years by the High Lord of Loudwater, Nanathlor Greysword NG 11th level cavalier who came to the North from Nimbral to found his own realm, but instead, rose to rule a place that needed him. Nearly a quarter of the inhabitants of this lovely town near the midpoint of the River Shining are half-elven, descendants of the Eaerlann elves. A thousand years gone, the dwarf Iirkos Stoneshoulder built a spectacular arching stone bridge for the elves who once dwelt here.
The elves are gone, but the bridge and the wide pool which serves as a river harbor still remain. Here, of old, traders of the Eaerlann elves began the portage around the Shining Falls before journeying north on the river again. Loudwater is an idyllic place, where green, grassy banks line the river, and great green trees shadow its waters.
Farming, fishing, caravan 30 services to and from Llorkh. Taerl, Baram, Kurth, Suljack, and Rethnor, presumed to be retired pirates. Luskan is a seafaring merchant city, home to fierce, proud and warlike Northmen. This important northern port city is located at the mouth of the river Mirar, a swift and icy, cold and rocky, unnavigable river.
Although it seeks merchant trade, visitors are few and often made to feel unwelcome. This probably has much to do with the fact that Luskan is a known harbor for northern pirates, if not an outright sponsor of their activities. Inns that serve travelers are rare; The Cutlass, a notorious dive on the docks a pirate haven no doubt and the Seven Sails Inn are the only known lodgings in the city. Luskan wages almost constant war against naval powers that its Captains feel they can defeat; recently they crushed Ruathym.
In the past, they been defeated by Mintarn and Orlumbor supported by Waterdeep and Amn and slaughtered on the seas by the ships of Lantan, who they no longer even speak of.
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Luskan warriors often raid inland, particularly when sea vigilance makes raiding the coast difficult. The Zhentarim are said to be attempting an alliance with Luskan but it is unknown as to their success. The city has a standing army of spearmen, and a navy of 14 warships dragonships , armed with 70 archers each. Neither side will admit defeat so clashes continue.
Waterdeep has threatened involvement if the two nations refuse to negotiate an end to the conflict. Luskan Map Key Mirabar map located on inside cover 1. All booty must be surrendered for inspection here, with cuts going to the town treasury and the sponsoring High Captain. Seven Sails Inn 3. The Cutlass a notorious tavern 4. Gamma the single fight doth sing 'Twixt Paris and the Spartan king.
And as, upon a hill's steep top, the south wind pours a cloud, To shepherds thankless, but by thieves, that love the night, allowed, A darkness letting down, that blinds a stone's cast off men's eyes: Such darkness from the Greeks' swift feet made all of dust did rise. I'ut, ere stern conflict mixed both strengths, fair Paris stept before The Trojan host ; athwart his back a panther's hide he wore, A crooked bow, and sword, and shook two brazen-headed darts, With which well armed, his tongue provoked the best of Grecian hearts [most To stand with him in single fight.
As when a lion is rejoiced, with hunger half forlorn, That finds some sweet prey, as a hart, whose grace lies in his horn, Or sylvan goat, which he devours, though never so pursued With dogs and men ; so Sparta's king exulted, when he viewed The fair-faced Paris so exposed to his so thirsted wreak, [break, Whereof his good cause made him sure. The Grecian front did And forth he rushed, at all parts armed, leapt from his chariot, And royally prepared for charge. Which seen, cold terror shot The heart of Paris, who retired as headlong from the king As in him he had shunned his death ; and as a hilly spring Presents a serpent to a man, full underneath his feet.
Her blue neck, swoln with poison, raised, and her sting out, to greet His heedless entry, suddenly his walk he altereth. Starts back amazed, is shook with fear, and looks as pale as death ; So Menelaus Paris scared ; so that divine-faced foe Shrunk in his beauties. Which beheld by Hector, he let go This bitter check at him: O heaven, that thou hadst ne'er been Or, being so manless, never lived to bear man's noblest state, [born.
Which I wish, because it were a fate Much better for thee than this shame. This spectacle doth make A man a monster. A rape Thou mad'st of nature, like their queen. No soul, an empty shape, Takes up thy being ; yet how spite to every shade of good Fills it with ill, for, as thou art, thou couldst collect a brood Of others like thee, and far hence fetch ill enough to us.
