Where Ansalon's goblins come from...

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

zombiegleemax

Aug 31, 2005 15:49:12
So the goblins of Ansalon are an interesting lot. They seem to pop up every now and then without explanation of who controls them, and where they came from. They frequently wind up as mercenaries for the Dark Armies, but beyond that we don't really know much else. Are they a greygem race? Also, are there any goblin nations, or at least regions where there are high goblin populations to draw from?

-Angus
#2

brimstone

Aug 31, 2005 17:15:58
Well, I think the most widely accepted explination of what goblins are is a cross breed. Goblins are the offspring of ogre and elven parents. Most likely, during the ancient wars between the two races, products of ****. And elves, no matter what you may think of them, cherish life. But they may have pulled a Greek and just left them at the edge of the forests to live or die by the will of the gods. And, goblins are nothing if not resilient (and fast breeders...like cockroaches) so they have survived as a race.

And after the graygem came along, they even diversified into hobgoblins, bugbears, gnolls, kuo-toa, kobolds (oh wait, those little buggers are reptillian now...so they came from bakali) ;)
#3

cam_banks

Aug 31, 2005 17:24:20
Well, I think the most widely accepted explination of what goblins are is a cross breed. Goblins are the offspring of ogre and elven parents.

High ogres and elves, it should be noted. Over the centuries since the Age of Dreams, they degenerated much as the ogres did, and the Graygem certainly helped that along.

Cheers,
Cam
#4

zombiegleemax

Aug 31, 2005 23:37:26
Do the goblins have any lands? It seems logical that the goblins might have something that resmembles a homeland, or even a kingdom. Or are they so fecund that you could find large bands wherever you go?

-Angus
#5

kalanth

Aug 31, 2005 23:41:08
I have always assumed them to reside in Neraka and the foothills of Thorbardin. Another place that would be decent for a small tribe or two would be the region of Ice Reach, surviving off the nomadic tribes that dwell in that region.

Maybe I am to old school in this, but I never thought about the ecology of the goblin really. Back when I started to learn D&D the only thing that mattered was that the Goblin was there to be killed.
#6

talinthas

Sep 01, 2005 3:20:54
there is a goblin homeland as such up in northern ergoth, full of good gobbos.

a lot of the standard variety live over in throt and areas around there, and lately in qualinesti.
#7

zombiegleemax

Sep 01, 2005 3:50:06
Do the goblins have any lands? It seems logical that the goblins might have something that resmembles a homeland, or even a kingdom. Or are they so fecund that you could find large bands wherever you go?

-Angus

In Northern Ergoth there is goblin nation called Sik'et Hull (southern part of island). These Gobbos are not evil, maybe more neutral (they fought the Dark Knights). Kingdom I believe.

Then there is Throtl in Eastern Solamnia. I think it was ruled by humans before War of the Lance, but then taken by the goblin tribes. And since then it has been goblin-nation. Probably powerful, because Solamnics haven't been able to take control the land.

ALSO there is powerful "goblin-tribe/nation" rising in 42SC (after War of Souls) when all the tribes in the southern solamnia are united during the spring-summer of 42SC (Lord of the Rose).

+ many goblins (tribes) seem to unite under mysterious leader after War of Souls (39SC probably) in Southern Qualinesti area. But no more info about his is given anywhere... yet...
#8

zombiegleemax

Sep 01, 2005 11:13:04
In the War of the Lance, Goblins and Kender teemed up in Northern Ergoth to fight back the "Evil Big People"(DragonArmies), so it's possible that in some kender communities, there are goblins integrated into the society. Not really an independant ecology, but an ecology nonetheless.
#9

kalanth

Sep 01, 2005 22:13:14
As I plug along on the Key of Destiny modules, don't foget the Goblin Tunnels under the Desolation. Sure, its a nasty place to live, but there are still some Goblins roaming around their. Oh, and thanks Cam for placing a Random Encounter with a Behir, I can finally get some life out of that Mini. :D