Goblin Shamanism

**Goblin Shamanism** originated as a polytheistic and shamanistic religion containing elements of ancestor worship and animism. It is a complex religion based on the idea of the individual, with each goblin primarily believing in one over all others. Cults are derived from both traditional Goblin Shaman beliefs and the religions of subjugated and allied peoples leading to a wide variety in beliefs among worshippers of Goblin Shamanism.

## Core Tenets

Goblin shamanism is a diverse spiritual belief system that is practiced by many goblin communities. It is a nature-based faith that believes in the interconnectedness of all living things and the presence of spirits in the world. The shamans, who are the spiritual leaders of the community, play a crucial role in mediating between the physical and spiritual realms. They are responsible for communicating with spirits, performing healing and divination rites, and maintaining the balance between the natural world and the goblin community.

The diversity of goblin shamanism is reflected in the varied practices and rituals that are performed by different goblin communities. While some goblins may perform simple rituals to appease the spirits, others may engage in complex rituals involving offerings, dance, music, and trance. The rituals performed by goblin shamans can vary from community to community, but some common practices include ancestor worship, divination, healing, and seasonal celebrations. Hallucinogenic mushrooms, herbs and plants are a common component of almost all rituals.

Despite the diversity of goblin shamanism and the sometimes violent disagreements on which cult is most worthy of worship, it remains a unifying force within the goblin community. The shamans provide guidance and support to their people, and the faith helps to sustain a strong sense of cultural identity and connection to the land. Whether through simple or complex rituals, goblin shamanism is a powerful and enduring spiritual tradition that continues to play an important role in the lives of many goblin communities across Halann.

## Primary Cults

Whilst all goblins share the same main gods (whether by cultural exchange or common descent), they vehemently disagree on which are the most worthy of worship. While the god each clan puts first varies. The most common are as follows:

### Kroozmuta Zemna, Grandmother Earth

She is the personification of the earth itself and the oldest goddess in the pantheon. She is in charge of the underworld, explaining why it is believed that the worst places of hell are reserved for those who betray their mother. She is primarily worshipped by the cave goblins, as the rest abandoned her after being thrown out of the caves by the dwarves.

### Kroozbuto Nubo, Grandfather Sky

The second oldest god and the father of all stars, his domain exists out of the milky way. He ended up as the god of rain and winds after he was overthrown by his children, he passive-aggressively throws storms at Halann whenever he gets irritated and thinks he can get away with it.

### Tewaka Sunka, Aunt Sun

Formerly the most powerful of all gods, she once ruled all of creation before being overthrown by her children and younger sister, the moon. She was then forced to become the sun by being chained to a flying chariot, but according to the Exodus goblins, she secretly runs the universe using her plots and schemes and led them to their new homeland. It is also believed she learned the goblins the arts of medicine and shamanism.

### Muta Mestika, Mother Moon

The goddess of justice and rulership. According to the hill goblins, she became the current head of the pantheon, after overthrowing her older sister and forcing her to become the sun by chaining her to a flying chariot. It is said she only speaks in puns and double entendres, as the goblins regard those as the highest form of poetry.

### Apzarko Hrom, Thunder Guard

Originally he was seen as the guard of the sun, he both defends her against demons and prevents her from escaping, as both would be catastrophic. With his lightning arrows, he can defeat whole armies of evil spirits. However, according to a bunch of militaristic common goblins who have risen up against their Orcish masters he was responsible for the death of the Dookanson and is now warring with both Great Dookan and the Cannorian gods and calling upon his followers to join his struggle.

### Vortza Lesa, Lady Forest

She is mainly seen as a mediator between goblinkind and all the forest spirits. Still, the forest goblins in the Deepwoods go much further and see her as the personification of all nature and thus the only deity worthy of worship.

### Vortzo Laukuno, Lord Agriculture

He isn't normally regarded as an important god, however, an exception are the Exodus Goblins with whom he has highly risen in rank after having conquered a fertile agricultural region as his homeland. Thanks to a deal between the gods he has to spend a third of the year in the underworld, so he can only spend the rest of the year with his wife the forest goddess, above ground. The time spent in the underworld is generally referred to as 'winter'.

### Vortza Krpa, Lady Cloth

The goddess of weaving, trade, and many other crafts. As the daughter of Strahllena and Blexim, she was raised by the other gods who tossed her around like a hot potato. However, this allowed her to learn many trades. She ended up marrying Wezariff for business reasons. (i.e. in exchange for him stopping to constantly rob her.)