Even to thy father ; all these friends make those foes mock them thus In thee, for whose ridiculous sake, so seriously they lay All Greece, and fate, upon their necks. Not dare to stay Weak Menelaus? But 'twas well ; for in him thou hadst tried What strength lost beauty can infuse, and with the more grief died, To feel thou robb'st a worthier man, to wrong a soldier's right. Your harp's sweet touch, curled locks, fine shape, and gifts so exquisite, Given thee by Venus, would have done your fine dames little good, When blood and dust had ruffled them, and had as little stood Thyself in stead ; but what thy care of all these in thee flies We should inflict on thee ourselves.
Infectious cowardice In thee hath terrified our host ; for which thou well deservest A coat of tombstone, not of steel in which for form thou serv'st. Reproach not therefore the kind gifts of golden Cyprides. All heaven's gifts have their worthy price ; as little to be scorned As to be won with strength, wealth, state ; with which, to be adorned. Some men would change state, wealth, or strength. But if your martial heart Wish me to make my challenge good, and hold it such a part Of shame to give it over thus, cause all the rest to rest.
And, 'twixt both hosts, let Sparta's king and me perform our best For Helen and the wealth she brought ; and he that overcomes, Or proves superior any way, in all your equal dooms, Let him enjoy her utmost wealth, keep her, or take her home ; The rest strike leagues of endless date, and hearty friends become; You dwelling safe in gleby Troy, and Greeks retire their force T' Achaia, that breeds fairest dames, and Argos, fairest horse.
The Grecians noted not The signal he for parley used, but at him fiercely shot, Hurled stones, and still were levelling darts. At last the king of men, Great Agamemnon, cried aloud: And Hector spake to both the hosts: He bids us all, and you, disarm, that he alone may fight With Menelaus, for us all, for Helen and her right, With all the dower she brought to Troy ; and he that wins the day, Or is in all the art of arms superior any way. The queen, and all her sorts of wealth, let him at will enjoy ; The rest strike truce, and let love seal firm leagues 'twixt Greece and Troy.
I now have hope to free The Greeks and Trojans of all ills they have sustained for me, And Alexander, that was cause I stretched my spleen so far. Of both then, which is nearest fate, let his death end the war ; The rest immediately retire, and greet all homes in peace. Go then to bless your champion, and give his powers success Fetch for the Earth, and for the Sun the Gods on whom ye call. Two lambs, a black one and a white, a female and a male ; And we another for ourselves will fetch, and kill to Jove. To sign which rites' bring Priam's force, because we well approve His sons perfidious, envious, and, out of practised bane To faith, when she believes in them, Jove's high truce may profane.
All young men's hearts are still unstaid ; but in those well-weighed deeds An old man will consent to pass things past, and what succeeds He looks into, that he may know how best to make his way Through both the fortunes of a fact, and will the worst obey. This granted, a delightful hope both Greeks and Trojans fed Of longed-for rest from those long toils their tedious war had bred. Their horses then in rank they set, drawn from their chariots round, Descend themselves, took off their arms, and placed them on the ground, Near one another ; for the space 'twixt both the hosts was small.
Hector two heralds sent to Troy, that they from thence might call King Priam, and to bring the lambs, to rate the truce they swore. But Agamemnon to the fleet Talthybius sent before, To fetch their lamb, who nothing slackt the royal charge was given. Iris, the rainbow, then came down, ambassadress from heaven, To white-armed Helen. She assumed at every part the grace Of Helen's last love's sister's shape, who had the highest place In Helen's love, and had to name Laodice, most fair Of all the daughters Priam had, and made the nuptial pair With Helicaon, royal sprout of old Antenor's seed.
She found queen Helena at home, at work about a weed, Woven for herself; it shined like fire, was rich and full of size, The work of both sides being alike ; in which she did comprise The many labours warlike Troy and brass-armed Greece endured For her fair sake, by cruel Mars and his stern friends procured.
