Bring Blorbo was not your usual hobgoblin. While others made a good living off brutish strength and cathartic choras, Blorbo had always steered clear of brutish strength and dependant reliance. Instead, guile, sharp intellect and a very keen instinct at survival guided him. His reputation as “Blorbo the Shrewd” had spread far and near across the realms of Hobgoblins. But his latest adventure-the search for the 25 hobgoblin hides-wouldn’t be easy and would, indeed, try everything that Blorbo had in his raw wits, his better brains and his loyalty.
The Rise of Blorbo
Born in the perilous foothills of Thundermoor, Blorbo learned rapidly that in this type of environment, survival depended more on being wittier than any of his siblings. Most of his early years were devoted to practicing deception, negotiation, and trap-making. Contrary to most of his brother-hobgoblins, Blorbo preferred brain power over crude brawn. In a short space of time, his tactics led to numerous successes and catapulted him to power among the hobgoblin tribes.
It was the tales of the “25 Hobgoblin Hides” that explained clearly to Blorbo what he really wanted. According to such stories, they were enchanted hides and contained pieces in each of them of a long-forgotten magic power, which would make any hobgoblin who owned a piece of it invincible. Nobody knew where the hides were or could be found. Stories were spread that they lay scattered in the darkest recesses of the land.
Blorbo was only going to be tempted so long, he decided, not succumb.
The Legend of the 25 Hobgoblin Hides
Centuries ago, when the world was still soot-stained from the fires of creation, the mightiest hobgoblin warlord, Grawl the Invincible, uncovered the secrets of the hides. Not ordinary skins, these had been enchanted (or damned, depending on the storyteller) by ancient spirits. Absolute control over the hobgoblin tribes was attained with the accumulation of the hides by Grawl.
But greed, as it often does, motivated betrayal. Grawl’s faithful lieutenants, desperate for the magic, turned on him. They murdered the warlord and divided the hides among them all. Each one wanted to hold his share back, so that later, when the need arose, he would unlock all its power. Unluckily, they turned on each other, and the whereabouts of the hides disappeared with the passage of time.
Blorbo knows the lore, but what distinguishes him from all others is that he believes that under one hobgoblin leader, there are indeed hides to be reclaimed and that they can all reunite once again. If Blorbo can bring the hides back, then he will no longer be Blorbo the Sly; he will be king.
The Adventure Opens
Blorbo’s first act of questing was the gathering of a party – warriors, trackers, and mages, all handpicked from various places, because he knew very well that brute force would never suffice. He needed people who could think while on their feet, a show of experience in traversing treacherous territories, and the skills to deal with the arcane challenges that they would face most certainly.
His Companions:
Druzgul the Blade – Druzgul was a battle-seasoned warrior, unmatched in his swordplay. He had been in all of Blorbo’s campaigns and Blorbo had come to rely on him.
Ilara the Shadow – Ilara was the rogue master. She knew how to vanish into thin air-an ability that none of the others were ever able to do. She was aware of traps and ancient ruins-a characteristic that would greatly prove useful.
Lothar the Magician – Being a man, Lothar was one of the few magic users that Blorbo trusted. Since he was a master at unraveling ancient spells and disabling magical traps, he was invaluable on this quest.
Their journey took them through treacherous forests, accursed ruins, and forgotten temples. Each location was a clue to the hides, as well as some deadly trap and ancient guardians who vowed to guard the secrets until eternity.
The First Hide
After a few weeks of searching, they at last found the first hide in the underground caves beneath the Ironspike Mountains. It was bound to a ferocious stone golem by ancient magic. Blorbo’s strategy in battle proved critical — using Ilara’s rogue skills to disable the traps while Lothar kept the golem’s magic at bay.
When the dust settled, Druzgul struck the final blow and there Blorbo stood, clutching the first hide. It was smaller than they had thought it would be, though; but a most peculiar otherworldly energy issued from it.
The markings on the hide were the real treasure, though. There was an ancient script, detailing the locations of the other hides. It was clear that this quest was going to be even more dangerous than they had imagined.
The Betrayal
No account of the hobgoblins is ever true without betrayal, and Blorbo’s tale was no different. After Lothar had been acting steadily more erratic, he finally turned traitor. By stealth, he had been conspiring with a warlord rival who had been angling for the hides to himself. And so it was in the black of the night that Lothar sabotaged their camp and attempted to steal the hides they had collected.
But Blorbo had been prepared for the betrayal. He had paid attention to Lothar and was ready when the mage made his attack. Lothar bolted from the room, shouting that Vrak Bloodclaw, the competing warlord, had been tracking their movements.
With treachery behind him, Blorbo steeled himself. Not only did he have to locate the hides, but he had to locate the hides ahead of Bloodclaw.
The Final Confrontation
After months of searching and fighting for the guardians, Blorbo and his friends had collected 24 of the hides. The last hide was with Vrak Bloodclaw.
The last battle was mounted in the desolate home of Blackrock Keep where Bloodclaw had taken his armies to. It was fierce fighting with each side employing every trick and tactic under the sun and moon. However, Blorbo’s careful planning together with Druzgul’s combat prowess were the deciding factors.
Finally, Blorbo was set against Bloodclaw alone. Power certainly lay on the warlord’s side, but, as before, Blorbo’s guile and resourcefulness would be the victor. With one final blow, Bloodclaw fell and Blorbo took the last of the 25 hides.
The New King
With the hides now in hand, Blorbo became more than a strategist; he was a symbol of unity and strength to the hobgoblins. Magic flowed out from him into the hides, not to control or corrupt, but to guide and protect. Blorbo had done what few thought possible: united the hobgoblin tribes.
So the legend of Bring Blorbo the Shrewd was spread out and told throughout the land, and men talked of him with awe, for he had made it plain that powerfulness stands not in great brawn, but in your wits, strategems, and ability to turn and shift in the teeth of duplicity and peril.
