Bugbear Summer
The name given to a perceived pattern in regional bugbear attacks in the foothills near Covington.
While the foothills of Covington are largely populated by bands of Orcs, Goblins and small tribes of Wild Men, Bugbear attacks are normally uncommon with the exception of Bugbear Summers.
The theory holds that Bugbear raids in the area follow a cycle. Raids and activity will be consistent for about 5-6 years and then sharply decline until for a total period of about 10 years. After that Bugbears are usually not seen in the area for a period of up to over 7-8 years. During this time, bugbear camps will be found abandoned, fewer sightings of them among goblin tribesmen and while occasional tracks or tell tale signs will be found, it appears as if these creatures were simply passing through the area to head deeper into the mountain passes.
After this period Bugbear activity will continue to fall. However at the end of this period the Bugbears return to the area in force, with hundreds of raiding parties begin pouring out of the mountains and into the valleys and foothills below. These bands are almost exclusively made up of late adolescent and young adult males.
They are extremely aggressive and always attack during the Summer months hence the name.
It is unknown as to why this pattern occurs but the Pikemen of Convington have records that confirm this pattern of attacks and silence as one going back at least a century. In these notes wild speculation on bugbear sexual activities is presented in great detail.
Theories abound among the Covingtons about why this occurs. The most common is that Bugbears according to some odd astrological observance pull back their forces deep into the mountain caves and valleys and the various chaotic bands of these beastial creatures hold profane and perverted moot like events.
Where entire tribes will engage in mass group sexual activities with as many partners as possible in order to spark a population boom. As Bugbear cubs mature in about 7-8 years then this would seem to fit these events. this would seemingly explain the pattern of rise in the post orgy years and the decline 5-6 years later as older and craftier Bugbears will hold off on raiding as the time of orgy and excess draws near, thus ensuring that they have access to the most potential mates.
However this is mostly conjecture from the Covintons and no one has ever seen or witnessed or documented such an event. Two small expeditions have set out to find this mass gathering but neither has returned and few would be curious enough or foolhardy enough to go deep enough into the mountain range to find out, as it is said that Bugbears in the throws of animalistic lust do not often discriminate.