Bonerattler Tribe
Vicious beasts, a right nuisance, one of many such greenskin tribes that would call the upper regions of the mountains and the endless caverns and warren like cave networks within home. This particular tribe, through sheer accident and ill luck however, they become something of a true regional threat in the Fir-Jeim Crescent Valley, or at the very least a localized threat to nearby villages and trade caravans. They are no great tribe or horde, perhaps numbering sixty to eighty for fighting numbers, yet that is enough to be problematic. Their increased aggression as the spring of 1577 begins however is entirely without warning and without precedent. It seems to the locals in the area that the nearest garrison has chosen to do nothing, or to not percieve this increased activity as worthy of response.
Structure
The Bonerattler Goblin tribe is in a violent, somewhat loose, but vicious power structure, as most greenskin tribes would be. Most of the tribe, around a hundred or so, are either young whom will kill and murder each other for sport and in play as they establish hierarchy over food and standing within the tribe, as well as non-combatant subservient members of the tribe, male and female. These are the goblins whom are weaker and generally seen as unable to be warriors, and are tasked with menial and insulting responsibilities such as cleaning up after the messiest and most promising younglings, feeding them before themselves, and generally being the 'servant class' of the warrens.
The other sixty to eighty are the upper tier of the tribe, the warriors, the hunters, the fighters, the shaman, and of course the chief and his chosen seconds. This structure has a little more stability than the lower hierarchy, though that is still a relative term. The current chief himself came into power by violently assaulting, fighting and butchering the former chief, and then slaughtering any goblin youth whom was supposedly his child. These creatures thrive on violence, like all greenskins, and to them violence is a form of government.
However Chief Sawtooth is a bit more savvy than your average hobgoblin, and is blessed by Iracundia himself. He has insulated his position, creating a small but tight knit elite bodyguard, including two other hobgoblins whom he proved superiority to, but then in a rare show of shrewd goblin mercy, did not kill them for challenging him, but instead offered them honored positions of power as his seconds, and granted them access to his 'hidden special source of power.' These three hobgoblins, known as the Bloody Bone-rattlers by the tribe, are the highest ranking goblins in the structure, with only the tribes two shamans coming remotely close in influence and power.
Below this are the other two hobgoblins, the hunter Sazzik, whom handles keeping the areas around the warrens safe, and the zealot Girgiz, whom is the mate to Virgaz Bonesmasher, the Bloody Bone-rattler entrusted to run the raiding operations. The shamans Iztik and Anzik are split up as well, one deployed to the raiding camps, the other of course kept close in the warrens for 'spiritual guidance'.
Below all this, you have the rest of the tribes warriors and hunters, whom jockey for hierarchy and favor but in general do not really have any notable goblins among their ranks, none whom stand out as exceptional or capable beyond their peers.
The other sixty to eighty are the upper tier of the tribe, the warriors, the hunters, the fighters, the shaman, and of course the chief and his chosen seconds. This structure has a little more stability than the lower hierarchy, though that is still a relative term. The current chief himself came into power by violently assaulting, fighting and butchering the former chief, and then slaughtering any goblin youth whom was supposedly his child. These creatures thrive on violence, like all greenskins, and to them violence is a form of government.
However Chief Sawtooth is a bit more savvy than your average hobgoblin, and is blessed by Iracundia himself. He has insulated his position, creating a small but tight knit elite bodyguard, including two other hobgoblins whom he proved superiority to, but then in a rare show of shrewd goblin mercy, did not kill them for challenging him, but instead offered them honored positions of power as his seconds, and granted them access to his 'hidden special source of power.' These three hobgoblins, known as the Bloody Bone-rattlers by the tribe, are the highest ranking goblins in the structure, with only the tribes two shamans coming remotely close in influence and power.
Below this are the other two hobgoblins, the hunter Sazzik, whom handles keeping the areas around the warrens safe, and the zealot Girgiz, whom is the mate to Virgaz Bonesmasher, the Bloody Bone-rattler entrusted to run the raiding operations. The shamans Iztik and Anzik are split up as well, one deployed to the raiding camps, the other of course kept close in the warrens for 'spiritual guidance'.
Below all this, you have the rest of the tribes warriors and hunters, whom jockey for hierarchy and favor but in general do not really have any notable goblins among their ranks, none whom stand out as exceptional or capable beyond their peers.
