Hobgoblin

The great steppes to the east of the Dar al Shams are populated by many peoples, but to the settled residents of the Khaliphate, there is perhaps no ethnic group more closely associated with nomadic steppe life than the Hobgoblins. From their origins somewhere in the Great Central Steppe, the Hobgoblins have spread to every corner of the great grass sea.

Hobgoblin Traits

Ability Score Increase: Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Age: Hobgoblins mature at the same rate as humans and have lifespans similar in length to theirs.
Size: Hobgoblins are between 5 and 6 feet tall and weigh between 150 and 200 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision: You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Martial Training: You are proficient with the Lance, the Longbow, and with light armor.
Saving Face: Hobgoblins are careful not to show weakness in front of their allies, for fear of losing status. If you miss with an attack roll or fail an ability check or a saving throw, you can gain a bonus to the roll equal to the number of allies you can see within 30 feet of you (maximum bonus of +5). Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Languages: You can speak Low Solar and your native language. You may be able to read and write any of these languages, depending on your background.

History

Though they are unified by their physiology and their languages all have roots in a now lost original Hobgoblin language, modern Hobgoblins have developed a variety of distinct cultures and faiths. Like most steppe peoples, these cultures are distinct but they intermingle freely and fluidly with other steppe cultures, and with the settled societies bordering the steppe. So, hobgoblins living near the Dar al Shams speak a language heavily influenced by Lunar, and many have converted to Shamsari. Hobgoblins living near Nedj, in contrast, speak a language far more influenced by Nedjar language and religion.
However, most Hobgoblins (particularly those nations that live in the inner steppe, away from the settled societies) still practice the traditional religion of the steppe, Cheng-li, a polytheistic faith centered around the worship of the sky god Cheng. Like all steppe cultures, they live in close symbiotic union with their livestock, particularly their horses. In addition to using them as transport and as draft animals, they also drink horse milk, both fresh and fermented into an alcoholic beverage called Kumis. They also herd sheep, goats, and cattle. Their reliance on their livestock is the reason they are nomadic; they must constantly stay on the move so as never to over-graze any particular area. Each nation has their own designated range within which they move throughout the year. To graze your animals on another nation's range is considered a dire provocation, and most wars between steppe nations are fought over these sorts of land disputes. Grass is the fundamental driver of life on the steppe, so to lose any of your grass can be a fatal blow to a nation.
Like most steppe peoples, Hobgoblin nations are not entirely made up of Hobgoblins. A steppe nation is identified as a Hobgoblin nation when its senior leadership is Hobgoblin, but most steppe nations contain people of many different ethnic groups within their ranks. Sometimes, even entire clans of non-Hobgoblins can exist within Hobgoblin nations, and contribute to that nation's leadership equally with the pure Hobgoblin clans. Likewise, many Hobgoblins live within nations of non-Hobgoblins. Loyalty in the unforgiving world of the steppe is far less about blood, and far more about the necessities of survival.
Hobgoblins are much taller than their goblinoid cousins, standing only slightly shorter on average than humans. Their skin typically has a warm undertone, and their skin tone can range from dark brown all the way to a pale rust color. Their hair is black and fine, though they tend to cut their hair quite short as long hair can be a liability in combat. Like all steppe societies, Hobgoblins draw very little distinction between the social roles of men and women. Women can be hunters, warriors, shamans, and leaders, just as men can. On the steppe, there is no room for idle hands.
Hobgoblins are known for producing the greatest horse archers in the world. Hobgoblins are said to be born in the saddle, and given their intense reliance on horses, horsemanship is one of the most prized skills they can possess. Hobgoblin Fighters and Rangers are feared the world over. They are also known for producing many Barbarians, Bards, and Druids. There are no known Hobgoblin Wizards, as they have no institutions of higher learning, but Clerics of Cheng-Li command the domains of Nature and War, and are respected and feared amongst the settled societies.
The relationship between Hobgoblins and the settled societies is a complex one. On the one hand they trade with settled peoples a great deal. Many valued goods cannot be produced on the steppe, and being a nomadic people the Hobgoblins have no alphabet of their own. Many Hobgoblin nations have adopted the alphabets of their settled neighbors. However, the Hobgoblins also often raid their settled neighbors, stealing what they can and then demanding further payment in order to leave. It is very common for a Hobgoblin nation to raid one settlement, and then sell the spoils of that raid in another settlement just a few miles away. As a result, Hobgoblins have gained a fearsome reputation amongst the settled peoples, and many mothers the world over tell their children that if they aren't good, the Hobgoblins will come in the night and take them away.
In truth, however, Hobgoblins are no better or worse than anyone else. They are shaped by their environment and do what they must to survive. On the steppe, that's often all you can do.