Goblinoids are not a single species, but a closely related group of three peoples: goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears.
Unlike Dwarves, Gnomes, and halflings, who are three cultures united within one nation, the goblinoids are three species who largely share one culture. Their traditions, names, ideals, loyalties, and social expectations are broadly common across all three peoples, though each species expresses them differently.
Before the rise of the Velhelsinese Empire, goblinoid society was organized around clans, warbands, raids, feuds, and survival through strength and cunning. Goblinoid communities were not inherently wicked, but their culture rewarded those who could seize resources, defend territory, outmaneuver rivals, and take what their people needed from a hostile world.
This changed when Velhelsin allied with the goblinoid tribes during the Great Elf War.
Velhelsin offered the goblinoids something they had rarely possessed before: unity, direction, legitimacy, and a place within a larger imperial order. Under her rule, the old raiding instincts of the goblinoid peoples were redirected into military service, labor, mining, construction, agriculture, industry, and imperial expansion.
Modern goblinoids remain strongly associated with discipline, toughness, loyalty, practicality, and martial competence. Many serve in the Imperial Army or Navy, while others work as miners, metalworkers, farmers, sailors, builders, hunters, artisans, scouts, laborers, or administrators.
To outsiders, goblinoid culture can appear harsh, aggressive, and unforgiving. To goblinoids, it is a culture built around survival, usefulness, loyalty, and proving one's worth through action.
Goblinoid Species¶
The three goblinoid peoples are biologically distinct, but culturally intertwined. Most goblinoid communities include all three species, and all three are considered part of the same broader people.
Goblins¶
Goblins are the smallest and shortest-lived of the goblinoid peoples.
They are often quick, clever, alert, and adaptable. In older clan society, goblins were commonly scouts, trappers, scavengers, messengers, skirmishers, toolmakers, and raiders. In the modern Empire, they remain heavily represented among sailors, engineers, scouts, miners, artificers, merchants, and urban laborers.
Goblins often survive by noticing opportunities before anyone else does.
Others often describe goblins as:
- Quick
- Opportunistic
- Inventive
- Restless
- Hard to kill
Hobgoblins¶
Hobgoblins are the most disciplined and organizationally minded of the goblinoid peoples.
They are commonly associated with soldiers, officers, administrators, tacticians, quartermasters, magistrates, teachers, and imperial officials. While not all hobgoblins serve in the military, hobgoblin culture places great value on planning, chain of command, duty, and practical leadership.
In older clan society, hobgoblins often became war leaders, negotiators, organizers, and keepers of law. Under the Empire, these traits made them especially useful within the army and bureaucracy.
Others often describe hobgoblins as:
- Disciplined
- Practical
- Strategic
- Stern
- Reliable
Bugbears¶
Bugbears are the largest and physically strongest of the goblinoid peoples.
They are often associated with heavy labor, shock troops, guards, hunters, bodyguards, construction crews, tunnel work, and wilderness patrols. Despite their fearsome reputation, bugbears are not mindless brutes. Many are patient, observant, and surprisingly quiet for their size.
In older clan society, bugbears often served as protectors, ambushers, enforcers, and guardians of difficult territory. Within the Empire, they remain valued for strength, endurance, intimidation, and battlefield presence.
Others often describe bugbears as:
- Strong
- Patient
- Watchful
- Dangerous
- Difficult to move
Naming Traditions¶
Goblinoid naming traditions are shared across goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears. While accents and pronunciations vary between regions, all three peoples draw from the same naming customs and naming pools.
Goblinoid names tend to be short, harsh, and practical. Most evolved in military camps, traveling warbands, mining settlements, hunting clans, and frontier communities where names needed to be recognized quickly and shouted clearly across long distances.
To outsiders, goblinoid names often sound abrupt, aggressive, or difficult to pronounce. To goblinoids, a good name is memorable, distinctive, and easy to hear over the sound of marching feet, hammer strikes, or battlefield chaos.
Unlike many cultures, goblinoids rarely associate names with noble ancestry, ancient heroes, or religious significance. A name's value comes from the individual who bears it.
