Cragmaw Clan

The Cragmaw Clan, a notorious and aggressive tribe of goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears, is infamous throughout the northern reaches of the Sword Coast for its brutal raids and cunning ambushes. This clan derives its name from the barbaric custom of its warriors to snap the jaws of their enemies during combat, a savage practice that both intimidates their foes and solidifies their fearsome reputation. Originally nomadic, the Cragmaw tribe settled in the strategically advantageous ruins of Cragmaw Castle, using it as a base to expand their control and influence across the region. They also established a temporary outpost known as Cragmaw Hideout, which they used to ambush travelers using Triboar Trail between the Long Road and the High Road, with specific orders to capture Gundren Rockseeker. Cragmaw Hideout was under the leadership of Klarg who let it slip through his fingers when the Owl Friends adventuring party cleared its halls.
Their aggressive tactics and ruthless leadership under King Grol have enabled them to dominate smaller goblinoid groups and exert considerable influence in the local area, making them a significant threat to the burgeoning settlements and trade routes near Neverwinter and Phandalin.
King Grol, the formidable bugbear chieftain of the Cragmaw Clan, is a brutal and cunning leader whose strength and ferocity are unmatched within his tribe. Ascending to power through sheer force and strategic eliminations of rivals, he has cemented his rule with an iron fist, fostering loyalty and fear in equal measure among his subjects. Under his leadership, the Cragmaw Clan has grown more organized and ambitious, engaging in more strategic raids and even negotiating with powerful dark forces to enhance his tribe’s power. His rule is marked by his ambitions to not just lead but expand the tribe’s influence, which he pursues through alliances and the strategic use of hostages and treasure to manipulate other powers within and beyond the region. His governance, though marred by the typical chaos of goblinoid leadership, has brought a terrifying order to the Cragmaw’s operations, making them a formidable power in the northern Sword Coast.

Type

Geopolitical, Clan