Goblin
Whitehearth specific subrace-
Warband Goblin
The goblins of Whitehearth grow up in camps with much larger goblinoids. Every meal is wrestled for meaning only the strongest and smartest goblins survive. Their usual dexterous nature is neglected in favor of raw power, to better fit in with the orcs, ogres, and orag they fight along side. The weaker starved goblins tend to be ridiculed by the others, before being fed to the potbellied ogres as a crunchy snack. Whilst some goblins partake in the food fights, others take to building traps for small animals, learning to hunt and gather their own food.
In addition to the normal goblin traits, a Warband Goblin gains the following-
- Ability score increase- You gain +2 strength or +2 wisdom, and +1 constitution
- Proficiency with medium armor
- Proficiency in survival skill checks made to track prey, build traps, or other hunting related activities
- Racial ability- Tug of war: You gain advantage on strength checks made to grapple, or escape being grappled (This ability replaces Nimble escape.)
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Goblin names are usually short and guttural sounding. There are longer names as well though, often among female goblins, but 1-2 syllable names are generally more common.
Many goblins are also known simply by a type of nickname, like No-Nose or Spiderbait. These nicknames are often derogatory in nature, perhaps saved for those lower in society.
Beauty Ideals
Goblins don't have much focus on beauty, and look more towards status symbols, and wealth as their ideals.
Gender Ideals
Goblin women are expected to spend all their time having as many children as possible. These gender roles evolved as their society became ever more chaotic and violent, meaning goblins died in larger numbers, at younger ages. Women who are of age in these societies will typically have to stay back to help with the kids and any agriculture and thus are rarely able to go out to war.
Courtship Ideals
Goblinoid society has a very high male to female ratio (about three males to every female, why this proportion endures in Goblinoid society no-one knows), and so females have a large choice of mate. Most females prefer to mate with those of their own species although interbreeding between species is not unknown. The most attractive females (to Goblinoid eyes, at least) are usually claimed by those of the Boss caste, the Warboss getting the best. The females themselves vie for this, seeing it in no way degrading, it being a standard part of their culture. Most females would give their right arm to be one of the Warbosses mates, even if only temporarily.
Other females are left to find a mate for themselves among the lower castes. Often using all the Goblinoid guile and charm they can muster to attract their preferred mate(s), each female usually attracts a large number of potential suitors.
The high male-female ratio does mean, however, that many males, especially the less attractive and virile ones, will rarely have a female to mate. These males often go out on raids to nearby Human settlements to capture Human women. These unfortunate women are taken back to the Goblinoid hold where the males have their sport with her. Older women are generally killed following this while younger women are often kept for this bed sport indefinitely, as long as the local food supply holds up
Relationship Ideals
Marriage is unknown in Goblinoid culture - the very idea of having only one mate is completely alien to most Goblinoids - and the Goblinoid males that the female attracts fight each other to be one of her mates. The fact that most females mate with all those whom they attract within a short time anyway in no way puts them off.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Goblins can't read or write, but can speak Common and Ghukliak.
Common Dress Code
They’re usually dressed in dirty leathers or tattered rags, but Goblins adore status symbols, and most goblins will bear some item or mark that in some way elevates them in goblin society. This could be anything from a piercing or tattoo, to some precious accessory pilfered from the outside civilization.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
The most attractive females (to Goblinoid eyes, at least) are usually claimed by those of the Boss caste, the Warboss getting the best. The females themselves vie for this, seeing it in no way degrading, it being a standard part of their culture.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
The bigger or more powerful you are, the more heads you can knock together, and the more dominant you will be- this determines the structure of the goblin tribes;
The Warlord: The highest rank a Gobbo can have, the Warlord is the grand high Warboss in charge.
The Warboss. The Warboss occupies a caste of his own, ruling over the tribe or horde. He makes all decisions of the tribe and is the one who leads the tribe into battle.
The Boss caste. Those who might rise to power in time but for now act as his advisors and generals. It is often these who are blamed when the less-than-brilliant master plan of the Warboss goes wrong.. It is members of this caste and a few higher placed members of the Warrior caste who contest for the post when the Warboss, in his precarious position, falls from grace.
The Warrior caste.
The Shaman caste. Roughly equal in rank to those of the Warrior caste, those in the Shaman caste nevertheless enjoy the status of advisors to the Bosses, the most able Shaman being approximately elevated to a status equivalent to the Boss caste. The Shamans do, unfortunately, have to take the blame for things going wrong higher up the chain as it descends from the ranks above them.
The Mob caste. The majority of Goblinoid society will fall into this caste, giving the caste its name. This caste absorbs all those not big enough to be Bosses or tough/skilled enough to be Warriors.
The Slave caste. The lowest of the low in Gobbo society, the down and outs.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Generally, Goblins view most races as either a source of food, wealth and pleasure.
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