Children are usually given a personal name shortly after birth. Clan names are inherited and often carry far greater social significance than a given name. When introducing themselves formally, goblinoids typically state both names.
"I am Hazz Ironfang."
"I am Creastuf Frostsnarl."
"I am Tribs Blackmaw."
Because clan identity is highly valued, goblinoids frequently refer to one another by clan name alone.
"Ask Ironfang."
"Blackmaw already approved it."
"Send Frostbite to inspect the wall."
Clan Names¶
Most goblinoid clan names originated as earned reputations rather than hereditary surnames.
Some describe famous deeds, such as defeating a monster, surviving a disaster, or winning a battle. Others refer to notable physical traits, ancestral professions, favored weapons, or memorable incidents that occurred generations ago.
Many clan names sound intimidating to outsiders, reflecting the harsh conditions under which the clans originally formed.
Examples include:
Ashenhide, Blackmaw, Bloodvein, Bonegrinder, Cragspine, Emberfang, Frostbite, Gritjaw, Ironfang, Marshstalker, Razorclaw, Rotgut, Scarhide, Shadowfang, Skullsplitter, Spinebreaker, Thundermaw, Tuskrend, Venomtongue, and Wyrmfear.
Despite their fearsome origins, many modern clan names no longer reflect the clan's current profession or temperament. A member of Clan Bonegrinder may be a schoolteacher, while Clan Bloodsnarl might produce more accountants than soldiers.
The clan name remembers the past. The individual decides what it means today.
Nicknames and Earned Names¶
While clan names are inherited, nicknames are earned.
Goblinoids are extremely fond of descriptive titles, call signs, military nicknames, workplace nicknames, and humorous epithets. Some are flattering. Some are insulting. Many are both.
A goblinoid may spend decades attempting to escape a nickname received at sixteen years old, usually without success.
In many communities, an earned nickname carries as much social weight as a person's actual name.
Beauty Ideals¶
Goblinoid beauty standards differ significantly from those of most other peoples.
Where many cultures emphasize symmetry, delicacy, elegance, refinement, or grace, goblinoids traditionally place greater value on signs of strength, resilience, confidence, and capability.
A goblinoid is expected to look like someone who can survive hardship.
Presence¶
Above all else, goblinoids value presence.
A person who enters a room with confidence, speaks clearly, carries themselves with purpose, and commands attention is often considered attractive regardless of their physical features.
Many goblinoids would rather be described as impressive than beautiful.
Strength And Capability¶
Physical fitness is widely admired.
Scars earned through meaningful service, calloused hands, evidence of hard work, and signs of practical experience are often viewed positively rather than hidden.
A goblinoid who looks capable is generally considered more attractive than one who merely looks pleasant.
Teeth, Tusks, And Eyes¶
Strong teeth, healthy tusks, sharp eyes, and expressive facial features are commonly admired.
Many goblinoids take considerable pride in their appearance and devote significant effort to grooming, maintaining, and decorating these features.
A confident smile is often considered more attractive than perfect symmetry.
Reputation¶
Personal reputation plays an enormous role in attractiveness.
Military service, professional competence, reliability, courage, loyalty, leadership, and accomplishments frequently influence how attractive a person is perceived to be.
Among goblinoids, admiration and attraction are often closely connected.
Imperial Influence¶
Over the last four thousand years, the influence of the Velhelsinese Empire has gradually altered some goblinoid beauty standards.
Fashion, grooming, cosmetics, jewelry, tailored clothing, and personal presentation have become increasingly popular, particularly in cities and among the professional classes.
As a result, modern goblinoid ideals often blend older values of strength and capability with newer ideals emphasizing confidence, style, charisma, and self-presentation.
Even so, most goblinoids remain far less concerned with appearing delicate or refined than many neighboring cultures.
Verdan Perspectives¶
The Verdan occupy an unusual position within goblinoid society.
Following Xokone's transformation of their people, Verdan often possess physical features that many non-goblinoids find unusually attractive.
While some outsiders view this as an improvement, many goblinoids regard the matter with amusement.
A common goblinoid response is that beauty granted by a god is far less impressive than confidence earned through experience.
A Common Saying¶
"Pretty doesn't win fights. Presence wins rooms."
