Grit

> *"I got a contract for y'all."* -Grit, providing the players with a way to make some money
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## Summary

Grit is a goblin ruler of a goblin town, under a hill in the Lime Forest. He also has strong connections to the town of Limestown after Gorbo, Kromus, and Victor liberated the town from the tyrannical rule of Tirrius Warren. After the defeat of Tirrius Warren, Grit got his son Kai back from the tyrant.

## Runt

Runt was born to a small goblin family in the badlands, with seven other siblings to compete with for food. Furthermore, he was the smallest of the litter, making it harder for him to compete. Slowly, Runt grew weaker and weaker on his empty belly. This would have been the end for Runt if he was not so cunning. Collecting sticks, rocks, and resin, Runt was able to make a dangerous slingshot. Hiding this weapon from his family, Runt was sneakily able to snipe several small birds and rodents. He hid these morsels in his hidden food stash.

Over time, Runt became an incredibly good shot with the slingshot, and had amassed a considerable stash. He was still the smallest in the family, but far from being the hungriest. In fact, because the rest of the family relied on spears, they were finding it difficult to catch anything. Although his family were not the smartest goblins in the gene pool, they could still recognize that Runt seemed to always be well-fed. Working out that Runt must have something keeping him fed, they came to the logical goblin conclusion to eat him. So, together the family conspired against Runt. One day, when Runt was returning from a hunt, they put ambushed him. His brothers and sisters grabbed his limbs, his mother and father readied their spears. Terrified, Runt caved, and told them about his secret stash. Pleased, the family dropped Runt to the floor and asked him to lead them to his stash. He did so, and the family laughed at Runt, proclaiming that they would have a grand feast. First they would eat his his stash, and then they would eat *him*. Yet Runt was not afraid.

When all the family had finished every last morsel in the stash, they grinned at Runt- who would be their next meal. Yet when the family tried to stand up, they could not. Runt moved away from the campfire. Confused, the family tried to turn their heads to look at Runt, but they were not able. Runt returned holding a small knife, and calmly walked towards his family. Runt's family tried to yell at him, but they were not able to. Runt slit the throat of his first sibling, letting the blood slowly pool into the ground. That sibling would have screamed if it were able. Terrified, the family realized what Runt had done. He had poisoned his own stash with a kind of paralyzing poison. This was the last thought that ran through their minds before Runt nonchalantly slit the throats of his family. Runt may have lost his stash of rodents and birds that day, but he had eliminated his nearby competition for food...

...And gained a new stash of goblin meat.

## Caravans

With this newfound bounty, Runt set off to explore. He figured that not everywhere could be as harsh as his birthplace. It might be through that all he knew about the world was the place where he grew up- but this was not wholly true. On Runt's journeys out for food, he had seen various caravans come and go from the badlands. On some nights he would sneak as close he could to them- not to steal anything, but just to listen. Although the various travelers did not speak his language, he picked up some key words and phrases in the common tongue. Words like "water", "fire", "rock", "horse", and some others came easy. In Runt's exploration, he came across plenty of other caravans, although he steered clear of them.

Eventually, he came across a group of goblins attacking an innocent medical caravan. Angry at his own species, Runt let his slingshot fire, caving in the skull of one of the goblins. Soon, all of the goblins had been eliminated by the sharp-eyed skills of Runt. However, when Runt examined the caravan, all the people inside had been torn apart. Although saddened, the goblin sharpshooter did not want to waste the resources. The medical caravan contained various items that became highly useful to Runt. Humanoid clothing. A plague doctor's mask. Several medical herbs. Bandages and wraps. And most useful, a map of the area. It seemed the caravan was heading towards a small frontier town. Unfortunately, Runt could not read, and was not able to understand the rest of the map. He set off on foot, making his best efforts to follow the map. It was not before long that he found himself at the outskirts of the same small town. Realizing that the town was probably not the nicest to goblins, he donned the humanoid clothes and plague mask, covering any exposed skin with the medical wraps. With everything covered up, he made his way into the town, looking like a strange hofflin doctor. Nobody batted an eye.

## Playing the Fool

And so the small doctor made his way into town. Immediately, he began to think he was out of his depth. Someone tipped their hat to him and said something to him in common, which he did not understand. Racing through the possibilities, Runt simply gave a nod back. It seemed to suffice. Another individual said something to him, and Grit discerned it was a greeting- and said it back. The individual seemed pleased. Runt continued this formula of nodding and greeting to anyone who greeted him first.

The town was dusty and sunbeaten, with only a handful of buildings. The remaining structures all seemed to be caravans. In the centre of the town was a single post with a small creature chained to it. Gingerly, Runt approached the post. He was curious to see what this creature was. Walking a decent radius around the pole and keeping his distance from the creature, Runt could identify it as a goblin. Somebody had given it a shirt, trousers, and a hat. It looking like it was sleeping with the hat placed on top of its head and its hands bound. Runt took a step closer, and was suddenly aware at how fast his heart was beating. Another goblin? In a town of *people*? Suddenly, the goblin jerked forwards, startling Runt, who immediately drew his slingshot and prepared a shot. The goblin smiled at him.

> "Hello, my friend"
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It spoke to Runt in goblin. Runt was unsure how to respond.

> "My friend, do not be afraid. I am Zool. Lower your weapon."
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Begrudgingly, Runt complied with the request of Zool, but he still kept a healthy distance.

> "Why are you chained, Zool?"
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Zool's smile widened.

> "Why I have chained myself here, little friend, to spy on these people. In this town, people kill all goblins on sight. All except for me. Nobody can bring themselves to kill a jester while he jokes. They love a joker, they feed me, bring me gifts, they jest with me, dance with me. They think I am their fool, but they are the ones being fooled."
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Runt's eyes grew wide. A goblin spy? For whom? And why? He was bursting with questions.

> "Who are you spyi-"
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The fool put a finger to his lips.

> "Not here, my little friend. I can take you to my friends. But you will need to trust me."
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Runt pondered. Could he trust this goblin? He had only just met him- there was no way of knowing if he was luring him into a trap... Runt shook his head. It did not matter now. He had weaseled his way out of being killed by goblins before, he could do it again if worst came to worst. He felt his knife and poison.

> "Take me with you then."
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Zool stood up as if his chains were not there, hushing his voice.

> "You will need to follow all of my instructions as to not raise suspicion. First, pick up the chain by my right foot. Walk in front of me and lead me along. I'll speak directions in goblin to you, and talk away any curious individuals in the common tongue. Ready, my friend? Good. Let us begin."
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## Meeting MacGregor

And so our two goblins slowly shuffled through town, weaving through streets and backalleys until Zool came to a stop at an orange door.