Hobgoblin

> *“Hobgoblins are weird. They’re so unpredictable. You get used to uncertainty in war - you know that as soon as a fight starts, plans and order and going to fail and disintegrate anyway. You never quite get used to Hobgoblin Renegades and Toad Riders hurling themselves around the battlefield though. I don’t know why the Empire is willing to hire that particular bunch from the Hordes, given our histories. I’m not complaining though.”* - Lorenzo Valerio, Imperial soldier.
>
>

A rare and, perhaps, confusing sight, Hobgoblins are created from a union between an Orc and a Goblin. The name roughly translates from the Greenskin language as “half goblin” - although there is no direct translation for what the word “hob” means. Some linguists believe it is a derogatory term. At any rate, Hobgoblins benefit from the greatest traits of both parent races. They are physically strong and tough like Orcs but also cunning and intelligent like Goblins. Some have taken to calling Hobgoblins ‘green-skinned Humans’ but Hobgoblins themselves see this nickname as deeply insulting. With their unique traits, some Hobgoblins rise to become proud warlords of Orc hordes, their Goblin cunning giving them an edge over their full-blooded Orc rivals. But some venture into the world to prove their worth among Humans and other civilised races, being dubbed ‘Renegades.’ Many of these become adventurers, achieving greatness for their mighty deeds and notoriety for their barbaric customs and savage fury.

## **Physical Description - Scarred and Strong**

Hobgoblins’ greenish pigmentation, sloping foreheads, jutting jaws, prominent teeth, and towering builds make their Orcish heritage plain for all to see. Hobgoblins stand between 5-6 and a half feet tall and usually weigh between 180 and 250 pounds.

Orcs regard battle scars as tokens of pride and ornamental scars as things of beauty. Other scars, though, mark an Orc or Hobgoblin as a former slave or a disgraced exile. Any Hobgoblin who has lived among or near an Orc horde has scars, whether they are marks of humiliation or of pride, recounting their past exploits and injuries. Such a Hobgoblin living among Humans might display these scars proudly or hide them in shame.

## **Mentality - The Mark of Battle Lust**

All Orcs are consumed by a constant desire for battle and warfare. Strength is power in their culture and society, their leaders being the greatest warriors and fighting being the best way to advance one’s status. As a result, battle is the bedrock of almost all hordes. Having Orc blood, Hobgoblins are no exception to this - though the Goblin blood slightly moderates the impact. Some Hobgoblins hear the whispers of battle in their dreams, calling them to unleash the rage that simmers within them. Others feel the great Battle Lust when they join in melee combat - and either give into it or shiver with fear and loathing. Hobgoblins are not chaotic by nature, but chaos does lurk within them, whether they embrace it or rebel against it.

Beyond the desire for battle, Hobgoblins feel emotion powerfully. Rage doesn’t just quicken their pulse, it makes their bodies burn. An insult stings like acid, and sadness saps their strength. But they laugh loudly and heartily, and simple bodily pleasures - feasting, drinking, wrestling, drumming, and wild dancing - fill their hearts with joy. They tend to be short-tempered and sometimes sullen, more inclined to action than contemplation and to fighting than arguing. The most accomplished Hobgoblins are those with enough self-control to get by in a civilised land.

Each Hobgoblin finds a way to gain acceptance from those who hate Orcs and Goblins. Some are reserved, trying not to draw attention to themselves. A few demonstrate piety and good-heartedness as publicly as they can (whether or not such demonstrations are genuine). And some simply try to be so tough that others just avoid them.

## **Society - Tribes and Slums**

Hobgoblins most often live among Orcs as part of a horde. In Orc society they are valued as good strategists and fighters, but are looked down on due to their typically ‘unorthodox’ practices and Goblin blood. Despite this, some Hobgoblins still rise to prominent positions within a horde.

Of the other races, Humans are most likely to accept Hobgoblins, and Hobgoblins almost always live in Human lands when not living among Orc hordes. Whether proving themselves among rough mercenary bands or scrabbling to survive in the slums of larger cities, Hobgoblins get by on their physical might, their endurance, and the sheer determination they inherit from their Orc ancestry.

## **Hobgoblin Adventurers - Renegades**

A Hobgoblin that travels to another land is known amongst the Hordes as a ‘Renegade.’ This includes all Hobgoblin adventurers. A Hobgoblin that turns to adventuring might be searching for a variety of things. Personal glory, fortune, reputation. Perhaps they are searching to refine their skills before returning to their native Horde. Some might even be looking to escape the cruelties of their Horde and find a new purpose in the wider world. Clearly, motivations vary greatly.

## **Hobgoblin Names**

Hobgoblins usually have names appropriate to the culture in which they wish to fit into. A Hobgoblin who wants to fit in among Humans might trade an Orc name for a Human name. Some Hobgoblins with Human names decide to adopt a guttural Orc name because they think it makes them more intimidating. Almost all Hobgoblins avoid using Goblin names, though, as it invites ridicule and rejection by the Orcs.

## **Hobgoblin Traits**

Your Hobgoblin character has certain traits deriving from your Orc and Goblin ancestries.

* ***Ability Score Increase -*** your Strength score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.
* ***Age -*** Hobgoblins mature a little faster than Humans, reaching adulthood around age 14. They age noticeably faster and rarely live longer than 75 years.
* ***Alignment -*** Hobgoblins inherit a tendency towards chaos from their Orc parents and are not strongly inclined towards good. That said, they are not strongly inclined towards evil either, though some of their kind certainly are.
* ***Size -*** Hobgoblins are somewhat larger and bulkier than Humans, and they range from 5-6 and a half feet tall. Your size is medium.
* ***Speed -*** your base walking speed is 30 feet.
* ***Darkvision -*** thanks to your Orc and Goblin blood, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern colour in darkness, only shades of grey.
* ***Menacing -*** you gain a proficiency in the Intimidation skill.
* ***Relentless Endurance -*** when you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
* ***Savage Attacks -*** when you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon’s damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.
* ***Languages -*** you can speak, read, and write Common and Greenskin. With their Orc and Goblin blood, Hobgoblins tend to speak like a fusion of their parentage. Their speech is gravelly and guttural. Not as low-pitched as an Orc but not as high-pitched as a Goblin.