Ascent of the Goblin King

Ascent of the Goblin King by Rob Burman is a book in the Tales of Pannithor line of novels.

It depicts Grogger Split-tooth rise to power and how he achieved it.

About

Grogger Split-tooth is a goblin with ambition. Big ambitions! After a mysterious vision shows that Grogger could become the king of all goblins, he sets out on a perilous quest to become the supreme ruler of all Pannithor’s greenskins. There’s just one problem: only he believes the vision!

First though, he needs to rescue a goblin wizard that’s being held captive by a group of salamander corsairs. These man-sized, lizard-like creatures aren’t going to give up the wizard without a fight, which means Grogger’s going to need all the help he can get.

Unfortunately for him, he’s joined by a goblin with a love for high explosives, a troll that wants to kill him, and a beast handler who is ready to stab him in the back; Grogger’s journey to becoming king isn’t going to be an easy one.

Plot Summary

Raid on Terwhane

Quest to Rescue Kackle Flashzap

Meeting Magwa Howlclaw and Jo'os

Grogger, Gritter, Klunk, Ug and Kackle arrived at the cave, which Kackle had been using as his home before he was captured. After learning that Kackle had killed his previous tribe, Grogger demanded the wiz show he was in control of this magic and he wasnt a threat. Kackle began creating a magic brew to see the future and Gritter, Klunk and Ug moved outside just in case it went wrong. Grogger drunk the brew and saw his future which included a might goblin army, a forest in flames and most importantly Grogger as a Goblin King.

To make this future a reality, Kackle suggested they find Magwa Howlclaw and Jo'os, a legendary and old goblin, and get their help with defeating Bung. Grogger agreed and, without telling Gritter, Klunk, and Ug of his true plan, begun heading to an old dwarf hold which Magwa was living in. A short while after, Furna's crew arrived at the cave and Igne found a map to Magwa's location. After reaching the fort, Grogger and the goblins agreed to enter however Gritter, Klunk, Kackle and Ug ended up staying back without letting Grogger know. Eventually, Grogger found Magwa Howlclaw and Jo'os, unsucessfully convincing them to help him but did allow them to stay until the sun falls to rest.

Furna's crew arrived during the day at the fort. Furna, Shalesh, Berusk and Hr'zak proceeded into the cave in hope to catch the goblins by surprise. Furna ordered Shalesh to kill the mawbeasts as they past by them and slowly made their way into the hold. Grogger, who was unable to sleep due to Ug's snoring, spotting the approaching salamanders and alerted the rest of the goblins, breaking out in a fight. This fight also woke up Magwa Howlclaw and Jo'os who were in their quarters, and using the power of Magwa's magical prod, Magwa killed Hr'zak and the goblins retreated into a nearby toliet. The goblins escaped down the sewer and Klunk left a bomb behind to cover their escape, Furna realised this too late and the explosion partially collapsed the hold on top of the crew and were unable to follow them down.

Finding the Underminers

While moving through the sewers, Grogger managed to convince Magwa of this visions and Magwa suggested a group of goblins, underminers, that could make these visions a reality. Hours later, the goblins emerged into Death Hand's Pass and began to head towards the underminer's tunnels which Magwa knew as he was once captured by them. Furna's crew, who were recovering from their fight, had a map of the hold and saw that the exit of the sewers led to Death Hand's Pass and began their trek towards it.

As the goblins got closer they spotted a pale-looking goblin holding a horn. After a brief chat, it blew the horn said "Grukhar sends her regards" then ran away. The sound echoed through the valley and had awoken dwarf and goblin looking zombies who began to attack the group. Furna's crew were approaching Death Hand's Pass and heard the explosions (as Klunk had begun throwing bombs). They quickened their pace and shortly also encountered the undead along with the goblins. After an attempt to help the situation, which included a portal to a Nightstalker, eventually Grogger came upon a undead slasher and managed to release it upon Furna and her crew. Furna was knocked out in her successful attempt to defeat it and once again the goblins escaped the crew.

Continuing on, eventually Grogger, Gritter, Klunk, Kackle,Magwa, Jo'os, and Ug, were captured by Queen Grukhar Rockcrusher and the underminers and brought them deep within their tunnels. Furna's crew managed to fight their way out from the undead and eventually ended up recovering at Rowan Bossesus and Mary Bossesus's farmstead. After Furna awoke, she agreed to team up with Rowan and some local milita to take on the local goblin colony and also capture the wiz back.

