Goblin Lore

Goblins are short, misshapen humanoid creatures. They are mischievous and cunning, with lots of energy and a tenacious, fearless disposition. They are not proficient builders, and their relatively short lifespans have led to them preferring nomadic foraging over permanent settlements and agriculture.

Violent antisocial tendencies have been decreasing in goblin populations for centuries, alongside humanity's rise to power. Scholars theorize this is directly the result of human influence. Some argue that it is merely because more intelligent goblins have begun guiding their groups, and they are not afraid to cull violent members. Goblins still have yet to shake their nasty reputation, however, with many of the sapient species still viewing them as monsters and nuisances.

Goblins are highly fertile, a product of their chaotic and dangerous lifestyles and short lifespan. It is not uncommon for a goblin woman to have a large litter of children, who mature to adulthood within just a handful of years. It has been found that goblin fertility allows for an alarming degree of interbreeding with the other sapient species.

Goblins paired with humans, orcs, hobgoblins, and most beastfolk reliably produce healthy, fertile offspring. Goblins paired with halflings, gnomes, dwarves, and elves most often produce young that have significantly longer lives tan typical goblins, but are infertile and unable to reproduce.

Goblin physiology is strange in many ways, and they display traits that don't seem congruent with a creature so small. They can survive falls from heights they shouldn't be able to, with some reports even insisting that they bounce when they hit the ground. They are flexible and sturdy at the same time, a contradiction that makes them uniquely suited for their niche.

Dissections have been performed in an attempt to understand what makes them so strange. To the surprise of many, their skeletal structure is very similar to that of a gnome's, sharing many of their unique traits. The most confusing aspect of their physiology is their bones. Unlike most other sapient species, many of their bones do not fuse as they grow, maintaining flexible connections of ligament and cartilage.

Most notably their skulls, their ribs, and their pelvis maintain points of flexion. This is also believed to be why they are so strong for their size, with their muscles having to compensate for their overly flexible skeletal structure. Their thick skulls are segmented, which facilitate the passage of such large heads through the birth canal. The pelvis is similarly segmented, allowing for an alarming degree of separation when under stress, with no damage.

Strangely, these bones do not fuse as they grow to adulthood. The supporting tissue and surrounding muscle become stronger to compensate for their flexibility, which results in a ridiculously sturdy creature. They are able to get up and walk away from the kinds of impacts that would kill a human outright. Tragically, these unique differences leave half-goblins badly susceptible to degenerative joint diseases when their lifespans extend far beyond that of their full-blood brethren.

Easily their most identifying feature, a goblin's ears are a source of great pride. Larger ears are associated with fertility, intelligence, and great skill in battle, though there is little evidence to support these claims. Goblins will readily brag about their ears, despite the fact that their size and heft is mostly left up to the genetic lottery.

Goblin ears are extremely sensitive. They have fine control of the muscles surrounding the inner ear, able to dilate or constrict to attune their sense of hearing to the situation. They can focus on a conversation with someone right in front of them without being overwhelmed by environmental noise, and they can adjust their hearing to triangulate a mouse scurrying in tall grass.

Just as they are sensitive to sound, the density of nerves in a goblin's ears leaves them uniquely sensitive to touch. Some goblins can't stand their ears being touched at all, and will go to great lengths to avoid it. Others, however, revel in the overwhelming sensations, with some even rumored to be able to orgasm from ear stimulation alone. Touching a goblin's ears risks either a series of savage bites, or commitment to a kind of attention one might not be prepared for.

Goblins tend to be vain creatures, with ear ornamentation being one of the main ways they distinguish themselves. Piercings are common, their ears providing plenty of surface area for creative adornments. Some goblins even go as far as intentionally notching their ears, believing the damaged look to be a testament to their ferocity and pain tolerance.