Goblin History & Artifice

Goblins are a complex herding culture with mixed ties to most species around the globe, variant or otherwise. They are a particularly corrupting presence to all other life-forms. Their culture and customs must be addressed within any society where they are present or on the periphery. Goblins have existed around all cultures and variants at points in their development starting from prehistory. Goblins, due to their unique traits are either hated, or barely tolerated by most cultures, including Variant Cultures.

Goblins are very short creatures with heights ranging between two and and three feet, making them among the smallest of the intelligent Variants next to gnomes. Goblins are characterized first by their soft skin, patched with callous-like scales around their elbows, knees, back and the backs of their hands running up their forearms. They have lanky limbs ending in disproportionately large hands and feet, each with four clawed digits. Their feet are digitigrade, making their actual height slightly shorter than their apparent height. Goblin faces can be commonly identified by long, wide ears, large eyes and lizard-like snouts with small, sharp teeth designed to tear flesh.

In contrast to orcs strict biologically enforced veganism, goblins internal structure is developed to only be able to properly metabolize meat, or products deriving from living mammalian organisms. Not being mammals themselves, this culture is not predisposed towards cannibalism. Though capable of eating cooked meat, it is not nutritional, and a standard goblin diet demands raw, unprocessed meat. It has been shown that steps to preserve meat can be taken and still allow a transfer of nutrition.

Goblin brains are highly developed and large when compared to the size of their bodies. Their skulls are large when compared to the rest of their form, and the bone is thin to a point where it is detrimental to their survival. Goblin bodies, particularly their head are incredibly fragile and prone to damage. It is for this reason that their claws, while sharp, are most likely developed for use in breaking the skin on their primary food source. Though this variant is commonly a cave, or subterranean dweller their claws could not be geared towards digging, as their thin, brittle bone structure means claws break on contact with harder surfaces. Although their claws and teeth grow back quickly similar to an alligator, they simply would not be able to use them to break ground effectively.

The Goblin life-cycle involves two parents; a male and female of the variant. They are not capable of breeding outside of their species without magical or biological assistance from specific variants. The goblin mother is a rare sight, and goblin females are typically kept immobile and out of the light. This is likely not a cultural practice but for practical purposes. Goblin bodies being so fragile, it is extremely likely that a goblin mother with brood would be highly susceptible to injury, along with her young. Goblin eggs, similar to their bodies are fragile and require special care, as they are far more difficult to allow the transfer of heat through body warmth, since any sitting or excessive touching could lead to breaking. Most interestingly, the most common observed practice in transferring heat to laid goblin eggs is to consistently lay hot coals around a nest of soft ash. Despite being extremely fragile, goblin eggs are impervious to heat up to a degree that we have as of yet been unable to measure. The secrets for how goblins maintained this practice before they became capable of producing fire is a mystery known only to those prehistoric members of the variant.

It is suspected that Goblin history predates the history of most intelligent variants, with examples of goblin warrens and tools dating back to before the Ice Age and late-into the Fire Age when mammals first began to walk freely on land. Goblin territories are split up into underground warrens nestled in rocky terrain. Though history shows that they made their homes in natural caverns originally, goblins quickly developed the use of tools that allowed them to carve out the complex warrens that we are able to see today. As has been explained, goblins use of tools predates humans, and it is uncertain if the practice was developed in parallel to goblins, or in some small part due to observation of them. What is clear is that goblin tool usage had remained consistently ahead of all other developed variants until the last century when Human, elf, dwarf and gnome culture all reached the singularity and pulled far ahead of all other variants in terms of technology. Though goblins were able to adapt to utilize this technology, they were never observed to have been able to create it for themselves effectively. Though antiquated, goblin artifice still remains highly sought after by cultures and variants that despise artificial electricity and electromagnetic fields.

It was stated in the foreword that goblins are among the most hated variants, even above orcs and Satyr's. As much as I am one to advocate for all variants, this reputation is earned. Goblin culture is defined by three primary driving factors; food, protection and comfort. While most cultures are driven by these needs, goblins unique biological needs, restrictions and advantages placed them in the position to go extremely far to secure those needs, far beyond what most cultures, or variant cultures consider acceptable. The most well-defined hatred between variants can best describe this effect and why it is present. Orcs and goblins are two of the most intense enemies on the planet, by far, to the extent that even in the modern world orc nations and enclaves will seek to destroy goblin warrens and goblin individuals through any means necessary. This desire was best known to have come to a head during the last century when orc supremacy and nationalism took over the European continent and lead to the first and second Great Wars. During that time, goblins and some other variants were nearly wiped from western-Europe all-together for a time. While orc supremacy affected most variants, along with the human variants, goblins were the primary target of orc ire during the second conflict. The reasoning behind this was simple: Throughout history goblins have systematically farmed and harvested orcs for both meat and labor, and continued to do so well into the 20th century.

While those actions served to oppress orcs throughout history, it was not exclusive to orcs. All variants in some shape or form were oppressed, captured and 'herded' by goblin's unique culture. For goblins, the need for food can be served by humans, orcs or any compatible species, and we commonly are. For protection, goblins employ various methods, beginning with human shields and ending with specialized artifice that creates armies of warped living machines. For comfort, goblins will utilize humans and variants not just for **** labor but for any convenience their artifice allows, including furniture, mounts and entertainment. It is for this reason that, as loath as I am to say it, goblin culture requires a significant change before any integration is possible. Visiting with goblins, or living near them requires **** care and vigilance.

(”Within the margins you see that same commentary scribbled down in fading ink. “Even the pig-lover doctor song has to admit that Goblins are basically the worst. The worst part? What are they actually going to do about it? Because of their place in the war, society at least tolerates them and their practices under the guys of 'voluntary' slavery and 'contracts.' But hey, at least the sow admits that there's a problem here.”)

While being incapable of magic, goblins learned early on about the inherent magical potential that exists within living creatures. Something that is, oddly enough, not present in themselves. Curious, no? A trait that is most commonly exhibited by artificial creatures is held by goblins. This is not a confirmed theory, but one of many as to goblin origins; the variant was created during the Fire Age through unknown means. It is know secret that they have mildly draconic qualities. All 'gods' create in their own image.

All goblin artifice runs off of the same principle, which makes it both incredibly ingenious and horrible in its implications. Practically speaking, before the singularity goblin artifice could be used to create artificial limbs that required no external source of magic since goblin technology draws power from the body itself. The living essence. In practice, however, this tech was used in horrible experiments. For this chapter I am going to go over all of the goblin inventions, their process for creation and primary uses. For the purpose of keeping accurate records I will not skip any detail, no matter how gruesome.

(“Garde's voice in this book tends to be a bit more realistic. No sugar coating. These things are disgusting. I dig it. Still probably gonna try and write something about her getting turned into a golem or something. Maybe something about the elf bitch?”)

* * * Real Author Note: The remainder of this Chapter is potentially too spicy for CHYOA, based on a strict interpretation of rules on **** and gore. Better safe than sorry! Check out the full chapter on Hentai Foundry by searching my name or find it on my Patreon here https://www.patreon.com/posts/bad-ends-field-66727835* * *