Grogger and the rest of his party were brought to a large chamber that contained Grukhar's throne and locked into cages.Grukhar pulled a lever to reveal a large pit. Forced to choose someone to be "tested through a feat of strengh", Grogger chose Ug who was thrown into the pit to face off against Grum, a Deep Cavern Troll. Ug was not doing well against Grum but Grogger managed to free himself and jumped down to assist Ug. Using the influence of the dagger that he found while fighting the zombies earlier (hinted to be from the Abyss) Grogger managed to kill Grum. Grogger managed to use this as leverage to cause the underminers to turn on Grukhar and order her to be locked up after it was revealed she was stashing food in secret away from the rest of the Underminers.

Escaping the Underground

The Bodjits

After sometime, Furna and the group come upon the underground river and spot the wreckage of the third barge. They begin to follow the river down and come across some Ratkin, quickly disposing of them. Meanwhile, as Grogger and the goblins sail down the river, Magwa advises a group of goblins that might be able to help with Grogger ambitions, the Bodjits. Grogger agrees to find them and a short while later, they make landfall. Grogger, Grukhar, Klunk, Kackle,Magwa, Jo'os, and Ug begin their journey to the Bodjits however Gritter and the rest of the underminers stayed back to fortify their position.

Grogger and the group shortly find the bodjits, with Magwa even surprised that they had moved out of the caves and taken over an old human village, creating all sorts of contraptions. Viewing Magwa as king, Magwa gets a overwhelming sense of grandeur and pushing back on Grogger and his desire for power. Wanting the Bodjits for himself. Grogger and Magwa fight, with even Jo'os turning against Magwa. Grogger wins and the bodjits now view Groggers as King.

Furna and her group reach the end of the underground river and eventually stumble upon the Gritter and the Underminers makeshift fort. They were able to avoid detection and Igne sensed Magwa's prod elsewhere. They continued towards it and came upon the Bodjits. Realising they needed a way in, Igne summoned a Fire Elemental and they began their approach with Igne staying back to keep control of the Fire Elemental.

Grogger's bodjits spotted Furna's group and Grogger sent Grukhar to get the rest of the Underminers, out of fear that the rest of the salamander's crew is nearby. Kackle suggested using the same summoning spell he once used when with the Furbiters, which summoned a water elemental. Kackle managed to achieve this and Grogger order Klunk to use a Winggit to throw bombs down from above. After the Water Elemental broke down the gate and stormed towards the Fire Elemental, the goblins took on the approching group. Ug took on Berusk, Grogger and Jo'os took on Furna and Magwa took on Rowan (with Klunk throwing down bombs in support from above)

While the Elementals fought each other, the rest battled it out. Berusk managed to gain the upper hand on Ug and Grogger sent Jo'os to help him out. Berusk ended up being overwhelmed and Ug snapped his neck. Rowan meanwhile attempted to dodge Magwa's blasts from his prod which was working until one of Magwa's lightning strikes hit Klunk's winggit's and bombs rained down. Knocking Rowan down and causing Magwa to drop his prod.

Grogger was on the backfoot by Furna and attempted to reach for the prod that had fallen close to him. Rowan ran towards Furna to warn her however it was too late. Grogger fired a lightning bolt through Furna, killing her and Rowan was captured.

Aftermath

Epilogue

Characters

Goblin

Grogger Split-Tooth
Klup
Bung
Klunk Blackclaw
Gritter Fingernipper
Kackle Flashzap
Magwa Howlclaw
Wrencher
Thunk (mentioned)
Thump (mentioned)
Clomp (mentioned)
Drung (mentioned)
Graf (mentioned)

Underminers

Queen Grukhar Rockcrusher

Cave Trolls

Og
Ug

Deep Cavern Troll

Grum

Salamanders

Tyrant

Captain Trusk

Orcs

Captin Greenclaw (mentioned)

Human

Mawbeasts

Jo'os

Trivia

First mention of the drink Dragon Scale Brew, which has an intoxicating effect, and Kthorlaq's Tears, which is even more intoxicating than Dragon Scale Brew.
First appearance of the goblin sub-species, Underminers, and the troll sub-species, Deep Cavern Troll.
First mention of Worm Gut Stew, a food eaten by the Underminers
An abridged version of page 69-70, when Kackle Flashzap gives Grogger Split-Tooth a potion to see the future, first appeared in the 2017 suppliment, Edge of the Abyss which was also written by Rob Burman. 6 years before the Ascent of the Goblin King was published

External Links

Ascent of the Goblin King Digital Edition - https://www.manticgames.com/fiction/tales-of-pannithor/ascent-of-the-goblin-king-digital/
Ascent of the Goblin King Paperback Edition - https://www.whpsupplyroom.com/fantasy/p/tales-of-pannithor-ascent-of-the-goblin-king

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