Goblins
Basic Information
Anatomy
Goblins possess a humanoid form
Biological Traits
Much to the disaggreance of elves, goblins are in fact (very) disntantly related to the fey. THis can be observed in some examples being less suseptiable to charming magics and other effects. Indeed, the goblin race is one of curiosities, mutations, and variants of many types. In fact, some research points to goblins not being related to orcs (many assume so because of the same color pigmentation) but instead perhaps have a distant relation to trolls. Regardless, goblins are humanoid shapred creatures, roughly the same size as a halfling though typically more lanky. It should be noted that goblins living in more "civilized" enviorments tend to look very diffrent from their wild cousins, some even looking more "human" like. Either way, goblins are a diverse race, and much can be sad for their cunning, cowardice, bravery, and desire for shiny things. Goblins are a race used to being bullied and beaten down by orcs and other goblinoids, and so they have gotten used to being bullies themselves, and of doing everything they can to give themselves an edge.
Some variants of goblins include:
- Hill Goblins are perhaps what can be considered the "base standard" of the goblin race. As far as many are concerned, these are "the" goblin that comes to mind when mentioning them
- Forest Goblins: A slight variant, while there is some argument of if they can actually be considered a subrace or not, regardless these goblins seem to have a stronger aversion to open spaces, preffering the shaded existance under forest light, and have grown adept at hiding in foliage.
- Cave Goblin: A (thankfully) ever rarer subtype, these goblins are little better than deranged beasts. Hailing from the underdark, their brains have seemingly rotted away or degenerated, and many also sport bizzare and twisted fungal infections upon their bodies. These are the most wild and savage of the goblins, and will generally be hostile to any around them.
- Beefy (or Beefies) are a goblin subtype born of mutation. They are mutated to be unnusually bigger than their goblin kin, seemingly at the cost of some higher brain capacity. Perhaps the only goblins where they do in fact have a slightly lower intelligance. They cna typically be found either as brute cannon fodder for goblin tribes, or making themselves leaders by beating and killing everyone that disagrees.
- Nu-Goblin: a non offical term for goblins living in civilized realms. While still facing the stigma their wild cousins conjure up, these goblins are not so diffrent from the average person, perhaps only slightly more prone to "chaotic" actions. These goblins are where the traces of their fey ancestry are most noticable, being fun loving tricksters or simply curious folk.
- Wryd Onez: A somewhat rare variant, these goblins have a natural tendency toward magical powers. Often described as almost overflowing in uncontrollable magical energy, many take to grafting Akinstone into their forheads or hands ( in some cases their eyes) to harness this as tribal shamans and spellcasters.
Genetics and Reproduction
Goblin gestation period lasts about 5 months, and most females regularly give birth to multiple children, reffered to as litters.
Growth Rate & Stages
Goblins reach adulthood by around 8 years old
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
Goblins typically possess pointed ears, and flat faces. Their eyes are usually yellow or red in color. It should be noted that goblins are also a race that can wildly differ in apperance, so some variation is to be expected.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Due to the surprsingly rapid nature of their reproduction, goblins have spread across the entire world, and can be found virtually anywhere, though mostly in dingey tribal settlements in the caves and forests, or in the ruins of villages and old fortresses.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Goblins possess darkvision, likely a hold over from their dsitant fey herritage
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
Goblin Bandit Kingdoms
Average Technological Level
Goblin technology is typically crude, kitbashed, or stolen, though this does not mean they are incapable of making their own materials. Its simply just easier and more "fun" to steal and copy what they steal. They will either purchase tools and weapons from hobgoblins or other tribes, or simply have their crude blacksmiths smash things together in the hopes it makes something.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Goblin is the main language goblins speak. Goblin language is guttural and rough sounding, known for being quick and to the point.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Much can be said of the goblin and its ways. Violent, brutal, cruel, sadistic, lustful, chaotic. No shortage of phrases are used to describe the goblin, but above all is the words "small" and "pathetic". Goblins have long been looked down upon and kicked around by others, living in a world much bigger than them. Orcs commonly use goblins as cannon fodder, other goblinoids like to enslave and push around goblin tribes, and the civilized races have rarely tolerated these wild and chaotic folk from the distant fey. How does the goblin survive? through aggression, violence, cunning, and an utter paranoia of enemies lurking in the shadows.
