| “ | The Polar Thunderclaw has been used for centuries by the aboriginal peoples of the Frozen Tundra as sled beasts. The Uruz Tribe, centered in Woden's Bathtub, are particularly fond of Polar Thunderclaws, treating them with almost god-like reverence. They adorn the Thunderclaws' harnesses with semi-precious stones arranged in the form of the stellar constellations that point at the North Star. In their folk tales, Woden's sled rides out on the longest night of the year, pulled by a team of Thunderclaws and delivering gifts of either death or enlightenment to the people of the Barbaric Archipelago. | ” |
| — Dragons: Titan Uprising |
The Uruz Tribe is first mentioned in the game, Dragons: Titan Uprising, specifically in the description of the Polar Thunderclaw. They are one of the Native peoples living in the Frozen Tundra region.
Lifestyle[]
Dragons[]
Unlike the majority of Viking cultures, the Uruz did not have an antagonistic relationship with dragons. They were viewed at the least as animals significant to religious beliefs, as well as useful beasts to everyday living. In particular, the Uruz tamed the Polar Thunderclaw to pull sleds. Harnesses were adorned with jewels to mimic constellations centered around the North Star. Skrill scales are also used as protection charms, presumably due to the difficulty of obtaining the shed objects. It is unknown if the Uruz revered and utilized dragons in other ways, such as a respected food source or as riding animals.
According to the journal writings of Gothi, the Uruz tribe also held Toothless in high esteem. Seemingly on his own, Toothless would help these people from angered dragons, attacks by Dragon Hunters, and other catastrophes.
Belief System[]
The Uruz appear to have a Germanic-based religious system, or at least in part. They do include Woden, a Germanic God who is also synonymous with Odin in Norse Mythology. There are many gods in their pantheon, as noted by Gothi, that could be compared to gods believed in by the Vikings. An individual known as the "Noaide" serves as a shaman for the tribe, bridging the mortal world with the spirit world, keeping traditional stories, and officiating at ceremonies and festivals. There is also mention of a "Great White Bear", which has spiritual significance, but it is unclear as a deity or spiritual animal or some other sacred function.
Mentioned Deities[]
HORAGALLES[]
Horagalles is the god of thunder for the Uruz tribe. Gothi describes him as "a thunder god who could be Thor’s very brother, named ‘Horagalles’". Horagalles is an actual deity of the Sami people in Scandanavia, and is not only a thunder god, but also weather, oceans and lakes, and human health, and is often depicted with a hammer. Some scholars believe there is an entomological connection between Thor and Horagalles.
RANA NEIJTA'[]
Gothi describes Rana Niejta as "a goddess similar to Freja". Indeed, in actuality this deity appears in Sami religion and presides over Spring and fertility, and is responsible for growing greenery to feed reindeer.
WODEN[]
The story involving Thunderclaws relates that Woden's sled is pulled by a team of Thunderclaws during the longest night of the year (this corresponds with Eternal Night or Winter Solstice) to deliver either the gift of enlightenment or the gift of death to all in the Barbaric Archipelago.
Celebrations[]
The Uruz people appear to celebrate the natural coming and going of the seasons, as marked by day length. Gothi experienced a festival of giving thanks to the gods and other benevolent beings for the fall harvest during the Fall Equinox. Woden is also said to appear on the longest night - Winter Solstice - to deliver gifts or death - in a sleigh drawn by Thunderclaws.
Appearances[]
| Games | ||||||||||||
| "Dragons: Rise of Berk": | Mentioned | "School of Dragons": | Absent | |||||||||
| "How to Train Your Dragon": | Absent | "How to Train Your Dragon 2": | Absent | |||||||||
| "DreamWorks Dragons: Wild Skies": | Absent | "DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders": | Absent | |||||||||
| "Dragons: Titan Uprising": | Mentioned | "Dragons Hero Portal": | Absent | |||||||||
| "DreamWorks Dragons: Legends of The Nine Realms": | Absent | |||||||||||
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In the How to Train Your Dragon Book series, the Sea-Known-As-Woden's-Bathtub is flanked by the Meathead Tribe and the Peaceable Tribe.
- In real life, Native Cultures of Arctic and semi-Arctic Europe included the Saami and Finns, as well as other Uralic peoples.
- Uruz is the name of the rune "ᚢ" and can mean aurochs or water.
- The Uruz Tribe was named in the biography for the Polar Thunderclaw. A people living in the same location (Woden's Bathtub) was also mentioned in the description for Fallfest Toothless. Contacting Dragons: Titan Uprising game support confirmed that these peoples refer to the same group.
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