Urthstripe the Strong



Urthstripe the Strong was a Badger Lord and the protagonist of the book Salamandastron. He was an orphan, his parents killed by the evil Ferahgo the Assassin, weasel plunderer. Urthstripe became the Badger Lord, and was unaware of his twin brother's existence until his last moment. Urthstripe was a fighter, and tried to raise Mara, a young badger girl, but he was just not a parent. Urthstripe could only think of war, and when Mara returned with Klitch, a weasel, and Goffa, a ferret, Urthstripe went mad with her and threatened to lock her in her room. But Mara got furious with him and ran away. Urthstripe was a stern and imposing but gentle ruler, and despite being angry with his hares, he forgave anyone who was good with him. Urthstripe prepared Salamandastron for war with Ferahgo. He almost got captured by Ferahgo in the battle, and was caught in a net. But he broke out. Urthstripe was almost poisoned by Farran the Poisoner, but he told his hares of the danger. Urthstripe and Ferahgo had many battles round the mountain. His final confrontation came high on the mountain peak itself. Urthstripe locked his paws with Ferahgo and as they battled, he suddenly saw his twin brother, Urthwhyte, (named because he had no stripes) approach the mountain. Knowing who he was, and who the mysterious phantom badger had been in his dreams, Urthstripe decided to avenge his parents' deaths, having suddenly got his memories back, and he drove Ferahgo and himself off the high mountain, killing them both.