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Caul the Black was notrious bandit and terror in the area of the Ten Towns of Icewind Dale, for years he and his men, known locally as Caul's Dogs, raged a campaign of anarchy and destruction under the banner of Talos.
Caul's reign was eventually challenged by a combined militia force from the towns led by a former adventurer name Teal. This force harried Caul and his men, forcing them West into the mountains, eventually cornering them at an old Uthgardt burial mound known as Shiverfang Hollow. Caul ordered his men forward, calling upon his patron Talos to grant them victory in battle or a glorious death. Facing certain defeat in battle one of the Dogs struck Caul down in an attempt to save his own life, the rest of Cauls men were defeated and the unconscious Caul taken captive.
Caul was bound to a great fir tree and awoken, his list of crimes was read out and his execution demanded. Teal stepped up and pierced Cauls heart with a silver spear.
As Cauls blood stained the snow a great storm picked up, scattering the militia and driving them back down the mountain. Talos, furious that a great last battle should be cut short by treachery had arrived.
Talos called upon the deities of fury that served beneath him, demanding that each of them lay a gift upon Caul.
Malar came first, giving Caul a hunters senses and boundless stamina so he could track any prey across any distance.
Auril gave the pelt of a favoured white wolf that could turn aside the blow of any mortal weapon.
Umberlee gave the anger and ferocity of a storm at sea.
Talona gave a bite laden with disease, so those who felt his teeth and lived would be corrupted in his image.
Talos himself granted Caul the power and speed of lightning.
The gifts given Talos summoned six of the Jotnar to cut Caul free, as they did the maddened and wounded Caul thrashed and bit, and so was born the first pack of Shiverfang Hollow, each both blessed and cursed as Caul, their only weakness being the silver of the weapon that first pierced Caul's heart.
Whether or not this is the true birth of lycanthropy in the North or just another local piece of folklore is something that cannot be determined for sure. It is certainly true that a pack of werewloves hunts the mountains west of the Ten Towns led by a great white werewolf, but it is unlikely that such a diverse range of blessings should manifest itself in a form identical to the lycanthropy seen elsewhere in the realms.
Mythic history or no travellers in the Spine should be wary of the pack of wolves that hunts there, reports and rumours about the packs ferocity should not be under estimated. Those who carry symbols of Selune are in particular danger, stories of those individuals being singled out and cursed with the wolf bite then let loose to hunt and destroy their former friends and colleagues before be hunted down themselves by the pack are disturbing.
Caul's reign was eventually challenged by a combined militia force from the towns led by a former adventurer name Teal. This force harried Caul and his men, forcing them West into the mountains, eventually cornering them at an old Uthgardt burial mound known as Shiverfang Hollow. Caul ordered his men forward, calling upon his patron Talos to grant them victory in battle or a glorious death. Facing certain defeat in battle one of the Dogs struck Caul down in an attempt to save his own life, the rest of Cauls men were defeated and the unconscious Caul taken captive.
Caul was bound to a great fir tree and awoken, his list of crimes was read out and his execution demanded. Teal stepped up and pierced Cauls heart with a silver spear.
As Cauls blood stained the snow a great storm picked up, scattering the militia and driving them back down the mountain. Talos, furious that a great last battle should be cut short by treachery had arrived.
Talos called upon the deities of fury that served beneath him, demanding that each of them lay a gift upon Caul.
Malar came first, giving Caul a hunters senses and boundless stamina so he could track any prey across any distance.
Auril gave the pelt of a favoured white wolf that could turn aside the blow of any mortal weapon.
Umberlee gave the anger and ferocity of a storm at sea.
Talona gave a bite laden with disease, so those who felt his teeth and lived would be corrupted in his image.
Talos himself granted Caul the power and speed of lightning.
The gifts given Talos summoned six of the Jotnar to cut Caul free, as they did the maddened and wounded Caul thrashed and bit, and so was born the first pack of Shiverfang Hollow, each both blessed and cursed as Caul, their only weakness being the silver of the weapon that first pierced Caul's heart.
Whether or not this is the true birth of lycanthropy in the North or just another local piece of folklore is something that cannot be determined for sure. It is certainly true that a pack of werewloves hunts the mountains west of the Ten Towns led by a great white werewolf, but it is unlikely that such a diverse range of blessings should manifest itself in a form identical to the lycanthropy seen elsewhere in the realms.
Mythic history or no travellers in the Spine should be wary of the pack of wolves that hunts there, reports and rumours about the packs ferocity should not be under estimated. Those who carry symbols of Selune are in particular danger, stories of those individuals being singled out and cursed with the wolf bite then let loose to hunt and destroy their former friends and colleagues before be hunted down themselves by the pack are disturbing.