Urthstripe the Strong, Lord

Gender: male

Species: badger

Appears In: Salamandastron

Mentioned In: Marlfox




Urthstripe is the large Lord of Salamandastron who mainly wields a huge spear with a twin barbed crosstree and leaf-shaped blade. He is the grandson of Urthclaw and Loambudd, orphaned son of Urthound and Urthrun, twin brother of Urthwyte, adoptive father of Mara, and born in the Southwest Lands during autumn. When he is barely a season old he suffers a terrible tragedy when Ferahgo murders both his parents, and the weasel leaves both infants to perish in the upcoming winter. The babes survive but at one point are separated, and he grows up to rule Salamandastron without even being aware of his brother's existence. He is often afflicted by the Bloodwrath and adopts Mara as his own after finding her abandoned on the shore, sometimes calling her "Browneyes" as a nickname. As she becomes a young adult he often argues with her as he can be a bit strict and she dislikes the mountain rules, and their bickering boils over when she brings two vermin (Goffa and Klitch respectively) into the fortress as she thinks they are friends. He demands the two enemies leave at once, causing Mara to get extremely upset and desert with her best friend Pikkle. In her absence Urthstripe finds himself at war with Ferahgo who has come to his home seeking the supposed badger treasure, and it is unknown whether the two recognize each other. He is completely unaware that Mara has found his brother on the island in the middle of the Great Inland Lake but unfortunately the siblings never reunite as, during the final battle, a mortally wounded Urthstripe grabs Feraho and leaps off the side of Salamandastron in a move that kills them both. Mara and the others return moments after this happens, and she tearfully calls his "Father". He is buried beside Brocktree and his belongings are added to the badger treasure. Urthwyte fixes and wears his brother's armour, and succeeds him as Lord.