From the introduction: A group of goblins, led by a hobgoblin chief and his bodyguard, are waging a bandit war upon the hapless travelers near their lair. Kurg, the hobgoblin chief, and his bodyguard Lorth both hate humanity with a passion, as a group of human adventurers calling themselves the Swords of Justice recently wiped out their entire tribe. Kurg and Lorth barely escaped with their lives, and wandered for nearly two months before happening upon a small goblin tribe. They quickly bullied their way in, killing the goblin chief and taking over the leadership of the tribe. Kurg and Lorth both burn for revenge upon the humans who destroyed their tribe, and so they have ordered their new goblin subjects to begin attacking unwary travelers on the road which runs near their lair.