Page 50 - Ultimate-Bestiary-Revenge-of-the-Horde-5E

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Goblinsoblins Goblins’ re exive cruelty extends to other
Goblins’ re exive cruelty extends to other
races and species; should a goblin troop
races and species; should a goblin troop
In the darkness of the subterranean world, something stirs the stale n the darkness of the subterranean world, something stirs the stale take prisoners, they will face vicious
I
take prisoners, they will face vicious
a beatings and torture which may last for
air, like a great beast awakening. Twin points of re ected light ir, like a great beast awakening. Twin points of re ected light
beatings and torture which may last for
appear, opalescent orbs bobbing closer. e creature is small and months or even years if the goblins can keep them restrained (and
appear, opalescent orbs bobbing closer. e creature is small and
months or even years if the goblins can keep them restrained (and
spindly. It twitches forward, parting its lips in a hiss through jagged, remember to feed them). Less intelligent creatures may be forced
sh-like teeth. e sound bounces around the rock walls, echoing, into servitude; some particularly bold, strong or just plain lucky
repeating and growing. Scratching at a sore on the waxy skin of its goblin troops keep trolls or ogres (blinded and shackled, naturally)
chest, head juddering on its scrawny neck, it draws a jagged shard and will drive them into a battle frenzy with cruel hooked poles
of some poor unfortunate’s shinbone from a moldering sackcloth and red hot pokers before unleashing them on their foes.
wrapped around its waist. Its eyes stare, perfect circles of bulging
whiteness. Another pair appears behind, and another, and another. All goblins are small, with none but the very largest exceeding
e cavern glimmers with eyes like the sky at night. is is a goblin. four feet in height. Males are lean rather than muscular, with long,
grasping ngers. eir ears are large, taper to a point, and never
Goblins are individually weak, and they know it. ey band stop growing; you can roughly tell the age of a goblin by the size
together out of fear of stronger beings rather than any feeling of its ears (and nose). Female goblins on the other hand, tend
of camaraderie. ey are classic bullies, and will never pass on to be sedentary and can obtain prodigious size (in girth at least)
an opportunity to humiliate or dominate those weaker than assuming the troop can provide enough food.
themselves. is bullying is the basis of goblin 'society', with
a troop being made up of various levels and groups of bullies A er a ve month gestation period, goblins produce litters of
and bullied and ultimately lead by the goblin most able to cow around ten young (the largest litter recorded being twenty-eight)
the others. Should the chief ever be shown up by a subservient, which mature quickly, achieving adulthood at around three
they will lose their status, and can be assured that no injury or years of age assuming they survive infancy, which is by no means
guaranteed as young goblins are treated little better than vermin by
insult they dished out during their time at the top will have been
forgotten… the rest of the troop.
A goblin chief is not necessarily the strongest physically (although Beyond these common features, the environment has shaped the
this is o en the case); goblins respect trickery and cunning just physiology of the three most commonly encountered varieties:
as much. If a goblin masters rudimentary forms of psychological forest goblins, stealthy guerrilla hunters and trappers; hill goblins,
intimidation, deception and manipulation, he can climb the ranks the most organized and martial variety; and cave goblins, a
just as quickly with veiled threats and outright lies. degenerate and twisted breed living deep underground.

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Chapter 3: Goblins