Hobgoblin
“High Folk” – Hobgoblins operate on a strict honor system Fotakari, though it is barely recognized by outsiders as ‘honor’ at all. These perimeters allow hobgoblins to instantly know their place and purpose in any group or situation. Vigilance in your perimeter against outsiders, probing the perimeters of others, and keeping a watchful eye on the integrity of your perimeter are a paramount and constant obsession. The shame felt by a hobgoblin who fails in this duty more often than not leads to suicide.
Hobgoblins without a legion are called margim. Whether this is because they deserted, were exiled as a punishment, or because they are the last surviving remnant of a shattered legion is immaterial. Where hobgoblin legionnaires are the top of Greenskin society, margim are worse than the lowest.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Briothe, Thregs, Frogsia, Uhx, Lult, Papvun, Thiekaz, Opalt, Choprielk, Griminx, Boilea, Press, Prifz, Wahx, Kleazz, Banaag, Blugseaft, Pheemin, Cliardonx, Clekziozza
Masculine names
Grazz, Wruzz, Krozz, Its, Harm, Urrank, Emuq, Xoghurx, Gamor, Bivilk, Fux, Elk, Glosb, El, Zrur, Stasdild, Sriaknuix, Tinaat, Iohdits, Trotlikz
Family names
Hobgoblins identify themselves by legion, by cohort, and then by hex depending on whom they are talking to. Margim will often have a surname that they give themselves to emphasize and reinforce their new individual identity. These names are generally words in gujab.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Hobgoblins speak the Goblin Tongue, which is sometimes referred to as "gujab". Most also know common and most officers know elven (for interrogations.)
Shared customary codes and values
The Fotakari and the legion are the centers of hobgoblin life.
Common Etiquette rules
Hobgoblins establish a pecking order at the outset of every social interaction. This can be through dueling, announcing rank, boasting of deeds, or other such contests.
Common Dress code
Hobgoblins wear practical clothing, with clean edges and an eye towards preventing handholds for potential opponents. Hobgoblins always wear the colors of their legion somewhere on them, even out of uniform.
Art & Architecture
Hobgoblins build even food depots with defense in mind. They especially favor palisade walls surrounded by deep moats, which serve as their offal pits.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
The hobgoblins stand prepared to bow before The Hungry Throne, and almost all of them dream that one day it will be them sitting on it.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
The children hobgoblins are born as recruits are raised in a punishing, brutal boot camp called nugakmog.
Coming of Age Rites
They graduate nugakmog in a mock battle to become Foz, taking their place in the legion proper. The losers of the final battle are sacrificed and fed to the victors at their celebration feast.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Hobgoblins are the only goblinoid that does not practice cannibalism as a funeral rite. While they have no problem eating other greenskins, or even hobgoblins of other legions, they bury their own dead. Customarily, they do this by digging a 13-foot shaft straight down, then they lower the fully armed and armored hobgoblin down into the shaft to lean on the walls. This way, the hobgoblin will always be standing. They then bury the hobgoblin and for heroes and generals they sacrifice a captive atop the fresh soil.
Common Taboos
Hobgoblins never, ever suffer a barghest to live. They never abandon their posts, show no cowardice in the face of an enemy, and never voluntarily lose anything. Finally, they never let their guards down, and will actually feel shame if caught unawares.
Common Myths and Legends
According to Hobgoblin lore, the first were created personally by Makub in Narkoh Vend "the Timeless Place."
When they die, it is said that hobgoblins join the Great Legion and fight for Makub forever in the Strigzblog, the Blood War.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Hobgoblins have skin tones in green, black, gray, brown and orange. They can range from smoothly bald to being entirely covered in a pelt of glossy fur. Their noses can range from almost canine to aquiline, and the decoration and maintenance of their noses is of primary concern regarding their vanity.
Gender Ideals
They tend to be slightly shorter than humans but slightly heavier due to lean, ropy muscle. Males and females have differences along the lines of humans or elves, with females being somewhat shorter and usually a bit more graceful than their counterparts.
Courtship Ideals
One hobgoblin will challenge the object of his interest to a duel. This duel can range from friendly and flirtatious to literal blood sport. If both show enough prowess to keep the duel at a stalemate or at least a close contest, then the relationship can begin. No hobgoblin would deign to attach themselves for more than one night to a greatly inferior warrior.
Relationship Ideals
Male and female hobgoblins are equals, as the society prizes talent in war and adherence to Fotakari above all things. Matings can be short or long term, but never explicitly permanent. The duel that started it will be repeated often throughout the relationship as prowess and dominance change. Duty and the fortunes of war end those pairings that don’t end in an especially bloody duel.
Diverged ethnicities
Related Organizations
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