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Lore:Goblin

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Goblins
OB-creature-Goblin Skirmisher.jpg
A Goblin in light armor armed with a sword and shield (Oblivion)
Type Race (Goblin-ken)
Range Akavir, Tamriel
Appears in

Arena, Redguard, Tribunal, Shadowkey, Oblivion, Oblivion Mobile, Skyrim(CC), ESO, Legends, Blades, Castles, Betrayal of the Second Era

"Goblins are a bundle of contradictions. Quarrelsome, but dangerous in packs. Dim-witted, but deviously cunning. Prone to fits of screeching, but remarkably quiet when stalking their prey. I must confess a grudging admiration!"
—Scholar Morven Palielle (shortly before being killed by Goblins)[1]

Goblins (also derogatorily called Gobs)[2] are primitive humanoids found throughout Tamriel and Akavir,[3] often living in sewers, caves, and ruins in small clan-based societies. Goblins are fiercely territorial, and typically violent towards those not of their tribes or the more societally developed races in general. Many regard them as simply monsters or nuisances. Despite this Goblins are still an intelligent race, and are capable of living in peace with others.

HistoryEdit

OriginsEdit

"What the scrolls I've read say about the Goblin-kin has not been kind, Tim. Yours is a people from a different age. Don't look to prophecy to save you."
—Sister Chana Nirine answering the question of "Goblin Tim"[4]

The exact origins of Goblins are unclear. Some sources from Redguard history have suggested that Goblins may be extra-planar in origin, originating from some other world.[5][UOL 1][UOL 2] Their origins are sometimes attributed to the Daedric Prince Malacath. Some Dunmer refer to Goblins as the "spawn of Malak's putrid feces",[6] while Redguards have likewise referred to them as "Malooc's squalor".[7] Tiber Septim believed that Goblins, along with Orcs and trolls, were among "the miscreated", malicious and brutish creatures who, as the One teaches, must be united against by all sentient folk of good will, instead of striving against each other.[8] Some fanciful historical parchments speak of Goblins as "Fetid Corruptions of Orcs".[9]

Regardless of their origins, Goblins are recorded to be among the earliest inhabitants of Tamriel.[10][11][12]

Early ContactEdit

"These tablets show the Goblins weren't always viciously territorial. Elves and Goblins coexisted, traded—until the Elves wanted King's Haven Pass badly enough to betray that trust! It flies in the face of every existing account of this region!"
—Mehdze[13]

Goblins are native to the Summerset Isles, and were there when the Aldmer first arrived.[10][11][12]

There is a unique history between the Altmer and the Goblins, some of which revolved around King's Haven Pass. Scouts of the King of Alinor discovered the passage, claiming that it would make a perfect outpost, citing its natural defenses, the network of caverns, and the fertile land, but it was inhabited by the Coral-Splitter Tribe of Goblins, who lived off the wealth of the land as an agrarian society.[12] Because of their hospitality, the High Elves were able to establish trade with the Coral-Splitters, bargaining for the ore in the caves. The Altmer had secured trade agreements with nearly every tribe in the region, trading fish, textiles, and tools for the fruits of the Goblins hunting and trapping skills, as these Goblins were adept at capturing and taming welwas and gryphons.[14] As trade increased, the King of Alinor became wary about the dealings since these Goblins did not swear their undying loyalty to him, so he orchestrated an agreement with the Coral-Splitter's chieftain for the crags in the east, but it did not go through.[15] What followed was a great battle between the elves and the goblins that ended their relationship.[13] Altmer traditionally used goblins to reinforce their armies.[16]

First EraEdit

 
The ghost of a giant Goblin warchief (ESO)
"Filthy Ra Gada! I'll pick my teeth with your bones!"
—A Flint-Tooth Warchief

Following the enforcement of the Alessian Doctrines and the start of the Ayleid Pogrom, King Dynar was given an ultimatum by the Alessian Emperor. He and his people were eventually forced to abandon Nenalata and flee to High Rock between 1E 372-374 in order to escape the Pogrom, being "nibbled to death by Goblins" on their journey there.[17]

At some point between 1E 420 and 1E 700, when the Rourken Dwemer inhabited Hammerfell,[18] a new breed of giant Goblins invaded via a rent in space and time known as the Goblin gate.[UOL 1] These Goblins were generally described as taller and less "cowardly" than Goblins of the later Eras.[19] They possessed a huge army of fighters, and appeared in the middle of the province, where they would pillage and raze towns to the ground, driving the Dwarves out of the province.[5][20][UOL 1]

