BB’s mental state:
BB’s drive has always been to prove himself worthy to the tribe who rejected him. He’s finally on top, but with nothing left to prove and no adversaries like Hruggek to spite, he finds himself directionless.
BB duties have left him with more responsibility than he’s ever had, severely limiting his ability to practice music and adventure. His daily routine as a consequence has become more mundane, causing the bard to be terrified of complacency.
Afraid that he’s losing his edge living a comfortable life as a warlord king, BB frequently tries to overcompensate with wild theatrics and unnecessary, impulsive risk-taking. A council meeting might suddenly erupt into song due to BB hiring secret actors to belt out his policy changes. City celebrations might climax with dangerous explosions of fireworks, with BB at ground zero holding the torch. His pathological need to make everything exciting often baffles Shoka and his other advisers.
Leadership Style:
BB’s leadership is nothing short of revolutionary, a radical change from the goblin militarism of day’s past, “the old ways”.
As king, he has decreed the end of the hierarchy that limited his potential, allowing his people to be more than what their caste dictates. It is not uncommon to find a hobgoblin theatre troupe, bugbear construction crews, and goblin corn farmers.
BB views the goblinoids as his family, and wants his citizens to self-actualize as they choose. As such, he has abolished all forms of bondage, eliminated a mandatory draft, and allowed bugbears to form blood family units.
But while BB’s reform may be popular amongst goblins and most bugbears, a sizeable minority of traditionalists (comprised of hobgoblins and some bugbears) has accused BB of trying to destroy their past. The traditionalists claim that their shared warrior culture united the many tribes of the North Beldane Mountains, and that BB’s reforms have hurt their group identity.
BB, however, is resolute in his goal to reshape goblin society, hindered by a refusal to compromise, and an impulse to destroy tradition.
While his attempts to create a sustainable, peaceful society may be admirable, his lack of tact, sharp tongue, and pride has angered those not loyal to him.
Policies:
BB claimed the region of the North Beldane Mountains as the goblin free state of Skald, a sovereign entity independent of the rules of the Shee Empire.
He decreed an end to raiding as a way of life, instituting instead three alternate revenue streams:
- Farming– with the former area of Morith unoccupied, BB has seized it for raising crops. Goblins now primarily grow wheat and corn in this region, donning straw hats and overalls and living in the burned out husks of cottages. Goblin farmers also work the arable land at the base of the mountain range, but tension with the nearby citizens of Hoval (former refugees of Morith) limits the desirability of this work.
- Mining– with bugbears now free to work as non-military labor, mining for precious metals in the mountains has become reliable work for those with the strength and endurance to hack it. Bugbears rich from mining often study to become stone masons, forming construction companies to beautify the bare-bones mountain cities.
- Private Military Companies– those who cannot stand to give up fighting can become officially recognized mercenaries, available on loan to different governments for unpopular or dangerous skirmishes they would not risk their own forces for. Bugbears and hobgoblins are often attracted to this work, approximating a hierarchy much like the old days.
To help facilitate this new economy, trade routes between Skald and the rest of Beldane are established. Goblinoids with the aptitude for trade study abroad in merchant apprenticeships, often creating trade caravans much like the ones they used to raid.
On the whole, curiosity for other cultures is incentivized and rewarded by the King, who often recognizes those who take initiative to learn with official titles and positions.
BB’s Royal Council consists of elected representatives from each race [Mreet (Goblins); Gutwrench, Brainsick, and Ghastly (Bugbears); Shoka and Rohztik (Hobgoblins)] and appointed officials.
Saqqara acts as his envoy, helping to placate the Shee Empire and other entities threatened by a goblin free state.
Such placation may be necessary, as BB often upsets the established order, such as when he declared Shikahn the patron saint of goblins, officially recognizing their worship and bringing about thousands of new converts and followers.