Iris came in in joyful haste, and said: Loved nymph, and an admired sight of Greeks and Trojans see, Who first on one another brought a war so full of tears, Even thirsty of contentious war. Now every man forbears, And friendly by each other sits, each leaning on his shield, Their long and shining lances pitched fast by them in the field. Paris, and Sparta's king, alone must take up all the strife ; And he that conquers only call fair Helena his wife.
They reached the Scasan towers, Where Priam sat, to see the fight, with all his counsellors ; Panthous, Lampus, Clytius, and stout Hicetaon, Thymoetes, wise Antenor, and profound Ucalegon: All grave old men ; and soldiers they had been, but for age Now left the wars ; yet counsellers they were exceeding sage. And as in well-grown woods, on trees, cold spiny grasshoppers Sit chirping, and send voices out that scarce can pierce our ears For softness, and their weak faint sounds ; so, talking on the tower, These seniors of the people sat ; who when they saw the power Of beauty, in the queen, ascend, even those cold-spirited peers, Those wise and almost withered men, found this heat in their years BOOK III.
In her sweet countenance shine Looks like the Goddesses. And yet though never so divine Before we boast, unjustly still, of her enforced prise, And justly suffer for her sake, with all our progenies, Labour and ruin, let her go ; the profit of our land Must pass the beauty. They could not choose but welcome her, and rather they accused The Gods than beauty, for thus spake the most famed king of Troy: Come, do not think I lay the wars endured by us on thee, The Gods have sent them, and the tears in which they swum to me.
Sit then, and name this goodly Greek, so tall, and broadly spread, Who than the rest, that stand by him, is higher by the head ; The bravest man I ever saw, and most majestical, His only presence makes me think him king amongst them all. Of my sole daughter, brothers both, with all those kindly mates, Of one soil, one age, born with me, though under different fates! But these boons envious stars deny ; the memory of these In sorrow pines those beauties now that then did too much please ; Nor satisfy they your demand, to which I thus reply: That's Agamemnon, Atreus' son, the great in empery ; A king, whom double royalty doth crown, being great and good, And one that was my brother-in-law, when I contained my blood, And was more worthy ; if at all I might be said to be, My being being lost so soon in all that honoured me.
Where many Phrygians I beheld, well skilled in use of horse, That of the two men, like two Gods, were the commanded force, Otreus, and great Mygdonus, who on Sangarius' sands Set down their tents, with whom myself, for my assistant bands, Was numbered as a man in chief; the cause of war was then Th' Amazon dames, that in their facts affected to be men. In all there was a mighty power, which yet did never rise To equal these Achaian youths that have the sable eyes.
His armour lies upon the earth ; he up and down doth go To see his soldiers keep their ranks, and ready have their arms, If, in this truce, they should be tried by any false alarms. Much like a well-grown bell-wether, or feltred ram, he shows, That walks before a wealthy flock of fair white-fleeced ewes.
I learned the wisdoms of their souls, and humours of their blood ; For when the Trojan council met and these together stood, By height of his broad shoulders had Atrides eminence, Yet, set, Ulysses did exceed, and bred more reverence. Of wrathful quality, And frantic rashly judging him you would have said he was ; But when out of his ample breast he gave his great voice pass. And words that flew about our ears like drifts of winter's snow, None thenceforth might contend with him, though nought admired for show. On th' other side stands Idomen, in Crete of most command, And round about his royal side his Cretan captains stand ; Oft hath the warlike Spartan king given hospitable due To him within our Lacene court, and all his retinue.
And now the other Achive dukes I generally discern ; [learn.
All which I know, and all their names could make thee quickly ' Two princes of the people yet I nowhere can behold. Castor, the skilful knight on horse, and Pollux, uncontrolled For all stand-fights, and force of hand ; both at a burthen bred ; My natural brothers ; either here they have not followed From lovely Sparta, or, arrived within the sea-borne fleet.
In fear of infam. Rise, for the well- rode peers of Troy, and brassed -armed Greeks in Send to thee to descend the field, that they firm vows may make ; For Paris and the Spartan king must fight for Helen's sake, With long-armed lances ; and the man that proves victorious, The woman and the wealth she brought shall follow to his house ; The rest knit friendship, and firm leagues ; we safe in Troy shall In Argos and Achaiathey, that do in dames excel.