 
Depiction of Frandar Hunding standing victorious over many Goblins

In 1E 780, the first recorded warrior wave of the Ra Gada occurred, lead by Frandar Hunding. After years of sailing, they eventually arrived in Hammerfell and discovered vast numbers of giant Goblin strongholds littering the entirety of Hammerfell. Frandar refused to allow these Goblins to exist, and so went to war with the giant Goblins of the Flint-Tooth tribe.[19][21] The giant Goblins were led by their god Malooc, and were sometimes known as Malooc's Horde,[22][23] but Malooc fled east when the army of the HoonDing overtook his Goblin hordes.[24] Despite his initial success in driving many of the Goblins out of Hammerfell,[25][26] Frandar would be killed during one of the bloodiest battles of the campaign.[19]

The Goblins would receive reinforcements from the Goblin gate, launching an invasion on the Yokudan settlers.[5][UOL 1] Frandar's son Divad Hunding, would go on to win the war by repelling their invasion.[19][27][5] He and his band of Sword Singers worked their sacred forges and consulted eldritch tomes for many long years to create five great swords, a mix of Shehai and smithing, which five of those great Ansei warriors took and rose to the sky, using their power to close the Goblin gate.[27][28][UOL 1] By some accounts, this also cursed the Goblins who were left behind, diminishing them into their modern-size.[29][19][UOL 1] Though some modern scholars consider the war with the giant Goblins a myth, the victory of the Redguards is still celebrated during the annual Festival of Blades.[26]

In 1E 808, another warrior wave of the Ra Gada would arrive on mainland Tamriel. The Redguards would continue to fight against and drive Goblins and their Orcish bretheren from Hammerfell.[30][29][31][32] Many years after their battle with Divad Hunding, the giant Goblins would return with a new invasion,[5][28] having managed to open the path from their world to Nirn again.[UOL 1] The Redguards struggled greatly against their horde, as the giant Goblins received a constant supply of arms and reinforcements from the re-opened Goblin gate.[5] The powerful Ansei Derik Hallin was responsible for reassembling the five magic swords which Divad had previously used close the Goblin gate. He and his companions hurled the swords into the rent in the sky, sealing the giant Goblins in the void between their world and Nirn forever.[5][28]

 
Old Orsinium (concept art)

At some point during the Camoran Dynasty of the First Era, hundreds of Goblins, Orcs, Ogres, Gremlins, and other beastfolk were set free by the rulers of the Summerset Isles, and allowed to settle lands north of Valenwood. They chose to settle in an uninhabited mountain region close to Old Hroldan in High Rock, as the Orcish tribes were dependent on rare, shaggy, giant centipede herd-beasts that can only survive at high altitudes. Here, they would found the first city of Orsinium.[31] The exact dating of this event is unclear, but various pieces of evidence place the founding of Orsinium in the ninth or tenth century of the First Era.[33][34][35] Some Second Era historians believed the Goblin tribes never actually lived in the city itself, instead maintaining a truce with the Orc clans in the Dragontail Mountains, but never mingling.[30]

In 1E 874, when the Orcish Warlord Thulgeg's army of Orcs and Goblins was driven from Hammerfell by the Redguards, the Bretons of Bangkorai Garrison denied them passage through the Pass and forced them to flee northeast, trudging all the way through the Dragontail Mountains before they finally reached Orsinium. Not a single Goblin made its way through the pickets into High Rock.[34][36]

 
The Dragontail Mountains (ESO)

In an event theorized by scholars to take place sometime between 1E 874 and 1E 950,[nb 1] and sometime after the foundation of the Redguard city of Ojwambu, a surviving giant Goblin warlord by the name of Mahgzoor Rockhand, who had escaped the Curse of Divad through a cunning trick, became warlord of all the Goblin-ken tribes in the Dragontail Mountains. Mahgzoor rose his great blade 'Bone-Hewer' and roared in a mighty voice like an earthquake, and declared that the day of vengeance, at last, was at hand. In what was believed to be retaliation for his people being driven from Hammerfell,[30] he led his "Endwise army" down the Dragontail Mountains and into Hammerfell, and the people of the Fallen Wastes fled from this Goblin army to Ojwambu, where the city became full of refugees. As the people started to leave the city to travel to the Alik'r, Goblin scouts saw that the Redguards had a considerable number of Ansei warriors, and the smallest Goblin scout was forced to return to Mahgzoor by the other scouts. Once this scout returned, Mahgzoor struck his head off and then told the Goblins to destroy the crop fields and block up the rivers so that nobody in the city could eat or drink, unaware that only the elderly Derik Hallin and his few students were in the city. After a long time of waiting, Mahgzoor became suspicious as the city should have starved at that point, so he called forth his Goblin shamans, asking them if the Redguard warriors were just "shadows". To see if this was the case, the shamans sacrificed twin infants and sent a scullion to the East Gate, and this scullion was killed by a spear from Hallin. The shamans returned to Mahgzoor and told him that they were real warriors, and in response to this, Mahgzoor was enraged and killed the shamans. He then ordered his army to get ready to assault the city. This assault lasted for 17 days, where no Ansei survived except for Hallin and at the end of this assault, Hallin and Mahgzoor clashed swords for a whole day. Eventually, both were mortally wounded, with Hallin striking off the head of the Warlord Mahzgoor. They both died, but Hallin was smiling knowing he had won. The Redguards who had been using this time to train with the Book of Circles then marched to retake the lands captured by the Goblins, renaming Ojwambu to Hallin's Stand.[29]

