Hobgoblin (Hob-Gob-lin)
"Plarma was such a nice place. Or, so I've heard. My ancestors would talk about the heroes, the saviors, and the happiness. No one starved, no one murdered, and everyone went to bed under a roof. Life was well under the Hobgoblin empire. But here, everyone is suffering. People are killed, starved, and tortured, and instead of accepting our gracious hands, you want to kick and scream and fight. Why?"
Horasho Muminam, Hobgoblin General
Basic Information
Anatomy
2 arms, 2 legs. Each arm has a hand with 5 fingers, and each leg has a foot with 5 toes.
Genetics and Reproduction
Hobgoblins reproduce sexually. They give birth after 5 months.
Growth Rate & Stages
Hobgoblins become adults at age 18.
Ecology and Habitats
Hobgoblins can live anywhere, but tend to want to live in warm temperate climates, and likes rolling hills, and plains.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Hobgoblins are Omnivores.
Additional Information
Social Structure
As in any strict military hierarchy, every hobgoblin in a legion has a rank, from the warlord down through a cadre of officers to the soldiers that make up most of its number. These ranks, using the titles most often applied to them, are as follows:
1st rank: Warlord
2nd rank: General
3rd rank: Captain
4th rank: Fatal Axe
5th rank: Spear
6th rank: Fist
7th rank: Soldier
A legion is organized into units called banners, each one made up of a group of interrelated families. Members of a banner live, work, and fight together, and each banner has a separate status within the legion that is reflected in the power of its officers. For instance, the captains of the highest-ranking banners can expect their orders to be followed by the captains of any banners of lower rank.
Rank and responsibility aren’t necessarily commensurate from one legion to another or even between banners in the same legion. A phalanx of foot soldiers led by a captain in one legion might be two hundred strong, while in another such a force numbers just twenty. One banner might have four warriors mounted on worgs led by a fist, while a fist in another banner of the same legion might lead ten mounted warriors. If any rank doesn’t serve a purpose in the legion, the warlord eliminates it from the hierarchy to maximize efficiency.
Facial characteristics
Hobgoblins have Goblinoid faces similar to Regular Goblins, but their nose is smaller, their jawline sharper, and they tend to have small tusks.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Most Hobgoblins can be found in Godsen and Ovak.
Average Intelligence
Hobgoblins are typically schooled vigorously, making them usually smarter than the average human.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Hobgoblins can see up to 60 feet in darkness. Hobgoblins also have a strange magical ability to do tasks better if others are watching them, though when it applies is random.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Hobgoblins, Goblins, and Bugbears tended to work together to cause destruction.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Hobgoblins use their First name and their National Name.
Example First Male Names: Nanomik, Violrut, Causian, Quilk, Urulk, Mauyn, Wuoll, Illry, Pearmun
Example First Female Names: Virelly, Hulun, Quon, Eryne, Maurn, Euril, Oaiu, Paulike
Example National Names: Warfou, Joultro, Lluoin, Auron, Detem, Yryen, Vix
Major Organizations
A hobgoblin currently runs the Drandar War Council. He and his small council are the ones who control who determine if the king is allowed to go to war with an enemy.
Multiple Goblin Kingdoms exist in the world, all run by Hobgoblins.
Beauty Ideals
Hobgoblins associate beauty to war. They tend to fall in love with other Hobgoblins in the middle of Combat, watching the one Hobgoblin do something "Beautiful," like casting an explosion at the right time in the right spot to maximize their kill, or a Hobgoblin ripping through several creatures in literal seconds.
Gender Ideals
Typically, females would defend the fort, build weapons, and would do all the menial chores when at war. Otherwise, there is no difference between males and females, and even then, females also tend to go to war along with males.
Courtship Ideals
Hobgoblins will directly ask for another's hand in war.
Relationship Ideals
Hobgoblins that are in a relationship are usually called "Goulbroud," or "War Bond."
Average Technological Level
Hobgoblins are well known for making and using all manor of swords.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Common and Goblinoid. Many Hobgoblins also learn the local languages of the area, such as Halfling, Elvish, Dwarvish, or Giant.
