Born in the deepest warrens of what would become Grimlock, Rax entered life fighting—first for his mother's milk, then for scraps of food, and finally for respect. His parents, particularly his father Skullsplitter, believed weakness deserved only death. Young Rax learned to sleep lightly, eat quickly, and strike first, lessons that kept him alive while his siblings perished one by one.
At an age when most goblin young were still scavenging for rats, Rax led his first raid against a rival warren. His natural tactical instincts emerged early. He understood how to use the different strengths of various goblin breeds. He positioned the nimble imps as scouts, used the brutish gaugaths as shock troops, and deployed haureks for their cunning with traps and ambushes. The raid's success brought him his first taste of real power.
Rax earned his warrior reputation in the Battle of Thousand Cuts, where he led a band of haureks in a series of hit-and-run attacks against a dwarf mining expedition. Rather than engage in direct combat, he wore down the dwarves through constant harassment, poisoned water supplies, and collapsed tunnels. When the final assault came, the dwarves were too exhausted to mount an effective defense. This victory demonstrated Rax's ability to think beyond simple brute force, though he never shied from bloody combat when necessary.
A grizzled veteran, his scraggly beard over cheeks the color of dried parchment did little to hide the multiple scars crisscrossing his cheeks and neck. The haurek was only a little taller than my six feet, yet he still seemed to peer down at me with beady eyes flickering with amusement and menace. A killer like the rest, this one also exuded primal authority. As he’d come forward, the others backed away, showing him a level of deference reserved for a leader rather than a mere companion. Clearly, he found such reverence familiar, since he ignored it with casual confidence. The haurek distinguished himself from the rest not only in attitude but also in appearance. His banded armor gleamed with a quality far superior to that of his companions, and his helmet was crafted with intricate designs that caught the dim light. The sword and dagger at his belt, their hilts encrusted with jewels, spoke of wealth and, perhaps, the skill of a master of his craft. The haurek smiled, revealing yellowed teeth, blackened gums, and short fangs. He exchanged a nod with Bookul, then he spoke.
“I am Rax, Lord of Grimlock.”
- THE ASSASSIN’S CODE
The path to becoming Lord of Grimlock involved countless challenges and duels. Rax learned to sleep in different locations each night as assassination attempts became frequent. He survived three poison attempts, four ambushes, and countless direct challenges. Each victory added to his legend, and each scar taught him new lessons about survival. He kept the skull of every challenger who sought his position, creating a throne that grew taller with each failed attempt to overthrow him.
Under his rule, Grimlock transformed from a loose collection of warring warrens into a structured hierarchy. Rax assigned different levels of the fortress to different goblin breeds, playing to their strengths while keeping them separated enough to prevent a unified rebellion. Grekkels maintain the highest levels, their small size and agility making them perfect for quick raids to the surface. The massive gaugaths guard the primary approaches, while the clever haureks maintain the traps and mechanisms that make Grimlock a death trap for uninvited guests. Imps, with their pack mentality, serve as his primary military force.
Rax maintains power through a combination of brutal strength and cunning manipulation. He understands that leadership among goblins requires regular demonstrations of power. Every few months, he leads raids or accepts challenges from ambitious underlings, ensuring his reputation for ferocity remains fresh in his subjects' minds. Yet he's also shrewd enough to reward loyalty and competence, ensuring his most capable lieutenants have reasons to support his rule.
His personal quarters lie in the heart of Grimlock, a maze of chambers filled with trophies from countless victories. The walls display weapons taken from fallen enemies—dwarven axes, human swords, even eslar bows. Each has a story of violence and triumph that Rax can recount in detail. He takes particular pride in a collection of severed hands from would-be assassins, preserved and mounted as warnings to any who might consider challenging his authority.
Despite his brutal nature, Rax possesses a crude form of honor. He keeps his word once given, though he's careful about when and to whom he gives it. This reputation for twisted reliability has allowed him to forge valuable alliances with various criminal elements in Alchester above, providing his goblins with information and opportunities for profitable raids while avoiding targets that might bring too much attention to Grimlock's existence.
The Lord of Grimlock never forgets his harsh upbringing. He regularly visits the lowest warrens, watching young goblins fight for food and survival. Those who show particular promise—or viciousness—catch his attention, becoming potential future lieutenants. He believes strength grows from struggle, and he ensures his domain provides plenty of opportunity for both.
Rax's greatest pride is that Grimlock has grown stronger under his rule. Rax enhanced the fortress's defenses, better organized its troops, and expanded its influence. Yet he never allows himself to grow comfortable—comfort breeds weakness, and weakness means death in the brutal goblin world. He continues to train daily, maintaining the fighting edge that won him his position, ready at any moment to defend his title as Lord of Grimlock.
FIRST APPEARANCE
Rax first appears in The Assassin's Code (Assassin Without a Name Book Three).
