Goblin

Goblins are a short sophont species found in several locations in Iaga, and one of the most common goblinoid races in the realm.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

Like most other mammalian humanoids, goblins are viviparous and copulation takes place via internal fertilization. The goblin gestation period typically lasts six months.
Due to size differences, mating with other goblinoid races, such as hobgoblins and bugbears, is uncommon and rarely sucessful in bearing a child. Goblin-yawper hybrids are theoretically possible, though none have been observed as of yet. Like other goblinoids, despite their eohumanoid heritage, they are genetically incompatible with eohumanoids of similar size such as halflings.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Goblins, like most other humanoids, are omnivores, being able to eat just about everything organic and non-poisonous they can find. Hunter-gatherer groups can typically sustain themselves on berries and small animals, hunting large prey only occasionally, and while the more 'civilized' groups have much broader options they're rarely reacious to the rather simple meals of their ancestors.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Perhaps the most common facial trait among goblins, as well as most other goblinoids, are their long pointed ears. All their other facial traits vary greatly between different ethnic groups.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Goblins can be found in almost all of Iaga's continents.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Accustomed to dimly lit and dark areas, goblins have developed basic darkvision, but like most other creatures with this sense, they aren't able to discern colors in darkness. Other than this, their senses tend to be rather underdeveloped in comparison to other humanoids. Their primary senses are their hearing and their smell.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

In accordance with most goblin languages, goblin names tend to be one syllabe long. Most goblin names are gender-neutral, for reasons exposed in the Gender Ideals section.

Beauty Ideals

Though their preferences greatly vary from individual to individual and from community to community, goblins seem to generally focus on each other's ears when it comes to beauty. Long ears are subconsciously understood as a sign of good hearing, and thus a better chance of noticing a potential threat in time, but if they are too large they are seen as an obstacle when it comes to fleeing from said threat.

Gender Ideals

Due to the lack of strong sexual dimorphism in the species, goblins generally lack gender roles and ideals. Communities that develop close to other humanoid civilizations with a greater distinction in gender roles may develop them as well, but otherwise their societies lack a strong perception of gender, and most goblins that grow up within them don't strongly identify with any gender.

History

While many folk tales attribute the appearance of goblinoids as a whole to inbreeding, bestiality, the worship of fiends and similar atrocities in one way or another, modern researchers agree that they all evolved naturally, sharing a close common ancestor with orcs. Goblins in particular seem to be one of the older goblinoid species, second only to hobgoblins, to which they're closely related; a popular hypothesis states that goblins originated from extreme cases of neoteny in certain hobgoblin populations, though whether this is accurate or not is still highly disputed.
It is known that the first goblins appeared during the Creation Age in what is now the continent of Gobuk-Dal, and from there spread around the world, most notably Valendar. Yawpers, a race endemic to the Desert of Naiud in said continent, are direct descendants of goblins. Despite being similar in size, hodgepokers are more closely related to bugbears than to goblins and hobgoblins, though their evolutionary path may have been similar to that of goblins.

Scientific Name

Homo goblin goblin

Origin/Ancestry

Goblinoid

Lifespan

20 years

Conservation Status

Extant

Average Height

0.9 - 1.2 meters (3 - 4 feet)

Average Weight

18 - 36 kilograms (40 - 80 pounds)

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Greenish or yellowish skin.