Monster-A-Day 22: Goblins, Demigobs & Hobgoblins
From The Iron Lord’s Book of Fey, with annotations, addendums and indices from Cormac Harn, of New Drougant City University.
Hobgoblins proper have retreated into strongholds deep in the mountains, awaiting the next Faerie War. Only in !chanar is this different, where the first Faerie War still rages, and Hobgoblin bronze and !chan steel test each other. In Qen, though, hobgoblins are accorded equal rank with humans. Both goblins and demigobs are not limited to the Hobgoblin cities, but compete with boarfolk and dwarves for control of the mountains and hills, and lizardfolk for control of the swamps. In some places, hobgoblins have made alliances with attercops, and hold the hearts of dark forests.
It is not known if the various sub-races can interbreed. Where hobgoblins reproduce sexually, goblins and demigobs vary. Some reproduce sexually, and others retain sexes, but release spores rather than have intercourse. Yet others do not reproduce, or have it shrouded in mystery. In certain rare cases, they have been known to reproduce asexually.
Even after all these centuries, goblinoids are still militarized, with hobgoblins serving as commanders and elites, bugbears as grunts and shock troops and goblins as fodder.
Eager to obey Endless scourge of man Marinade and grill- serves one Goblins are usually three to four feet tall, though their bowlegged and hunched gait makes them appear shorter. Goblins are either pathetic, - individually - dangerous - in small groups- or terrifying - in unstoppable hordes. They’re barely smarter than animals, but they’re hardwired to obey orders, something that more than one enemy commander has taken advantage of. They also serve as rations on the foot, with a wonderful zesty flavor. Goblins breed slightly faster than rabbits, but they also eat their young unless ordered not to.
Living siege engines Climbing gate crasher Sensitive nose and ears Should a goblin have a hardy and regular diet, they may undergo a second maturation. Goblins that undergo this are called demigobs, and may double or triple in size, with a commiserate increase in strength.
Disciplined wily Warriors from birth Decapitate their command Hobgoblins are the Bronze Fist of the Fey Courts, an entire race of beings of superior form and mind, soldiers from birth. They hold grudges to an extent dwarves find excessive, are honorable only so far as it suits them and are disgustingly smug about everything.