King Xorbb and the War for Runnyeye

The gorge

It is "Named for an infamous evil eye that enslaved the goblins of Runnyeye Citadel decades ago", and its creatures are "loyal to its tyrannical namesake." "Minotaurs who act as Xorbb’s soldiers frequently patrol this region", while "creatures forged of the very earth, called muddites, wander through the passageways of the winding valley." The atlas lists minotaurs, goblins, muddites and evil eyes at levels 10-20. Source [1]

In the narrow ravines "fighting here will leave adventurers susceptible to anything that might be about to wander around the corner", and every creature "will surely assist a comrade that is in trouble". The evil eyes are "notorious for their ability to enchant their foes and turn allies and comrades against one another in the midst of battle. Their magic is strong and their animated pets help them fight." Source [1]

Ore, clay and poison

The gorge suited "mid-seasoned adventurers", and smiths and potters "might find the ore and clay dropped by the muddites quite useful." The Game Master’s Guide warns that "The muddites of the Gorge of King Xorbb do not give up their substance without a fight", in its entry for the blinding poison shadowveil hemlock, made from "Soot hemlock, coyotetail, muddite mud, poison vial, suspension." Source [1] Source [6]

Xorbb’s throne

"In the center of the many muddy ravines, there exists a large stone artifact. This is Xorbb’s throne, a place that is surrounded by several powerful evil eye guardians." The king is "a monster of legend": "Many scholars, historians, and even the crazed fools who seek to show their allegiance to him have met their demise at the foot of his throne." Source [2]

"It is uncertain what Xorbb’s ultimate plan was in dominating the goblins, but legends of the king’s infamy and cruel, xenophobic has [sic] reached every corner of Antonica." Whether his ambitions "extend beyond the muddy valley of his namesake or the citadel of the Runnyeye goblins" is unknown, and "It is this ignorance that makes him all the more fascinating and all the more dangerous." Source [2]

The evil eyes

Monsters of Norrath puts the largest evil-eye community under "an evil eye called King Xorbb, who inhabits a canyon land not far from Rivervale in central Antonica." His enchanters take prisoners and use "charmed slave labor"; "all efforts to reason or negotiate with them have failed." Source [5]

They "are aggressively expanding toward nearby halfling communities as well as already contesting with the goblins of Runnyeye Citadel." An evil eye enchanter is "rarely caught without an animated shield and sword pet", and it flees when it is clearly losing. Source [5]

Clan Pickclaw

The atlas’s Runnyeye chapter tells how it began: "A relatively few years ago, Xorbb, a powerful member of the evil eye race, befuddle [sic] and enslaved goblins of Clan Runnyeye." A "fair-sized contingent of goblins fled the citadel, refusing to submit to Xorbb and their now compromised king." Source [3]

The exiles hid in caves beneath the Serpent’s Spine Mountains and "named themselves Clan Pickclaw in reference to all the mining that became their occupation." Raids on High Keep hardened them, and "they marked Xorbb as a special foe, and vowed to one day reclaim their home." Source [3]

Runnyeye retaken

Xorbb "grew complacent". Lord Pickclaw learned of his "lax security thanks to well-placed spies placed in the citadel." His warriors, with magic-users "far more capable after raiding High Keep’s human libraries and capturing human mages", caught "the evil eyes by complete surprise." Source [4]

"Runnyeye was liberated. The evil eyes fell back to the Gorge of King Xorbb, where they were well-protected and had enslaved minotaurs and mudmen to do their bidding." Lord Pickclaw "personally executed the former goblin king and his entourage". He put the remaining Runnyeye goblins in the lowest ranks of his clan. Later he spared the fungal Sporali in return for their help in the mines. Source [4]

The gorge chapter tells it from Xorbb’s side: "Now, the goblins are free, but for how long remains uncertain – for King Xorbb’s true ambition has yet to be fulfilled. To his mind, this brief lapse of power will surely be remedied in one way or another." Source [2]

Stalemate

Pickclaw "is making a great deal of noise about finishing off the forces of Xorbb, and Xorbb is making plans to retake Runnyeye", but "neither side has the strength at present to win a direct confrontation with the other and remain intact." Source [4]

Visitors could take sides. One "may aid the goblins in their continuing struggle against King Xorbb", and an adventurer new to the Pickclaws "has a fair chance of maintaining a non-lethal relationship with them, especially if assistance against Xorbb is pledged." Source [3] Source [4]