Before delving into the life of Goblin tribes, it has to be stressed that many goblins live in cities. These goblins arent in violent gangs murdering and burning, but living as workers, farmers, merhcants, etc. Many goblins have lived normal, if not peaceful lives in the cities, but they face much of the discrimination against their goblinoid cousins. With that said, there are far more goblins living in these wild and barbariac tribes than the ones that graciously live in the comfort of the cities.
Goblin tribes are violent, brutal regimes ruled by wicked and cruel tyrants. Goblin Kings (or whatever vile title they give themselves) grow fat off the spoils of war, but are always weary of other goblins trying to take their spot. These rulers rarely stay on top for long, many being killed by jealous goblins, but some live long enough to have their name scrawled in the history books for their infamy. Tribe life is quite simple: daily life revolves around goblins doing the orders of the people bigger, and meaner than them. Goblins boss and order each other around and tuant one another, and also quite reguarly get into violent fights with one another. This means they also typically take any opprotunity to bully those weaker than them, typically slaves captured in raids. Goblins are cruel, seemingly these tribe goblins feeding or getting some twisted joy from suffering and pain. Above all though, never underestimate the goblin, for they are small, they only willingly fight if they otnumber you ten to one. They overwhelm their foes in a tidal wave of stabbing laughter from cruel mouths, and love to surprise or ambush their victims.
History
For as long as orcs and elves and dwarves walked the world, goblins have been beaten around and dragged across history. Their origins are not well understood, some believing they came from the Wyld Realm, though this is fiercly debated by elven scholars. Dwarven scholars theorize they are some sort of corrupted form of life that came from the moon, hoping to steal things that they want. The Goblins don't typically care where they came from, but their own mythology has some ideas. Many goblins believe they were born of fey creatures, grabbed by the god they know as the God Boss and morphed into what he wanted. Primarily, he made the first other goblin to have as his wife, now known as Great Mother Gob, and with her they created the twisted offspring. They created the goblin gods, and then further created the goblin race, and sent them scatterting across the stars. These goblins landed in many places, but the ones we care about landed here in the world of Tertara.
They were given the divine mandate to reproduce, plunder, pillage, kill, stab, and steal all they desired. So it was that from the earliest days goblint ribes marauded around harrassing the other mortal races. They became but one of the many numerous species of creatures raiding and burning their way across the world, fighting for scraps of resources to spend without thought. None can say when many goblins began to grow tired of this and live in the cities. In fact, there are almost no written records of when this happened. All that is known as is that just "randomly" many goblins began to leave their tribes and intergrate into wider civilized society. However unlike the orcs or saw their sundering as a great betrayal, the tribal goblins don't care, as they will just steal from these weaklings too. Indeed, despite being small and often bullied by others, goblins love when they band together and slaughter those that belittle and bully them, and inflict their own cruel tortures on those that bullied them, or for simply being in the way.
Most goblin history is written in blood, but of course in recent years, the infamous day the dwarven holds fell mark the biggest point in goblin history. The largest kindgom of goblins, The Goblin Bandit Kingdoms, now sits as one of the largest political entities in Nilush, and all are preparing for whatever horrid invasions they have planned. Let it be written in stone and parchment: never underestimate the goblin. They can be easily dispatched this is true, but there are always many many more. Countless lives have been lost staring into those horror inducing grins that reach almost ear to ear. While city goblins have smiles of warmth and compassion, such smiles are utterly alien to the goblins of the tribes.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Due to the rather bad reputation throughout most history, goblins are mistrusted and viewed with suspicion by others. Many have suffered through goblin raids and scars don't heal quickly. For those goblins trying to simply live peaceful lives, this means a life enduring prejudice and bigotry, but this doesn't stop those brave souls for the most part. City goblins also have become one of the many faces one might find in their communities, and if one gives them the chance, goblins can also be some of the most deeply emotional and caring friends one can make.
Genetic Descendants
Lifespan
50-80 years
Average Height
around 3'0 to 3'5"
Average Physique
Goblins are short and agile, though the goblins typically in charge of raiding camps are fatter and larger. Some mutation has been noticed, with some goblins being noticaebly larger than others.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Typically goblins are bright green of skin, but this can vary based on the environment of their birth
Related Organizations
