Goblins
Basic Information
Anatomy
Goblins have flat faces, sloped back forehead, broad noses, pointed ears, and small, sharp fangs. and their eyes varied in color from red to yellow. Their skin color ranges from yellow through any shade of orange to a deep red, though they also came in shades of green. All members of the same tribe normally shared the same skin color.
Genetics and Reproduction
Goblins breed extremely rapidly compared with many other races, accounting for their large population.
Ecology and Habitats
Goblins often inhabit temperate plains, though many are also known to live in caverns or underground.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Goblins are omnivores.
Behaviour
Like other goblinoids, Goblins often have a short temper, and are more easily provoked than individuals of most other races. They often find it difficult to overcome this short fuse, and have a sense of greed that makes it difficult for them to act altruistically. They also generally take sadistic pleasure in exacting revenge once crossed.
Young goblins are taught from an early age to rely only on themselves, and that to survive, they need to be aggressive and ruthless. To a goblin, it doesn't seem logical to treat others as well or better than you would treat yourself; rather, they believe in preemptively removing potential rivals before they can become a threat. Expatriated Goblins will sometimes try to recreate the circumstances of their culture, preying on the weaknesses of others in non-goblin communities.
Despite their generally poor reputation however, not all Goblins are dim-witted or evil. Some goblins have risen to become heroes, gaining enough renown to be accepted into the civilized world of other, more commonly good races. Those Goblins seeking this path may have found it difficult to overcome their temper and greed, as well as the cultural influence of their brethren, but those who did often found it could be more rewarding, in the long run at least, to serve good rather than to serve evil. Those that did often make use of their ill-gained talents as rogues or fighters.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Goblin society is tribal by nature, generally led by the strongest (and sometimes smartest) around, who normally has access to the best weapons. Leaders among the race often come to power through betrayal or aggression rather than by more peaceful means, or as clerics of the Gods. Because of the violent nature of goblin culture, it is not uncommon for goblins to come under the domination of individuals from a larger, more physically powerful culture, most typically larger goblinoids such as hobgoblins or bugbears.
Goblins have little concept of privacy, living and sleeping in large communal areas with only the leaders living separately in their own private chambers. As such, goblin lairs are often stinking or soiled, though easily defended when under assault and layered with simple traps for such purposes. The innermost chambers of goblin lairs are usually the most densely-populated and well-defended. Goblin settlements are often filled with young goblin children, partially due to gender roles, though young Goblins do not outnumber adults since their lives are often at least as dangerous as their forebears.
The gender roles of goblin society have the dominant males sustain the community through raiding and stealing, sneaking into lairs, villages, and even towns by night to take what they can (and if supplies ran short they are willing to eat sentients, including each other). Goblin females meanwhile are expected to birth as many children as possible to sustain a population constantly driven down by violence. Many Goblins who left for a life among other races are females, driven away by the rigidly structured role they are expected to play.
Some goblin tribes are not above waylaying travelers on the road or in forests and stripping them of their possessions. Goblins sometimes capture slaves to perform hard labor in the tribe's lair or camp.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Being bullied by bigger, stronger creatures has taught Goblins to exploit what few advantages they have, namely sheer numbers and malicious ingenuity. They favor ambushes, overwhelming odds, dirty tricks, and any other edges they can devise, the concept of a fair fight being meaningless in their society.
Goblins are an elusive and nimble race, which enables them to slip away from danger more easily than most. In combat, Goblins often use this advantage to sneak up on enemies and deal them a blow from hiding and then slip away before they can be retaliated against.
When they have superior numbers in battle, Goblins will attempt to flank lone combatants. Retreat or surrender is their general response to being outmatched.
Civilization and Culture
Average Technological Level
Goblins are often known to fight with military picks, morningstar's, short swords, slings, and spears.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Human Language, Orcrun, Onigo
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Goblins are often considered little more than a nuisance. They do not get along well with most other races and are particularly suspicious of other goblinoids. Goblins have a somewhat ambivalent relationship with Orcs and Half-Onis, whom they'd work with on occasion, but the only true allies of the goblin race are Worgs, who often act as mounts and fighting companions for Goblins.
Goblins has particularly adverse relations with Dwarves, Gnomes, and Light Elves.
Some are known to domesticate huge reptiles.
Lifespan
40–60 years
Average Height
1‒1.1 m
Average Weight
18‒25 kg
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
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