Bleeders

The uncontrollable changes that occur to goblins when they have the correct attributes and take part in bloodletting rituals can be absolutely devastating if not quickly attended to. Occasionally outright causing the destruction of camps and swift deaths of any nearby. Most of the tribes, clans and warbands have just gotten used to this as a constant underlying threat among their day-to-day lives. However, some groups are more savvy and have turned to technology in order to control and delay the transformations for when they need it.      

The Device

  A thick metal shackle designed to be clasped around the arm. A series of short metal claws are attached to the shackle and painfully press against the skin of the forearm. A series of thin leather straps are attached to the claws and travel inside the shackled and coalesce at the hand as a thick glove. When the hand is stretched or opened, the leather bands pull on the claws, causing it to rip at the skin, drawing a small but steady flow of blood.   As expected with anything of goblin manufacture, there are hundreds of variants of the bleeder depending on the goblin that is crafting it. Some just replace the claws with other sharp objects, others look to make the claws more vicious in an attempt to increase their chances of transformation.   Regardless of the style however, the end result is a consistent piercing of the skin which always has the chance of causing the sought after transformation.    

The Bleeders Creation

  Although a formal name was never created for the device, it is colloquially known as a ‘bleeder’. The name it would have been given will never be known as its creator, in all her excitement, tried the device on and enthusiastically tested it. This caused her to transform into a hulking brute which then promptly smashed the crude workshop to pieces before she turned her aggression towards the startled goblins in the nearby area. Eventually, after turning over a dozen of her kin into paste, she was maimed enough to be caged and added to the rest of those that had previously turned. The idea would have been completely lost if it wasn’t for the actions of the poor sod that was designated to clean the area. Upon seeing the device, he tried it on and immediately, flexed his hand and transformed. Although the chances of this happening were incredibly slim, it was an anomaly enough to draw the attention of the clan shaman that credited the device.   The legend of this device spread like wildfire amongst goblinkind and was quickly adopted. Especially by the roving goblin warbands.    

Use at Scale

  The adoption of the device within goblin warbands was a devastating advancement to their warring capabilities. Creation of the bleeders was routine prior to engagements and raids on dwarven settlements and cities.   One terrifying dwarven report managed to capture the usage of the device. It reported that on a routine patrol, a group of five heavily armed settlement guards advanced around a corner into the large open cavern as they had done hundreds of times before. However, this time, they almost ran into an army of thousands of goblins who were packed shoulder-to-shoulder. Each goblin wearing the strange device on their forearms. The goblins reacted by widening their smiles, screaming and opening their claws. The sound of goblins being crushed under the weight of the hulking beasts transforming next to them was foul. Suddenly a number of gargantuan beasts were added to the already terrifying warband. The dwarves turned and ran while the goblins began to scream and charge forward.    

This is a submission for my second Summer Camp - I hope you enjoy the world I am building!