Factions
The goblin tribes and other factions of the region.
Licktoad Tribe
Licktoad Tribe
The Licktoad goblins of Brinestump Marsh were the party's tribe of origin. The tribe no longer exists as an organized faction — the village was destroyed by human adventurers while the party was on their second ship expedition. The core four are the last known surviving Licktoad goblins operating in the region.
Regional Context
Five major goblin tribes operate in the Sandpoint region:
| Tribe | Location | Character |
|---|---|---|
| **Birdcruncher** | Caves along western edge of Devil's Platter | Least aggressive of the five |
| **Licktoad** | Brinestump Marsh, south of Sandpoint | Excellent swimmers, pests |
| **Seven Tooth** | Shank's Wood (east) | Raid Sandpoint's junkyard, rebuild refuse into armor |
| **Mosswood** | Eastern region | Largest tribe; feuding internal factions limit them |
| **Thistletop** | Nettlewood coast, small island | Controls "the best lair" per goblin consensus |
Tribal Identity
- Location: Brinestump Marsh, southwest of Sandpoint.
- Distinguishing trait: Excellent swimmers — unusual for goblins.
- Chief: Rendwattle Gutwad — obese chieftain who never leaves his throne. Speaks only through his advisor Slorb.
- Status: Destroyed. The village was burned by human adventurers from Sandpoint.
Tribal Laws
"Do not die!"
One of the core laws (commandments) of the Licktoad goblins: "Do not die!"
Any goblin who breaks this law — i.e., dies — is first punished, then killed. The punishment precedes the execution. The irony is intentional and canonical: darkly comedic and consistent with goblin tribal logic.
Cultural Traits
Fear of Writing
Goblins have an irrational fear of writing. Two related beliefs underpin this:
- Mythological origin: Some goblins believe the fear stems from the contracts Asmodeus used to bind their barghest forebears in the mists of time. Writing, in this view, is a tool of infernal binding.
- Folk belief: The mere act of writing words steals them from one's head — what is written down is lost from the mind.
Pig Culture
The Licktoad tribe kept pigs in the Pigpit — a muddy enclosure near the goblin baby cages. Squealy Nord was the tribal mascot pig. Shvub-Mah held the title of Master of the Pigpit.
Known NPCs
- Rendwattle Gutwad — obese chieftain. Never leaves his throne.
- Squealy Nord — tribal pig mascot. Status unknown after village destruction. See the Squealy Nord NPC page.
Post-Destruction Status
The Licktoad tribe no longer exists as an organized faction. The party (core four) are the last known surviving Licktoad goblins. They have since affiliated with the Birdcruncher tribe after Sneaky Scorch became Birdcruncher Chieftain.
Naming & Coming of Age
Baby Names and the Earned Second Name
Licktoad goblins are given a single-part name at birth. The second part of a goblin's name must be earned — not given.
The four founding party members bore only single names until they completed the Cave of Darkfear quest:
| Final Name | Baby Name |
|---|---|
| Bubble Bomb | Bubble |
| Sneaky Scorch | Sneaky |
| Rrrahah Bäähh | Rrrahah |
| Shvub-Mah | Shvub |
After completing the quest, the party encountered Magical Maggie on the road, then returned to Licktoad Village and were received as full Licktoad Goblins — earning the second part of their names.
Coming-of-Age: The Cave of Darkfear Quest
The pre-story coming-of-age quest required the young goblins to travel to Tadpole Bog, catch a toad, then present it to the spirit of the Cave of Darkfear. The quest was supervised by Whelp-Wrangler Loptop, whose instructions were: "get toad, show spirit, kill anything that wants to stop you and most important DO NOT DIE!"
During this quest, the party killed a goblin bully named Kettlehead.
The Licktoad Badge Challenges
To earn a Licktoad Badge (with magical properties), four challenges must be completed:
- Animal friendship
- Happy beat
- Hurtful words
- Squirmtongue
Screech Sagg is NOT Licktoad
Seven of the eight party members are Licktoad goblins. The exception is Screech Sagg — his tribal origin is unknown. He was found cocooned in a spider cave and joined the party there. No tribal context has been recorded.
Birdcruncher Tribe
The Birdcruncher goblins live in caves along the western edge of the Devil's Platter. They are traditionally the least aggressive of the five Sandpoint-region goblin tribes. The party fought alongside them, freed their prisoners from Thistletop, and Sneaky Scorch is their current Chieftain.
Location
Caves along the western escarpment of the Devil's Platter (Devil Plateau) — a wide, flat expanse of dark rock near the region. Closest goblin tribe to Sandpoint.
Relationship to the Party
Initial Meeting (23.03.2024)
The party (core four minus Shvub-Mah) met the Birdcrunchers at a river. Invited across. An evening of feasting and games followed. Wise Mummy Sprattleharsh presided — the tribal elder.
