Cave Goblin

Cave goblins are the most derived subrace. Living their entire lives in the pitch-blackness underground for generations has warped this strain considerably. Their skin is devoid of pigment, almost translucent, with a sparse covering of thin hair. Often, their sensitive skin is raw and blistered where they have encountered strong light, or marred with tumorous sores from simple lack of genetic diversity. In most cases, the eyes have shrunken to a near-vestigial state from lack of use, but in a few lines, they have magnified to enormous proportions to catch whatever light they can. Cave goblin body types vary dramatically as well. There is debate as to whether goblins of particular physiology undertake certain roles in the troop that they are suited for or whether, like some insect colonies, their bodies develop to fulfill different tasks. Either way, it is difficult to describe a ‘typical’ cave goblin, as even two individuals of the same caste or designation will look very different.
It is rare to see cave goblins dressed in any more than a few rags but—given the rarity of supplies—they can make a little material go a long way, utilizing every scrap of leather, cloth, or twine they can lay their hands on.

Culture

Rather than the typical goblin hierarchy, cave goblins are made up of hundreds, or even thousands, of equally subservient members serving a single “king”. This king grows fat on the tribute of his subjects, most of whom are his descendants, being the only reproductive male, and commands an almost religious veneration, with first pick of the food and goods gathered by the troop. In many cases, the king is not a purebred cave goblin, with many kings having a dash or more of hobgoblin, orc, ogre, or even troll at some point in their lineage. Cave goblins flock to strength, so it is not uncommon to see an entirely different subterranean species with a troop of deferential cave goblins in tow.
In the event of the king’s death, what little structure the troop had dies with him. In some cases, the largest remaining goblin will, quite literally, expand to fill the role, but it is just as common for the troop to simply collapse and dissolve. If they are lucky, some goblins will find an existing troop to join and a new king to serve. Given the vast size of the caves below, many simply wander, little more than feral beasts.

Having been separated from the troop, either through infighting, societal collapse following the king’s death, or simply wandering too far, the life of a feral is generally short, desperate and filled with violence. Unique specimen! The CAVE GOBLIN, though his brethren be multitudinous in the deepest pits of the earth, is the only existing above ground, preserved in brine for your revolted amazement.
GASP at its pustulant, pasty skin ne’r kissed by the warmth of the sun!
RECOIL from the gaze of its sightless, bulging eyes!
GRIMACE at its grasping fingers which have been the doom of so many a subterranean adventurer!
AVOID the queues – book your ticket TODAY to hear the thrilling circumstances of its capture!
-Flyer for Adolphus Gildinelli’s traveling show

Cave goblins will attempt to eat any potential food item; pickings are slim enough below that they can’t afford to be choosy. Most troops are able to eke out a living mostly on subterranean fungus species and cave molds, but any meat they can catch will be enthusiastically devoured before the thought of cooking it can occur.

Role Playing Cave Goblins

An individual cave goblin has little personality, and is quite animalistic in its tendencies. As a group, however, they have an unnerving synchronicity, as if they share a common intelligence. This effect increases the more goblins there are in an area, so even huge troops of cave goblins can decide on a course of action as a whole. Whether this is due to some psychic connection, pheromones, or some other strange method of communication is unknown.
Cave goblin kings, on the other hand, tend to be grandiose, viewing themselves as supreme rulers of their own empire and, with hundreds or thousands of thoughtlessly loyal servants at their command, there is an argument to be made that they are right. Those who stroke their egos may only find themselves insulted and patronized before being banished from the kingdom rather than being executed and possibly eaten.

Combat Tactics

“On the fifth day we were attacked again, but it was different this time. Just the one goblin, moving strangely, like a puppet not in control of its own limbs. We thought it was funny, approaching us on its own, so we let it get close. There was something wrong with it, with its eyes. It jumped at Bormann, drew blood, it vomited something at Konna, and she coughed so bad she couldn’t even draw her sword. When Gorsk brought his axe down, another cloud of that filth exploded and he went down wheezing too. Me and Bormann made it to the surface, but his mind was going. I blame myself for what happened. There was so little blood when the guard cut him down. He was just roots and spores inside. I ask that he be remembered as the man he was, not the creature he became.” -Deposition of San Tan, mercenary

Fighting cave goblins is less like fighting an army and more like fighting the tide; they do not fight as individuals, but as one enormous body. They pay little heed to self-preservation but, like a colony of insects, fight in the manner which best serves the troop as a whole and the safety of the king in particular. Larger cave goblins in particular are bred to fight, and serve no purpose other than to defend the troop with their lives. Their numbers are usually so vast that losses from any one skirmish are incidental, so they can afford to simply throw bodies at the problem until it goes away.
Morale is usually not a problem, but cave goblins will retreat if significant losses would make them less able to defend a more strategically important location. Unlike other goblins, a cave goblin retreat is relatively organized, with smaller goblins simultaneously breaking away from combat while larger goblins cover their escape. If they are retreating to deal with another threat, the opposite is true; the larger goblins move to deal with the new problem, and the smaller goblins attempt to bog down any pursuers with weight of numbers.