In the deepest recesses of Grimlock's labyrinthine passages, where even the hardiest haurek warriors feared to venture alone, Skit began his existence as all grekkels do - through the mysterious asexual reproduction of his kind. Born from a single parent in the forgotten chambers beneath the collapsed ruins of ancient Khoras, he matured to full awareness within a week, his mind already sharp with the cunning intelligence that marked his breed as the most devious of all goblin races.
The grekkel who spawned him disappeared into Grimlock's shadows before Skit had fully adapted to his surroundings, leaving behind only the faint smell of brimstone that lingered when grekkels used their natural teleportation abilities. This abandonment was neither cruel nor unusual by grekkel standards - their solitary nature made extended companionship an uncomfortable burden, and the young were expected to survive on their own cunning from the moment they achieved awareness.
Standing barely two feet tall with the characteristic slender build that makes him appear almost cadaverous, Skit possesses all the physical markers of his breed. His yellow eyes gleam with intelligence beneath a pockmarked face that bears the scars of countless minor conflicts. His long, hooked nose gives him an eternally calculating expression, while his gangly arms and legs move with the fluid grace that allows grekkels to navigate spaces where larger goblins struggle.
Skit's early years were spent mastering the fundamental skills that keep grekkels alive in Grimlock's dangerous hierarchy. Unlike the larger goblin breeds, which could rely on brute force or a pack mentality, grekkels survive through guile, stealth, and the judicious application of their peculiar magical abilities. His natural resistance to magic has proven invaluable in the ruins of Khoras, where ancient energies still pulse through certain chambers with enough power to kill unwary intruders.
The inherent magical nature of his kind manifested early in Skit's development. His mere presence began affecting his surroundings in subtle but noticeable ways - milk soured more quickly in his vicinity, small mechanisms would malfunction when he touched them, and even hardened goblin warriors found their luck turning against them after extended exposure to his company. These effects, while often inconvenient, also served as useful tools for someone who made his living through manipulation and opportunism.
His ability to commune with flies, mosquitoes, spiders, and scorpions opened up information networks that larger goblins never suspected existed. A conversation with a spider in someone's quarters could reveal secrets worth their weight in silver, while a mosquito's knowledge of blood scents could track movements through Grimlock's maze of passages. This constant stream of intelligence from the most overlooked creatures in the city gave Skit advantages that even the most cunning haurek could not match.
As Skit matured into his role within Grimlock's complex ecosystem, he discovered that information was the most valuable currency in the goblin fortress. While haureks fought for territory and gaugaths dominated through strength, grekkels like him could profit by knowing things others didn't - and more importantly, by knowing who would pay for such knowledge. His natural talent for moving unseen through the city's forgotten passages made him an ideal intelligence broker.
The teleportation ability that all grekkels possess allows Skit to appear and disappear at will, though the accompanying smell of brimstone warrants caution in terms of when and where he uses this power. The ability's range - limited to distances he can see - requires him to develop an intimate knowledge of Grimlock's layout, including secret passages, hidden chambers, and forgotten routes through the ancient Khorasi ruins that honeycomb the fortress.
His reputation for reliability, unusual among grekkels notorious for their duplicity, became Skit's most valuable asset. Where other members of his breed might change sides at the first sign of better opportunities, Skit understood that consistency in his dealings created long-term profits that far exceeded the short-term gains of betrayal. This approach set him apart from his naturally treacherous kindred and earned him steady clients among Grimlock's various factions.
When Lord Rax consolidated control over Grimlock's various factions, Skit quickly recognized the opportunities that political consolidation created for those who could adapt to changing circumstances. The new ruler's emphasis on structured hierarchy and organized governance created demand for intelligence services that traditional goblin muscle couldn't provide. Information about potential threats, rival factions, and the loyalty of subordinates became valuable commodities in the emerging political landscape.
Skit's natural grekkel traits - his evil disposition coupled with his joy in creating mischief and chaos - align perfectly with the intelligence needs of Rax's administration. His ability to move unseen through the fortress, combined with his network of insect informants, makes him valuable for gathering information about potential dissidents or monitoring the activities of visiting surface dwellers who might pose threats to goblin security.
As Alchester grew above Grimlock and the shadow economy developed between the surface city and the goblin fortress below, Skit discovered new opportunities in the expanding underground trade networks. His size and natural stealth made him ideal for courier work through passages too small for larger goblins, while his magical resistance allowed him to transport items that might be dangerous for others to handle.
His knowledge of Grimlock's hidden passages became particularly valuable during this period, as smuggling operations required routes that avoided official checkpoints and guard patrols. The ancient Khorasi water channels, which had once supplied the fallen city, now served as highways for contraband, and Skit's familiarity with their layouts made him an essential guide for those who needed to move goods or people secretly through the fortress.
Skit's evolution from simple survivor to established information broker reflected both his personal cunning and the changing nature of Grimlock itself. As the fortress became more integrated with surface trade networks and political machinations, the value of accurate intelligence increased exponentially. Knowing which officials could be bribed, which smuggling routes were being watched, and which rival factions were planning moves against each other became essential knowledge for anyone operating in the shadows.
His reputation for honesty, unusual among grekkels, became his most valuable professional asset. While other members of his breed might sell information to multiple clients or change allegiances for marginal gains, Skit understood that building long-term relationships with reliable clients created steady income streams that exceeded the profits of constant betrayal. This approach required him to resist his natural grekkel inclinations toward chaos and mischief, channeling them instead into profitable enterprises.
The network of contacts he developed throughout Grimlock's various levels and districts gives him access to information that even Lord Rax's official intelligence services can't match. Skit's ability to piece together disparate fragments of information into coherent intelligence reports makes him valuable to clients ranging from smugglers to legitimate merchants to political rivals planning their next moves.
His collection of shiny baubles and trinkets, displayed in the hidden chamber he calls home, represents not just the traditional grekkel fascination with glittering objects but also a form of portable wealth that could be quickly liquidated if circumstances forced him to relocate. Each piece had been chosen not just for its aesthetic appeal but also for its potential value in trade, creating a reserve of resources that could sustain him through lean periods or political upheavals that might disrupt his normal income streams.
FIRST APPEARANCE
Dunstan first appears in The Assassin's Skill (Assassin Without a Name Book Four).
