Goblins in Orben

Goblins, along with Hobgoblins, were yet another experiment by the depraved Elven Emperor Derelan and his Queen-Mother Urgath over two thousand years ago.  It is uncertain whether there was any rhyme or reason to their invention, but regardless of the intention, Goblins have wrought havoc upon the civilized lands of Orben, to a degree rivaled only by Orcs, their larger cousins.

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Goblin Society and Culture

Goblin society is tribal by nature, and their leaders are generally the strongest and sometimes the smartest among a tribe. They have little concept of privacy, living and sleeping in large common areas; only the leaders live separately in their own private chambers. As such, Goblin lairs are often stinking or soiled, though easily defended when under assault. Many such lairs are layered with simple traps for such purposes.

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Young Goblins are taught from an early age to rely only on themselves and that to survive, they must be aggressive and ruthless. To a Goblin, it does not seem logical to treat others as well or better than you would treat yourselves; rather, they believe in preemptively removing potential rivals before they can become a threat. Because of the violent nature of Goblin culture it is not uncommon for them to come under the domination of individuals from a larger, more physically powerful culture, most typically larger Goblinoids such as Orcs, Hobgoblins or Bugbears.

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In fact, the race is often, though not always, dominated by other Goblinoids, most commonly Orcs and Hobgoblins. As such, Goblins have almost always lived, at best, as accessories to other races and cultures. But being bullied by bigger, stronger creatures has taught Goblins to exploit what few advantages they have: sheer numbers and malicious ingenuity. The concept of a fair fight is meaningless in their society, or what passes for society among them. They favor ambushes, overwhelming numbers, dirty tricks, and any other edge they can devise.

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Goblin settlements are typically very densely populated and filled with young goblin children. This is in part because Goblin females are expected to birth as many children as possible to sustain a population constantly driven down by violence. However, young goblins do not outnumber adults because their lives are often at least as dangerous as those of older kin.

Male goblins, who are dominant in goblin society, sustain the community by raiding and stealing, sneaking into lairs, villages, and even towns by night to take what they can. If supplies get short enough, Goblins will even resort to eating members of other races, including other Goblinoids. They are not above waylaying travelers on the road or in forests and stripping them of all possessions, including the clothes on their backs. Goblins also sometimes capture slaves to perform hard labor in the tribe's lair or camp.

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Most Goblins primarily worship Gruumsh, the patron god of Goblinoids, but as both hatred and fear rule their society in nearly equal parts, worship of Bane has grown among them, sown by Human Banite clerics hoping to harness Goblin activity to their own aims.

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Goblins do not get along well with most other races, especially Gnomes and Halflings who, being a similar size, are not as easily dismissed by Goblins as beneath consideration. Goblins have a somewhat ambivalent relationship with Hobgoblins, Orcs and Half-Orcs, who they've worked with frquently, but usually only under the threat of force, and never seen to gain anything for their efforts in such alliances. The only true allies of the Goblin race are Worgs, monstrous wolves who often act as mounts and fighting companions for Goblins.

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Goblins in Mhirdrun

Mhirdrun tends to regard Goblins individually as a nuisance beneath real notice, so that a single Goblin might reasonably be assailed by no more than a yell or as swift kick, as if a rat, if they come too close. Large groups of Goblins, however, are considered far more dangerous, and even the rumor of a gathering Goblin army in nearby lands is a grounds for pre-emptive war. Mhirdrun's guards ritually hunt down Goblin nests like those of termites, to stave off this possibility.

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