Goblins

Goblins are a race of small green humanoids that live within the vast underground cave network known as "The Dark Hollows". Originally vassals of the old Dwarvish Empire, the Goblins have since risen up in defiance of their masters, carving out a free kingdom of their own. While not the most physically imposing of races (outside of when they're fighting in large numbers), Goblins are renowned for their craftiness, quick wit, and resourcefulness, traits that have allowed them to excel as traders, engineers, and scavengers. With the creation of Magitech, the Goblins have since become one of the most technologically advanced races in the Hollows, and are the largest distributors and manufacturers of Magitech based machinery and infrastructure among their fellow Underdwellers.

Basic Information

Anatomy

All Goblins an average humanoid build with two arms and legs, hands with four fingers and a thumb on each hand, and feet with five toes on each leg. They also have large bat-like ears, large yellow eyes, and a mouth full of sharp teeth.

Biological Traits

Male goblins tend to be slightly larger and stronger, while females have wider hips and slightly larger ears, as well as keener senses.

Genetics and Reproduction

Goblins give birth to live young, with pregnancies lasting around 6-7 months.

Growth Rate & Stages

Infant: 0-2
Child: 3-11
Adolescence: 12-17
Young adult: 18-24
Adulthood: 25-49
Elder: 50+

Ecology and Habitats

Goblins prefer to live underground, though they're just as comfortable living in urban areas as well.

Dietary Needs and Habits

While they're omnivorous, the typical Goblin diet mostly consists of meat and fungi.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Goblins typically have rounder faces than most humanoids, with females having slightly softer features and larger eyes.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The Goblins largely live within the underground caves they've called home all their lives, though some have managed to make a life for themselves on the surface.

Average Intelligence

Goblins possess an average level of intelligence, and are fast learners. They also possess a keen sense of risk assessment, which has greatly contributed to their survivability.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Due to having spent so much of their existence deep underground, Goblins have evolved to possess a keen sense of hearing, and a near unrivalled ability to see in the dark.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

The majority of Goblin names tend to be on the short side, though there are a number of longer ones too. As for surnames, Goblins will use the name of their mother (They believe it to be easier to trace ones lineage through the mother than the father). Additionally, much like their language, Goblin names have a mix of sharp and guttural sounds.

Male: Flit, Kliz, Nezgit, Ruvnard, Ylar, Myx, Kouvgutoart, Ishiek
Female: Ogea, Ingeetwix, Gessadka, Janver, Adaxi, Ludrou, Enmi, Meenka

Beauty Ideals

Goblins consider resourcefulness and craftiness to be attractive traits in prospective mates.

Gender Ideals

Goblins make no real distinction between genders.

Courtship Ideals

Goblin courtship consists of the male giving the female an item of great worth to try and impress them, the idea being that the quality and worth of the item would speak of the cunning and resourcefulness the male displayed to acquire it.

Relationship Ideals

Goblins are monogamous. It's not uncommon for Goblin parents to give their children to an elder to look after if they're unable to care for them themselves.

Average Technological Level

Goblins possess the skills and knowledge to work with and modify Magitech powered machinery. Additionally, they have shown themselves to have an aptitude for crafting and using explosives, producing some of the most powerful (and unstable) explosives in the Hollows, and possibly Taeva as a whole.

Common Etiquette Rules

When it comes to scavenging, anything that would benefit the entire community is expected to be shared with everyone else in that community. Anything that doesn't impact the community as a whole instead belongs to whoever found it. In regards to thievery, stealing from other Goblins is considered a terrible offence, and is punished more harshly than if the offender had stolen from one of the other races.

Common Dress Code

Goblin clothing is made to be tough and durable.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

The Goblins early life as forcefully conquered subjects and slaves has had a strong influence on their culture. Firstly, as a result of having had so little, all Goblins now have a strong sense of ownership, being unwilling to part with possessions without proper compensation, and consider theft to be one of the most serious crimes that can be committed in their society. Additionally, due to the scarcity of resources, the Goblins have developed a scavenger culture, using whatever they could find in their society, resulting in most things created by them having a ramshackle quality to them. Also, due to their lack of any physical advantages (outside of large numbers), Goblins have learned to be very cunning, quick-thinking, and resourceful, traits that are considered to be virtues in Goblin society, and has helped them to excel as scavengers, engineers, and rogues. And finally, due to the fact that they had to regularly trade with others for valuable resources in their early years, the Goblins have also become some of the best merchants in the Dark Hollows.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

The Goblins have good relations with their fellow Underdwellers, the Kobolds and Ratfolk. While relations between Goblins and the surface races have improved somewhat over the years, most surface dwellers are still wary of interacting with them. Most notably, Goblins and Dwarves share a strong mutual animosity towards each other, owing to the events of the Fall of Duridar, a feeling which hasn't diminished in the slightest over the centuries.

Lifespan

110 years

Average Height

Male: 3'7" Female: 3'5"

Average Weight

Male: 19kg Female: 16kg

Average Physique

Goblins have a physique similar to most humanoids, though some can be slimmer or larger.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

All Goblins have skin of various shade of green, and almost universally have black hair, though brown and red hair has occasionally been observed.

Related Organizations

• The Dock Rats
• The Goblin Territories

Related Myths

• The Dark Hunter

Related Materials

• Glowing Cave Mushroom