Which soon they did, and he ascends. He takes the reins, and guide Antenor calls ; who instantly mounts to his royal side. And, through the Scaean ports to field, the swift-foot horse they drive, And when at them of Troy and Greece the aged lords arrive. From horse, on Troy's well-feeding soil, 'twixt both the hosts they go. When straight up rose the king of men, up rose Ulysses too.
The heralds in their richest coats repeat as was the guise [eyes , The true vows of the Gods termed theirs, since made before their Then in a cup of gold they mix the wine that each side brings, And next pour water on the hands of both the kings of kings. Which done, Atrides drew his knife, that evermore he put Within the large sheath of his sword, with which away he cut The wool from both fronts of the lambs, which as a rite in use Of execration to their heads that brake the plighted truce The heralds of both hosts did give the peers of both ; and then.
With hands and voice advanced to heaven, thus prayed the king of " O Jove, that Ida dost protect, and hast the titles won [men: Most glorious, most invincible ; and thou all-seeing Sun, All-hearing, all re-comforting ; Floods ; Earths ; and Powers That all the perjuries of men chastise even after death! If by my honoured brother's hand be Alexander slain, The Trojans then shall his forced queen with all her wealth restore, And pay convenient fine to us, and ours for evermore.
If Priam and his sons deny to pay this, thus agreed, When Alexander shall be slain, for that perfidious deed. And for the fine, will I fight here, till dearly they repay, By death and ruin, the amends that falsehood keeps away. Who first shall dare to violate the late sworn oaths of ours, So let the bloods and brains of them, and all they shall produce, Flow on the stained face of the earth, as now this sacred juice ; And let their wives with bastardice brand all their future race.
Jove yet and heaven's high States Know only which of these must now pay tribute to the Fates. Then Hector, Priam's martial son, stepped forth, and met the ground, With wise Ulysses, where the blows of combat must resound ; Which done, into a helm they put two lots, to let them know Which of the combatants should first his brass-piled javelin throw ; When all the people standing by, with hands held up to heaven, Prayed Jove the conquest might not be by force or fortune given, But that the man, who was in right the author of most wrong.
Might feel his justice, and no more these tedious wars prolong. But, sinking to the house of death, leave them as long before Linked fast in leagues of amity that might dissolve no more. Then Hector shook the helm that held the equal dooms of chance, Looked back, and drew ; and Paris first had lot to hurl his lance. The soldiers all sat down enranked, each by his arms and horse That then lay down and cooled their hoofs. And now the allotted course Bids fair-haired Helen's husband arm ; who first makes fast his With silver buckles to his legs ; then on his breast receives [greaves The curets that Lycaon wore his brother , but made fit For his fair body ; next his sword he took, and fastened it.
All damasked, underneath his arm ; his shield then grave and great His shoulders wore ; and on his head his glorious helm he set. Topped with a plume of horse's hair, that horribly did dance. And seemed to threaten as he moved ; at last he takes his lance. Exceeding big, and full of weight, which he with ease could use. In like sort, Sparta's warlike king himself with arms endues.
Thus armed at either army both, they both stood bravely in. Possessing both hosts with amaze, they came so chin to chin, And with such horrible aspects each other did salute, [mute, A fair large field was made for them, where wraths, for hugeness And mutual, made them mutually at either shake their darts Before they threw. Then Paris first with his long javelin parts ; It smote Atrides' orby targe, but ran not through the brass.
For in it arming well the shield the head reflected was. Then did the second combatant apply him to his spear, Which ere he threw, he thus besought almighty Jupiter: This taint he followed with his sword, drawn from a silver sheath, Which lifting high, he struck his helm full where his plume did stand.
On which it piecemeal brake, and fell from his unhappy hand. At which he sighing stood, and stared upon the ample sky, And said: I hoped my hand should have revenged the wrongs I still sustain On him that did them, and still dares their foul defence pursue. And now my lance hath missed his end, my sword in shivers flew, And he 'scapes all. And caught him by the horse-hair plume that dangled on his crest, With thought to drag him to the Greeks, which he had surely done, And so, besides the victory, had wondrous glory won, Because the needle-painted lace, with which his helm was tied Beneath his chin, and so about his dainty throat implied.
