RR5 - Harboth and the Black Mountain Boys

The Story of Harboth and the Black Mountain Boys

The Black Fire Pass is the only route over the Black Mountains, and for years the mountain and the pass were by and large impassable due to the presence of a large Orc settlement. This dirty and squalid township consisted of several dozen wooden shacks, a large but unstable saloon and hundreds of mean, greedy, low-down Orcs.

The town was run by Harboth, an Orc of great size and strength. Harboth's mates used to spend most of their time in the saloon, sheltering from the almost non-stop rain which is an everyday phenomenon along the slopes of the Black Mountains. They would take turns manning the toll gates and torturing travelers. Occasionally there would be a fight as some indignant Halfling or Dwarf tried to defend himself - but not often.

As you can see The Black Mountain Boys don't go in much for fine clothing or fancy gear. They have quite an extensive collection of armour and weapons looted from travelers, including sturdy bows as welt as heavy iron hooked cleavers called Dwarf Ticklers, an invention of Harboth's of which he is justly proud. Yaskin Forit carries an especially large, double handed version of this weapon.

After the Goblin wars the Bad Lands were gradually cleaned up by the Dwarfs. Harboth and his gang were forced to take to their heels. It is rumoured that Harboth spent his declining years cattle rustling in the deep south.

Armament - Dwarf Tickler, knives and clubs.

Dress - Ragged tunics and breeches, all clothing is very dirty with a generally cast off appearance. A light Mail jerkin is worn underneath the other rags

Shield - Assorted emblems prevail - often of an offensive or insulting nature. Harboth and his troops prefer to individualise their shields by scrawling offensive pictures or slogans on them.

Battlecry - Harboth's favoured expression is 'Pulp the Stunties'.

Leader - Harboth has the profile of a Mighty Orc Hero. Leadership factor 4.

Deeds - When the local dwarf leader offered a bounty to adventurers bold enough to try to destroy the Orc settlement, Harboth resonded by meetinf, and subsequently eating each adventurer stupid enough to try it. Yaskin Forit made a necklace of the ears of these unfortunate characters, whilst Harboth sent their bones back to the Dwarf leader together with instructions to send more Halflings as he found these particularly palatable.

Profile - 1st edition

Profiles - 2nd edition