Fealty Irons
In Service of the Queen
Goblinoids are a fervent plague on Baelonmor. Like a malevolent mimicry of ants, they strip lands of all that they have in an endless quest to satiate their Queen's hunger and expand their colony. However, unlike ants, they do not rely solely on pheromones to communicate. Whilst such chemicals are employed, Goblinoids generally speak a sophisticated language that allows them to better articulate their goals and desires. Thanks to this unique trait, members of the colony can travel far beyond its territory without becoming disorientated or aimless. This is essential to their tenacious growth.
By sending out scouts and spies, the Queen can gleam valuable insights on the world beyond her domain. With this information, she can decide which regions are most bountiful for plundering, and which settlements are more trouble than they are worth. There is, however, one factor that limits the reliability of this tactic. A Goblinoid colony typically has three castes beneath the Queen: Goblins, Hobgoblins, and Bugbears. Where Goblins are sneaky enough to infiltrate key strongpoints and escape undetected, they are cowardly and weak. If caught, they can easily be coerced into divulging sensitive information. Hobgoblins are loyal, steadfast, and skilled warriors. Unfortunately, stealth does not come naturally to them, as they are most at home in a marching army. This means that the majority of the Queen's informants are Bugbears. They possess an innate penchant for stealth, pride themselves on their unshakable resolve, and have a ferocious killer instinct. There is but one issue with them - each Bugbear has the potential to become a Queen.
Means of Control
A renegade Bugbear can undergo a transformation to become a Goblin Queen. Whilst such an event could not happen within another colony's dominion as the ambitious usurper would be eradicated, beyond the confines of the Queen's territory a Bugbear has ample freedom to start its own colony. Such an event can range from an inconvenience to a colossal disaster for the original ruler, and so measures must be taken to prevent such an occurrence from happening.
Fealty Irons are the most common method of preventing a rival Queen establishing her own colony. This contraption resembles a metal corset adorned with a series of locks. In order to not hinder the Bugbear's stealth, the material is relatively light and well-fitted to limit jostling. Fealty Irons inhibit a new Queen's ascension as, to become a Queen themself, the Bugbear must devour huge quantities of food. This leads to them growing at an incredible rate. However, if they are wearing Fealty Irons, their body will begin to press against the metal bars to agonising effect. Those who continue to gorge despite the pain will guarantee themselves a slow and gory demise.
Unbreakable Locks
Few Goblinoids are proficient with magic in any regard, which makes those who are especially valuable to the colony. As such, they will be carefully monitored to ensure their devotion to the Queen is unwavering. Goblinoid mages are often kept in close proximity to the Queen for this reason. Whilst this does limit their ability to assist the war efforts on the frontiers, they are still put to great use.
One such use is that of enchanting the locks on Fealty Irons. By invoking their magic, they can guarantee that a lock is nigh unbreakable, and so a Bugbear encased within has little choice but to remain obedient. Furthermore, if the Fealty Irons are removed, the mages become aware instantly.
Loyalty Squads
If the locks on a set of Fealty Irons are broken, the Queen will be quick to dispatch a team of warriors as vicious as they are devoted. Bugbears are generally dauntless, but the Loyalty Squads still invoke a feeling of unease within them. These gangs often wear tokens of the defectors they have slain, and hold few scruples about exhibiting these mementos. It is also true that these elite killers do not fear death; they will either return home with the traitor's head or not at all.
Such a potent response may seem excessive, especially since the defector will need years before they can rival the Queen, but the consequences of allowing the trespass to persist can be dire. These schisms can produce powerful opponents to the colony if left unattended. Goblinoids often wage war against neighbouring territories belonging to other colonies, and neither side will relent until their enemy is exterminated entirely.
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