Goblin

Image of 3 Average Goblins

Goblins are a sentient race of green humanoid beings that have short, meek frames. These creatures have a reputation among other races for being untrustworthy, inferior, and greedy. That being said, not all goblins are like this, obviously, and they can often be helpful in their own way. It is uncommon for goblins to learn mancy as it takes a toll on their physical body when they're already quite susceptible due to their size, yet it doesn't stop them from such with enough determination. Despite their adversity with mancy, goblins usually prefer to utilize magic through Runes rather than concentrating their mental and physical abilities on mancy. Goblins may also find themselves suitable to Summoning, as they harness powers from another realm.

## *Anatomy*

Goblins are the smallest humanoid race on Azura, and rather thin and frail in combat. Despite this, Goblins are extremely agile and intelligent creatures, usually being called double-jointed, and capable of jumping about as tall as a fully grown human male. Goblins, in terms of appearance, are one of the most “malleable” of all Azura, that is because goblin faces, bodies, and stature can vary to an extreme. Sometimes goblins can be about 2 feet tall and look like fairies, or they can grow to be almost 4 feet tall and somewhat muscular, resembling an Orc. This has been theorized to happen due to the short lifespan and fast rate at which they reproduce, causing it so that genetic variation completely overtook these creatures, while retaining humanoid appearance.

While the goblin’s hand-to-eye coordination is exceptional, their lack of strength causes them to be agile throwers, but of light objects and small distances. Goblins have large pointed ears that spread out sideways from their skulls, allowing for an excellent hearing range, however, obviously loud sounds are terrifying for goblins, in such a way that banging pans against one another, or any other loud sound can scare them away, or in some cases even incapacitate the poor creatures. Compared to their faces, goblin eyes are huge, their sclera yellow and the color of the iris varies from completely black to red and everything in between, while they do not possess enhanced sight or night vision, goblins are very astute beings, and their eyes can detect details most wouldn’t notice.

Goblin skin is rough and very rarely has any hair on it, the hairs on their head are always black in coloration, and their green skin can vary in tone wildly, some goblins may ever appear to be lime-colored. And one of the most well-known characteristics of the goblin is their feet, bulky and large, making it difficult to wear some clothes and boots.

A goblin fully matures at about 18 years old, being able to attenue to a magic user at that age. Goblins nearing the end of their lives, as most species do when growing old, start to develop problems in their articulations, losing their “double jointedness” and their agility slowly and over time. Goblins who grow even older than that, nearing 80 years of age start to lose their hearing and their sight completely, needing the aid of others and being considered very wise. It is extremely rare for a goblin to survive more than 90 years.

To these creatures, as to any other, alcohol can be poisonous, however, a goblin may experience complications after a mere mug of ale or mead. While there have been reports of goblins who could in fact drink a little more than that, the usual is for them to regurgitate any alcohol post ingestion.

## *Dimorphism*

Comparable to the vast majority of other races that inhabit Azura, goblins too have noticeable dimorphism between the males and females of their species.

### Males

Goblin males are seen as taller and stronger than their female counterparts, their bodies can withstand a serious beating and survive injuries some races would consider to be fatal. While they do not have a healing factor or anything like that, the males are simply difficult to kill, however knocking out one of them is relatively easy. Like humans, goblins may possess beards and hair, and the males of this species tend to have longer and bulkier noses, with sharper teeth and longer canines.

### Females

The Goblin females are smaller and weaker than the males, however, what they lack in strength they make up for in agility and speed, as well as wits in some cases. The females of the species also count with a thicker layer of skin on the soles of their feet, which act as paw pads, silencing their movement. The females are also known for growing claws at the ends of their fingers and toes, which could be used for combat or climbing walls and other surfaces.

## *History and Language*

Goblins came from the land of Neo Keleva alongside the orcs, being completely overshadowed by most other societies. During their beginnings in Ludwag, they rarely maintain day-to-day contact with others unless selling their wicked inventions, potions, and anything else imaginable. If there was a race that the goblins prefer it would be the orcs, as over time they have built a steady relationship with them through trade and assistance in battle against other tribes in Neo Keleva. This relationship between the species, however, is rough, for the orcs still see the goblin as a lesser race and abuse them as cannon fodder or even just a way to let out stress by turning their fists on them.

Some goblins were quick to realize this unfairness however and decided to leave their orcish overlords in search for a place they would be able to call their own, and that is precisely when the goblin tribes began to spread all around Ludwag. The goblin’s rapid reproduction, alongside their adaptability and ingenuity, let them occupy the strangest of places, and the hardest to reach too. Goblin tribes can be found on the sidewalls of chasms, inside dark and deep caves, behind waterfalls and wherever else.

Many years ago, ancient cultures even thought of tribal goblins as pests to be dealt with, exterminating their small settlements whenever they could, and driving goblins away from their cities. However that action would only make it so tribal goblins would grow even warier of outsiders, and to this day goblin tribes are extremely difficult to reach.

At the present day, Goblins are no longer thought of as pests, however, the vast separation of the two “types” of Goblin created a difference in their language. While the city Dwelling Goblin still speaks Kiv’lar normally, being closer to their orcish brethren, the tribal goblins each have their own dialect of Kiv’lar, which, while usually being understood by any other Goblin or orc, might sound funny.

## Culture

### City Dwellers

The vast majority of city-dwelling goblins are known to be extremely efficient scavengers, sometimes even to the point of kleptomania. The stereotype of goblins going after shiny things is somewhat true, however, as always, it's much deeper than that, for this type of behavior comes from a natural survival inclination, one so worked into the race that it has become a hard trait to overcome. It is believed that this stems from having to scavenge for scraps of food, and harsh conditions making it difficult to do so in an honest manner.

While admittedly devious, they are, in most instances, a supremely humble race when dealing within themselves, often lending a helping hand to other goblins when in need. Like the previous trait of this species, this trait is believed to have appeared due to the goblins as a whole suffering prejudice and having a hard time anywhere. This also makes it so when a lone goblin finds another, a bond is quickly formed between them due to this bond increasing their survival chances even further.

### Tribal Goblins

Meanwhile, the tribal goblins survive in different ways, and this kleptomaniac trait is barely existent in them. These small goblin settlements, which are very hard to reach, usually using their ingenuity and smarts to build on places thought to be very dangerous to other races are organized to usually have two leaders, one of which is selected from a long lineage of goblins, like royalty.

These tribes of goblin share the same feeling of the city dwellers when it comes to partnering up as a species feeling the need of having another member of their species nearby, and feel threatened when no other Goblin is around them. This fear could be overcome through a lot of mental strength, but the need of these small green creatures feel for other members of their species is powerful, and very difficult to overcome.

#### The tribal leaders are:

**Elder** - A goblin that has grown old past the forty years of age, sometimes expanding his or her life into the sixties. These goblins are revered in the tribal communities, for they believe that with their age, an extraordinary amount of wisdom comes as well. They are seen as both spiritual and political leaders of the goblin tribe and usually come from a separated lineage inside the tribe, hence the longer lifespan.

**Chieftain** - A goblin which was distinguished through combat in any way possible, be it smarts, strength or simply luck, this goblin is chosen to lead the tribe against outsiders, setting traps, hunting for meat and guiding other warriors. This rank, unlike the elder, could be anyone’s if the Chieftain gets challenged to a duel and loses.