Cunning, intelligent, and quick-witted are not words used to describe an average ogre. They are not used to describe above-average ogres either. However, on occasion, the barbaric, covetous, and stubborn tendencies of ogres leads a select few down a path of arcane arts. Ogre Spell-Hoarders are no more special than a regular ogre except for the fact that these ones in particular stumbled across a tome of incantations in the midst of their ransacking of ruins or small villages and decided to take it for their own. With their limited knowledge of language they foolheartedly read from the pages of their book in no particular order, firing off random spells at those who stand in their way. Luckily, for the souls that would cross a Spell-Hoarder, the ogres have trouble reciting the more powerful spells in their book, often resulting in an impotent puff of smoke. These ogres tend to be leaders in their small gangs, the others slightly frightened at the inexplicable powers the Spell-Hoarder wields. They carry their stolen tomes with pride, and wear stretched and tattered silks and the occasional conical hat to complete the look.

Ogres operate with a limited sense of strategy. Being the leaders of their gangs, Spell-Hoarders stick to the back, firing off spells and spell attacks at enemies from safety with their counterparts acting as shields. Ogre Spell-Hoarders don’t really know what is going to happen when it reads from the tome so when it is shocked (and frustrated) when an enemy is healed from an incantation, it immediately attempts to cast a spell on one of its gang members, for better or worse. If the ogre is separated from it’s book it loses all ability to cast spells or make spell attacks. If another ogre picks up the book and it can use a bonus action to cast a spell. Roll a d4, on a 1-2 the ogre casts A Dud on a 3-4 the ogre casts Flame Bolt from the table.

An Ogre Spell-Hoarder has the same unexciting items a regular ogre may have, crude weapons and unclean hides, with the very special exception of the tome of stolen spells that gives them their powers.

Ogre Spell-Hoarders tend to run in gangs with 2-4 other regular ogres. Though they sometimes run alone; unable to keep company with simple-minded ogres too afraid of the spells they cast.

Herdsmen from a small village have been reporting ogres attacking their flocks and stealing animals. While it isn’t out of the ordinary for small towns to be targeted by an ogre gang, this one seems to have a member who can send fireballs hurtling haphazardly across fields. This is making them particularly hard to deal with. The ogres aren’t doing a great job of hiding either, leaving a clear trail to the old tower they camp in at night causing a ruckus into the wee hours of the night. The tower is so old, most townsfolk don’t remember what it was used for, but a few elders mumble something about a wizard living in the structure decades ago.