Goblins

Goblins are a race of humanoids whose entire population is located in Svalbard. Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. One of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas, it's known for its rugged, remote terrain of glaciers and frozen tundra sheltering polar bears, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes. The Northern Lights are visible during winter, and summer brings the “midnight sun”—sunlight 24 hours a day. Goblins were once a widespread race and tales of them can be heard in the myths and legends of cultures across the world, however they are now much diminished. Indeed, most of the remaining 5,633 Goblins live in the mines and caves below the Arctic Sea and Svalbard itself. They are thus classified as an endangered species.

Goblins range from size between around 4ft and 6ft, with large ears and noses and blue skin. Unlike their cousins the Trolls, Goblins are not amphibious but still live underground. Their communities are split into tribes which have their own territory within the boundaries of Svalbard. The tribes trade between each other and sometimes the human settlements above ground. Some Goblin tribes even set up stalls for tourists in the human towns but no humans are allowed in Goblin caves unless invited. The Grand Alliance applies harsh penalties on anyone caught trespassing on Goblin lands and do what they can to support the Goblins due to their status as a race of human intelligence. However, Goblins do not support the numbers to hold a seat on the Grand Alliance, and so most of their issues are brought to the world by the representative of Norway.

Goblins have a mistrust of guns, as they well as other modern technology, but some do use them for hunting or protection. Instead, they live as in a primitive hunter gatherer society, as they have for thousands of years. Goblins do have a love of shiny objects, and tend to horde gold in great amounts, which often is sought after by would be thieves. The head of each tribe is called the chief, who is usually the richest and craftiest of his community. When an underling wants to challenge the chief, both must pile their belongings up next to each other. The Goblin with the biggest pile will become the new chief. It is know that sometimes members of the Goblins family try to add to the pile in order to make sure their Goblin is the one who wins.

The Warlock sect of Goblin society are a small group of nomads who travel between tribes and act as religious leaders and guides to Goblin race. Goblins universally follow one religion which they keep very secret from the outside world and mistrust those who try to convert them to any other belief. From what Theologists can decipher, the religion is based around appeasing the ‘Masters’, a group of gods or spirits they believe used to rule the Goblin race in ancient times. Goblins believe that without their rituals and sacrifices, these ‘Masters’ will return to enslave them once more. Unlike other faith based phenomenon or powers, there is no evidence that their rituals do anything... to which the Goblins reply that means they are working.