Goremaw, Runaway War-Boar

.🐗 Goremaw, the Runaway War-Boar

"It ain't a beast, it's a siege engine with a temper." — Brannok tracker, last words

🧾 Background:

Goremaw was bred and broken by the Wolf Gang goblins, a feral clan known for rearing monstrous beasts as mounts. Trained with blood-rites, flame-brands, and starvation cycles, Goremaw was fed corpses, kept in chains, and loosed only to trample, gore, or devour.

He broke free two weeks ago when his handler was crushed during a raid gone wrong. Since then, Goremaw has wandered the wild roads, destroying wagons, attacking riders, and avoiding anything that smells like goblin hands.

🧠 Stat Block:

Goremaw – Unique Monstrous Boar
HD: 3 (24 HP max)
AC: 13 (thick, scarred hide)
Attack: Tusks +4, 2d4+2 damage
Charge: +2 damage on a charge; save vs paralysis or be knocked prone
Frenzy: When reduced to 0 HP, Goremaw makes a final attack before death
Morale: 11 (attacks anything that shows fear or bleeds)
Intelligence: Low animal cunning; can be calmed with patience and rare skill
Alignment: Neutral (bordering on Chaotic)

🪙 In-Body Treasure:

Iron signet ring, half-digested (15 gp) — ties to a missing Iron Vow courier or noble house
Fragments of goblin bridle tags and bone bits from old riders

🪓 Behavioral Traits:

Hates loud noises and fire

Charges anything that threatens or stares too long

Recognizes certain goblin words: “Stand,” “Kill,” and “Back”

Will not retreat unless near death or magically calmed

Sleeps in shallow mud pits and covers itself in refuse to hide scent

🗣️ Wolf Gang Goblin Command Words

Common Word	Goblin Word	Pronunciation	Notes
Stand (Hold position)	Grak	gr-ahk	A barked order used for beasts and goblins alike; usually accompanied by a stomp or hand signal
Kill (Attack)	Drukk!	drook (sharp, explosive)	Shouted in combat; used to trigger attack commands in trained beasts like Goremaw
Back (Retreat, cease)	Vekk	vek (low and growling)	Used with hand signals; often ignored if the speaker is bleeding or panicking

🔥 Bonus Goblin Words:

Common	Goblin	Pronunciation	Notes
Eat	Snagga	snag-ah	Used for both literal and figurative consumption
Fire	Bratch	bratch	Carries a note of fear or awe—goblins both worship and fear flame
Ride	Grrud	gruhd	A term used when mounting beasts or war-pigs; often chanted in battle
Obey	Urkzul	urk-zool	Formal term used by higher goblins, chieftains, or beastmasters
Silence/Quiet	Hakk	hahk	Used when stalking prey or avoiding detection

🐗 If Tamed...

Extremely difficult, requiring a successful animal handling effort over days or via magical assistance (e.g. Charm Animal, Speak with Animals, or a druid’s influence). If somehow pacified, Goremaw can serve as:

A mount: For a Medium-sized character with a reinforced saddle
A beast of burden: Able to haul twice the normal weight of a draft horse
A war companion: Loyal to a master that feeds and respects it (and never chains it again)

Once tamed, Goremaw will gore anyone who tries to put a leash or bridle on him. Control comes through respect, not gear.

☠️ Follow-Up: The Goblins Want Him Back

Within 1d4 days, a band of 8–12 Wolf Gang goblins will pick up Goremaw’s trail. Led by a beast handler named Skak Snarlstick, they want their prized boar returned—or dead to “cover the shame.”

Possible Outcomes:

Negotiation: Skak offers a bounty of 100 gp and a bag of red glass trinkets to get Goremaw back alive
Ambush: If refused, the goblins may set an ambush to take Goremaw and the party by force
Twist: Goremaw attacks Skak on sight, breaking from the party's side if not restrained—suggesting deep trauma and recognition

💀 Hook Options:

A beastmaster in Ember Bastion offers 300 gp for Goremaw alive—wants to turn him into a gladiatorial champion
A Brannok ranger seeks to slay Goremaw as a rite of vengeance, believing him to be a cursed beast
The signet ring in his gut could tie into a larger mystery—perhaps the courier was carrying a message meant to stop a war