Shadow Goblin
Born from the same cunning roots as their daylight cousins but molded by shadow and silence, Shadow Goblins dwell where light is scarce and echoes linger too long. Found in the deep places of the world—forgotten ruins, the roots of ancient trees, winding tunnels beneath the Eldergrove Plains, and the veil-thin places between the mortal world and the Umbral Paths—these elusive folk have become synonymous with secrecy, stealth, and a strange, almost reverent quiet.
Unlike the chaotic, rowdy energy of surface goblins, Shadow Goblins move with eerie grace. Their skin tones range from dusky gray to pitch black, and their large, luminous eyes reflect the faintest light like a predator’s in the dark. Their voices are naturally hushed, and many prefer to speak in clicks, hisses, or hand-signs refined into an intricate silent language known as Slycant, passed through generations. Their presence is often felt before seen—if it's noticed at all.
Shadow Goblins are deeply spiritual, but not in the worshipful way of surface folk. They revere shadows themselves—believing that every dark place is a doorway, every flicker a whisper from something greater. They speak of the Tenebrant, an unknowable force of twilight that is neither God nor Spirit, but a constant companion and teacher. This belief system teaches patience, subtlety, and the value of remaining unseen until the time is right.
Their societies are tight-knit and hidden, often ruled by councils of elders known as Whisperrings, who dispense wisdom through riddles and half-truths. Artisans and mages among them are masters of illusion, shadowcraft, and delicate construction—creating traps that vanish into the environment or garments that blend into the gloom. Their architecture avoids symmetry and embraces asymmetry, giving their homes a labyrinthine, dreamlike quality.
Though not inherently malevolent, Shadow Goblins are pragmatic and untrusting by necessity. Having long been hunted, enslaved, or used as scapegoats by other subterranean powers, they developed a cultural instinct to strike first or vanish entirely. However, those who earn their trust find unwavering loyalty, unmatched reconnaissance, and a companion who sees what others cannot.
Adventuring Shadow Goblins are rare, but not unheard of. Some seek knowledge of the world beyond the dark, others wish to prove themselves as envoys between their hidden people and the surface, and a few follow the whispers of the Tenebrant out into the broader world—believing that even the brightest lands have shadows worth listening to.
