Prosthesis

Placeholder Giblin by Katy Smith

The scrap tribes were both chaotic and genius in equal measure. Usually located deep under other tribes or dwarven cities, they lived off the scraps of refined metals that were disposed of by those above. Giant piles of metallic and stone garbage fell down from the settlements daily. Trawling through these piles was a large part of the scrap tribe’s existence.
Fortunately (Or unfortunately) for the scrap tribes, the illness ravaging through their populace was brutal and frequently took fingers or limbs as part of its toll. A number of members within the tribe have managed to find ways of surgically stitching crude mechanisms to the stumps where limbs or fingers used to be. Sometimes these are as crude as simply replacing the lost limb with a sharpened piece of scrap metal. Other times, they are intricate systems of basic mechanical principles that result in somewhat useful motion.
In all cases, this technology that has been gleaned by the scrap tribes is functioning as a barrier for further disease in the affected area. Largely due to the cauterisation of the regions being grafted onto. As with most things in any goblin society, stumbling around in the dark can lead to drastically better solutions to existing problems. Accidentally coming across a method of safely transplanting limbs while being surrounded by disease is something that only a goblin would have the ability to achieve.
The prosthetics can serve a wide range of purposes. Some simply have weaponry installed on themselves, others have small storage spaces to hide away valuables like teeth or shiny stones. Some have key-like protrusions that work to control the redimentary steam vehicles that the tribe is known for.
Goblin ingenuity is fascinating from an outsider's perspective (Prior to being sacrificed at least). It can be assumed that if a problem exists, all you have to do to solve it is to throw enough goblins at it. If it doesn’t get solved then you haven’t thrown enough.

This is a submission for my first ever Summer Camp in 2024 - I hope you enjoy my writings and I'm looking forward to hearing your feedback!