Chieftain's Moot (23.03.2024)
Three-round competition to determine who should be new Birdcruncher chief:
| Round | Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Blindbird | Blindfolded, shoot birds | Bubble 10, Rrrahah 10, Scorch 10 |
| 2 — Planks + bat kill | Oversized boots, stomp stirges on planks over a swamp | Bubble 2, Rrrahah 10, Scorch 12 |
| 3 — Birdpie | Thrown into a giant birdmeat pie pit with live eagles; first out wins | Bubble 10 (out first), Rrrahah 10 (2 kills), **Scorch 15 (winner)** |
Sneaky Scorch became Chieftain of the Birdcrunchers. Received the Crunchy Crown (+2 Intimidate vs. Birdcrunchers). remembered — T3
Quest Assigned
Wise Mummy Sprattleharsh assigned the party to deal with Pa Manschmied and the fire-breathing pig at his farm to the northeast.
Prisoners at Thistletop
During the Razertooth operations (18.01.2025), the party found 7 imprisoned Birdcrunchers held captive in the Razertooth goblin area. Freed. confirmed — T1 + T3
Separately, Birdcruncher goblins were also held in the Thistletop compound (C3 area). Freed during the second assault.
Key NPCs
- Wise Mummy Sprattleharsh — tribal elder. Name confirmed canonical by Creative Director. Presided over the Chieftain's Moot.
- Featherbrain — Birdcruncher who spoke to the party after the Razertooth rescue. Identified Ripnugget as the Razertooth boss who wants to attack Sandpoint and sacrifice everyone to Lamashtu. remembered — T3
Current Status
Intact. Sneaky Scorch is their declared Chieftain. The tribe cooperated with the party's Thistletop assault operations. Their home in the western Devil's Platter caves remains their base.
Cultural Notes
The tribe's name derives from their practice of crunching birds — a dietary and sport preference. They hold bird-related competition events. Their least-aggressive reputation among the five tribes made them receptive to alliance with the party.
Lamashtu Cult
Lamashtu Cult (Thistletop)
The Lamashtu cult operating out of Thistletop is the primary antagonist faction of the campaign's second half. It spans multiple goblin tribes and human cultists, centered on the headland fortress of Thistletop and its dungeon.
Lamashtu — The Deity
Lamashtu is the Mother of Monsters: patron of goblin kind, goddess of nightmares, madness, and deformity. Beloved by those who have nothing left to be beloved by. Her holy symbol is a three-eyed jackal head. Her sacred number is thirteen. Her cult prizes deformity and monstrous transformation as signs of divine favor.
The party urinated on a Lamashtu altar in the Thistletop dungeon. The door sealed shut afterward. remembered — T3
Cult Leadership
| Person | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| **Nualia** | Cult leader, aasimar cleric of Lamashtu | Active (as of last records — status unconfirmed) |
| **Chief Ripnugget** | Warchief of Thistletop goblins | Status unknown |
| **Lyrie Akenja** | Wizard; recruited and manipulated Tsuto | Defeated by party (05.12.2025) |
| **Tsuto Kaijitsu** | Ameiko's half-brother; organized Sandpoint raid logistics | Status unknown — "can be killed" per T3 |
| **Gogmurt** | Thistletop druid advisor; opposed the Sandpoint raid | Defeated by party (18.01.2025) |
Cult Operations
Sandpoint Raid (past)
Tsuto organized a goblin raid on Sandpoint. Ameiko Kaijitsu was kidnapped during this raid (5 days before the party found her in the dungeon). This raid brought the party's activities to the attention of Shalelu Andosana.
The Planned Second Attack
Ripnugget — under Nualia's direction — was forming an army to attack Sandpoint, this time to offer it entirely to Lamashtu as a sacrificial gift. Both Featherbrain (Birdcruncher) and Shalelu confirmed this to the party. The party's mission from Shalelu: bring back Nualia's head.
The Thistletop Dungeon
The dungeon beneath Thistletop (Area D) was excavated approximately 200 years ago by an earlier Varisian cult of Lamashtu. The current cult reoccupied it.
Dungeon Encounters (December 2025 session)
- 4 Lamashtu goblins at a table — negotiation failed, one fled to the nursery tunnel.
- Jethounds (2) — Chaotic Evil fiends, fly, scent, silver-sensitive. Screech Sagg laughed at their howling.
- Tentacle-hand monster — fierce firebomber. Identity not confirmed in T1–T3.
- Lyrie Akenja — wizard. Defeated.
Cult Status at End of Campaign Record
- Lyrie Akenja: defeated.
- Gogmurt: defeated (18.01.2025).
- Nualia: status unknown — the party was tasked to kill her, and the final recorded session is in her dungeon, but her defeat is not confirmed in available sources.
- Ripnugget: status unknown.
- Tsuto: status unknown.
- The temple itself: last recorded combat location.
The cult's operational capacity is severely degraded but its leadership survival is unconfirmed.