Common Etiquette Rules
Hobgoblins meet others by saying out loud their Name and their Nation, followed by a salute. Hobgoblins also make sure they learn local customs and greetings, using them when interacting with locals.
Common Dress Code
Hobgoblins wear a shirt, shoes, and pants. Hobgoblins also wear their rank as a badge over their heart.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Hobgoblins are Honorbound by their codes created by their ancestors. All Legions have different codes, but every legion must follow these core tenants:
Follow orders: Carrying out orders without question is critical on the battlefield, and hobgoblins follow this dictum in peaceful times as well in order to maintain stability in their society. Hobgoblins don’t shrink from following orders that they know will result in death if the act will bring glory to the banner or the legion.
Honor the dead Gods: Hobgoblins give regular recognition to the deities left to them after Maglubiyet’s demise. Idols of Nomog-Geaya, as well as standards and flags with his image or symbol, receive a bow or salute at all times except emergencies. Bargrivyek’s peacemakers receive due deference regardless of rank or banner status.
Suffer nor Give Insult. As befits their warlike nature, hobgoblins believe that any insult demands a response. Suitably (and somewhat ironically), the outward politeness and civility that they demonstrate among each other enables them to avoid conflicts in daily life. This same form of “courtesy” is often extended to other races the hobgoblins have dealings with, much to the outsiders’ surprise. When such respect isn’t reciprocated, though, relations can swiftly deteriorate.
Reward Glorious Action. Hobgoblins never deny advancement in status to a banner that has earned it, nor do they withhold higher rank from a deserving individual. If a banner attains great glory in battle but is nearly destroyed, the handful of members who remain are welcomed into another banner, taking their banner’s name and colors along with them, and assuming places of leadership in the group.
Uphold the Legion. Hobgoblins care more for the survival of their legion than they do for others of their own kind. Two legions might battle over territory, resources, or power, or out of simple pride. Such a feud can continue over generations in an ongoing cycle of retribution. Each legion has a list of grievances against any others it knows about, and any legions meeting for the first time view each other with immediate hostility. Only a truly great warlord can force legions to work together as an army if Maglubiyet has not called forth a host.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Hobgoblin daily life is incredibly rigid and unchanging, unless they receive orders from a superior that ask them to do something outside of their normal pace. At war, their schedules become subject to change at a moments notice.
Hobgoblins have developed a culture around smoking. Due to the stress of war, and the nightmares of their previous world, Hobgoblins are often outfitted with "smoke rations," along with regular rations. These packs contain ten sticks of tobacco, rolled up using a piece of paper, and a tinderbox.
Common Taboos
Hobgoblins have to be merciless. Showing Mercy in the face of the enemy is against the wishes of the god who sacrificed Maglubiyet. However, killing children, unless they are also trained to fight, will not be tolerated. Murder of something that could be used for the future is a waste.
History
In the year 34wr, Maglubiyet, a Goblin god who had died in the Original Timeline, would be the first to come to the Material Plane. There, he and his brothers and sisters would turn the Primordial Men into Hobgoblins, at the time just called Goblins. They were not as militaristic as they are now, but they would begin invasions of other Humanoids. In 984wr, the Hobgoblins would overtake the world, and become the master race. However, in 4999wr, after a great year of birth and farming, the Eldritch evil Vivxhour would invade the Plamra, and would send everyone into a world-wide war. Even Maglubiyet and his brothers and sisters would assist his creation in battle. In 5099wr, Maglubiyet would die by it's hands, and each of the other Goblin gods would fall to him one by one. The Hobgoblins would try everything they could to defeat it, until 5599wr, when the last remaining Hobgoblins would try to come together to try to escape from the Horror. They would successfully create a spell, called "Reality Shift," which would incinerate the caster, but allowed the last few Hobgoblins to Reality shift into Godsen.
