Page 96 - Ultimate-Bestiary-Revenge-of-the-Horde-5E

Gatkarn Akra to death for dropping his spear while taking it away for sharpening.
Tarak always ran low on slaves. Leaving the harsh discipline of the
Order is the central tenant of the hobgoblin creed; if a rigid tribe, he and his lieutenants quickly spiraled away from any self-
adherence to the letter of the law is what’s needed, few do it better. control over their baser impulses.
ose that live under their rule can expect them to be consistent,
if nothing else. It is, however, uncommon for them to be found Over the years, the Jaashk Takana have branched out culturally,
enforcing the laws of others, with the exception of ‘ e Keepers of accepting any outcast or degenerate with bloodlust to slake, as long
the Peace’, the Gatkarn Akra. as they follow Tarak’s orders, which most are happy to do given
that his orders usually involve hurting something. e captains of
ese city-dwelling hobgoblins were originally brought in to the company includes such distinguished characters as Orzag the
augment the guard as an unconventional, and somewhat desperate, Gallows, an orc who o en forgoes weapons in favor of strangling
gambit, to quell a faction of dissidents threatening to erupt into a his enemies to death, Mad Mezzik, a goblin whose obsession
citywide rioting mob. A er a few weeks of violent clashes, and a and skill with blowing things up cost him a hand and most of
few well-placed executions, the dissenters were cowed and order his former troop, Black-Eyes the okiti, who enjoys observing the
restored. e Gatkarn Akra enjoyed this comfortable, stable life e ects of his poisons on those who may or may not have useful
with its ample opportunities to exercise their authority so much information, and Gitizi the Carrion Queen, a gnoll with a love of
so that the majority stayed on a er the terms of their original setting loose and hunting down captives with her pack of half-
contract. Under the command of Graggar, a hobgoblin tending starved hyenas.
towards portliness with his new, more sedentary lifestyle, a new
contract was drawn up, allowing the Gatkarn Akra to stay on to e Jaashk Takana have more than earned the horri c reputation
assist the guard with their long term duties. that goes before them, and even the threat or rumor of their
employment to a cause can be enough to force a surrender from
Gradually, the Gatkarn Akra started taking over more and more a rival; few disputes are worth the possibility of going up against
duties of the guard, to the point where now only a few, fairly them and losing. e truth is that most of those who threaten to
embittered, guardsmen remain. e hobgoblins do their duty with hire their services during petty spats amongst nobles or border
great enthusiasm, and crime rates are at an all-time low, hardly a disputes would never dare approach them, knowing that trusting
surprise when those outside out of curfew are beaten half to death, this group of mad dogs to a task requiring any level of control
and the hands of every known thief decorate the market square. would be foolish. However, in times of full-scale war, when chaos
e people of the city o en complain about the decline of the
e people of the city o en complain about the decline of the and fear need to be sown amongst the enemy, none are better at
taverns (though never within earshot of the peacekeepers), and their cra than the Jaashk Takana.
taverns (though never within earshot of the peacekeepers), and
day to day life has certainly taken a turn for the dull a er most of
day to day life has certainly taken a turn for the dull a er most of
the city’s popular musicians and entertainers were driven out over
the city’s popular musicians and entertainers were driven out over
charges of public disturbance and lewd conduct.
What came as a surprise to the people were the Gatkarn Akra’s
What came as a surprise to the people were the Gatkarn Akra’s
reforms to the upper classes, who the hobgoblins simultaneously
reforms to the upper classes, who the hobgoblins simultaneously
policed as thoroughly as the rest; under hobgoblin rules, the upper
policed as thoroughly as the rest; under hobgoblin rules, the upper
ranks are allowed some perks and a greater allowance of slaves,
ranks are allowed some perks and a greater allowance of slaves,
but nowhere near the disparity common among other races. Any
but nowhere near the disparity common among other races. Any
traces of corruption were weeded out and dealt with as harshly
traces of corruption were weeded out and dealt with as harshly
as any other the with no exceptions made for rank, and wealth
as any other the with no exceptions made for rank, and wealth
was distributed more evenly. is ‘fairness’ has molli ed some
was distributed more evenly. is ‘fairness’ has molli ed some
of the common folk, but the constant suspicion and threat of the
of the common folk, but the constant suspicion and threat of the
hobgoblin presence outweighs this grim satisfaction for most. With
hobgoblin presence outweighs this grim satisfaction for most. With
hedonism ousted by authoritarian law and order, many individuals
hedonism ousted by authoritarian law and order, many individuals
from all echelons of society, though safer in their homes, grow
from all echelons of society, though safer in their homes, grow
weary of their humorless overseers.
Jaashk Takana
e Jaashk Takana (‘Broken Spears’) began as a mercenary force
e Jaashk Takana (‘Broken Spears’) began as a mercenary force
m
made up of hobgoblins from many tribes ejected for whateverade up of hobgoblins from many tribes ejected for whatever
r reason from hobgoblin society. Some were branded as cowardseason from hobgoblin society. Some were branded as cowards
f for retreating from impossible odds without a direct order, someor retreating from impossible odds without a direct order, some
fought and killed rivals outside of a properly sanctioned duel,ought and killed rivals outside of a properly sanctioned duel,
f
some were wounded and le behind as the army moved on. Each
some were wounded and le behind as the army moved on. Each
has their own story, but every one of them winds their
Jaa’Kana has their own story, but every one of them winds their
way through the world, sometimes alone, sometimes in smaller
way through the world, sometimes alone, sometimes in smaller
companies, until they nd their way to the Jaashk Takana.
e company’s commander, Tarak, le his tribe a er leading his
e company’s commander, Tarak, le his tribe a er leading his
unit to attack a village, rather than the outpost he was ordered to.
unit to attack a village, rather than the outpost he was ordered to.
Tarak needed to replenish his stock of slaves a er torturing his last
Tarak needed to replenish his stock of slaves a er torturing his last
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Chapter 4: Hobgoblins