Second EraEdit

Goblins were not exempt from catching the Knahaten Flu between 2E 560 and 2E 603. The Flu caused the green skin of Goblins to become yellow and have buboes blister around their mouths.[23] It would also cause them to go into coughing fits, which meant that the shamans could not cast magic properly.[37]

In the Second Era, the prophecies of the Elder Scrolls made references to Goblins and Goblin-kin, although to a lesser extent than in the past. The scrolls were said to not speak kindly about the Goblin-kin, as they were a people of a different age.[4]

Circa 2E 864, Goblins were known to once again inhabit Orsinium,[31] as well as the Goblin Caverns of Stros M'Kai. Many people who lived on the island believed that the Goblins of Stros M'Kai were banished beneath the earth thanks to Frandar Hunding.[38][25] Some Redguards who lived there would warn Goblin-ken, such as Gremlins, to return to their caves, lest Hunding turn them into stone.[38][39]

Third EraEdit

 
Warchief Kurog

Goblins were known to be found all throughout Tamriel during the Imperial Simulacrum, and many were known to serve in Jagar Tharn's legions.[40] Some were among the creatures guarding the Eternal Champion's cell in the Imperial City sewers.[41][42] Sometime during the Imperial Simulacrum, a band of Goblins led by a necromancer called Golthog the Dark attacked and looted the palace of Rihad. These Goblins also stole a parchment that held clues on the location of Fang Lair. The Goblins were known to be hiding in the citadel of Stonekeep, so Queen Blubamka informed the Eternal Champion of this. The Champion would go on to dispatch the Goblins and retrieve the parchment.[43][44]

In 3E 427, many Goblins were imported from the Summerset Isles by King Helseth of Morrowind to be used as an army. They were brought to the sewers of Mournhold, where they were trained and kept as soldiers by two Altmer trainers. They had two war chiefs, Durgoc and Kurog. These Goblins and their Altmer trainers were killed by the Nerevarine.[45]

In 3E 433, the Rock Biter Goblins and the Bloody Hand Goblins were engaged in a Goblin war because the Rock Biter Goblins stole the tribal Totem Staff from the Bloody Hand Goblins. This was preventing the town of Cropsford from being built, so the farmers who were building Cropsford asked the Hero of Kvatch to help them. It's not fully known how the hero dealt with the Goblins, but the war was ended and Cropsford was fully finished.[46] In this same year, the Sharp Tooth and White Skin tribes were engaged in a war due to the White Skin totem being stolen by the Sharp Tooth tribe. The White Skins' chief was a Breton named Goblin Jim.[47]

Fourth EraEdit

 
Gogh wielding the Spear of Bitter Mercy (Skyrim)

Circa 4E 180, the town of Rivercrest was at threat by three Goblin tribes who were working together and with a bandit group known as the Greencaps, these tribes were the White Ghosts, the Red Fangs and the Iron Skulls. An Imperial envoy known as Gaius Platorius was in charge of dealing with this Goblin threat on behalf of the Empire, and worked alongside the Warrior to destroy these alliances. The Warrior destroyed these alliances by performing false flag attacks on each tribe, planting each tribe's banners at the site of Goblin massacres, and stealing a statue of the Blue God. This caused the alliance to collapse, but the female Goblin shaman, known as Arruluk Snakemother, who had caused the alliance to occur was still alive, so Gaius ordered the Warrior to kill her, thus ending the threat of the goblins in the area and the potential of another Goblin alliance from forming.[48]