The saying reflects the goblinoid belief that confidence, reputation, and capability are ultimately more important than conventional notions of beauty.
Gender Ideals¶
Goblinoid society is generally egalitarian with regard to gender.
While men and women are recognized as biologically distinct, goblinoids have historically placed far greater importance on strength, competence, loyalty, and usefulness than on gender itself.
A person's value is measured by what they contribute, not by whether they are male or female.
Capability Over Tradition¶
For most of goblinoid history, survival depended upon every capable member of the clan contributing to the community.
As a result, strict divisions between "men's work" and "women's work" never became deeply established.
Both men and women can be found as soldiers, hunters, laborers, craftspeople, merchants, officers, sailors, builders, leaders, and clan elders.
Most goblinoids view this as entirely normal.
Leadership¶
Leadership positions are open to both sexes.
Historically, clan chiefs, war leaders, captains, administrators, and elders have included both men and women.
Most goblinoids care far more about whether a leader is effective than whether they are male or female.
A weak leader is a problem.
A female leader is not.
Strength And Respect¶
Physical strength is admired throughout goblinoid society, but it is not considered exclusively masculine.
Particularly among bugbears and hobgoblins, physically powerful women are often respected and admired.
Few goblinoids find the idea of women serving as warriors, guards, laborers, or military officers unusual.
Family Roles¶
Family responsibilities are typically divided according to circumstance rather than rigid social expectations.
While individual households may develop their own traditions, most goblinoids consider the internal organization of a family to be the concern of the family itself.
The expectation is that responsibilities should be handled by whoever is best able to handle them.
Imperial Influence¶
The Velhelsinese Empire largely reinforced existing goblinoid attitudes toward gender.
Imperial institutions opened military, administrative, industrial, and civic roles to both men and women, creating additional opportunities for advancement based on service and achievement.
As a result, modern goblinoid society remains one of the more gender-egalitarian cultures in Andórë.
A Common Saying¶
"The wall doesn't care who holds the spear."
The saying reflects a longstanding goblinoid belief that competence matters far more than gender when real work needs to be done.
Relationships and Courtship¶
Goblinoid courtship is often direct, energetic, and highly social.
While affection, trust, and emotional compatibility are important, goblinoids also place considerable value on confidence, capability, and personal presence. As a result, many courtship traditions involve friendly competition, displays of skill, and opportunities to demonstrate one's strengths.
To outsiders, these customs can sometimes appear aggressive. To goblinoids, they are often playful, flattering, and entirely normal.
Courtship¶
Many goblinoid relationships begin through shared work, military service, community events, festivals, athletic competitions, hunting expeditions, or clan gatherings.
It is common for one individual to challenge another to some form of contest as part of courtship.
Such challenges are rarely intended to establish dominance. Instead, they provide an opportunity to demonstrate confidence, competence, determination, and good humor.
Common examples include:
- Arm wrestling
- Wrestling
- Races
- Hunting competitions
- Strength contests
- Crafting competitions
- Tactical games
- Archery contests
- Drinking contests
A challenge followed by an invitation to dinner is a familiar goblinoid courtship ritual.
Confidence And Attraction¶
Many goblinoids find confidence attractive.
The willingness to approach someone directly, state one's intentions clearly, and accept rejection gracefully is generally admired.
Indirect courtship, excessive hesitation, or elaborate manipulation are often viewed less favorably.
Many goblinoids prefer honesty over subtlety.
Partnership¶
Long-term relationships are generally viewed as partnerships between equals.
While individual households vary considerably, most goblinoids expect both partners to contribute meaningfully to the family according to their abilities.
Respect is considered essential.
A partner who consistently fails to carry their share of responsibilities will often encounter more criticism than one who simply lacks talent.
Marriage¶
Marriage is common throughout goblinoid society.
Ceremonies vary between regions and clans, but they often include public feasting, games, contests, storytelling, and celebrations involving the wider community.
Many weddings feature friendly competitions between families, friends, or clan members.
The atmosphere is usually festive rather than solemn.
Family¶
Children are generally viewed as the responsibility of both parents and the broader community.
Extended families, clan members, neighbors, and trusted friends often play significant roles in raising young goblinoids.