### Zvaiko Udenzo, Star Water

A rogue star, when the other gods were busy fighting each other, he carved out his own domain in the seas, he ended up wounded in the fighting and now wears an eye patch and wooden leg. He acts as the protector of pirates and fishers. It is also believed he causes floods when he's drunk, so it is forbidden to sacrifice alcohol to him.

### Zvaika Kirba, Star Hearth

The goddess of family life and the fireplace, she initially was a star before Strahllena locked her up to serve as a nanny for her children, a third of the current pantheon. She is married to Foorrem, the god of metalworking.

### Vortzo Liezmo, Lord Fire

As the god of fire, furnaces, and industry, he is the protector of smiths and also the miners who supply them with the material. It is said he managed to trick Kroozmuta Zemna into allowing those who plundered Halann, her realm, into the good parts of the afterlife. He is therefore highly regarded by the miners among the cave goblins.

## Local Variations and Cults

Goblin Shamanism is known for its diversity and fluidity, with various subgroups adopting aspects from the religions of neighboring, conquered, or allied peoples. The religion is divided into multiple cults, each of which is viewed differently by different members of goblin society. The people see them as equally valid. Below are some cults that have been observed and documented.

### Avatar Cult

A syncretic religion that combines the goblin pantheon with the Cannorian idea of the gods needing avatars to directly interfere in the mortal world. Goblins can frequently be seen claiming to be avatars of all sorts of Gods.

### Ancestor Worship

Goblin shamanism has historically placed a strong emphasis on ancestor worship. However, after examining the records and temples of dwarves, a reformation in the recording of history took place within a cult. In emulation of the dwarves' "halls of memory," goblin communities started creating repositories of relics to preserve the achievements of their ancestors and contemporaries for future generations. The emulation of these great deeds became a dominant aspect of the religion, as goblins sought to restore the prestige and greatness of their ancestral dwellings in the breathtaking ruins.

### Cult of Reason

Thought to be a variation on The Thought. Increasingly popular among the artificers, Teacher Reason, the god of logic and thought, is cold and easily distracted, but vastly fond of the thinking beings, who he shepherds with timely inspiration. The Cult of Reason worships the Teacher through philosophy and mental exercise, spending entire days on esoteric math problems and arguing over complex metaphysical points.

### Godfound Cult

The hobgoblins of the Command have a unique approach to religion. They have rejected their traditional gods and adopted a new system based on strict military and family hierarchy, in which religion plays no role. Some shamans saw this as an opportunity and set out to find the forgotten hobgoblin gods. They claimed to have discovered these lost gods, who were said to be greatly diminished and in desperate need of followers. Despite the fact that their names were not known, the shamans established a cult dedicated to them and performed offerings and rituals to keep them alive. The reasoning behind this was that these gods were responsible for shaping the hobgoblins into who they were before they were abandoned, and they may be able to do the same for the goblins.

### Cult of the Khet

The rumors of the Khet, the cat-faced humans in the southern deserts, have been widespread. They were renowned for their lavish lifestyle and indolence, but also for their supernatural abilities that surpass common magic. The shamans uncovered the reason behind their god-like power: It was not their luxury and idleness that limited their strength, but rather, it was these very traits that bestowed upon them immense power. By conserving all their energy and exerting no effort in movement or thought, they had achieved divine status. Consequently, many wealthy goblins, motivated by the shaman's revelations, made attempts to attain similar power.

### Demon Cult

The gnolls have a history of successful conquests, often attributed to instances of demonic possession among their ranks. In an effort to replicate this power, some shamans have started performing rituals to worship demons in hopes of inviting possession in goblins. Despite limited success in actual possession, the shamans have found ways to create a convincing illusion of possession through the use of smoke and noises created by burning specific mushrooms and mosses. As they continue their efforts towards actual possession, the shamans have been able to project the appearance of a demonic champion, striking fear into both enemies and subjects alike.

### Silver Cult

Historical records show instances of friendship between goblins and elves. One such instance occurred when a group of Ibevari adventurers offered protection to goblin slaves mistreated by the Thorn Company, leading to their resettlement in Thanas. Later on, elven and goblin magnates formed a factional bloc in the Northern League's parliament, leading to the development of the cultural tradition of Silver Shamanism. In this tradition, goblins adopted elven magic, language, and material traditions, receiving aid and consultation from the more progressive segments of elven society. In exchange, goblins provided numbers and technological innovation, each party strengthening the other's weaknesses.

### Sun Cult

The Sun Cult shamans had a goal to incorporate other races into worshiping Tewanka Sunka. To achieve this, they altered her worship to include names and themes from existing Bulwari religions. Over time, this objective was lost and the Sun Cult evolved into a separate entity with beliefs distinct from the original worship of Aunt Sun.

