Goblins

The last and probably most obvious of the potential goblinkin progenitors are the eponymous goblins. Short in stature, similar to a halfling or gnome at between three and four feet, they are known for being quick, agile, and sneaky. Their most common nickname, greenskins, comes from many of them in fact having greenish skin, though many others are various shades of tan. It actually seems that goblins’ physical characteristics are at least somewhat dependent upon their environments, as bluish cold weather goblins are also purported to exist in the northern wastes surrounding the Gray Gulf. They most typically have black or gray hair, but their eyes are again responsive to their needs, changing in both size and color according to their needs. They reproduce extremely quickly, reaching sexual maturity by age five, at which point a female is capable of giving birth to broods as often as twice a year. They rarely live beyond twenty, but this may be another issue of circumstance rather than capacity as rare stories of much older goblins do exist. Their distinctive long ears and short, pointy teeth give them a feral, animalistic appearance that evokes unease or even fear in the more civilized races. Goblins are treated poorly even within goblinkin societies, viewed as the lowest caste beneath orcs and bugbears. Their crude, simplistic version of orcish is mockingly called runtish. Famous for being able to weasel into small spaces, it can be difficult to build structures impervious to infiltration. Once a colony is founded it becomes exceedingly difficult to eradicate them completely. This pervasiveness alongside their adaptability and quick breeding cycles makes goblins probably the most likely candidate for the first goblinkin.