Had strangled him but that, in time, the Cyprian seed of Jove Did break the string with which was lined that which the needle wove, And was the tough thong of a steer, and so the victor's palm Was, for so full a man-at-arms, only an empty helm. That then he swung about his head, and cast among his friends, Who scrambled, and took 't up with shouts. Again then he intends To force the life-blood of his foe, and ran on him amain With shaken javelin ; when the Queen, that lovers loves, again Attended, and now ravished him from that encounter quite.
With ease, and wondrous suddenly, for she, a Goddess, might. Love's Empress came, Pulled Helen by the heavenly veil, and softly said: So fresh, and movingly attired, that, seeing, you would swear He came not from the dusty fight, but from a courtly dance, Or would to dancing. At which amazed, she answered her: Why lov'st thou still in these deceits to wrap my fantasy? Or whither yet, of all the towns given to their lust beside, In Phrygia, or Maeonia, com'st thou to be my guide, If there of divers languaged men thou hast, as here in Troy, Some other friend to be my shame, since here thy latest joy By Menelaus now subdued, by him shall I be borne Home to his court, and end my life in triumphs of his scorn?
And, to this end, would thy deceits my wanton life allure. Than serve his dotage now. What shame were it for me to feed This lust in him ; all honoured dames would hate me for the deed ; He leaves a woman's love so shamed, and shows so base a mind To feel nor my shame nor his own ; griefs of a greater kind Wound me than such as can admit such kind delights so soon. And setting thee in midst of both, turn all their wraths on thee, And dart thee dead ; that such a death may wreak thy wrong of me.
Arrived at home, her women both fell to their work in haste ; When she that was of all her sex the most divinely graced Ascended to a higher room, though much against her will, Where lovely Alexander was, being led by Venus still. The laughter-loving dame discerned her moved mind by her grace, And, for her mirth sake, set a stool, full before Paris' face, Where she would needs have Helen sit ; who, though she durst not choose But sit, yet looked away for all the Goddess' power could use, And used her tongue too, and to chide whom Venus soothed so much, And chid, too, in this bitter kind: Go once more, and ad- Thy braves against his single power ; this foil might fall by chance.
Shun him, thou most unwise, Lest next, thy spirit sent to hell, thy body be his prise. Look on their end. On us Will other Gods, at other times, let fall the victor's wreath, As on him Pallas put it now. Shall our love sink beneath The hate of fortune? In love's fire let all hates vanish. Come, Love never so inflamed my heart ; no, not when, bringing home Thy beauty's so delicious prise, on Cranae's blest shore I longed for, and enjoyed thee first.
While these to pleasure yield, Perplexed Atrides, savage-like, ran up and down the field. And every thickest troop of Troy, and of their far-called aid, Searched for his foe, who could not be by any eye betrayed ; Nor out of friendship out of doubt did they conceal his sight, All hated him so like their deaths, and owed him such despite. At last thus spake the king of men: The conquest on my brother's part ye all discern is clear, Do you then Argive Helena, with all her treasure here, Restore to us, and pay the mulct that by your vows is due, Yield us an honoured recompense, and, all that should accrue To our posterities, confirm ; that when you render it.
Our acts may here be memorised. The Gods in council, at the last, decree That famous Ilion shall expugned be ; And that their own continued faults may prove The reasons that have so incensed Jove, Minerva seeks, with more offences done Against the lately injured Atreus' son A ground that clearest would make seen their sin. To have the Lycian Pandarus begin. He 'gainst the truce with sacred covenants bound Gives Menelaus a dishonoured wound. Agamemnon then To mortal war incenseth all his men. The battles join ; and, in the heat of fight, Cold death shuts many eyes in endless night.
In Delta is the Gods' Assize ; The truce is broke ; wars freshly rise. Within the fair-paved court of Jove he and the Gods conferred About the sad events of Troy ; amongst whom ministered Blessed Hebe nectar. As they sat, and did Troy's towers behold, They drank, and pledged each other round in full-crowned cups The mirth at whose feast was begun by great Saturnides [of gold. In urging a begun dislike amongst the Goddesses, But chiefly in his solemn queen, whose spleen he was disposed To tempt yet further, knowing well what anger it inclosed.
