Wulfgar

Lore & Background

As a youth, Wulfgar was the flag bearer for King Heafstaag of the Elk Tribe. After being captured during an invasion of Ten-Towns, Bruenor Battlehammer spared his life in exchange for five years and a day of servitude. During this time, Wulfgar learned to forge and fought alongside dwarves, developing immense strength. With Drizzt Do'Urden's training, he killed the white dragon Icingdeath (Ingeloakastimizilian), earning the title Dragonsbane, and defeated King Heafstaag in combat to become the tribe's leader. He fell in love with Catti-brie, Bruenor's adopted daughter. After a rift caused by false rumors of her infidelity orchestrated by Regis (who was actually Artemis Entreri), Wulfgar attacked Drizzt but stopped upon remembering their friendship. During a rescue mission to Menzoberranzan, he sacrificed himself by causing a ceiling to collapse on a yochlol to save Catti-brie, leading his companions to believe he was dead. He was resurrected after fan demand in 'Passage to Dawn' and found that the demon Errtu had brought him from the Abyss; he suffered torture and mental anguish before leaving the Companions. He descended into alcoholism at a tavern called the Cutlass, became the lover of Delly Curtie, and faced false accusations of attempted murder against Captain Deudermont. After being pardoned and banished, he traveled with Morik the Rogue and eventually found sobriety after witnessing an act of courage by Auckney's king's wife. He reunited with his friends to reclaim his warhammer, Aegis-fang, from the pirate Sheila Kree, and later joined Bruenor in the search for Gauntlgrym.

In Their Own Story

Wulfgar began as a young flag bearer for King Heafstaag until he was swept off his feet by Bruenor Battlehammer during an invasion of Ten-Towns. Instead of execution, he served Bruenor for five years and a day, working at the forge and learning from dwarves. Drizzt Do'Urden taught him to fight as his sentence ended. Wulfgar then killed the white dragon Icingdeath with Drizzt's help, defeated King Heafstaag in single combat, and led his tribe to aid Ten-Towns. After a period of estrangement caused by deception regarding Catti-brie, he sacrificed his life to save her from a yochlol in Menzoberranzan. Resurrected and rescued from the demon Errtu's torture, he wandered North, struggling with alcoholism at the Cutlass tavern where he met Delly Curtie. After being falsely accused of attacking Captain Deudermont and banished, he traveled with Morik the Rogue, found redemption through an act of courage by a king's wife in Auckney, reclaimed his warhammer from pirate Sheila Kree, and eventually rejoined Bruenor to search for Gauntlgrym.

Reader's Guide

Wulfgar is defined by his transition from a captured flag bearer to a tribe leader and a member of the Companions of the Hall. His physical description includes being roughly 7 ft 0 in tall with blond hair, blue eyes, and arms thicker than a fat dwarf's thighs. Key events include his five-year servitude to Bruenor, the slaying of Icingdeath, the defeat of King Heafstaag, his sacrificial death against a yochlol, his resurrection after being tortured by Errtu, his struggles with alcoholism at the Cutlass, and his journey to reclaim Aegis-fang from Sheila Kree. His relationships evolved from captor-servant with Bruenor, to student-mentor with Drizzt, to lover-partner with Catti-brie (and later Delly Curtie), and eventually back to friend with the Companions.

Did You Know?

• Wulfgar was originally intended to be the protagonist of a novel series set in the Moonshae Isles before the setting changed to Icewind Dale, at which point Drizzt Do'Urden was created as his sidekick.
• Wulfgar crushed the head of King Heafstaag like a melon with his bare hands while resisting a spine-shattering bear hug from the king.
• Fans requested Wulfgar's resurrection in 'Passage to Dawn' despite author R.A. Salvatore's initial argument against bringing him back, leading to his return where he had been tortured by the demon Errtu.