Goblins
are short, stunted humanoids, rarely taller than 120cm. They often have pointed ears and small noses with slit-like nostrils - they are generally just profoundly ugly to human eyes.
Goblins can be found across the world. Even in civilised places, they have on occasion used the remains of the great Underway and their talent for tunnelling to appear in unexpected places. In wilder regions, they can move more freely. Goblins reside in considerable numbers in . Some raiders from are goblins, though warped and twisted even by goblin standards. Goblins dwell in of Salthos too, though none are known to rule a kingdom.
Goblins are innately nasty, violent creatures, though at the very same time are cowards, unless present in large numbers. One goblin is a nuisance that someone carrying a stout club might see off; a large mob of goblins is a threat requiring disciplined soldiers.
People in the empire have some scant insight into goblin society through the capture of goblins. A modicum of the language of the ogres of the Red Waste is known to imperial scholars, and when goblin servants of said ogres have been captured, they have been questioned. Goblin society is not a popular subject among scholars, due to the simple vileness of goblins and the certainty that if one tries to approach a group of goblins, they will eat a the scholar. They have gleaned a few insights though: goblins will coalesce around a perceived strong leader, until that leader shows a sign of weakness, whereupon another goblin might try to kill the leader in their sleep. The leader must provide enough violence to sate the goblins, or else be so terrifying that they remain cowed no matter how restless they are. Goblins do not treasure anything but implements of war. They will serve a non-goblin, under the same criteria as following another goblin.
Goblins are not naturally disposed towards non-violent pursuits, apart from the production of implements of war, but a leader with a vision might bully goblins into practising crude agriculture or the construction of buildings.
Goblins are generally assumed to be related to the larger, stronger and far better organised , which often enslave goblins.