Alter Aeon The Great Library

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Note - as with any topic, researchers should question the reliability
and veracity of these texts.  The library's aim is to preserve
documents, not verify accuracy.

AABN:  13152
Title: a book titled "Goblins and Their Ilk"

The leather-bound volume has bands of iron riveted across the cover,
connected by hinges. The paper is vellum, and is written in a blocky
Dwarrow script typical of dwarven scholarly works:

"Goblins have been enemies of the Dwarven people since the Age of Creation.
Many a hidden war has been fought in the dark places beneath the surface,
unknown to men or elves. To know one's enemy is to understand one's enemy.
Knowledge is power, and the key to victory. Thus written here is what we
know of the goblin-kind."

"Goblins are ancient. It is believed they descended from couplings between
Low Faeries and lesser demons such as imps. There are many kinds, with
myriad forms. Most are small and weak, a few stupid. Many are horribly
clever. Most often goblins are small humanoids with large heads and hands.
Their skin is green, gray or black, and their over-sized eyes are yellow.
They have crooked features, large noses, sharp teeth and pointed ears.
Goblins share some kinship with orcs. In some places, the two races have
interbred and cannot easily be distinguished from one another. Weapons that
are bane against goblins may be effective against orcs to a lesser extent,
and vice-versa."

"Most varieties live underground. If not, they prefer mountains,
preferrably with caves or ruins to hide in. Goblins usually dwell in small
bands or tribes. Larger groups of goblins may set up kingdoms, with royal
families, merchants, peasants and dedicated armies."

"Goblins are not known for their piety, and they have no racial god. Some
worship Shift or Cygnii, finding their focus on stealth to their liking.
Others revere the foul demonlord Mnenoth the Master of Snares. Shamans,
mages and necromancers are more common in their settlements than clerics."

"Below is a list of many of the known kinds of goblins, including rare and
unusual breeds:"

"Kobolds - Considered the weakest of goblins, these skinny humanoids have
elongated snouts and rat-like tails. Some populations are hairy, while
others are naked and scaly. Some kobold clans claim to have draconic
ancestry, though if they have any dragon blood in their veins it has been
long diluted with less noble lineages. Schneekobolds are cold-adapted
goblins from frigid regions such as the Karnash Mountains."

"Hobgoblins - These goblins are as large as humans and are more man-like in
form. They have yellow to green skin and less beastial features than other
goblins. Some believe that they are descended from the offspring of humans
and lesser goblins."

"Bugbears - these hulking, brutish goblins may have arisen from ogre stock.
They are far larger than common goblins, rivaling mountain orcs in size.
Their bodies are covered with coarse brown or black hair. Their skin is
yellow or brown, they tend to have broad, flat noses and heavy brows."

"Pugjugs - these creatures resemble common goblins, but they have a
pig-like snout and sometimes have tusks. Their skin is grey-green, except
for their faces, hands and feet, which are pink. Pugjugs appear to be a
cross-breed between orcs and goblins, though they clearly favor their
goblin lineage."

"Gremlins - These long-limbed, lanky goblinoids are considered the
cleverest of their kind. They often have golems and various automatons in
their service. They are grey or black, with little body hair, though some
have a mane of black or white hair around their head and shoulders. Their
faces are flat, with beady eyes and massive ears not unlike the visage of a
bat."

"Skavens - Hairy, rat-like goblins native to the islands of the Northern
Oceans, skavens rarely intrude into dwarven holdings."

"Norkers - These massive goblins are nearly as large as ogres. They have
reddish skin and coarse gray hair. They are very rare, and may simply be
champions of bugbear tribes with painted skin."

"Snyad - These flying goblins are thankfully extremely uncommon. They have
bat-like wings and disdain clothing."

"Tasloi - These jungle-dwelling goblins aren't very different from common
goblins, except that their skin colors are obscenely bright greens and
yellows instead of the sensible darker colors of their underground dwelling
cousins."

"Koalinth - They appear to be ordinary hobgoblins, save with blue skin and
green hair. Close examination reveals gills on either side of their necks.
They are rarely seen."

"Wayob - These strange goblins hail from south-central Atmir. They look
like monkeys, but have spotted fur like that of a jaguar, and bird-like
hind legs. They may be friendly or hostile in disposition, and are said to
make good servants."

"Tengu - Closer in nature to fairies or spirit creatures, these rare
goblins look like stumpy humanoids with bird-like features, including
feathers and beak-like noses. Similar creatures called kenkus are even more
bird-like, with actual beaks and claws like enormous crows."

"Boggarts - Another rare variety of goblin, they are said to be
shape-shifters that feed on the fear of children. They may be entirely
imaginary, or the result of some elvish devilry."

"Jermlaines - These tiny goblins rarely stand more than knee-high. They
have flabby brown skin and large pointed ears. They are savage, and rarely
wear clothing or use weapons or tools of any kind. Armies of jermlaines
used to serve the fallen god Magar. Relic populations are said to haunt the
ruins of Magar's temple."