Goblin

"Diminutive creatures that will live wherever they are tolerated, Goblins have become either boon and bane depending on the particular person asked."

Small, cave dwelling creatures that posses natural dexterity and a shocking disregard for personal safety.

Description

Goblins possess a strange form of adaptation where a goblin mother will give birth to a child bearing traits of other nearby species. It is believed that the proximity and number of the other species causes the growing goblin to mimic them in a bid to increase survivability in the environment that they will be born into. The exact way the child becomes aware of the outside creatures is unknown.

Your regular, or ‘Gobliny’, Goblin stand from thirty-five to forty-five inches tall, live to be around sixty years old barring the usual untimely demises, and have their distinct olive green skin. Each subspecies of Goblin has traits that emulate a particular species.

Example Names

Smirk, Logub, Blyhx, Hobbie, Nugget, Vermin, Norbert, Chug, Woodwind, Smuggon, Zupol, Candy

Play a Goblin if:

You want to be a small menace.
You want to be able to add a bit of levity in any situation.
You want to ride the line between being useful and a hindrance.

Stat Bonuses

Special: Stat Bonuses are determined by Subspecies

Skill Bonuses

+1 to Skullduggery

+1 to Dungeoneering

+1 to Survival

Subspecies

Goblinesque

The common Goblin. They are short, have long claw tipped fingers, bright red eyes, pointed ears, and large fangs. Height 33+2D6 inches tall. Hairless

+2 Dex

Humanesque

Common among human settlements, Humany Goblins possess similar body structure to humans, as well as human-like eyes. They also have a much broader mouth capable of mimicking human facial expressions easily. Height 36+2D6 inches tall

+1 Dex

+1 any other Stat

Dwarfesque

Shorter than your average goblin, Dwarfy Goblins are short and stout like their emulated species. They also grow much more hair, with males growing sizable beards and females growing voluminous hair they style in eye-catching ways. Height 30+1D6 inches tall.

+1 Dex

+1 Phys

Elfesque

Unlike the other subspecies, Elfy Goblins don't resemble elves that much. The main exception to this is that Elfy Goblins are typically pretty tall for Goblin standards. Elfy Goblins have spindly limbs, thin torsos, angular heads, more upturned ears, and large, glassy black eyes. They also don't seem to blink very often which many describe as “unsettling.” Height 30+3D6 inches tall.

+1 Dex

+1 AGI

Orcesque

Orcy Goblins take a noticeable resemblance to those they emulate. Those not in the know may mistake them for Orc children. Orcy Goblins have pronounced tusks, defined musculature, and coarse black hair. Height 36+2D6 inches tall

+1 Dex

+1 STR

Beastesque

Goblins that emulate any of the Beast Folk Tribes tend to have similar features to the ones they emulate. Most common is patches of fur on their bodies. Beasty Goblins will also grow pronounced fangs and claws while Pecorida Goblins will grow horns in various styles. Height 33+2D6 inches tall

+1 Dex

+1 Per, Phys, or Agi

Lizardesque

Goblins that emulate Lizard Tribes are known as Lizardy Goblins. These goblins tend to have the most noticeable changes as Lizardy Goblins have dark green scales instead of skin, slitted eyes like a viper, and a second row of fangs. Lizardy Goblins do not have hair, but grow membranous frills. Height 33+2D6 inches tall

+1 Dex

+1 to Str or Agi

Traits

Special: Goblins that resemble another species may take one Trait from that species Trait List at Character Creation.

1	Surprisingly Resilient	Gain +2 to your base Protection.
2	Goblin Tricks	+1 to the Stealth, Thievery, and Deception Skills.
3	Cave Lurker’s Sight	You gain Echolocation.
4	Goblin Glibness	Reroll one Persuasion or Deception Test per encounter.
5	Hide Behind	While within 1u of an ally, you may use their Guard instead of yours when attacked.
6	Slip Away	You may use the Disengage Action as a Quick Action once per encounter.

Factions

The Grand Society of Goblin Philosophy

While many would find the concept of Goblin philosophy to be a punchline, there is a group that wholeheartedly seek to understand their mindset. The main reason people join is to discover the source of the goblins communal language.

History

Age of Discovery

The early origins of goblins is not very clear as they didn't possess written history at the time. Earliest know interactions were during the early human expansions where an explorer stumbled on them while resting in a cave. The explorer's written remarks were as follows:

"In my travels I have found a collective of small, green, nude creatures. No hostility has been noted so far, but they continue to rummage in my belongings. I have decided to return to report my findings. They are following me."

Upon the explorer's return, this early tribe of goblins made themselves at home in the human settlement. There were some growing pains, especially when the Golbins adaptive ability was discovered, but they have more or less integrated into any society that they joined.

Culture

The Goblins seem to have an instinctual language. While the Goblin Tongue can be learned by anyone, Goblins seem to gain spontaneously learn how to speak it as they grow. The language is now full of loanwords for concepts they did'nt originally have. Even more curious is that these loanwords are consistent for every goblin, wild goblins who had never met an Elf using Elvish words.

Goblins don't really have a care for personal privacy. It is believed that their earliest cultural form as cave dwellers in tight spaces left little room for the concept. In fact, the word for privacy is a loan word in their language.

Traveling Goblin tends to collect customs as they wander, leaving the most well traveled as barely conceivable collages of cultures.

Legendary Figures

Eebard of the Grand Rivers

A Goblin folk hero who was famous for using a harpoon to ride large mythical fish to a land where tree bore fruit that tasted of honey.

Species of Seeker's Zeal