Goblins
Last updated
Last updated
Goblins vary in appearance, though almost all are diminutive, with wiry, agile bodies. They have sharp, angular features, large eyes, pointed ears, and dexterous fingers. They mature quickly, reaching adulthood by 10 to 12 years, and rarely live beyond 50. Subsequently, many exhibit a sense of urgency and a willingness to take risks.
Generally resourceful and opportunistic, goblins tend to favor cunning schemes over honorable combat or brute strength. Their splinters range from loose groups to structured hierarchies.
The races of goblins are:
Ash goblins range from 1.0 to 1.3 meters (3’3” to 4’3”) and weigh 22 to 34 kg (48 to 75 lbs). Their skin is ashen gray or dark brown, sometimes mottled with lighter patches. Their eyes range from pale yellow to deep orange. Most are bald or have sparse black or brown tufts of hair.
Primarily nomadic, ash goblins travel the plains in search of food, resources, or trade. They scavenge and hunt opportunistically, using agility to track and outmaneuver prey. Their settlements are temporary, with shelters woven from grasses and hides that blend into the landscape.
Their oral traditions preserve knowledge and history through song and storytelling. Known for their pragmatism and sharp negotiation skills, ash goblins are found primarily in the and of the .
Crystal goblins stand between 0.8 and 1.0 meters (2’7” and 3’3”) and weigh 16 to 26 kg (35 and 57 lbs). Their skin is pale, ranging from ivory to soft peach or rose, often smooth and lightly freckled. Their eyes are silver, pale blue, or pink.
Fey goblins range between 0.9 and 1.1 meters (3’ and 3’7”) and weigh 18 to 28 kg (40 and 62 lbs). Their skin is green, and their eyes are yellow or red. Their features are delicate, with slender fingers and expressive faces.
Their communities bustle with markets, gambling dens, and theaters where wit holds as much value as coin. While mischievous, they also have a deep appreciation for art, storytelling, and theatricality.
Hobgoblins are much larger than other goblin races, averaging 1.8 meters (6′) in height and 100 kg (220 lbs) in weight, with males typically larger than females. Their skin ranges from green to yellow-green, and they have strong, muscular builds suited for warfare. Their noses vary from broad and flat to large and bulbous, often giving them a distinct, imposing visage.
Their culture is highly regimented and militaristic, with splinters often structured into hierarchical warbands where leadership is earned through merit, combat prowess, and strategic cunning. Unlike other goblin races, many hobgoblins follow a strict code of honor. Rigid discipline governs all aspects of life, from battle to daily routines, reinforced by the belief that order is the key to strength. Insults to one’s rank or warband are rarely taken lightly, and failure in battle is seen as a stain upon one’s lineage.
Hobgoblins are skilled tacticians, favoring precise, coordinated strikes over reckless aggression. While warbands may compete for status and prestige, they often unite against common foes, particularly those who challenge their strength or sovereignty. Many tame and train dire wolves, drakes, and other creatures, using them as mounts, scouts, and shock troops.
Though most hobgoblins revere strength above all, they are not without spirituality. Rituals and trials of endurance serve as both religious observances and tests of worthiness. Those who fail to uphold their gods’ tenets—whether through cowardice or dishonor—are often cast out or sent to die in battle to redeem themselves. While hobgoblins favor steel over sorcery, some learn spellcasting as a tool of war. Arcane scholars are rare, as their culture values practicality over academic pursuits.
Ironwood goblins stand between 1.0 and 1.2 meters (3’3” and 4’) and weigh 25 to 38 kg (55 and 84 lbs). Their skin is muted blue-gray, and their eyes range from deep brown to black. Their coarse hair is typically black or dark blue, though most are bald.
Known for patience, practicality, and craftsmanship, ironwood goblins excel at woodworking and leatherworking. Many live in tribal communities, favoring treeborne dwellings with villages built high in the upper boughs. Their homes, woven into the canopy, are connected by rope bridges that serve as pathways.
Smoldering goblins stand between 0.9 and 1.2 meters (3’ to 4’) and weigh 20 to 30 kg (44 to 66 lbs). Their green skin is green, and their eyes are pupilless and red. Most are bald, though some have black, dark brown, or crimson hair.
Their affinity for fire has shaped their culture and traditions, with fire seen as both a tool and a symbol of power. Many use it for destruction and transformation, pursuing their ambitions with relentless drive.
Known for their reserved, contemplative nature, they are found primarily in the and surrounding lands. Those within the often serve as scribes, scholars, and artisans, though some have distinguished themselves as tacticians, warriors, priests, and magic users.
Fey goblins are natural charmers, quick-witted and adaptable, with a talent for persuasion, deception, and social maneuvering. They thrive in environments where guile and cleverness ensure success. Within the , they navigate crime and politics with instinctive finesse.
Fey goblins are found primarily in the , particularly among the and within the .
Hobgoblins are found throughout Praetoria, though most warbands inhabit the –many of which have joined or aligned themselves with the Drybone Anarchists—as well as the and .
Ironwood goblins inhabit the , particularly the city-state of Feranon, the forest steppe to its south, the tribe of , and smaller tribes of the .
A large population resides in the , where they serve as pyromancers, alchemists, saboteurs, and incendiary artisans. Outside the empire, smaller enclaves—primarily in the —revere fire in their own rites and customs. Their settlements, often built from stone and metal, are reinforced to withstand the heat of their forges and flamecraft.