Goblinoids
Last updated
Last updated
Goblinoids are goblins and goblin-like humanoids.
The races of goblins are:
Bloodline: Goblin
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 subraces 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.
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 subraces, 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 subraces, 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.
Bloodline: Orc
Orcs vary in appearance, but all typically have large, muscular bodies; stooped postures; porcine features with a low forehead and protruding brow; large, tusk-like lower canines; coarse hair; and pointed, wolf-like ears.
They mature quickly, reaching adulthood between 13 and 15 years, and rarely live past 60. Their relatively short lifespan fosters a preference for action over deliberation, and many orcs react with aggression rather than diplomacy. While orcish culture is often warlike, some orcs integrate into broader societies, displaying discipline and civility uncommon among their kin.
Most orcish tribes are hierarchical, with leadership determined through combat and displays of strength. Conquest is central to their way of life, with tribes often forming loose alliances for raiding, war, and territorial expansion. Traditionally, males dominate social structures, valuing their number of wives, sons, and scars as status symbols. However, exposure to other cultures has led to more females rising to respected positions, often outmaneuvering their larger male counterparts through agility and cunning.
The subraces of orcs are:
Crimson orcs stand between 2.0 and 2.3 meters (6’6” and 7’6”) and weigh 140 to 170 kg (308 to 375 lbs), with females typically being smaller. Their skin is deep red, sometimes mottled with darker patches, and their hair is dark red or black. Their eyes are typically black, crimson, or yellow.
Crimson orcs are highly aggressive, embracing conflict as both a necessity and a source of honor. Their warriors favor brute strength and relentless assaults, often overwhelming opponents through sheer ferocity. Tribal chieftains rule with absolute authority, maintaining order through strength, respect, and fear.
Cobalt orcs stand between 1.9 and 2.1 meters (6’3” and 6’11”) in height and weigh between 125 and 145 kg (276 and 320 lbs), with females typically being smaller. Their skin is deep blue or slate-colored, and their thick, dark-colored hair is typically black or deep brown. Their eyes are often golden or piercing blue.
Their societies are highly organized, with leadership often shared between warriors and shamans. Many are nomadic, following seasonal migrations of game across the steppes. Most maintain strong traditions of ancestor worship, believing that the spirits of past warriors guide them in battle.
Jade orcs stand between 1.9 and 2.2 meters (6’3” and 7’2”) and weigh 130 to 160 kg (287 to 353 lbs), with females typically being smaller. Their skin is green, their hair is black or brown, and their eyes are often dark brown or hazel.
Jade orc societies tend to be structured and disciplined. While still valuing conquest, they emphasize strategy, loyalty, and honor over recklessness. Warriors, priests, and mages train extensively in both individual combat and large-scale tactics, making them formidable opponents. They place significant value on wisdom and diplomacy, with elders often serving as advisors or negotiators, if not chieftains themselves.
Pale orcs stand between 1.9 and 2.1 meters (6’2” to 6’11”) and weigh 100 to 130 kg (220 to 287 lbs), with females typically being smaller. Their skin is milky white or translucent, sometimes tinged with blue or gray. Their eyes have pink, gray-blue, or gray-green irises with deep red pupils. Most are hairless.
Known for their intelligence, diplomacy, and adaptability, pale orcs are often multilingual, using language as a tool for negotiation and influence. However, like all orcs, they are naturally impatient, and their frustration can manifest as aggression or violence.
Onyx orcs stand between 1.8 and 2.1 meters (5’11” and 6’11”) and weigh 110 to 150 kg (242 to 330 lbs). Their skin is black or dark gray, and their hair is typically a shade of black or white.
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 .
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.
Crimson orc warbands roam the , raiding settlements and competing for dominance. A large population also resides in the , where their disposition makes them favored enforcers and soldiers. Though many consider them brutish, crimson orcs respect strength in all forms and often ally with those who prove their worth in battle.
Cobalt orcs are known for their endurance and resilience, thriving in the harsh, windswept climates of the and , as well as the rainforests of the . They favor disciplined formations and battle-tested strategies over reckless aggression. Many develop a deep connection to the land, believing that strength comes not just from the body but from an understanding of nature.
Notable splinters of cobalt orcs include the tribe of and smaller tribes of the , while a large population also inhabits .
Many jade orcs serve as professional soldiers, bodyguards, or mercenaries, integrating into more civilized splinters, particularly the . Smaller tribes inhabit other areas of the , while the —a sprawling confederacy of three nomadic tribal groups—is found in the in the .
Pale orcs are found primarily in the and . Many maintain semi-nomadic lifestyles, balancing survival with culture within structured political systems. A large population of pale orcs resides in the , where they serve as scholars, advisors, traders, and even the priory and knighthood of the .
Onyx orcs are known for their endurance, adaptability, and ruthless pragmatism. Many live underground or in harsh environments—primarily and bordering areas of the —forming societies based on survival rather than conquest. The , however, embrace a warrior culture where battle and bloodshed are central to their identity, believing that death in combat is the highest honor.
A large population of onyx orcs is also found in the , where they serve as elite enforcers, assassins, and military officers, valued for their discipline and efficiency. In the , they form tight-knit clans, often warring with other subterranean splinters. Their settlements are fortified, built into mountainsides or cavern walls, with underground tunnels serving as both refuge and ambush points.