As a result, children frequently grow up surrounded by numerous adult role models.
Loyalty¶
Perhaps more than any other quality, goblinoids value loyalty.
A successful relationship is expected to endure hardship, setbacks, disagreements, and adversity.
Many goblinoids believe that affection is important, but commitment is what transforms affection into a lasting partnership.
A Common Saying¶
"If they can beat you at wrestling and still make you laugh afterward, ask for a second date."
The saying reflects the goblinoid belief that strength, confidence, good humor, and mutual respect often form the foundation of a successful relationship.
Common Etiquette¶
Goblinoid etiquette tends to be direct, practical, and relatively uncomplicated.
Most goblinoids place a high value on honesty, competence, loyalty, courage, and personal accountability.
They are generally less concerned with refinement, social status, or elaborate formalities than many neighboring cultures.
Commonly admired qualities include:
- Honesty
- Reliability
- Courage
- Competence
- Loyalty
- Self-control
Speak Plainly¶
Most goblinoids prefer direct communication.
While diplomacy and tact are appreciated when appropriate, excessive politeness, passive aggression, manipulation, or deliberate ambiguity are often viewed with suspicion.
Many goblinoids would rather hear an unpleasant truth than a comforting lie.
Respect Must Be Earned¶
Goblinoids generally begin interactions with basic courtesy.
Greater respect is earned through actions, competence, and character rather than titles, wealth, ancestry, or social position.
A person's reputation matters far more than their pedigree.
Own Your Words¶
Goblinoids are expected to stand behind what they say.
Making threats one cannot carry out, boasting about accomplishments one did not earn, or speaking recklessly without accepting responsibility is widely viewed as embarrassing.
Many goblinoids have little patience for people whose mouths are significantly stronger than their actions.
Common Mistakes Made By Outsiders¶
- Mistaking directness for hostility.
- Assuming goblinoids are unintelligent.
- Treating confidence as arrogance.
- Demanding respect without earning it.
- Hiding mistakes rather than admitting them.
- Making threats one has no intention of carrying out.
A Common Saying¶
"Don't growl if you won't bite."
The saying reflects the goblinoid belief that words should be backed by conviction, competence, and responsibility.
Common Dress¶
Goblinoid clothing emphasizes durability, practicality, and personal reputation.
Historically, clothing needed to survive long marches, hard labor, military campaigns, poor weather, and rough living conditions. While modern fashions have become more varied, these influences remain visible throughout goblinoid society.
A goblinoid is generally expected to look prepared for whatever the day might bring.
Function Before Fashion¶
Most goblinoids prefer clothing that is durable, comfortable, and suited to its intended purpose.
Strong boots, reinforced fabrics, practical belts, heavy cloaks, sturdy gloves, and weather-resistant garments are common throughout the Empire.
Even wealthy goblinoids often favor clothing that appears useful rather than delicate.
Military Influence¶
Centuries of military service have left a lasting mark on goblinoid fashion.
Uniform jackets, structured coats, fitted armor pieces, military-style boots, insignia, service pins, campaign ribbons, and symbols of rank are common sights, even among civilians who have never served.
Many fashions trace their origins to military equipment that proved effective and eventually entered everyday use.
Clan Symbols¶
Clan identity remains an important part of goblinoid life.
Many individuals display clan colors, clan symbols, badges, tattoos, jewelry, embroidered markings, or other identifiers that connect them to their family and heritage.
These displays are typically worn with pride rather than subtlety.
Signs Of Achievement¶
Unlike many cultures that emphasize wealth, goblinoids often place greater value on visible accomplishments.
Military honors, professional certifications, guild marks, trade insignia, campaign awards, and symbols of earned status are frequently incorporated into formal attire.
A goblinoid who has accomplished something meaningful is generally expected to acknowledge it.
Little Difference Between Men And Women¶
Because goblinoid society places relatively little emphasis on gender roles, clothing styles tend to differ more by profession, social status, climate, and personal preference than by sex.
A soldier dresses like a soldier.
A miner dresses like a miner.
A magistrate dresses like a magistrate.
The distinction matters far more than whether the wearer is male or female.
