The Rise of the Hobgoblin!-visual comic with AI-Splinterlands Art (Week 342)

The relentless cycle of raiding, looting, and enslavement has become a way of life for the hobgoblins of the Drybone Anarchists. Their constant plunder brings wealth and a steady flow of slaves, and their battle scars make for fine tales in the taverns of Stonetown.

Yet the alliance with the Chaos Empire has sparked tension throughout the anarchists. Many resent the empire’s oversight and the order that it forces down their throats. At first, the will of the people of Praetoria was broken, and they hardly put up a fight. Most of the anarchists’ hobgoblins figured concessions could be made for such easy pickings.

But lately, they’ve encountered more and more resistance… and more than a few additional scars.

Card lore

All Picture Credit AI

The Inspiration Behind Drybone Hobgoblin

In the heart of Stonetown, where the taverns echo with laughter and the clash of tankards, an unlikely legend takes root. Amidst the smoke-filled rooms and dim candlelight, the towering figure of the Drybone Hobgoblin commands the room—not with brute force, but with stories soaked in fire, fury, and ferocity.

Adventurers, mercenaries, and commonfolk alike gather shoulder-to-shoulder, captivated by tales of conquest spun by this battle-scarred brute. With every swing of his ale and flex of his scarred muscles, he paints vivid pictures of battlefield glory, monster-slaying, and treasure hoards bigger than belief.

But this is no idle boasting. Each tale is a spark—and soon, a fire ignites in the hearts of those around him.

The Hobgoblin’s energy is contagious. His words fuel dreams of fame and fortune. As he boasts, his companions—cloaked, armored, and ready—silently prepare. These aren’t just stories—they’re calls to arms.

When the final mug is drained and the last cheer rings out, his followers rise. Hoods pulled low, axes sharpened, hearts pounding. They're no longer tavern-dwellers—they're a warband in the making. Out they march, through the alleys and alleys of Stonetown, rallying under the blood-red moonlight.

Then, a horn sounds. A war cry. A campaign begins.

From the embers of ale-soaked revelry, a legend is reborn. The Hobgoblin leads not just with might—but with myth, and the promise of a new age of glory.

Contest Link:

Comic Title: Drybone Anarchists

Panel 1
Scene: Exterior, Praetoria farmlands - Day. Four hobgoblins (male, varying ages, green skin) clad in mismatched, rusty armor and scavenged gear, oversee a captured Praetorian family: father, mother, and two children (human, disheveled clothing). Harsh sunlight.

Speech: Drag them along! We ain't got all day.

Caption: The Drybone Anarchists: raiders, slavers, survivors. Their lifeblood is plunder.

Panel 2
Scene: Interior, Stonetown tavern - Night. A large, burly hobgoblin (male, middle-aged, scarred face, green skin) with a crude axe strapped to his back boasts to a group of cheering hobgoblins (various genders, ages, green skin). The tavern is dimly lit by torches. Ale flows freely.

Speech: Then I cleaved the Praetorian's skull in twain! Their resistance means nothing!

Caption: Glory and spoils are celebrated in the smoky taverns of Stonetown.

Panel 3
Scene: Exterior, Drybone Anarchist encampment - Day. Hobgoblins (male, female, green skin) are seen training with crude weapons. In the background, banners of the Chaos Empire flutter listlessly. Overcast lighting.

Speech: The Empire demands more tribute. More slaves! Grrr...

Caption: The alliance with the Chaos Empire: a necessary evil or a suffocating burden?

Panel 4
Scene: Interior, Hobgoblin chieftain's tent - Night. A stern-looking hobgoblin chieftain (male, old, scarred face, green skin), adorned with crude jewelry, sits at a rough-hewn table, addressing two younger hobgoblin subordinates (male, green skin). The tent is lit by a single oil lamp.

Speech: The Empire's demands grow insatiable...are we truly better off now?

Caption: Whispers of discontent stir in the shadows of the alliance.

Panel 5
Scene: Exterior, Praetorian village outskirts - Day. A small group of hobgoblins (male, green skin) is ambushed by Praetorian rebels (male, female, human) armed with improvised weapons. A fierce struggle ensues. Bright sunlight, dusty terrain.

Speech: They dare fight back? Crush them!

Caption: The Praetorians, once docile, now fight with a desperate fury.

Panel 6
Scene: Close-up on a young female Praetorian rebel (human) bravely facing a larger hobgoblin warrior (male, green skin). She wields a broken farming tool as a weapon. Intense, dramatic lighting.

Speech: We will not be slaves! We will be free!

Caption: The flame of rebellion ignites in the hearts of the enslaved.

Panel 7
Scene: Exterior, Forest - Day. The surviving hobgoblins (male, green skin), battered and wounded, flee back to the encampment. Shadows of the trees fall across their retreating forms. Dimming light as the sun begins to set.

Speech: We were routed! Their resistance is...unnatural!

Caption: The tide begins to turn. The cost of easy pickings is rising.

Panel 8
Scene: Interior, Chaos Empire command tent - Night. A towering Chaos Warrior (male, heavily armored, imposing figure) stands over the hobgoblin chieftain (male, green skin), who kneels submissively before him. The tent is illuminated by magical runes.

Speech: Your failures displease us. Quell this rebellion, or face annihilation.

Caption: The Chaos Empire's patience wears thin.

Panel 9
Scene: Exterior, Drybone Anarchist encampment - Day. The hobgoblins (male, female, green skin) prepare for war. They are sharpening weapons, donning armor, and chanting war cries. A dark, ominous sky looms overhead.

Speech: We fight for our survival! For Stonetown!

Caption: War drums beat. The Drybone Anarchists brace for a bloody reckoning.

Panel 10
Scene: Exterior, Praetorian village - Day. Praetorian rebels (male, female, human) stand united, ready to defend their homes. They clutch improvised weapons and shields. Determination etched on their faces. Sunlight breaks through the clouds.

Speech: For Praetoria! For freedom!

Caption: Hope flickers amidst the ashes of oppression.

Panel 11
Scene: Large battle scene - Day. Hobgoblins (male, female, green skin) and Praetorian rebels (male, female, human) clash in a brutal and chaotic melee. Swords clash, blood splatters. The battlefield is engulfed in chaos. Dynamic action lines.

Speech: Aaargh! Die, rebel scum!

Caption: The land of Praetoria becomes a crimson canvas.

Panel 12
Scene: Exterior, Overlooking the battlefield - Sunset. The hobgoblin chieftain (male, old, scarred face, green skin) stands alone, surveying the carnage. The Chaos Empire's banners are torn and trampled. A single tear rolls down his cheek. Blood red sky.

Speech: What have we become...? I'm not sure we can win this.

Caption: The price of plunder: a legacy of blood and broken dreams.

comics Credit AI

The Splinterlands Art Contest is a fantastic platform to showcase creativity and connect with an amazing community. Through this comic, I aim to celebrate the rich lore of Splinterlands while sharing my passion for art. I hope you enjoy my take on the Drybone Hobgoblin and their journey.

I am excited to embark on this journey with the Hive community. Art is not just about creation but also about connection. I look forward to connecting with fellow artists, enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the transformative power of creativity.

Thank you for welcoming me into this vibrant community. Let's inspire and uplift each other through the universal language of art.

Warm regards,

Rifat