And how wives' anger should be used. On which, thus pleased, he played: We must consult then what events shall crown these future things, If wars and combats we shall still with even successes strike, Or as impartial friendship plant on both parts. If ye like The last, and that it will as well delight as merely please 0K iv. Austere, and too-much-Saturn's son? Why wouldst thou render still My labours idle, and the sweat of my industrious will Dishonour with so little power?
My chariot-horse are tired With posting to and fro for Greece, and bringing banes desired To people-must'ring Priamus, and his perfidious sons ; Yet thou protect'st and join'st with them whom each just Deity shuns. Go on, but ever go resolved all other Gods have vowed To pass thy partial course for Troy in all that makes it proud. What offence of such impiety Hath Priam or his sons done thee, that, with so high a hate, Thou shouldst thus ceaselessly desire to raze and ruinate So well a build ed town as Troy?
I think, hadst thou the power, Thou wouldst the ports and far-stretched walls fly over, and devour Old Priam and his issue quick, and make all Troy thy feast. And then at length I hope thy wrath and tired spleen would rest. To which run on thy chariot, that nought be found in me Of just cause to our future jars. In this yet strengthen thee, And fix it in thy memory fast, that if I entertain As peremptory a desire to level with the plain A city where thy loved live, stand not betwixt my ire And what it aims at, but give way, when thou hast thy desire, Which now I grant thee willingly, although against my will, For not beneath the ample sun, and heaven's star-bearing hill.
There is a town of eartlily men so honoured in my mind As sacred Troy ; nor of earth's kings as Priam and his kind, Who never let my altars lack rich feast of off 'rings slain. And their sweet savours ; for which grace I honour them again. But we must give each other leave, and wink at cither's war. I likewise must have power to crown my works with wished end, Because I am a Deity, and did from thence descend Whence thou thyself, and th' elder born ; wise Saturn was our sire ; And thus there is a twofold cause that pleads for my desire, Being sister, and am called thy wife ; and more, since thy command 52 HOMER'S ILIAD.
Rules all Gods else, I claim therein a like superior hand. All wrath before then now remit, and mutually combine In either's empire ; I, thy rule, and thou, illustrate, mine ; So will the other Gods agree, and we shall all be strong. And first for this late plot with speed let Pallas go among The Trojans, and some one of them entice to break the truce By offering in some treacherous wound the honoured Greeks abuse.
Who cast herself from all the heights with which steep heaven is And as Jove, brandishing a star, which men a comet call, crowned ; Hurls out his curled hair abroad, that from his brand exhale A thousand sparks, to fleets at sea, and every mighty host, Of all presages and ill-haps a sign mistrusted most ; So Pallas fell 'twixt both the camps, and suddenly was lost, When through the breast of all that saw she struck a strong amaze With viewing in her whole descent her bright and ominous blaze.
When straight one to another turned, and said: Shall I despair at thy kind hands to have a favour done? Nor dar'st thou let an arrow fly upon the Spartan king? It would be such a grace to Troy, and such a glorious thing, That every man would give his gift ; but Alexanders hand Would load thee with them, if he could discover from his stand His foe's pride struck down with thy shaft, and he himself ascend The flaming heap of funeral. Come, shoot him, princely friend ; But first invoke the God of Light, that in thy land was born, And is in archers' art the best that ever sheaf hath worn, To whom a hundred first-ewed lambs vow thou in holy fire, When safe to sacred Zelia's towers thy zealous steps retire.
The forehead of the goat Held out a wondrous goodly palm that sixteen branches brought, Of all which, joined, an useful bow a skilful bowyer wrought, Which picked and polished, both the ends he hid with horns of gold. And this bow, bent, he close laid down, and bad his soldiers hold Their shields before him, lest the Greeks, discerning him, should In tumults ere the Spartan king could be his arrow's prise. Strong-headed, and most apt to pierce ; then took he up his bow, And nocked his shaft, the ground whence all their future grief did When, praying to his God the Sun, that was in Lycia bred, [grow.
