Goblin
A goblin is a member of a diverse group of Fey creatures who have traditionally been semi-domesticated by more powerful and intelligent fey. In Y1111, the archfey Telwyth-Teg (once a goblin himself) gained possession of Jezibaba's Cauldron and used it to brew souls for all goblins who wanted them. This created a physically similar but metaphysically distinct line of independent mortal goblins with free will, many of whom now inhabit the Material Plane among other humanoids.
Basic Information
Genetics and Reproduction
Goblins have historically been grown in the soil of the Feywild and harvested like root vegetables. In the years since the cauldron has come into Telwyth-Teg's possession, most goblin babies have instead been cooked directly in the pot, which grants them free will from birth.
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
Goblins have green eyes as all fey creatures do, though the eyes of ensouled goblins tend to take on a more yellowish or bluish hue than of their fey cousins.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Goblins were created in the Feywild and are native to it, particularly the Summer Court, the Winter Court, and The Spine. The free goblins who have sought souls have typically ventured to the Material Plane, with the largest goblin diasporas living in the Gaeno Woods and the Cuarto Folletto of Cantonova.
Average Intelligence
Goblins have long been thought of as unintelligent because of their subservience. This perception still extends to the free goblins on the Material Plane among many people. Though these first ensouled goblins arrived lacking formal education, those interested in education have proven to be as curious and quick-witted as any other humanoid can be. Their widespread natural inquisitiveness is similar to that of gnomes, though they tend to indulge it in a more hands-on manner (with occasionally disastrous results). In particular, goblins seem to be adept at picking up spoken languages. A new dialect of Sylvan called Folletti has emerged among many of them that incorporates numerous words from Common, Elvish, and Gnomish.
Civilization and Culture
History
The origins of goblins is unknown, though they have been present in the Feywild since at least the Age of Integrity. The beginning of their journey towards free will came when a rusalka named Alsbeta Sabina fell in love with a mortal man and asked the archfey Jezibaba to make her mortal. Jezibaba complied, though under a series of conditions that eventually led the nymph (known as Rusalka on the Material Plane) to lose the man's affections, kill him, and serve as a warlock of Jezibaba until breaking her pact in early Y1111.
Later that year, Rusalka found the Book of Telwyth-Teg, through which Telwyth-Teg asked her to find the cauldron Jezibaba used to make her mortal. She and her companions tracked down Jezibaba in her hut, killed her, and delivered the cauldron as asked. Rusalka herself was slain in the fight, but Telwyth-Teg used the cauldron to resurrect her; to this day, she is known among goblinkind as Alsbeta Líbera, First Among Goblins.
From then, Telwyth-Teg spread the message of the cauldron across the Feywild, and huge numbers of goblins sought him out and asked for souls themselves. Unlike Jezibaba, though, Telwyth-Teg refuses to this day to make any goblin beholden to him in exchange for their freedom. Skirmishes have broken out in some communities of the Feywild as goblins begin to escape from those who have kept them.
Lifespan
immortal (fey), currently unknown (ensouled)
Average Height
2-3 ft.
Average Weight
20-30 lbs.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
A particular pattern of several lines of dots across the forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin is extremely common among goblins. Short, almost snout-like noses tend to be more common than larger noses. Pictured below: Alsbeta Líbera, who bears these common goblinoid markings.
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
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