Page 82 - Ultimate-Bestiary-Revenge-of-the-Horde-5E

Culture Children are raised communally, o en becoming the responsibility
of a lower ranking individual angling for a promotion, until they
Slaves are the true measure of an individual’s worth in hobgoblin are ve years of age. At this point they are segregated from other
culture, and exist in two distinct castes; schett personal slaves, and members of society and undergo a brutal system of training known
schaaf the lower, public slaves. as Kraachka; ‘the forging’. Youngsters are divided into units of ten,
Personal slaves are the property of the o cer who captured them, grouping together strangers where possible. ese units go through
and are expected to carry out tasks unbe tting of a warrior, such the forging together, swearing loyalty as one, and answerable as
as writing and carrying missives, stitching clothes, tending to res one. Soldiers-in-training are intentionally underfed to acclimate
and carrying supplies. While treatment of personal slaves di ers them to the possibility of starvation while on campaign, and to
from o cer to o cer, it is uncommon for them to be treated any encourage them to use their cunning if they want a full belly.
better than cattle. Some enjoy doling out severe beatings for minor Stealing is expected, but any caught doing so will be punished
(or invented) o enses, others like to organize gladiatorial games, severely along with the rest of the unit. ey are trained to take
and some show little interest in their property. While the latter these beatings without showing pain or weakness.
may seem optimal for the slaves in question, disinterest can prove A er ten years of drilling, and spending winters out in the
deadly if the master doesn’t bother to apply for their food rations.
wilderness with only their wits to warm themselves, the students
Public slaves vastly outnumber hobgoblins in any settlement, and take the nal test Graat, ‘the anvil’; a militia is raised from the
occupy every non-military role needed; they tend to livestock, strongest slaves and, armed, armored and commanded by their
work the mines, and carry out the bulk of the hard labor needed to masters, a war is declared against the young hobgoblins. Given
maintain defenses. ey lead miserable lives, and the hobgoblins basic supplies and a day’s head start, they must emerge victorious,
do all they can to stamp out any spark of resistance. It is common, or the survivors must take their place among the slaves.
for example, for a slave to have a set number of beatings a month,
regardless of wrongdoing, and even to ‘declare war’ for a few days Environment
each year, during which time no hobgoblin will face punishment Hobgoblins have a profound impact on their environment. Once
for killing a slave. they establish a base, they will move outwards like a plague of
Hobgoblin females of high rank generally see it as their duty to ravenous insects, stripping all resources from the land if given
pass on their evidently strong genes to the next generation and the the opportunity. A er months or years, the army will depart with
di culties of ghting whilst pregnant usually keep them out of its spoils, leaving in its wake desolate elds and dry riverbeds;
active service. Unlike most non-combatants though, high-ranking wastelands to be picked over by feral dogs, carrion birds, and the
females are still awarded a great deal of respect (dependent on their desperate few survivors not marched away in chains.
previous martial reputation). Wars have been fought and kingdoms
have been sacked as dowries for particularly desirable females.

81 81
Chapter 4: HobgoblinsChapter 4: Hobgoblins