Modern Imperial Fashion¶
Over the centuries, goblinoid fashion has absorbed influences from across the Velhelsinese Empire.
Urban fashions may incorporate fine fabrics, jewelry, cosmetics, tailored clothing, and decorative accessories once associated primarily with the imperial elite.
Even so, most goblinoids continue to favor styles that project confidence, competence, and strength rather than delicacy or refinement.
A Common Saying¶
"If your clothes can't survive your day, buy better clothes."
The saying reflects the goblinoid belief that appearance should serve practicality before vanity.
Customs and Traditions¶
Goblinoid customs emphasize community, loyalty, achievement, and shared identity.
Many traditions originated among ancient clans and warbands before being adapted into modern imperial life. While individual practices vary between regions, most goblinoids place considerable importance on celebrating accomplishments, honoring service, strengthening community bonds, and maintaining connections to clan heritage.
Clan Gatherings¶
Most clans hold regular gatherings where family members exchange news, settle disputes, celebrate achievements, and reinforce social connections.
Large clans may draw members from multiple cities, military units, professions, and regions of the Empire.
Attendance is generally encouraged whenever practical.
Service Celebrations¶
Military service, civic service, apprenticeships, guild advancement, professional certifications, and major career milestones are frequently recognized through public celebrations.
Even individuals who never serve in the military often participate in traditions originally associated with military promotions and honors.
Recognition is viewed as an important way of strengthening community pride.
Feats And Competitions¶
Friendly contests are common throughout goblinoid society.
Communities frequently organize wrestling tournaments, races, strength competitions, marksmanship contests, tactical games, hunting challenges, and professional skill competitions.
Victory brings prestige.
Good sportsmanship brings nearly as much.
Victory Feasts¶
When an important goal is achieved—whether military, professional, civic, or personal—goblinoids often celebrate with communal meals.
These feasts emphasize shared success rather than individual accomplishment.
The person being honored is frequently expected to give a speech thanking those who helped them succeed.
Storytelling¶
Goblinoid stories tend to focus on courage, perseverance, loyalty, cleverness, and overcoming adversity.
Stories about failure are also popular, particularly when the failure is spectacular, educational, or embarrassing in hindsight.
The lesson learned is usually considered more important than the mistake itself.
The Bugbear Tradition¶
Throughout goblinoid society, an unusual custom occasionally occurs in which two goblins stand on one another's shoulders, wear an oversized coat, and spend part or all of the day pretending to be a bugbear.
The practice serves no known religious, political, military, economic, or social function.
Its origins are unknown.
Most goblinoids do not question it.
The disguised goblins are rarely convincing.
Everyone involved is generally aware of what is happening.
Nevertheless, social convention dictates that the performance should be accepted for as long as the participants remain committed to the role.
Attempts to determine how or why this tradition began have repeatedly failed.
Many goblinoid historians have reluctantly concluded that the answer has been lost to time.
A Common Saying¶
"No victory belongs to one pair of hands."
The saying reflects the goblinoid belief that individual achievement is built upon the support, loyalty, and effort of the wider community.
Common Taboos¶
Goblinoid taboos generally revolve around cowardice, betrayal, dishonesty, disloyalty, and the abuse of trust.
While goblinoids are often forgiving of mistakes, they are far less forgiving of failures of character.
Many of the following offenses are considered deeply insulting and may provoke immediate confrontation.
Betraying Your People¶
Deliberately betraying one's family, clan, military unit, friends, or community is among the most serious offenses in goblinoid culture.
Disagreements are acceptable.
Abandonment is not.
Most goblinoids believe loyalty carries obligations that cannot simply be discarded when convenient.
Cowardice At Another's Expense¶
Fear itself is not considered shameful.
Allowing others to suffer because of one's own cowardice is.
Running from danger while leaving companions behind is widely despised.
Most goblinoids would rather be remembered for a failed attempt than for refusing to act at all.
Making Threats You Cannot Back Up¶
Boasting, intimidation, and confident speech are common in goblinoid culture.
However, making threats without the ability or willingness to follow through is considered embarrassing.
Few things damage a goblinoid's reputation faster than being exposed as a braggart.
