Goblin
Goblins are a race of small and numerous goblinoids common throughout Edras, often living in underground caverns near the surface known as lairs. Considered nothing more than murderous pests by most, goblins dwell on the fringes of other societies, scavenging amongst their waste, stealing their pet cats, and building their society in squalor. Though weak on their own, goblins often gather in huge numbers to overwhelm their enemies. The race is often, though not always, dominated by other goblinoids, most commonly hobgoblins.
Personality
When not at war, goblins amuse themselves with sadistic games, inane but catchy songs, and arson. Goblins have an irrational fear of writing, however, believed by some to stem from the contracts used by Asmodeus to bind their barghest forebears in the mists of time. They believe that the mere act of writing words steals them from one's head. Goblins love to collect treasure, but value appearance over utility. Thus, a shiny but worthless trinket is valued over a powerful but ugly magic item. The exception is goblin chieftains, who often possess the wits to make use of such items—if they can remember where they've been stashed. Their love of shiny treasure means that goblins are also a common sight in the refuse pits and junkyards of non-goblin settlements throughout the world, where they scavenge for items they can craft into weapons and other interesting tools, a task they are unusually proficient in. For better or worse, many goblins are also incorrigible pranksters, and they often have a hard time determining when a prank is inappropriate, is poorly timed, or has gone too far. Many is the unfortunate Soulborn who has fallen victim to the fatal prank of a motley of goblins. Goblins are usually below Hobgoblins or Bugbears, and thus Goblins try to cling to any status symbol they can. This ranges from silly (a frog in a jar) to rather brutal (orc tusk lip piercings) and generally doesn’t mean much in reality. Goblins simply are in a position where they want power, but sometimes can’t quite get it. Especially in the lower castes!Basic Information
Anatomy
A goblin is a short, emaciated-seeming goblinoid, about the size of a halfling. They tend to be around three feet tall with large, flat heads and long ears. Their skin tends to be leathery and grey or green, often wrinkled and covered in tiny scars, warts, and scabs. Goblins grow little, if any, hair, relying on their thick skin and huddling together in groups to keep warm. They have small, beady red eyes set close together over a little pug nose, above a hideously wide mouth lined with sharp little teeth. Goblins often dress in rags and scraps cast off by other humanoids and bear coarsely cobbled-together equipment. Many Soulborn find it hard to distinguish goblin genders, though they do possess reproductive organs.
Growth Rate & Stages
Goblins mature rapidly, reaching adulthood in eight years and living up to sixty (though most goblins are violently killed before the age of 20).
Dietary Needs and Habits
Goblins' extremely high level of energy comes from both their accelerated metabolism and dangerous lifestyles. Their fast metabolisms make goblins eating machines stricken with almost constant hunger; fortunately, goblins can subsist on almost anything organic. They love salty foods, especially pickled food of all types, but their absolute favorite food is cats.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Most goblins do not have clear distinctions between male or female names, even when their roles in society can be quite different.
They sometimes uses names that describe one's appearance (especially with lesser goblins or slaves): Frailfeet, Mudlegs, Pigface, Wormflank, Vermin, Mongrel, Toadbrain, Mudnose, Snailteeth, Snotnose, Bugbite, Crawly, Sleaze, Larva
But more often than not, names sound sharp and are sometimes embellished with extra names: Delk, Vrug, Rochi, Curra, Dugas, Pugran, Geyek, Vat, Rebet, Zis, Vivrun, Khagan, Tolk, Rodran, Thunk, Zith, Vrik, Vruzel, Norz, Kozred, Khunur, Zron, Ovlok, Rhad
Goblinoids of Edras form clans, which they function under. Clan names reflect the nature, position, and values of the clan. Some names include: The Rising Fist, The Stone Lions, The Clay Mouths, The Black Feet, The Cruel Ear, The Grim Scorpion, The Night Ghost, The Crimson Giant, The First Claw, The Iron Hawk, The Nightmare Hounds, The White Watch, The Half Bones, The Red Foot
Lesser clan member's are said to "belong to clan", while more higher-ups are said to "be of clan". This distinction is considered vitally important. Note also, that slaves are stated to be "slaves of the clan", not belonging to a clan.
Beauty Ideals
Excessive weight is considered a sign of beauty among female goblins, with the ideal of goblin sexuality being an obese female barghest.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Goblin society is tribal by nature. Goblin leaders are generally the strongest, and sometimes the smartest, around. They also tend to have some of their tribe's best weapons. Goblins have little concept of privacy, living and sleeping in large common areas; only the leaders live separately in their own private chambers. As such, goblin lairs are often stinking or soiled, though easily defended when under assault. Many such lairs are layered with simple traps for such purposes.
Young goblins are taught from an early age to rely only on themselves and that to survive, they need to be aggressive and ruthless. To a goblin, it doesn't seem logical to treat others as well or better than you would treat yourselves; rather, they believe in preemptively removing potential rivals before they can become a threat. Because of the violent nature of goblin culture, it is not uncommon for goblins to come under the domination of individuals from a larger, more physically powerful culture, most typically larger goblinoids such as hobgoblins or bugbears.
Goblin settlements are typically very densely populated and filled with young goblin children. This is in part because goblin females are expected to birth as many children as possible to sustain a population constantly driven down by violence. However, young goblins do not outnumber adults as their lives often are at least as dangerous as those of the adults. The innermost chambers of goblin lairs are usually the most densely-populated and well-defended.
Male goblins, who are dominant in goblin society, sustain the community by raiding and stealing, sneaking into lairs, villages, and even towns by night to take what they can - especially casts. If supplies get short enough, goblins will even resort to eating members of other races, including other goblinoids. Some goblin tribes are not above waylaying travelers on the road or in forests and stripping them of their possessions. Goblins sometimes capture slaves to perform hard labor in the tribe's lair or camp.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Goblins do not get along well with most other races and are particularly suspicious of other goblinoids. Goblins have a somewhat ambivalent relationship with orcs and half-orcs, who they work with on occasion. The only true allies of the goblin race are worgs, who often act as mounts and fighting companions for goblins.
Origin/Ancestry
Caighreadhug, Mother of Nightmares
Lifespan
60 years
Average Height
3'5"
Average Weight
35 lbs.
Racial Stats
Goblin
Goblin
Ability Score Increase +2 Dex, +1 Con
Size Small
Speed 30ft
Languages. Eolian and Gobbledygook
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