Aldrorai

Aldrorai are mostly goblinoid culture that resides in the Hordelands of Aldroragh. Lead by the hobgoblin legions and in the edge of the Giant's Shadow, they have become feared and respected.

Culture of the beasts

Aldrorai are mostly known from the fierce hobgoblin warriors, but they are actually very diverse people. Besides of goblinoids themselves - hobgoblins, bugbears, and goblins - a good amount of minotaur have integrated into aldorai culture. Some even even rumored that they have seen drow work for goblin horde, yet this has not been verified. What is verified though, is that a small population of tiefling have found their place among aldorai, though their number isn't as significant.

Be dammed those savages. They know nothing but blood and gore.

— Vizier Shat Chisisi of Moxma

While often described as "Beastlands", is good to recognize that neighbours of aldrorai do not call them "beast" for their appearance only as an outsider might think. Those who have lived close to them know the brutality and cold calculative nature of the horde, making "beast" refer more to their mettle in battle than actual lack of civilization, orderliness, or stupidity of their neighbours. This is a stark contrast to orcs, frost giant and goliaths of Northern Velkas, which some might mistakenly compare aldrorai to.

Naming Traditions

Unisex names

Most of the goblinoid kind do not have clear distinctions between male or female names, even when their roles in society can be quite different. Aldrorai 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

Family names

Goblinoids of aldrorai 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.

Other names

While goblinoids do not do gender distinctions, minotaurs of aldrorai tend to show preference to more typical minotaur names.

Male

Iaslian, Kilin, Laantin, Durgarak, Jabaran, Koorbur, Mirtagar

Female

Seorin, Uovazin, Fasza, Linesia, Estera, Arelor, Linevena

Culture

Common Dress code

Aldrorai value strength and as such they appreciate things that display such strength. Piercings are very prominent in ears, lips and brows and scars are worn with pride. Aldrorai warriors tend to keep their hair long and tie it to buns to help them wear a helmet. Precious gems and metals are appreciated, though mostly available as status symbols.

In both armour and cloth design you often see aldrorai use bits and pieces or simply likeness of creatures they view powerful; lion pelts are appreciated, designs inspired by rhinoceros beetles, snakes in lesser degree but crocodiles even more. Also, gorillas have sought after.

When selecting what you put on, though, it is good to recognize certain cultural sensitivities: you can only wear red if you have earned it. Red, the colour of crimson, is only for warriors and you should be ready to test your mettle if you decide to wear it among those who would doubt your capabilities. Wearing something too thick in the warm climate of beast lands is not a good idea, but consider the type of fabric you are wearing. If it is see-through, or particularly shiny, flowy or delicate, you'd better simply forget it. Not only this is seen for a male as being toothless and showing off, but regardless of your sex it also gives an impression you are asking for physical advancements towards your direction.

Common Customs, traditions and rituals

Child raising

A child born for aldrorai only spends their first years with their mother; during this time mother and father and father's blood brothers are main providers of knowledge for the child, trying to train them to be ready until they are taken into a band. Bands are formed as groups of children with similar aptitudes, who are then trained to do certain function in aldrorai society. These groups are watched after the elders that have already done great service to their clans, and as such are honoured by raising the next generation. Bands spent all their time together, sometimes staying together rest of their lives and becoming blood brothers and -sisters to one another.

Marriage

Way of courtship is a rather brutal affair with aldrorai. Participants can have limited say on these matters, as warlords of the clan can assign them for whomever they please, yet this doesn't mean that the courtship would come unearned. When one desires the hand of another in a clan, they would declare that to the clan one is from (own or otherwise) and wait if there are a challenger and the warlord's decision of the matter. A warlord can flatly deny the request, but if they don't and no one is to challenger for the claim, warlord will give the suitor a quest of some sort to show their worthiness. One that declares their attraction can be man or woman, sex of one that declares doesn't matter, though it is good to know aldorai frown upon same-sex relationships.

The quest can vary depending on Warlord's opinion of the individual, their occupation and other factors. In order to get the favour of the warlord, one must manage quest in an acceptable manner. These quests usually include something painful and entertaining for the clan to watch.

In case of a challenge, challengers - whatever their motivation - fight with one another to decide which can decide on what is to happen to the person in question. It is worth to note, that person is allowed to fight on their own behalf if they are not fond of the marriage or wish to test the suitor.

After the deed is settled, if there is the victor who wishes to do so, they will claim the person to their own.

Also, it is very possible, that mates can be taken as war bounties. This gives them very little to do about it, but usually, it is far more desirable than becoming a slave.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Men are expected to be strong and bulky, and women to have wide hips and full bosom with some muscle if possible. Shorter hair (maximum on the shoulders) is almost preferable to long one as long as the woman is not bald. Short hair is appreciated on female's appearance, as it does not compete with the dominance of the males and is easy to care for. Women tend to decorate their hair with beads, or shaving off different patterns to the sides of their heads and show off the neck, which many aldrorai men find very appealing.

On men, attractiveness about hard muscle, scars, healthy long hair, and strong/big hands and feet. Also, big noses are associated with great hunters, and as such, gather attention. While goblinoid hoard might look very unwashed compared to many other humanoids, one must appreciate how much energy aldorai men go through to tie their hear and grow it long. While not on the level of elven nobles, aldorai warriors are very, very proud of their hair!

Gender Ideals

Aldorai make very little distinction between man and a woman, as far as behaviour is considered: Clan is more concerned about the group than individuals. Most distinctions are practical ones like women are let to raise their children for year or two, before the child is given for group to raise.

Relationship Ideals

As children are separated from parents in young age, blood relatives have very little meaning to the aldrorai, and this is liberating. It makes the children learn to see the group before individuals.

The most important people of aldrorai's life are their blood brothers and -sisters, but this is "blood" does not mean blood shared by them, but the blood they have spilt together. These are people they have fight besides to, worked with and grown up with. These are the ones aldrorai are most loyal to, and even share their homes with. Having no blood sisters or -brothers is sadly possible, especially if the band has been particularly hostile or person hasn't been desirable as a bandmate.

Major organizations

Aldroragh is the homeland of the aldrorai, with their most prominent church being Sons of Maglubiyet. Aldroragh is considered nation in the loosest terms: with so much infighting, it hasn't been functioning as one coherent unit. There are signs though that aldrorai are starting to take themselves far more seriously, and there have been numerous attempts to unify the squabbling hordes.

Languages spoken

• Ghukliak/Goblin

Related Locations

• Hordelands of Aldroragh

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Credit where credit is due!

The article was heavily inspired by depictions of Goblinoids in Volo's Guide to monsters and Forgotten Realms wiki.
As per usual, these details were altered, changed, tossed, butchered and celebrated by the author (Tiirikka) to a point that they might be almost unrecognizable.