Goblin

Summary

Goblins can be found in warm, mountainous regions across Vrashyn, but are most common in the Evruxe Mountains on the border of Tanalki and Masyros. Infamous for their violent thievery, Goblins are reviled by those around them but tend to lose their evil streak when they live apart from their own kind. Goblins have two subraces in this setting, so be sure to read the following section before creating your Goblin character.

Subraces

Goblins in this setting have two subraces. Goblins call these subraces Pebbles and Boulders to denote their respective battle tactics: swarming and crushing. Pebble Goblins are identical to the generic 5e Goblin class while Boulder Goblins are physically stronger and more suited for combat. Other than the differences noted below, all information in later sections applies to both subraces.
Pebble Goblin

On the small side even for their race, Pebble Goblins have thin bodies ideal for fitting through tight cave passages. A particularly intelligent Pebble Goblin can expect to become a leader of their clan, while most others are destined for the meat grinder, defending their territory through sheer numbers and well-placed traps.
Stat Increase: Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Fury of the Small: When you damage a creature with an attack or a spell and the creature’s size is larger than yours, you can cause the attack or spell to deal extra damage to the creature. The extra damage equals your level. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Nimble Escape: You can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on each of your turns.

Boulder Goblin

Trained from birth to be the strongest defenders of their territory, Boulder Goblins use their limited shapeshifting capabilities to defend their less muscular kin. Boulder Goblins can be identified by their muscles, which are obvious even in their smaller size. They often make use of magically shrinkable weapons.
Stat Increase: Your Strength score increases by 1.
Sudden Growth: As an action, your body courses with magical strength, causing your height to increase and muscles to bulge out. You gain the “enlarge” effect of the Enlarge/Reduce spell for 1 minute, no concentration required. You may dismiss this effect as an action. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Blind Ferocity: Creatures do not gain advantage from flanking when they attack you and you do not gain advantage when attacking a flanked creature. Your allies still gain flanking from your presence.
Boulder Weapon Training: You have proficiency with the War Pick and Warhammer.

Appearance

The Goblins of Vrashyn are small, green-skinned creatures with no hair. They have small golden eyes that lack pupils and reflect light in the dark as a cat’s do. Pebble Goblins weigh about 40 pounds while Boulders weigh at least 60. Goblins like to display their wealth and status through clothing, though the rough conditions of their cavernous homes often see these articles ripped beyond repair. Their huge ears, sometimes as large as their heads, are their most distinguishing feature.

Culture

Goblins live in a strict caste society with little room for upward mobility. Those at the top rule clans of several hundred Goblins and typically style themselves as kings. Goblins living among their own kind are usually Neutral Evil, while outcasts vary in their personal philosophy. Though Goblins can speak common, they can’t read or write without significant training. Their society values oral cunning and storytelling and shuns the written word. Goblins worship their past and present kings as Gods, offering them stolen treasures and clothing. Goblins don't really have a sense of gender and traditionally use it/its pronouns when speaking to each other.

Livelihood

Goblins who aren’t part of the upper caste either perform necessary crafts for the clan or defend their territory from invaders. Goblins are particularly skilled at resewing clothing and reworking jewelry and weapons, taking pride in creating exact replicas of a smaller size. They get these goods from unfortunate adventurers or traders who risk the mountain passes to cut time off their trips. Goblins aren’t strangers to trade either, either selling to smugglers or traveling to the few lands that will have them to trade their stolen wares.

Upbringing

Goblin parents believe that the best parenting strategy is to give their children free rein once they can walk and talk, reasoning that the stronger and intelligent children will survive and thrive. Goblins see sex as a purely procreative activity and don’t usually form romantic bonds. Their upbringing and lifestyle naturally leads them to a lackadaisical approach to gender: after all, why would the fact your stolen clothes are feminine stop you, a male Goblin, from showing them off? Goblins tend to have short first names of five letters or less and take their last name from the leader of their clan.

Relations with Others

Goblins are not well-liked by the races that live near them. The best they can expect is apathy from the Goliaths, Half-Orcs, and others who live in cold climates. Though generally not considered a military threat, their reputation for killing trade convoys that come too close to their territory alienates them from all others. This is fine by most Goblins, though it can create awkward situations for the rare Goblin adventurer.

Goblin King by Mike Uziel

Racial Features

Ability Score Increase Your Dexterity score increases by 2.
Age Goblins reach adulthood at age 8 and live up to 60 years.
Alignment Goblins are typically neutral evil, as they care only for their own needs. A few goblins might tend toward good or neutrality, but only rarely.
Size Goblins are between 3 and 4 feet tall and weigh between 40 and 60 pounds. Your size is Small.
Speed Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Languages You can speak Common and Goblin. Goblins with additional training can also learn to read and write these languages.

Population Map: