Hobgrot
 | |
| Grand alliance | Destruction |
| Associated factions | Kruleboyz Orruk Warclans |
| Languages | Orrukish Tongues Traditional Language of the Hobgrots |
| Type | Mortal |
Hobgrots are greenskins a bit bigger than most grots but smaller than orruks.[1] While there are stories of entire hobgrot empires, they are most infamous for acting as intermediaries between Chaos-worshipping duardin and orruks, particularly Kruleboyz. The orruks get duardin-forged weapons and other materiel, the duardin get orruk-captured slaves, and the hobgrots make sure everything moves between the other two parties and skim a bit off the top for their trouble.[1]
Origins
The precise origin of the Hobgrots remains a mystery, what is known is only the story the Hobgrots tell themselves. Back in the Age of Myth, the great, double-headed god of the Greenskins Gorkamorka split into the twin gods Gork and Mork. One renown for his brutality, while the later is known for his cunning.
Both gods found themselves at war with each other, they fought not alone, but alongside their green-skinned followers. One of the followers of Mork were the Greenskins that would later be known as Hobgrots. Materialistic even back then, they offered to Gork to betray Mork, in exchange for adequate compensation.
Gork was disgusted by their profiteering ways and turned his back on them, draining their skin of their green hue. Yet, not all was lost. Mork blessed them with enough smarts to hoard every bit of power that they can get their hands on, and to outsmart any simple brute they come across. He also made them aware of their outcast status, instilling a sense of barbaric nihilism into them.[4a]
Physiology
Compared to their greenskin cousins, hobgrots resemble grots more than orruks, with large, floppy ears and a generally weedy physique. However, like orruks, they have prominent tusks jutting from their lower jaws.[1]
Behaviour
Hobgrots are more dextrous and organized than most grots (for what little that's worth) and even more spiteful. They also generally can be trusted to remain composed when stressed or in battle, unlike their smaller cousins.[2] They also tend to be better at diplomacy and negotiation due to their constant trading.[3]
Hobgrots, unlike their Orruk cousins, dont enjoy fighting. If they go to battle, it is to satisfy their materialistic urges. Be it to take loot from the battlefield, or in exchange for payment as mercenaries.[4a] Hobgrots often fight alongside Kruleboyz. While both sides despise each other, they keep their antipathy in check for the sake of profit and entertainment.[4a][4b]
Perhaps due to their usual position as outsiders and go-betweens, hobgrots tend to band together when one of them is threatened by a non-hobgrot. It's generally considered acceptable among hobgrots for hobgrots to threaten, sabotage, cheat, or attack one another, but any orruk or grot who tries the same will usually end up having to face down every hobgrot in the area.[3]
Warfare
Lacking the same lust for battle as their Orruk cousins, Hobgrots have developed a sense for discipline and tactics. While treacherous off the battlefield, its is expected of a Hobgrot to follow orders while fighting. Defiance of orders might see the offending Hobgrot getting eviscerated by their boss' claws or blades.[4c]
The sounds produced by Hobgrot horns or drums are annoying even to other Orruks, but they allow Hobgrot officers to communicate simple commands. A classic tactic employed by Hobgrots is to pretend to scatter in disarray when attacked. Only to use the opportunity to slip behind enemy lines and bombard them with duardin-made explosives. That doesnt meant Hobgrots wont also retreat in earnest when the tides of battle turn against them.[4c]
Hobgrot Kompanies are lead by Hobgrot Slittabosses. They earn their place on the top by being both the most imposing and canniest Hobgrot around. Their ability to turn almost any situation in their favour has earned them a legendary reputation. As the strongest and most cunning of their kind, they also carry the best loot. Carrying impractically large weapons into battle to show their status. They wield these weapons with surprising vigor, they are made only deadlier by the swamp poisons smeared onto them.[4c]
Off the battlefield they are swindlers. Offering a myriad of trinkets to anyone that can be tricked out of their wealth. Many desperate Sigmarite settlements or Darkoath tribes have paid a high price for hiring Hobgrot mercenaries from these bosses.[4c]
While Hobgrot Slittaz, equipped slitta-knives and scrap-grenades, are the most common type of Hobgrot warriors found in the Mortal Realms, there are tales of even more formidable warriors. Tales of massed Hobgrot-mobs, dagger wielding assassins, and beat-pulled war wagons, ridden by sneering Hobgrot warlords.[4d]
Hobgrot Realms
Frontier legends speak of Hobgrot nations. Lands where "robba baronz" rule from inside ramshackle palaces.[4b]
Yet, most Hobgrot lairs are much less grand. In caverns or caves lacking the moistness and dank that attracts grots often get repurposes to so called "hobsquats". Stashes filled with all the trash, trinkets and treasures accumulated by the Hobgrots. While Hobgrots have the innate ability to identify value, they also compulsory hoard anything they come across. So a hobsquat might be filled with mismatched boots, golden painted pinceones, but occasionally, there are real treassures buried underneath layers of junk.[4b]
Hobgrots dont see kindly to being stolen from, and they will go to extreme lengths to retrieve what they see as theirs.[4b]
Sources
- 1: Warhammer Community: How Age of Sigmar's Dominion Boxed Set Draws on 40 Years of Warhammer History
- 2: War at Amberstone Watch booklet, pg. 25
- 3: Soulbound: Champions of Destruction, pg. 19-20
- 4: Battletome: Orruk Warclans (2025)