Refusing Responsibility¶
Mistakes happen.
Accidents happen.
Failures happen.
Attempting to blame others for one's own actions is viewed far more harshly than the original mistake.
Most goblinoids respect someone who admits failure.
They rarely respect someone who hides behind excuses.
Insulting Earned Achievements¶
Goblinoids place great value on accomplishments that have been earned through effort, skill, sacrifice, or service.
Dismissing another person's achievements without cause is considered disrespectful.
This is particularly true of military honors, clan service, professional qualifications, and personal sacrifices.
Breaking Your Word¶
Formal oaths are important, but even informal promises carry weight.
A goblinoid who develops a reputation for unreliability often finds it difficult to regain trust.
Many communities consider one's word to be a reflection of one's character.
Mocking Honest Weakness¶
Most goblinoids admire effort.
Ridiculing someone who is genuinely trying to improve themselves is generally viewed as dishonorable.
Mocking failure is acceptable only when the person being mocked is also laughing.
Otherwise, many goblinoids consider it bullying.
A Common Saying¶
"Fall down if you must. Stay down and blame somebody else, and we'll have words."
The saying reflects the goblinoid belief that courage is not the absence of failure, but the willingness to face it honestly.
Historical Figures¶
Chug Ironfang¶
Goblin Statesman and Alliance Builder
Chug Ironfang is remembered as one of the first goblinoid leaders to support Velhelsin during the Great Elf War.
At a time when many goblinoid clans viewed all Elves with suspicion, Chug argued that alliance offered opportunities that endless raiding never could. He helped negotiate some of the earliest agreements between the northern elves and the goblinoid tribes.
Modern historians still debate whether he was a visionary or simply an opportunist.
Most goblinoids consider the distinction unimportant.
"He saw a better future and took it."
Wras Thundermaw¶
Bugbear General
Wras Thundermaw was among the most celebrated bugbear commanders of the Great Elf War.
Leading mixed forces of goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears, he earned a reputation for personally fighting alongside his soldiers rather than directing battles from safety.
Stories claim he survived seventeen serious wounds during his military career.
The actual number changes depending on who is telling the story.
Qing Ashenhide¶
Founder of the Imperial Engineering Corps
Qing Ashenhide transformed goblinoid siegecraft from a collection of clan traditions into a professional discipline.
Her innovations in fortifications, logistics, bridge construction, and military engineering were adopted throughout the growing Empire.
Many goblinoid engineers consider her the spiritual founder of their profession.
Several engineering academies still celebrate Ashenhide Day in her honor.
Har Stormhowl¶
The Voice of the Clans
Har Stormhowl lived during the early centuries of the Empire and became famous for traveling between distant goblinoid communities to preserve stories, histories, and clan traditions.
At a time when many feared ancient clan identities would disappear within the growing Empire, Har argued that goblinoids could be both loyal imperial citizens and proud descendants of their ancestral clans.
Much of what is known about pre-imperial goblinoid history survives because of his work.
The Unknown Goblin¶
The Goblin Who Warned The Gods
The name has been lost to history.
During Velhelsin's attempt to perform the ritual that would strip power from the gods, one goblin recognized the danger and warned the divine powers of Andórë. The warning contributed to the intervention that ultimately stopped the ritual and led to the creation of the Verdan people.
Goblinoid and Verdan historians continue to disagree over the legacy of the unnamed goblin who warned the gods about Velhelsin's ritual. Among the Verdan, the figure is often remembered as a hero whose actions saved the world. Among goblinoids, opinions range from reluctant respect to outright condemnation. The identity of the individual remains unknown.
"History remembers heroes. Character is doing the right thing when nobody remembers your name."
Stats¶
Scientific Name
Goblin: Homo malitia ferox
Hobgoblin: Homo disciplina bellicosus
Bugbear: Homo ursorum terribilis
Lifespan
Goblin: 50 years
Hobgoblin: 90 years
Bugbear: 70 years
Average Height
Goblin: 3'6"
Hobgoblin: 5'6"
Bugbear: 7'
Average Weight
Goblin: 60 lbs
Hobgoblin: 175 lbs
Bugbear: 300 lbs