Sgorr

**Sgorr** is a red deer and the antagonist of *Fire Bringer*.

## Appearance

Sgorr is a seven year old, antlerless / hornless / hummel Red Deer . He has one single right eye, his left being an empty socket, closed up by a deep scar that runs straight across his left scent gland. He has stumps of bone on his head where the antlers fail to grow, and long front teeth.

## Story

Sgorr is the leader of the Draila, most feared, and Drail's second in command.  He is not a birth member of the Home Herd, and appeared just 3 summers before from over the northern hills. He arrived asking for pasture, and had been wounded in one eye and claimed to have lost touch with his home herd after being attacked by a wolf. Brechin could see he was clever and immediately opposed his entry to the herd. Many dark rumors had already grown up around him. Some said he had a terrible secret, others that he had made a pact with the forest god and had been driven out of his own herd for treachery. Some even said he had broken the oldest law of all and had spent time in the company of men.

He rapidly won Drail’s confidence and promoted far beyond his years. As Drail aged and became more lame, Sgorr played on his fears of being ousted and came up with the notion of the Draila two seasons before, and personally masterminded its creation, choosing and grooming young stags himself, cleverly spying out the most discontented members of the corps and promoting them rapidly.

At the meeting, Sgorr stands beside Drail and challenges and belittles Brechin for his lack of respect. After Drail announces he, Sgorr, and the Draila have decided to abolish Anloch, Sgorr sneers at Brechin's challenges, and the Outriders are attacked and killed. Afterwards, Sgorr reports the conditions of the Draila and Corps members, and how Bandach, Spey, and Salen escaped, but will be caught. He is gratified to see how displeased Drail is at Brechin's brave fight. Drail then orders Sgorr to go get Eloin and kill her fawn.

Sgorr is pleased with the night's success as he heads for Eloin. His own position in the herd is secure, and he thinks Drail an old fool who won't last long. Soon he will be Lord of Herds, and a hornless stag at that. He's bitter as he remembers the days of humiliation when his antlers first failed, before he had been driven out of his herd. He thinks it fate he stumbled on this herd, and wonders where he would be without the gullible Drail. Sgorr is confused as he thinks of Eloin, as she is the closest thing he has come to loving. He bitterly thinks she would never want to stand with him, a one eyed antlerless deer. He thinks he'll have his revenge on her calf for his ugliness.

Sgorr reaches Eloin, who is angry and rude towards him for what he has done. He is disappointed, having hoped to deliver the news himself. He is pleased to hear she would rather die than stand with Drail, for in his twisted mind he thinks it impossible for her not to be drawn to the Lord of Herds. When he proposes her being with him after a time, Eloin is in disbelief and says she'd rather stand with Drail than him in 10 thousand years. Sgorr winces at the insult and then asks to see her fawn. Eloin refuses before standing aside, and Sgorr is disgusted to see it is stillborn, unaware her fawn was swapped with Bracken's. After the Draila threaten Blindweed, Bhreac, Bracken, and Rannoch, Eloin agrees to go with Sgorr to Drail.

Sgorr, being antlerless, normally probably would have won no mates, but chooses seven hinds at anlach, who are forced to stay near him at the Home Oak. When stories of Drail are told to fawns in the new schools, they often include some stirring reference to Sgorr. He is able to tell that Blindweed is covering up something about a fawn with a oak leaf mark, and tells Drail that while he does not believe in the Prophecy, others might, and this stag could pose a threat. Drail orders Sgorr to find him, and when Sgorr suggests killing all the yearling bucks, he is glad when Drail agrees. Sgorr thinks if Drail acts blindly against the fawns, he would have the perfect opportunity to spark a revolt and take his place.

## Trivia

* The only way Sgorr knows how to smile is by baring his teeth
* None of Sgorr's hinds have ever calved

#### References

1. ↑ Fire Bringer, page 15
2. ↑ Fire Bringer, page 15
3. ↑ Fire Bringer, page 50
4. ↑ Fire Bringer, page 81
5. ↑ Fire Bringer, page 197
6. ↑ Fire Bringer, page 15
7. ↑ Fire Bringer, page 30
8. ↑ Fire Bringer, pages 10 and 15
9. ↑ Fire Bringer, page 15
10. ↑ Fire Bringer, chapter 4
11. ↑ Fire Bringer, page 41
12. ↑ Fire Bringer, page 188