Defenders of the Forest - Liber Fanatica

Chapter XI: Flora, Fauna
and Foes of the Forest
Co m b a t Ta c t i c s
When not pulling chariots, small packs of Tuskgors forage for
food around the perimeter of Beastman camps. This makes
them de facto camp guards. A lone Tuskgor will stand its
ground, unlike its Wild Boar cousins. The following Combat
Tactics are applicable when a Tuskgor is unharnessed from its
chariot.
1-3 Hog Squeal: the Tuskgor stands its ground and
squeals as though speared, calling other Tuskgors or
Beastmen to the area.
Melee combat: Defensive Stance
4-5 Snapping: the Tuskgor makes several bites in quick
succession, snapping at the opponent with its tusks.
Melee combat: Swift Attack
6-7 Bristle Backed: the Tuskgor raises its hackles and
sticks out its horns, posturing for position and dominance,
while taking occasional bites at the opponent.
Melee combat: Guarded Attack
8-10 Goring Tusks: the Tuskgor tilts its head and charges,
using its tusks to gore the foe with terrible force (see
ToC pg. 106).
Melee combat: Charge Attack
Fo r e s t Go b l i n s
Source: Old World Bestiary, pg. 23-24 and 97-98
Sp i d e r Go d Wo r s h i p
Upon the conclusion of the War
of the Beard, the resulting power
vacuum allowed the Greenskin
races to proliferate across the Old
World. They occupied ruined
Dwarfholds and spread into areas
of the forests that Elves had abandoned.
With the rise of humanity
and the regrouping of the Wood
Elves, however, many Goblins
were driven into the deepest
glades and forced to live in isolation
from the rest of their kind.
Over time, Goblins learned to coexist with the Giant Spiders
infesting the deep woods. Although Mork and Gork were still
worshipped dutifully, Forest Goblins began paying tribute to
an even higher power that dwelled behind the many eyes of
their arachnid neighbours. They even managed to raise captured
spiders as mounts, and form bonds with the dreaded Arachnaroks,
inuring themselves against their venom by consuming the
poison in small doses.
Presently, the greatest concentration of Forest Goblins is deep
within the Drakwald Forest. Their crude dwellings are situated
near a web-choked spider breeding chasm called the Black Pit,
known by humans as the Valley of Many Eyes. In 2518 IC,
woodsmen felled acres of trees near the Black Pit, causing the
scattered Forest Goblin tribes to unite under their Spider God.
The ongoing conflict against Forest Goblins and Giant Spiders
has come to be called the “War of the Drakwald”.
Sh a m a n s, Sh r o o m s a n d Sp i d e r s
All Goblin shamans draw magic from an aethyric reservoir
called the “Great Green”, which is fuelled by the frenetic,
combined energies of all Greenskins. Night Goblin shamans
can enhance their connection to the Great Green by eating
psychotropic mushrooms. Forest Goblins must do without this
mystical fungus, because its spores do not thrive aboveground.
Instead, they ingest or cover their bodies with small spiders that
constantly bite and inject them with venom. Shamans who can
withstand the potent toxins are able to see through the Great
Green and into the Great Beyond.
Purple Skullback Spiders (New Item)
By eating a handful of these plum-coloured arachnids, shamans
enter a deep trance and begin cavorting to the mystical rhythms
of the Great Beyond. On a failed Easy (+20) Toughness Test
they succumb to the toxins. Witnessing the dance has a hypnotic
effect on Arachnaroks, allowing shamans to bond with
them afterwards (see pg. 94).
Gift of the Spider-God (New Spell)
Casting Number: 15
Casting Time: one full action
Ingredient: egg of an Arachnarok (+2)
Description: The Spider-God blesses (Magic x 1d10) friendly
Goblins, who spontaneously grow poisoned fangs (Natural
Weapons). Victims of bite attacks must pass a Toughness Test
or be paralyzed for 1d5 rounds. Poisoned fangs retract after
Magic x 2 rounds.
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