Hobgoblins
"Out of all the improbable stories of this realm, the elves forming a hobgoblin state which then becomes civilized and establishes its own culture and religion is perhaps the most strange. I would never have guessed either party had it in them" - Oddomar, Gnomish traveller
Hobgoblins are a tenacious race which mainly inhabits the northernmost regions of Ærellion, mixed in with goblins and kobolds for the most part. They are a people used to doing what they can with little resources, and therefore value the spirit over materialism. This attitude has translated into a very interesting dynamic amongst their people, who value honor, justice, and loyalty above all. They have become prominent figures in a number of different religions centered on their ancestors.
For many years the hobgoblins were just another group of tribes, living generally to the east and north of the centaurs. However, as with many of the races originally populating the steppe, hobgoblins were forced into a smaller and smaller area which resulted in large scale warfare amonst their people and against centaurs. It is this pressure which also led to migrations that persist today into Hymar and the Dulyeong regions, where they have adapted to the native cultures and religions. However, most hobgoblins remained in the steppe and boreal forests, dominating the goblin tribes of this region and largely subjugating them. This was not enough to stop their slow loss of lands, and they continued fighting against the centaurs and each other. The period in which they warred amonst one another is known as the Great Warlord Era, and many of the songs, stories, and legends of their people come from this time.
Everything changed when the elves arrived. The Illeusar family, who were prominent High Elven nobility, decided to flee the magical forests and the feykin within and set up an elven kingdom in the steppe. The family felt that utilizing hobgoblins as a lower class would provide a stable basis for elven-dominated society. Therefore, they conquered and united many of the hobgoblin tribes into an empire. Following their defeat, these tribes were naturally further "civilized", and while the elves ruled over the hobgoblins, many sought to emulate their overlords in regards to things like beauty, architecture, and art. The birth of the Izobhüdiye religion occured during this time, leading to religious boom in hobgoblin communities, and led to the establishment of a formal clergy class, sponsored and promoted by the elven ruling class. The elves generally encouraged the development of institutions among the hobgoblins as they felt it would help build a modern society and empower the nation. Therefore, centralized religion was seen as a positive step, especially since the elves did not wish to spread theirs to the hobgoblins.
While a non-nuanced view of the situation might view elves as the bad guys in this situation, in practice many hobgoblins value the elves, seeing them as an honorable people in their own right. The elves are, after all, credited for creating a modern hobgoblin state, despite the bloodshed this caused. They have spearheaded efforts to reclaim holy sites of the hobgoblins from centaurs, such as the Black Mist hills, a region which remains contested to this day.
Physically, hobgoblins have skin that ranges from dull red to brown, averaging out into a generally russet-like color. Hobgoblins have either dark brown or black hair, and have large noses, which makes them look unattractive to many other races. Their noses are distinct from goblins; rather than being long and pointy, they are rather flat and inset, though wide. They are fairly strong on average, but don't stand notably tall. Instead, much of their weight comes from large muscle mass and dense bones, allowing them to compete with larger races. Although hobgoblins are usually not considered attractive, this hasn't stopped them from refining their image and forming their own beauty standards. Still, negative self esteem due to this remains present, with hobgoblins often seeking mates of other species due to their percieved superiority. For many, this borders on an unhealthy obsession, rather than appreciation of others. This opinion can also be seen in their lack of cultural value for beauty before their conquest by the elves, which largely has continued for those tribes untouched by the elven conquest.
Hobgoblins are a tenacious race which mainly inhabits the northernmost regions of Ærellion, mixed in with goblins and kobolds for the most part. They are a people used to doing what they can with little resources, and therefore value the spirit over materialism. This attitude has translated into a very interesting dynamic amongst their people, who value honor, justice, and loyalty above all. They have become prominent figures in a number of different religions centered on their ancestors.
For many years the hobgoblins were just another group of tribes, living generally to the east and north of the centaurs. However, as with many of the races originally populating the steppe, hobgoblins were forced into a smaller and smaller area which resulted in large scale warfare amonst their people and against centaurs. It is this pressure which also led to migrations that persist today into Hymar and the Dulyeong regions, where they have adapted to the native cultures and religions. However, most hobgoblins remained in the steppe and boreal forests, dominating the goblin tribes of this region and largely subjugating them. This was not enough to stop their slow loss of lands, and they continued fighting against the centaurs and each other. The period in which they warred amonst one another is known as the Great Warlord Era, and many of the songs, stories, and legends of their people come from this time.
Everything changed when the elves arrived. The Illeusar family, who were prominent High Elven nobility, decided to flee the magical forests and the feykin within and set up an elven kingdom in the steppe. The family felt that utilizing hobgoblins as a lower class would provide a stable basis for elven-dominated society. Therefore, they conquered and united many of the hobgoblin tribes into an empire. Following their defeat, these tribes were naturally further "civilized", and while the elves ruled over the hobgoblins, many sought to emulate their overlords in regards to things like beauty, architecture, and art. The birth of the Izobhüdiye religion occured during this time, leading to religious boom in hobgoblin communities, and led to the establishment of a formal clergy class, sponsored and promoted by the elven ruling class. The elves generally encouraged the development of institutions among the hobgoblins as they felt it would help build a modern society and empower the nation. Therefore, centralized religion was seen as a positive step, especially since the elves did not wish to spread theirs to the hobgoblins.
While a non-nuanced view of the situation might view elves as the bad guys in this situation, in practice many hobgoblins value the elves, seeing them as an honorable people in their own right. The elves are, after all, credited for creating a modern hobgoblin state, despite the bloodshed this caused. They have spearheaded efforts to reclaim holy sites of the hobgoblins from centaurs, such as the Black Mist hills, a region which remains contested to this day.
Physically, hobgoblins have skin that ranges from dull red to brown, averaging out into a generally russet-like color. Hobgoblins have either dark brown or black hair, and have large noses, which makes them look unattractive to many other races. Their noses are distinct from goblins; rather than being long and pointy, they are rather flat and inset, though wide. They are fairly strong on average, but don't stand notably tall. Instead, much of their weight comes from large muscle mass and dense bones, allowing them to compete with larger races. Although hobgoblins are usually not considered attractive, this hasn't stopped them from refining their image and forming their own beauty standards. Still, negative self esteem due to this remains present, with hobgoblins often seeking mates of other species due to their percieved superiority. For many, this borders on an unhealthy obsession, rather than appreciation of others. This opinion can also be seen in their lack of cultural value for beauty before their conquest by the elves, which largely has continued for those tribes untouched by the elven conquest.
Lifespan
60 years
Average Height
5'4
Related Organizations
Low
Physical Strength
Above Average
Societal Organization
High
Birth Rate
Average
Lifespan Classification
Low
Technological Progress
Low
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