In the year 475wr, Orcs had just finished raiding a castle and were picking it clean when about 10,000 Hobgoblins had teleported inside the Castle. After a tough battle, the Hobgoblins would take the castle, and use it as a home base. They formulated a theory, that the dimension they were in has not yet fought Vivxhour. Due to their knowledge on the horrible creature, they believe that if they want to kill it in this world, and keep a place to call home, they must overtake all of Godsen, rebuild their empire, and prepare for Vivxhour's inevitable coming. They would try to peacefully take leadership from a nearby city, being forced to destroy and conquer the settlement. This would be the start of their horrible transformation into evil monsters. They would begin believing that the creatures that already live on this world do not understand the threat they face, and must be enslaved or killed. Their freedom is guaranteed after Vivxhour.
In 512wr, A Hobgoblin Warband would come across a Goblin camp. They just believed they were some evil creature, like the Orcs they saw when they first touched down, only to be confused that they spoke their Language. It would take about 2 months, but eventually the Hobgoblins would realize that that is them. They would try to integrate the Goblins into their society, but their vast difference in personal beliefs ended up having the Hobgoblins enslave them to "Save" them and to use the Goblins as soldiers. In 654wr, A large Group of Bugbears would try to invade the Home castle of the Hobgoblins. Before the battle even started, the Goblins would explain that they are also Goblins. While they were still fairly different personal beliefs, the Bugbears would easily integrate, simply as long as they don't have to do anything other than eat and fight things.
In 787wr, the Castle would be destroyed by a raiding army of Elves, who would scatter most of the Hobgoblins, Goblins, and Bugbears. The survivors would build their own raid camps, and would continuously become more and more dangerous every generation. They would pick up more evil forms of war tactics, and would begin ignoring many rules of war they had set on themselves, doing horrible acts of atrocities to simply gain the upper hand.
Common Myths and Legends
Many Hobgoblins believe that Maglubiyet made them for the purposes of war, and that when they were on Plamra they were disappointing him. They believe that he called Vivxhour, to force his subordinates to become the battle hardened warriors they are now.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Most creatures hate Hobgoblins. With the exception of Bugbears and Apidites, most Hobgoblins are seen as "mortal devils," due to their evil use of weaknesses.
Bugbears enjoy the Presence of Hobgoblins. Due to their relations, Hobgoblins rarely will fight a Bugbear, instead using them as bodyguards, keepers of the peace, and Shock Troops. Regular goblins still Hate Hobgoblins for poor treatment of them.
Apidites like them for their militaristic minds and the secrets they can discover. It's actually quite common for Apidite schooling to have a Hobgoblin teach tactics, military might and how to use weapons. Hobgoblins also like Apidites, and sometimes use them as apart of their armies, but they haven't gained the Ire of Apidites because of their Tactics, in that, they knew invading a closed building were every citizen is a trained soldier who are close to a weapon, where upon death of their leader, they go from "Smart creatures who know when to surrender," to "Insane Monsters that fight until death, sometimes even having some of their own bring back to life just to keep destroying." In order to successfully invade a hive, a very specific, very carefully created plan must be executed nearly perfectly, otherwise could end in disaster.
Hobgoblin Adventurers
Hobgoblins who leave their Legion are few and far between. Those that leave the comfort of a Hobgoblin Legion usually don't do so willingly. Survivors of a Legion that fell apart, banished warriors, and the disillusioned are all common among the ranks of adventurer for them. Sometimes, Hobgoblins are sent into the world as spies, often traveling with a group of non-hobgoblins to collect information while also managing to avoid suspicion.
Genetic Descendants
Scientific Name
Longus Goblo Sapien
Origin/Ancestry
Primordial Man
Lifespan
100 years
Conservation Status
Hobgoblins are rare to find in non-hobgoblin settlements, and are not under protection.
Average Height
5'10"-6'6"
Average Weight
150lbs-250lbs
Average Physique
Hobgoblins are bigger and usually more muscular than Humans.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Hobgoblins can be any color ranging from a Dark red to a Dark Brown to a light Orange. Some Hobgoblins have blue noses, which is seen in Hobgoblin culture as a blessing of Maglubiyet
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