Culture
The Bonerattler goblins are fiercely devout followers of Iracundia, the fell power and dark void-god of wrath, slaughter, and violence. They are zealous in their faith, though only a very select few are actually blessed with any gifts for their devotion, for the void-gods are notoriously fickle and distant, seeing mortals as mere playthings.
Their culture, such as it is, thrives on violence and bloodshed, and in typical greenskin fashion, they do not care so much about who's blood is being spilled, as it is all violence and all an offering, in their twisted minds, to their dark god. This is not to say they are without any structure or cultural discipline, as can be seen currently, with the current leader in power, however in most cases they would not be such an organized threat, as though they would launch occassional raiding parties, they would be just as content culling their own numbers rapidly in small bloody civil disputes, or raiding other greenskin tribes in different regions of the mountains.
Their culture, such as it is, thrives on violence and bloodshed, and in typical greenskin fashion, they do not care so much about who's blood is being spilled, as it is all violence and all an offering, in their twisted minds, to their dark god. This is not to say they are without any structure or cultural discipline, as can be seen currently, with the current leader in power, however in most cases they would not be such an organized threat, as though they would launch occassional raiding parties, they would be just as content culling their own numbers rapidly in small bloody civil disputes, or raiding other greenskin tribes in different regions of the mountains.
Public Agenda
Publically their agenda is quite simple, and that is to cut, hack, slash, bleed, wound and kill for their dark god, acquiring trophies, loot, food and gifts for the tribe in the process. However the taking of prisoners in their recent string of raids suggests perhaps a more complex motivation somewhere in the leadership, likely within the chief himself.
Show spoiler
The intention is two fold. Chief Sawtooth wishes to call forth a Void-born creature to serve him, a Skull-Seeker hound, and he needs a notable number of prisoners whom's blood he will spill whilst his shamans attempt to perform this dangerous magick. His other concern however, is interrogation, seeking the source of the Voidstone Powder he so desperately desires for the creation of more elite hobgoblin guardians, for dark rituals, and to utilize perhaps to even create mutated horrors out of some prisoners, dark violent pets for the tribe to use as fodder in war, or as culling and training for warriors.
Assets
The tribe itself actually has collected a few unique trinkets and baubles over the years of their existence, and given they have two shamans, have spread amongst some of their finest hobgoblins the barest smattering of some minor magickal trinkets and items. Their greatest treasure though, is actually the weapon that denotes the chief's standing, a dwarven war-axe which Sawtooth wields in both hands, treating it like a battle-ax, taken from a dead adventurer many seasons ago by the old chief. The old chief killed this dwarf and took the ax, an enchanted weapon of notable power, for his own, making it his badge of office, a tradition Sawtooth has been more than happy to keep, given the power of the weapon.
They also have a small worg pack that lives near the warrens and willingly works with them, given that Chief Sawtooth has beaten and taken command of the alpha, a Frost Worg known as Snarl that the chief would and will ride in battle, or fight alongside should the warrens be invaded.
The tribe has little use for gold, though they know if you take enough of the stuff, you may incite a response, such as bands of mercenaries or soldiers searching for the raiders or their warrens, and in their warped violent minds, that is the best use of the stuff, so they've merely kept it tucked away in a cave within the warren, slowly building up the amount.
They also have a small worg pack that lives near the warrens and willingly works with them, given that Chief Sawtooth has beaten and taken command of the alpha, a Frost Worg known as Snarl that the chief would and will ride in battle, or fight alongside should the warrens be invaded.
The tribe has little use for gold, though they know if you take enough of the stuff, you may incite a response, such as bands of mercenaries or soldiers searching for the raiders or their warrens, and in their warped violent minds, that is the best use of the stuff, so they've merely kept it tucked away in a cave within the warren, slowly building up the amount.
Cut the flesh, bleed the meat! Take their skulls, a trophy treat!
Type
Geopolitical, Tribe
Leader
Location
Notable Members
Related Species
Overall a good article. The links to the goblin and hobgoblin articles were behind multipass, so you may possibly make some use of the sidebar to explain the difference. That may also be a good spot to put a blurb about Voidstone Powder.
The links are that way cause I haven't written those articles yet. Sadly I have come down with pneumonia and all creative work has been halted for the last 2 or so weeks, as I am having a very hard time fighting it off. They are drafts and I do intend to make them once recovered, its on the to do list. Same with Voidstone Powder. Thank you very much for taking the time to read, I appreciate it :)