Fhlinghin Zapbolts

Appearance
Large and well fed for a goblin, Fhlinghin looks much like the rest of his kin. His head is rather flat on top with sparse black hair, large almost bat-like ears and a comically bulbous nose. He has most of his teeth which are cone shaped and worn from years of poor diet. He is somewhat different in that his hands are often marked with patches of ash and minor burns and the thick goblin often smells of ozone and electricity.

To have the look of a serious mercenary, Fhlinghin wears a leather harness that crosses acros his chest, a thick leather belt, and thick soled boots. He carries throwing daggers in the straps of the harness as well as a pouch of goblin snuff, healing potions, and a horn of goblin brewed beer.

History/Background
Fhlinghin was once just like any other goblin, thin, hungry, abused, and used. Like any other goblin, hewas also conniving and always looking for a way out of the normal goblin's life. After some hardscrabble years, Fhlinghin was chosen from the men of the tribe to join a necromancer's army. things went well enough for a few years. The food was better but the beatings were more enthusiastic, as instead of other goblins there were hobgoblins, orcs, and trolls in charge.

A band of stalwart heroes later attacked the lair of the necromancer. This band was slain, and Fhlinghin was among the troops that had survived their attack and participated in the looting of their bodies. Splattered in the blood of the mage, the young goblin spied a shiny on the mage's corpse and quickly did what goblins were best at; he ate it. Planning on claiming the jewel when it 'came back' Fhlinghin waited, and waited, and waited until he decided that it must have tasted pretty good and that he really ate it instead of just swallowing it.

Some days later, an overseer attempted to whip Fhlinghin and several other goblins for sleeping instead of digging new latrines. Fhlinging and the other goblins hurled insults at the hobgoblin whip-officer and with a violent gesture and vile insult something shocking happened. A jagged bolt of purple lightning erupted from Fhlinghin's outstretched middle finger, incinerating the hobgoblin and scarring the wall behind him. Fearing repercussions from the necromancer, Fhlinghin and the rest of his newfound mob fled from the camps with the goblin blasting several more bunches of guards during their escape.

Since that day, his mob has grown quite devoted to Fhlinghin, mostly since he is too lazy to properly beat them and instead just threatens to 'zap em if they det too far out of line. No longer petty thugs, Fhlinghin operates as a low cost mercenary, often working for food and rides to a new destination. While not having the best reputation, they are rather fond of taking long naps, Fhlinghin and his mob of 30 or so goblins have proven themselves reluctantly trustworthy.

Special Equipment
The Zap-Bolt Rock - Also known as the Jewel of Argus, this relic from ages past was part of a goblin treasure horde until Fhlinghin filched it and other pieces. Crafted from skystone and infused with the elemental power of storms, it is the object that gives the goblin his special ability. Thus far the jewel remains lodged in the lower part of his stomach. The following list details the powers of the stone. If conditions are rainy and lightning is naturally present, the uses can be doubled, plus the stone gives the goblin a basic immunity to electrical based damage.

Roleplaying Notes
Fhlinghin is not a nice goblin, years of habitual abuse have left him seething with anger and a desire to get back at those who abused him. This combined with his newfound electrical affinities has given him a bit of a Napoleon complex. thankfully, he has no special hatred for humans, but rather for orcs, trolls, and the like and would be a liberator of his goblin kin. The only problem with being a liberator is that it means alot less time for the things that Fhlinghin likes, namely beer, copious amounts of food, napping for hours, and the like.

Fhlinghin's mob is much like him, eager to hunt and kill for crimes against them in the past, but also lazy almost to a fault. Once roused, they are effective scouts and skirmishers but are largely helpless against heavily armored foes or heavy cavalry. Otherwise they are decent cooks, play passable music and dont complain about setting or breaking camp, plus few are skilled as goblin looters.

Plot Hooks
Goblin for Hire - Running low on funds Fhlinghin and his mob advertise their services as hirelings. The PCs happen to be in a position needing some hirelings to help in their current venture. The surprising thing, Fhlinghin has some references whose only complaints are that the mob smelled terrible and ate too much.

Band of Goblins - The PCs benefactor has hired Fhlinghin and his mob as reinforcements for a coming battle, leaving the PCs in the position of having a goblin mob as their back-up. Instead of ending up as sword-fodder, Fhlinghin and his goblins actually do a passable job with thier shortbows, spears, and cleavers.

Inspired by Pieh's Hucken Fyreb'lls. Link below.