Goblins

Written by kballinger19

Known world wide as a race of creatures that are fond of the dark and usually make their home in the Underdark. They are noted for their skin that resembles earth tones in shades of green and brown, as well as dark colored hair, pointed ears, and eyes that expand and contract into slits like a cat's. They are mostly quiet and try to keep to themselves, mostly from fear of the humans whose advanced technology and aggressive attacks have made their numbers dwindle. They have little to no qualms with other races. They have even been known to form trade alliances with dwarves since they, too, are familiar with the underground and they can assist each other as miners.
Interestingly, the presence of goblins does not bother dragons. Perhaps it is because of a deep-rooted sympathy for them since they also fear humans. There was even an instance where a goblin was praised as a hero to a kingdom of dwarves because she was able to tame a dragon that was terrorizing them.

Craft and Trade

Goblins find their trade mostly in mining, although unlike dwarves, they do not seek precious metals and gems. They mostly seek helpful ores such as coal, and other things that the dwarves tend to ignore. However, their trade isn't as wide-spread because of the number of enemies they have. Because of this, their technology isn't as advanced as the humans or elves, but they have been making their own advancements with steam power with help from the dwarves.
Goblins have very little talent with magic. Most of them cannot see auras, but there are very few who can. Those that do are strongly encouraged to use that ability to their advantage and study magic and use it to help their civilization. There are no known goblin sorcerers, though there is no evidence that suggests there have never been any.
A problem goblins have in battle is that their weapons are still very medieval. They prefer to fight hand to hand with swords, spears, axes, etc. If they fight long-distance, it is always with bows and arrows. They are skilled and sturdy fighters who can hold their ground, but they are wary of heavy weapons and gunpowder since explosions in underground cities can be far more catastrophic. That is why they disagree with the dwarves' uses of gunpowder in their mines. This is also why they limit their use of steam-powered machines, and when they do use them they are very cautious.
Despite what the stereotypes say, goblins are not greedy creatures. If anything, they are frugal and cautious because of their mistrust of other races, but among friends they are very generous. Goblin cities have the lowest homelessness rate because of their generous nature. As long as someone is willing to do their share of work, most goblins will welcome them to their homes and dinner tables. If a goblin is attracted to a shiny object, it is most likely because the shine reminds them of the luminescent plants of the Underdark.
Goblins also have a love of the arts, their favorites being music and storytelling. A good bard will find a comfortable life living among them. Their music is usually very heavy with drums and bass, probably because of the pleasant sound quality in the caverns of the Underdark.
When it comes to food, they have a fondness for root vegetables and mushrooms. Meat is a rare delicacy for goblins since they don't have a lot of space for livestock. Goblins farmers make a lot of use out of growing things on space-saving shelves and along walls of rocks.
Unlike other races, goblins are not bothered by "pests" such as rats, mice, or bats. They are particularly fond of bats and often build houses and feeders for them. Some even make a hobby out of "batwatching."

Naming Traditions

Feminine names

Goblins tend to be named after things in nature. Therefore, it is not uncommon for female goblins to be named after flowers or animals.

Masculine names

Male goblins tend to be named after trees. There is a tradition in some families that sons be named after parts of flowers in honor of their mothers that bore them and gave them life. They can also be named after animals.

Unisex names

There are many unisex names in goblin society since they are all named after things in nature. It is not unusual for someone to prefer a unisex name later in life if they prefer to be seen as non-binary.

Family names

Family names are not commonly used by goblins because of their welcoming nature. They tend to look at all goblins as family.

Other names

If goblins adopt pets, they will often name them after insects or baby animals. They thing it is endearing.