Her rage is unrivaled, and so is her love of a warm baked potato. She’s Holga Kilgor, barbarian of the Uthgardt Elk Tribe! Michelle Rodriguez plays the warrior with a heart of gold in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Her war cry is as fierce as the fiery axe she swings, but looks can be deceiving. She’s a softie inside when it comes to her family.

Origin Story

Most barbarians in Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition hail from a tribe, and Holga is no exception. She’s a human who grew up among the members of the Uthgardt Elk Tribe. She never intended to leave her people, but fate had other plans in store for Holga Kilgor. She fell in love with a man from outside her tribe. She was banished by her family because of their forbidden love and forced out of the only home she had ever known. And after all that, the relationship didn’t even work out. Is it any wonder that Holga is filled with Rage at the world?

The intimidating barbarian, now a wanderer, eventually crossed paths with Edgin Darvis (portrayed by Chris Pine) the moment they each needed a friend the most. The two became a found family – and literal partners in crime – and Holga finally had a place to call home again.

Barbarian Characteristics

Barbarians typically aren’t solitary nomads by nature, so when creating your character, consider what might have made them leave their tribe behind. Were they exiled, like Holga? Perhaps they’re seeking their fortune not for themselves, but for their friends and family back home. Whatever brought them to new lands far from their tribe, think about how your barbarian character would react to new cultures and the people they meet in the wider world – especially the adventuring party.

These warriors aren’t like knights or other heavily armored fighters. Barbarians wear light or medium armor, like Holga’s fur-trimmed leather chest plate, breeches, and boots. They frequently bear the tattoos of their tribe on their body to mark their loyalty.

While the axe is a typical barbarian’s weapon of choice, it’s their rage that defines them. When a barbarian like Holga goes into a rage during combat in D&D, they gain advantage on Strength checks and saving throws, get a bonus to the damage they deal with their melee weapon, and are more resistant to certain Damage Types.

Creating Your Own Barbarian Like Holga

Ready to pick up an axe? Modeling your barbarian after Holga is almost as straightforward as she is. Barbarians often have their highest ability score in Strength with Constitution as their second highest. If you are following in Holga’s footsteps, consider making Constitution your highest ability score and Strength second; Holga can really take a hit!

A barbarian’s rage can come from a range of different sources. All barbarians pick the path that led to theirs when they reach 3rd level. Choose the Path of the Berserker to dive headfirst into the fury of battle. Driven by their emotions, these barbarians go into a frenzy while their rage is at its peak. They’re highly intimidating, just like Holga, and can frighten someone with just their presence.

Holga comes from the Uthgardt Tribe, which has its own Background in the Sword Coast’s Adventurer’s Guide. (Alternatively, you can choose the Outlander Background in the Player’s Handbook to give your character a detailed history in a different tribe.) The Uthgardt people live in the cold north and have Proficiency in Athletics and Survival. The Elk people in particular have a reputation for being aggressive and brusque. They are big game hunters, and some can be wary of magic and spellcasting. The Sword Coast’s Adventurer’s Guide details more characteristics and traditions of the skilled warriors in the Uthgardt Elk Tribe.

Edgin and Holga have been platonic partners for years. Their complementary skills make them a perfect pair for a quick heist or getting out of a scrape when the aforementioned heist goes awry. When something much bigger is at stake, can Holga harness her boundless rage to save her family – and the world?

Stat Block
 
Ready to add Holga from Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves to your D&D game as a sidekick or NPC, or maybe clash weapons with her? Here’s one suggestion for adding the party’s stoic barbarian to your next session.

Holga the Barbarian
 
Medium humanoid (human), chaotic good
 
Armor Class 14 (hide armor)
Hit Points 93
Speed 40 ft.
 
STR 16 (+3) DEX 14 (+2) CON 15 (+2) INT 9 (-1) WIS 13 (+1) CHA 11 (+0)
 
Saving Throws Str +6, Con +5
Skills Athletics +6, Survival +4
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages: Common
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) 

Danger Sense. Holga has advantage on DEX saving throws against effects that she can see while not blinded, deafened, or incapacitated.
 
Multiattack. Holga makes two attacks when taking the Attack action on her turn.
 
Reckless. At the start of her turn, Holga can gain advantage on all melee weapon attack rolls during that turn, but attack rolls against her have advantage until the start of its next turn. 
 
Actions
 
Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d12 + 3) slashing damage. 
 
Bonus Actions
 
Rage. In battle, Holga fights with primal ferocity. This grants advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws, +2 melee damage with STR weapons, and resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage. The duration is 1 minute.