When the painted elephants of the Burning Lands feel their steps faltering and their eyesight blurring, they travel to the Elephant Graveyard (43.27) where they gracefully die.
Painted elephants are small – about five feet high at the shoulder – and have four tusks. Their name comes from the brilliantly-colored fur and feathers that cover their hide. They are known to decorate their skin with ochers and clays; the elves report that they are forbidden by ancient pact from approaching an elephant with a white dot on its forehead and white circles around each eye.
The gnolls of the Burning Lands hold the elephants in high esteem. It is taught that if the elephants bury someone beneath moss and dirt as if they were an elephant, that person will enjoy great prosperity in the afterlife – even if they have undergone the heart ritual.
The Great Mother herself has a great ambition to eat an elephant heart.
Connections:
- There are other elephants
- The gnolls believe that the tusks of painted elephants were used to construct Sosaria’s walls; in fact, moon elephant tusks were used.
Hooks:
- Why does she want to eat the heart of an elephant?
- Who wants their afterlife ensured? What causes an elephant to bury someone as if they were an elephant?
- Who will pay for painted ivory?