And king of archers, promising that he the blood would shed Of full an hundred first-fallen lambs, all offered to his name, When to Zelia's sacred walls from rescued Troy he came. He took his arrow by the nock, and to his bended breast The oxy sinew close he drew, even till the pile did rest Upon the bosom of the bow ; and as that savage prise His strength constrained into an orb, as if the wind did rise The coming of it made a noise, the sinew-forged string Did give a mighty twang, and forth the eager shaft did sing, Affecting speediness of flight, amongst the Achive throng.
Nor were the blessed Heavenly Powers unmindful of thy wrong, O Menelaus, but, in chief, Jove's seed, the Pillager, Stood close before, and slacked the force the arrow did confer With as much care and little hurt as doth a mother use, [diffuse And keep off from her babe, when sleep doth through his pow'rs His golden humour, and th' assaults of rude and busy flies She still checks with her careful hand ; for so the shaft she plies That on the buttons made of gold which made his girdle fast, And where his curets double were, the fall of it she placed.
And thus much proof she put it to: For nothing decks a soldier so, as doth an honoured wound. On Agamemnon, when he saw so much black blood descend ; And stiff 'ned with the like dismay was Menelaus too, But seeing th' arrow's stale without, and that the head did go No further than it might be seen, he called his spirits again ; Which Agamemnon marking not, but thinking he was slain, He griped his brother by the hand, and sighed as he would break, Which sigh the whole host took from him, who thus at last did speak: For this hast thou the single combat fought For all the army of the Greeks?
For this hath Ilion sworn, And trod all faith beneath their feet? Yet all this hath not worn The right we challenged out of force ; this cannot render vain Our stricken right hands, sacred wine, nor all our ofPrings slain ; For though Olympius be not quick in making good our ill, He will be sure as he is slow, and sharplier prove his will. Their own hands shall be ministers of those plagues they despise, Which shall their wives and children reach, and all their progenies.
For both in mind and soul I know that there shall come a day When Ilion, Priam, all his pow'r, shall quite be worn away. When heaven-inhabiting Jove shall shake his fiery shield at all, For this one mischief. This, I know, the world cannot recall. But be all this, all my grief still for thee will be the same, Dear brother. If thy life must here put out his royal flame, I shall to sandy Argos turn with infamy my face, And all the Greeks will call for home ; old Priam and his race Will flame in glory ; Helena untouched be still their prey.
And thy bones in our enemies' earth our cursed fates shall lay ; Thy sepulchre be trodden down ; the pride of Troy desire Insulting on it, ' Thus, O thus, let Agamemnon's ire In all his acts be expiate, as now he carries home His idle army, empty ships, and leaves here overcome Good Menelaus. Then let the broad earth swallow me, and take me quick to death. The arrow fell in no such place as death could enter at, My girdle, curets doubled here, and my most trusted plate.
Objected all 'twixt me and death, the shaft scarce piercing one. Who much hath glorified our foe, and us as much dismayed. He heard, and basted instantly, and cast his eyes about The thickest squadrans of the Greeks, to find Machaon out. While these were thus employed to ease the Atrean martialist, The Trojans armed, and charged the Greeks ; the Greeks arm and resist.
Then not sleep, nor 'mazed with fear, nor shifting off the blows, You could behold the king of men, but in full speed he goes To set a glorious fight on foot ; and he examples this With toiling, like the worst, on foot ; who therefore did dismiss His brass-armed chariot, and his steeds with Ptolemeus' son.
Son of Piraides, their guide, the good Eurymedon ; " Yet," said the king, " attend with them, lest weariness should seize My limbs, surcharged with ordering troops so thick and vast as these. Those of his swiftly-mounted Greeks that in their arms were fit, Those he put on with cheerful words, and bad them not remit The least spark of their forward spirits, because the Trojans durst Take these abhorred advantages, but let them do their worst ; For they might be assured that Jove would patronise no lies.
And that who with the breach of truce would hurt their enemies With vultures should be torn themselves ; that they should raze their town. Their wives, and children at their breast, led vassals to their own. But such as he beheld hang off from that increasing fight. Such would he bitterly rebuke, and with disgrace excite: Why are ye thus discomfited like hinds that have no hearts, Who, wearied with a long-run field, are instantly embossed.
