Goblins

Base Height (M/F): 43"/41"
Height Modifier: 3d4
Weight (M/F): 72/68
Weight Modifier: Height Modifier x1d6

Base Age: 12 Years
    Aristocrat, Barbarian, Rogue, Sorcerer: +1d6
    Bard, Fighter, Paladin, Ranger: +2d6
    Adept, Cleric, Druid, Monk, Wizard: +3d6

Native Languages: Goblin, Latinian
Bonus Languages: Draconic, Elven, Giant, Orc
Ability Adj.: -2 Str, +2 Dex, -2 Chr

Base Speed: 30 ft.

Description
Goblins are short, squat humanoids with gangly arms. Their hair is course and ranges from dark brown to black. Goblin skin colors range from yellow through any shade of orange to a deep red, which is sometimes used as a tribal identifier. Their eyes vary from bright red to a gleaming lemon yellow.

Origin
The vast majority of Goblins in Novaria have come from the Arkonian badlands south of Novaria. While many tribes do live in the mountains and forests of Novaria, several have moved into Novaria’s cities as a result of Tiel’s recruitment of humanoids.

Views
Though Goblins are small in stature, they tend not to be as sycophantic as kobolds. Unlike kobolds, however, goblins would rather they be thought of as weak by their enemies until they are close enough to shank them with impunity. Though Goblins would prefer to disembowel any of Novaria’s humans than serve, their primary focus is larceny rather than violence. Goblins are easily swayed by money and since very few Goblins have any sense of value even an artificial display of wealth can quickly catch a goblin’s attention. For this reason alone, goblins are often attracted to live near Latinian settlements either to raid the wealth or hire themselves out as mercenaries or valets. A goblin’s only interest in the Futhark are the precious minerals and gems that the Futhark pull out of the Crystal Mountains. Goblins are not fond of being around Clasbron for the simple reason that the Clasbron are comparatively poor to Novaria’s other human cultures; and the fact that goblin punting is a popular game in Clasbron regions. Goblins and Dwarves have a racial enmity that stretches back eons, though the goblins of Novaria had thought the dwarven race extinct until dwarves began settling the Crystal Mountains. Goblins do not hesitate to make that belief a reality if the opportunity presents itself. Goblins are generally fearful of elves, whether it is their beauty, arrows or magic, and keep a safe distance from them unless they can get near without the elf noticing. Goblins have an intense dislike for kobolds, especially those kobolds that believe themselves worthy of more respect than they have earned. Goblins often struggle with kobolds for leftover resources discarded by the larger races and often come out on top though a display of sorcery from a kobold will often send goblins running. Goblins are disdainful of the yoke of servitude often put upon them by their larger hobgoblin cousins. Goblins would much rather make their own mayhem than grovel to a hobgoblin master. Goblins do not get along with Orcs and there have been bitter feuds between the races. Goblins are frightened of Orcs because of their size and strength, though a group of goblins are not unlikely to harass an orc encountered on its own.

Culture

A tribe of goblins lives in a series of interconnected warrens. These warrens exist both above and below ground; natural or excavated cave systems as well as thick underbrush and brambles. In more urban settings, goblins will inhabit shoddily constructed shacks and hovels and connect them by altering the town’s sewer system or constructing new underground passages. Their homes tend to be infested with filth and vermin. Goblin tribes can range from small clans of forty goblins to hordes of over 500 covering several square miles. Goblins do very little workmanship of their own and that which is done by goblins is generally considered poor at best. Goblins generally make their way through theft and often supplement this income with trade of furs and other raw materials, though goblins tend to be lazy and need to be motivated to do any work of their own. A goblin tribe is ruled by a chieftain or a shaman, whichever one the goblins of the tribe believe is the stronger leader.

Males are the dominant gender in goblin communities. Females are generally considered community property and must mate with whichever male approaches them. Within a goblin tribe, only the strongest males are allowed to possess a personal harem, and only if they can keep the other males away. Females who have challenged their social roll are often beaten into submission, starved or sacrificed to one of the goblins’ dark deities.

Goblins worship their dread deity Maglubiyet, a fearsome god of oppression and terror. They also worship goblin deities of war, slavery and territory. Worship for goblins tends to be a tribal matter, with the whole tribe attending days of sacrifice and other bane rituals. Goblins may become tribal shamans if they succeed in a vision quest and are thereby gifted with the divine power.