Gaialin: a SLOW Work in Progress

[Adamantrue]

Goblin

Collective term for the nomadic tribesfolk, known for their violent mounted raids. The proper use of the term Goblin is for the females of the species, all considered wives to the Chieftain. Hobgoblins are the males and leaders of the tribe, with only a single male heir allowed at any given time. All other male children are neutered at birth, resulting in Bukubar (commonly called a Bugbear).

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Though the term Goblin has come to refer to the entire race, it is properly used for the females of the species, with males being correctly being referred to as hobgoblin. It is believed to have became the common term because of the disproportionate number of females in goblin communities, with approximately 1 in 8 children being born male.

In the days of Giant rule, goblins were viewed as vermin rather than enslaved. They would be exterminated, and attempts were made to control their numbers. At some point, these attempts allowed goblins to discover that a hobgoblin neutered at birth would become empowered physically in adulthood, and the Bukubar (commonly referred to as Bugbears) became a standard practice in tribes.

Though goblins played a role in the Rise, they were not granted lands in the same way as other races. Instead, nomadic tribes roam in a region in the Commons, crossing into southern Dowafukoku and the Gnome Republic.

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The core of each goblin tribe typically consists of the Hobgoblin Khan, with perhaps his hobgoblin heir if he is of age, leading the tribe. They are usually protected by the khan's brother guard, no fewer than 5 bukubar unless they are performing specific tasks. Among them would be the Khan's Harem, consisting of as many as a dozen goblin wives that act as the breeding population of the tribe.

Within the Khan's Harem, the two goblins that wield tribal power are the Heart, the Khan's favored wife, and the Fated, the mother of the hobgoblin heir. It is not unheard of that the Heart and the Fated to be the same goblin. Their combined authority can rival the Khan in tribal matters, if necessary.

There is rarely animosity between the wives, and in fact goblin often prefer the company of females and rarely quarrel with each other. Due to the rarity of males in their society, goblin females tend pair with each other, and often would avoid heterosexual relationships entirely if it were not needed for the tribe to survive.

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Goblins have short pregnancies, typically 4 months from conception to birth. For the first 3 months, the mothers appetite significantly increases, as she builds tremendous stores of fat necessary for the final month. As the last month approaches, she becomes almost ravenous, and others in the tribe do their best to satisfy her madness.

The final month is spent in a dormant, near hibernation state. She is cared for by others until she awakens to deliver their litter, typically 3 to 6 infants. Males are rare, with some goblins unable to bear them at all, but if a hobgoblin heir already exists in the tribe, it is now that any males are made into bukubar.

Infants stay with the harem until finished nursing. Hobgoblin and bukubar are raised by the Khan and his brothers. It is a common practice for hobgoblin heirs to be traded between tribes. This serves to keep peace between them, as well as to avoid excessive inbreeding. Females that finish nursing are often given to a paired goblin couple, to be trained in the goblin ways of archery and worg riding.

Individual goblin tribes vary in temperament. Some are peaceful, nomadic hunters. They have good relations with their neighbors, and even escort trade caravans across the Commons. If not for the difficulty of the goblin language, it would be a good merchant tongue.

Others are marauders, raiding villages and travelers, even other goblin tribes. Because of their nomadic nature, various places may have dealings with multiple tribes and not easily distinguish them, giving goblins as a whole a poor reputation among the civilized races.

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Goblins have a long history of having nothing to call their own. This extends to their spiritual beliefs. At some point in their distant past, they made a pact with the Barghests (the Demons of Nothing, in the goblin tongue). They were gifted the worgs as a result, but it cost them their afterlife, instead having to wander the emptiness of the night sky for all of eternity.

Many still pay tribute to the Barghests, to be spared its wrath each day.

When a goblin or worg dies, it is buried deep in the earth, along with weapons and supplies needed to survive. When possible, they are not buried individually, but in groups.

Goblin strength has always been with others, and its a blessing to not have to spend eternity alone.

Racial Variation

The three dominant goblinoid races have been combined into a singular race here, with the variation being the result of gender (or castration, in the case of Bugbears).