Stand still, and in their beastly breasts is all their courage lost. Would ye the foe should nearer yet your dastard spleens provoke, Even where on Neptune's foamy shore our navies lie in sight, To see if Jove will hold your hands and teach ye how to fight. He came to the Cretensian troops, where all did armed stand About the martial Idomen ; who bravely stood before In vanguard of his troops, and matched for strength a savage boar, Meriones, his charioteer, the rearguard bringing on. Which seen to Atreus' son, to him it was a sight alone, And Idomen's confirmed mind with these kind words he seeks: I ever loved thyself past all the Greeks, In war, or any work of peace, at table, everywhere ; For when the best of Greece besides mix ever at our cheer My good old ardent wine with small, and our inferior mates [rates, Drink even that mixed wine measured too, thou drink'st, without those Our old wine neat, and evermore thy bowl stands full like mine, To drink still when and what thou wilt.
Then rouse that heart of And, whatsoever heretofore thou hast assumed to be, [thine, This day be greater. But thou shouldst rather cheer the rest, and tell them they in right Of all good war must offer blows, and should begin the fight Since Troy first brake the holy truce , and not endure these braves, To take wrong first, and then be dared to the revenge it craves ; Assuring them that Troy in fate must have the worst at last, Since first, and 'gainst a truce, they hurt, where they should have embraced.
Behind them, hid the ground A cloud of foot, that seemed to smoke. And as a goatherd spies, On some hill's top, out of the sea, a rainy vapour rise, Driven by the breath of Zephyrus, which, though far off he rest, Comes on as black as pitch, and brings a tempest in his breast, Whereat he, frighted, drives his herds apace into a den ; So dark'ning earth with darts and shields showed these with all their men.
O would our father Jove, Minerva, and the God of Light, would all our bodies move With such brave spirits as breathe in you, then Priam's lofty town Should soon be taken by our hands, for ever overthrown! With these he first put on His horse troops with their chariots ; his foot of which he choosed Many, the best and ablest men, and which he ever used As rampire to his general power he in the rear disposed.
The slothful, and the least in spirit, he in the midst inclosed, That such as wanted noble wills base need might force to stand. His horse troops, that the vanguard had, he strictly did command To ride their horses temperately, to keep their ranks, and shun Confusion, lest their horsemanship and courage made them run Too much presumed on much too far, and, charging so alone, Engage themselves in th' enemy's strength, where many fight with " Who his own chariot leaves to range, let him not freely go, [one.
But straight unhorse him with a lance ; for 'tis much better so. And with this discipline," said he, " this form, these minds, this trust, Our ancestors have walls and towns laid level with the dust. If then I had the strength of youth, I missed the counsels then That years now give me ; and now years want that main strength of youth ; Yet still my mind retains her strength as you now said the sooth And would be where that strength is used, affording counsels sage To stir youths' minds up ; 'tis the grace and oflice of our age ; Let younger sinews, men sprung up whole ages after me, And such as have strength use it, and as strong in honour be.
And then first moved, as they conceived ; and they so looked about To see both hosts give proof of that they yet had cause to doubt. Atrides seeing them stand so still, and spend their eyes at gaze, Began to chide: Expect ye that the fight Should be by other men begun? First you can hear when I invite the princes to a feast, When first, most friendly, and at will, ye eat and drink the best, Yet in the fight, most willingly, ten troops ye can behold Take place before ye. And to whom, as a legacy, I'll leave my deeds done here Even with the foremost band of Troy hath his encounter dared.
And therefore are thy speeches vain, and had been better spared.
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I neither do accuse thy worth, more than thyself may hold Fit, that inferiors think not much, being slack, to be controlled Nor take I on me thy command ; for well I know thy mind Knows how sweet gentle counsels are, and that thou stand'st in- As I myself, for all our good. On then ; if now we spake [clined, "What hath displeased, another time we full amends will make ; And Gods grant that thy virtue here may prove so free and brave That my reproofs may still be vain, and thy deservings grave.
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