### Gerudian Cult

The tendency of goblins to be easily distracted has been acknowledged for a long time, and the shamans found it difficult to maintain their audience amidst the various distractions and pleasures that goblins indulge in. In response, they took inspiration from the captivating storytelling and musical talent of northern skalds and introduced vibrant worship sessions featuring powerful music, intricate lyrics, and elaborate costumes. These sessions were intended to keep the tales of their gods and the traditions of their people alive in the hearts and minds of goblins. Over time, their enthusiastic adoption of these musical elements also earned them the respect of the skalds, who shared their bardic magic with the goblins and helped to strengthen their armies.

### Dookan Cult

The relationship between orcs and goblins throughout history has been marked by conflict. However, since the Greentide, the two races have had less close contact, allowing for greater observation of orcs. Orc worship of Dookan, either the old or new deity, has led to impressive feats in battle. In response, some goblin shamans have attempted to appease Dookan through rituals in which goblins imitate orc behavior, in hopes of obtaining similar success in warfare.

### Hunt Cult

The goblins' relationship with the harpies has been observed to have changed over time. Initially, the harpies were seen as a threat to the goblins as they hunted in the plains and trees. The goblins would hide and watch the harpies hunt and search for what they desired. However, over time the goblins began to hunt more themselves, seeking what they wanted with greater determination. This change in behavior was noticed by the harpies, who then began to observe the goblins' hunting with interest. Eventually, what was once just a simple hunt became known as "The Hunt", a term used to describe the concerted effort made by the goblins and their shamans to find what they sought. The harpies joined in this hunt, creating a unique relationship between the two species.

### Fey Cult

The relationship between the forest goblins and the fey of the Deepwoods had a tumultuous history. The goblins initially made a pact to serve the fey, but it eventually broke down due to either the fey's capricious behavior or the goblins' greed, leading to a long-standing conflict characterized by spiteful tricks. Over time, the malice behind these tricks faded, and the Wood Elves of the River Grove helped to bring about a resolution. A solution was reached in which every village appointed a Feykeeper, an individual who acted as a mediator between the village and the fey spirits. These Feykeepers lived in isolated huts outside the villages and were tasked with negotiating deals with the fey.

### The Cult of Paper

The social structure of Raheni society has long been of interest to shamans. They observed that Raheni society was characterized by a rigid social order, with a highly organized bureaucratic workforce that meticulously recorded every law, regulation, and correspondence. In response, a group of shamans established the cult of paper to emulate this level of record-keeping. To enhance efficiency and social cohesion, they complicated the language used, making it difficult for most goblins to understand the records. Additionally, they implemented a system of losing and finding records strategically to benefit the social order and themselves.

### Cult of the Emptiness

The giantkin that inhabit the dry basins of the great plains and their kin in the far north are known for their insatiable appetites. According to legend, their gods were consumed by their own kind and now exist as shattered fragments in the bellies of ogres and trolls. However, there are some shamans who still sense their presence, albeit partially. They describe their consciousness as being stretched out in a void between sentience and oblivion, collectively known as the Maw of Terror. The Maw whispers sweet and terrible whispers into the ears of its shamans, encouraging them to eat and eat for it no longer can.

### Kravi Oznad, Bloody Beyond

Believed to be inspired by the centaur faith. The belief in a hidden goblin homeland, known as Jazhkredu, is widespread among goblin cults. The interpretation of this afterlife varies, with some seeing it as a vast treasure trove, others as a bountiful field of mushrooms, and others denying its existence altogether. One particular cult, however, goes a step further, claiming that Jazhkredu is merely a pale imitation of the true goblin heaven, Kravi Oznad. According to the beliefs of this cult, Kravi Oznad is a plane of abundance that exceeds all desires, only attainable through a goblin's death in battle. The followers of this cult believe that they must take up arms and fight against all who oppose the goblin way of life, by any means necessary. Whether it be through the accidental discharge of weapons, the explosion of a missile, or through the hands of an opposing force after having slain numerous others, death in a manner befitting a goblin is the only way to achieve the ultimate heaven and leave behind the ordinary afterlife of Jazhkredu.

### Dragon Cult

The goblins viewed the kobolds with interest. Both peoples lived in a hostile environment surrounded by invaders attempting to reclaim their lands. However, the kobolds were unique in their united, hoard-driven society. The concept of an insatiable desire for wealth was familiar to the goblins, but the kobold's large collections of riches were something new and attractive. The goblins sought to adopt this idea, but in their own way by displaying their hoards publicly. The shamans would oversee the donations and keep track of the wealth of each goblin, allowing for bragging rights among the community.