Before they left, Po’Tami suggested that with Sween in an advisory position to the Empress, she can undo the legislation banning the worship of Shikahn, since Belthazar’s policy changes were illegitimate anyway. However, it remains to be seen if the Empress would overlook BB’s repeated slights against the Shee Empire…
(While not quite official policy, BB will pay traveling goblinoids for word of his old friend Yen Hui, mourning the aasimar’s absence…)
Allies:
- Dragon allies (silver, black) – though they are not always concerned with the fate of goblins, being on good terms with nearby dragons is still something to write home about.
- Forktails– BB’s personal guard are a new bugbear-focused tribe, specializing in aerial combat. The Forktails ride allied dragons into battle and are only utilized on special assignments.
- Saqqara- the tiefling is a triple threat, working as an envoy, de facto leader of Hoval, and as a secret member of the Masked Vigil
- Summer Court- though the goblins’ proximity and former ties to the Winter Court strain this partnership, the sidhe nonetheless recognize the importance of nonhuman cooperation, especially in light of the Shee Empire.
- Sween– with her knowledge of Vigil’s criminal underworld, diplomacy skills, and close relationship to the empress, Sween is a valuable contact.
In addition, when BB took power he retained: 90% of the goblins, 75% of the bugbears, and 50% of the hobgoblins.
Enemies:
Beltrok– the First Defector, a vocal critic of BB’s leadership. He left Shokan, taking a minority of the population with him (~20 %) to parts unknown.
Loyalists highly suspect Beltrok will return one day with an army to depose BB. Though Beltrok has not started an insurrection yet, he remains a potent symbol of BB’s unpopularity among traditionalists.
Hobgoblin Elite– While not openly antagonistic to BB’s rule, most of the upper-class hobgoblins are only truly loyal to Shoka and Rohztik, following out of a sense of duty.
These traditionalists believe that they have lost too much power and privilege in the new world order, and that their position no longer commands respect.
They don’t dislike BB enough to leave Skald, but they might try to undermine him wherever they can. Some of the hobgoblin elite might even be silent supporters of Beltrok.
Locations:
Skald- The goblin Free State, a sovereign entity independent of the Shee Empire. Major tribes include the Ice Talons, the Snow Splinters, and the Forktails. Since the war, wild worgs roam the valleys.
Shokan– The capital of Skald, centrally located in the mountains. Bugbear stone masons have set about creating more permanent structures in the city, erecting longhouses, cathedrals, market centers, and a particularly infamous hotel, The Hard Place. Not to be outdone, a troupe of hobgoblin actors has constructed a theatre where they hold weekly performances.
Castle Ivalice– BB’s keep and base of operations in the North Beldane Mountains, acquired from Idana Valeer. A community focal point, it is a center of activity for the citizens of Hoval. The castle is staffed with the former refugees of Morith and Valencis in the guest wing hostels, buying goodwill from the Shee Empire (and deterring possible aggression).
BB and Beatrice hold rowdy, informal parties in the ballroom monthly, dancing raucously to a rotating cast of local musicians (and enchanted instruments). The greenhouse in the east wing houses a community garden grown with Fae magic.
Dizh, the headmaster of the new school of Ivalice, teaches magic and Draconic in publically accessible classes. BB hosts monthly figure drawings in the classroom.
Hoval– A formerly abandoned, Valencis-sized castle town ironically named by Po before leaving. The population consists of the refugees from Morith and Valencis not staffed at Castle Ivalice, as well as a genasi quarter, as per Po’s request.
Saqqara and BB have funded the restoration of Hoval through a combination of bank loans and taxes on Skald. The town is currently sustained through ice-fishing in the nearby frozen lake, and a magically grown cold winter farm.
Due to its proximity to Shokan, Sween has sent teachers to create a multilingual/literacy program, teaching Common to Goblin speakers and Goblin to Common speakers, with additional courses for magic and carpentry.
However, tensions between goblins and residents remain high, as many still recall the destruction caused by Shoka’s former war party.
The Scour- The nickname referring to the lands razed in Shoka’s Rebellion. The region is a mix of scorch marks and reclaimed farm land, with goblin farmers electing to live in the abandoned ghost towns and charred inns that dot the crossroads.
