Goblin (/ˈgɔb-lɪn/)

Goblins are among the most chaotic and crafty species. With a wit and cunning unparalleled by many, they take advantage of any loophole they can find, turning reality into their plaything. Though they often lack magical prowess, their skills with herbs and metals makes them excellent artisans. Meanwhile, in combat, they serve as master strategists and formidable leaders.

Appearance

Goblins are small creatures, often under 4 feet tall. They are very similar to humans, though they differ in their paw-like hands and feet, and their iconic, large fluffy ears. Goblin fur comes in various patterns, though they most commonly have a paw color and an ear/hair color. While almost no goblins have fur on their faces, it's not uncommon for their paw fur to extend throughout their torso and legs. However, this fur rarely grows beyond a few millimeters. Goblin ears are usually triangular, protruding from the sides of their head with the open end facing the ground. However, some goblins can tilt the front of their ears to have them open forward, much like how some humans can wiggle their ears. The outside of a goblin's ear is often covered with a thick layer of fur, though some choose to shave their ears to match the aesthetic of laborers in the past, who kept their fur closely-trimmed for ease of cleaning.

History

Because of their cunning, goblins have often been feared. As such, many historical nations have attempted to limit goblin freedoms, forcing them into labor. However, this lead to goblins holding the most knowledge regarding infrastructure and craftsmanship. Whenever tasked with building a structure for some nobility, many goblins added some structural inaccuracies, leading to seemingly unintentional traps. Most of these traps were made for comedic effect, though sometimes a particularly unfavorable noble would find their foot missing within a week. During the Draconic Wars, most enslaved goblins managed to escape, either from the lack of surveillance, or the lack of opportunities to trap nobles' houses. However, once they escaped, they didn't really have anywhere to go. They were unsure if other cities and nations would treat them just as harshly, and they couldn't escape to the caves since most of those were in the mountains being destroyed in the Draconic Wars. This led to them taking shelter in the only locations they could find: underground ruins. This eventually became their common residence, as they were easy to protect and devoid of most other sentient species.