Goblins

## Biology

Need to eat two to three times as much as humans do everyday.

One two thirds of goblins are tiny, one third are small.

Rows of shark like teeth that continuously grow throughout their lives.

## Psychology

When left to their own devices, Goblins are widely regarded to be the most wicked and vile creatures to be found on Aum and even many demons are disgusted by them. They are driven entirely by their pursuit of pleasure and they take great pleasure in the suffering of others. Empathy is not a trait that exists among goblins and they tend to view it as some sort of sickness that afflicts other races. What can be called "Morality" among goblins is based almost entirely on fear of retribution.

The typical goblin firmly believes that goblins are weak, idiotic, and lazy, though they believe that none of those traits apply specifically to themselves. They have an overwhelming sense of self-confidence and certainty in their every decision and action that some may actually consider admirable. Even so, goblins are extremely shortsighted, barely able to imagine what they will be doing the next hour, let alone the next month or next year. They exist in a constant state of chaos and for this reason, they tend to excel in the chaos of warfare. Their enemies can have trouble predicting their actions as they have no plans and their strategies lack any logical consistency.

The few goblins that are able to "overcome" their nature are still quite selfish and often fall into one-dimensional obsessions, often sinful ones. Goblins are heavily prone to addictions and are fond of taking risks no matter how awful the odds, making gambling one of their favorite past times.

While goblins are not particularly clever, their fondness for fire, loud noises, and inflicting pain upon others combined with their complete disregard for life, including their own, has made them excellent developers of explosives and toxins.

## Society

Formal organization among Goblins is scarce, but generally, Goblin-populated areas have local warlords who rule by the philosophy of "might makes right." Most often these overlords either alpha females or Hobgoblins who came to Goblin lands in order to make a name for themselves through proving that they can successfully command and rule over one of the most chaotic forces in all of Aum. The only crimes recognized by these Goblin authorities are disobedience and treason. All other wrongdoings, whether they be as "minor" as theft or as atrocious as rape and murder, are left to the individual parties involved to resolve. Goblins' unnaturally high metabolisms combined with the fact that poor planning is an inherent part of the goblin condition has made food shortages and famines an ever-present reality for Goblins and it is the sacred responsibility of their leaders to ensure that all bellies are filled.

### Mythology

No matter where they are from, all Goblins will say that their true rule is the Goblin King, long believed to be a mythological figure who resides within the legendary Goblintown. There long were rumors of untold riches that the Goblin Kings servants had snatched from all around the world, and there are many tales of Goblins stumbling across hidden portals to the treasured city. Throughout most of history, the legends appeared to just be legends and accounts varied wildly. Some claimed that Goblintown was actually hidden away in Heaven, nestled deep in the roots of Yggdrasil where the Goblin King glutted himself happily on the divine world sap. Others believed that it was far below both the Imperial Palace and even the Necropolis, possibly being so far down that it was on the Otherside of Aum. It would not be until the Victorious Era that it was discovered that the city had existed on the Moon all along, and the Goblin King had always been watching over his ravenous and scrounging children from far up above.

### Domestic Life

Goblins do have a system somewhat reminiscent of marriage known to them as “drudgery,” however, the females hold all power in such “marital” unions and husbands tend to avoid their wives as much as possible. Fathers will very rarely willingly return to their homes, usually only doing so if they believe that their children are in grave danger, but most care only about their own safety and us such will abandon their children to their mother’s fickle wills and only come home if they themselves are in danger of their wive’s retaliation for their failure to perform their marital duties. It should also be noted that wives are the ones who choose their husbands, who are often unable to refuse, and while husbands are traditionally bound to their wives and cannot leave their unions, wives are free to divorce at will. This system of drudgery has led to an interesting development among male goblins and their culture in that it is viewed as best for them to be as ugly and as otherwise repulsive as possible in order to avoid being selected as husbands for more powerful and domineering females.

## Development

Goblins are born in litters of four to eight. Their babies enter the world more developed than those of most Ib, able to crawl on their own mere moments upon leaving the womb, and crawl they must to survive. A Goblin mother is filled with a powerful craving for flesh upon giving birth and will snatch up one or two of her slower newborns. This behavior is actually highly encouraged among goblins as they see it as a method for culling the weak and reducing the number of mouths they must feed. However, infant memories of this event and witnessing their new brothers and sisters being consumed every time their mother gives birth, which typically happens once every two months, leaves young goblins emotionally scarred and terrified of females. Due to absenteeism from their fathers, it is often the responsibility of Hobgoblins overlords to defend Goblin children from their mothers during times that they are vulnerable, giving young Goblins an affinity for being ruled by other races.

Life expectancy of 20 years

## Variants

### City Goblins

City Goblins are Goblins that have adapted to life among other races in The Empire. While they are still filled with ravenous hunger and suffer constant pangs of debaucherous desire, they are better able to control themselves and can even be rather clever when the occasion calls for it.

### Tribal Goblins

Tribal Goblins are Goblins that live in isolated communities away from the rest of Goblin society. While their tribes are still typically dominated by females, they notably lack a system of drudgery.

### Cave Goblins

Cave Goblins are fierce Goblins that live in surface caves and will regularly send out massive hunting parties to terrorize both the lands above and the caverns below.