Circa 4E 201, a tribe of Goblins migrated out of Cyrodiil using subterranean tunnels beneath the Jerall Mountains. They emerged into the Rift and took up occupation of a cave known as Gromm's Pass. The hunter of this group, a Goblin named Gogh, was seemingly blessed by Hircine as he was in possession of the Spear of Bitter Mercy. Gogh was fiercely protective of the weapon, which rejected anyone else that tried to claim it. The tribe subsequently encountered a helpless Orc from the nearby stronghold of Largashbur, who happened to be stained blue by the Steel Blue Entoloma mushrooms which grow in abundance within Gromm's Pass. Believing him to be the Blue God, an aspect of Malacath worshipped by Goblins, the tribe quickly made him their shaman and began to obey him as their god. However, the tunnel to Cyrodiil collapsed soon after, cutting the tribe off from any reinforcements. Gogh then spotted the Orcish shaman applying blue dye to maintain his appearance and was thus sentenced by the Orc to death, however, the rest of the tribe defended the Orc not knowing this. The Last Dragonborn saved Gogh by killing the Orc and his remaining Goblin followers. Gogh thereafter entered into the Dragonborn's service and continued to wield the Spear and its powers in battle.[49]

Culture and ReligionEdit

Shamans and TotemsEdit

"Goblins have their own reasons for doing things. Don't make sense to us, usually, but I've learned a lot about their ways over the years. Each tribe guards a head in its lair. Whose head, I don't know. A sacred tribal totem or something like that. Anyway, if you want to rile up a goblin tribe, steal their Tribal Head. Which is often what a rival tribe does, just to prove they're tougher."
—Mirisa[50]

Goblin tribes are often led by the strongest and largest Goblins (called warchiefs or warlords) or their religious leaders (called shamans), some tribes are ruled by members of other races. Goblin shamans are usually the most intelligent members of a tribe and the ones that lead in religious practices.[50][51][52] The death of a shaman is known method to pacify goblin tribes,[53][54] as it often leaves the tribe lost.[51]

The symbol of a shaman's position is often a totem or a headdress; if taken or lost, the tribe will do anything to get it back as these are seen as holy items.[54][52] Common forms of totems include magical staves topped the mummified head of a juvenile Goblin, or skulls in places of prominence. Shaman headdresses are often magical in nature and give the shaman who wears it special powers.[55] The totem staves are often made from bone rods, one owned by a shaman of the Stonechewer Tribe had an infant's skull on the top of it and was ornamented with an assortment of feathers, spines, and animal claws, and filled with something like nut-hulls. Certain Cyrodilic tribes have banners as their symbol and will fight other tribes over these banners. Destroying instead of simply stealing an item that is deemed holy by a Goblin tribe will cause the tribe to go on a rampage for weeks, destroying and killing anything in their way.[56] Goblins also have been known to use territory markers.[57]


  • Murkwater Tribe Shaman

  • Goblin Totem Staff

  • Stonechewer Tribe totem

  • Bitterfish Tribe Totem

  • Sharp Tooth Tribe Totem

  • A Goblin Healing Totem

WorshipEdit

 
The Blue God, sacred to Goblin-kind (Blades)

Goblin-kind worship a god called Muluk, who is thought to be related to the Orc god Mauloch, an aspect of Malacath.[52][58][59] Some also know Malacath as the Blue God,[53] represented through idols representing Malacath that have been painted blue.[60] The ancient giant Goblins were known to worship Malooc,[23][24][22] who was also believed to be related to Mauloch or Malacath.[61] Malacath has been known to be protective over Goblin-ken.[62]

Hunters of a Goblin tribe may lean towards worshiping Hircine, and one was even granted the honor of wielding the Spear of Bitter Mercy.[49] Some Goblins of the Cragkin Tribe were observed worshipping gargoyles, while others were seen worshipping an Ogre known as Big Ozur.[63]

DietEdit

The diet of Goblins varies, with some tribes raising and grilling rats for meat,[64] Goblins are believed to have over a dozen ways to prepare rat meat.[65] Sugar leaf is also a favorite for Goblins.[66] Goblins will also eat rotting vegetables, bread, and meat of any type. Goblin tribes also commonly farm different types of mushrooms with different properties in caves, with the Goblins in Stros M'Kai and the Western Reach Goblins being particular examples.[67] The Goblins of the Valus Mountains go back and forth between Cyrodiil and Morrowind using tunnels and secret passes. Some tribes have imported subterranean agricultural practices from their cousins to the east, namely the farming of kwama and spiders.[68]

Arms, Armor, and CraftsEdit

"You might look at the gear sported by a fully-equipped Goblin warchief and think, "What a mismatched conglomeration of primitive paraphernalia." But you would be wrong. Each item that warchief is wearing was carefully selected for its proven utility, and represents a decision backed by millennia of tradition. This is a style of arms and armor we ethnographers call the "Primal," and it is as distinctive and recognizable as any other culture set."
—Crafting Motif 13: Primal Style
 
Arms and armor of the Coldsnap tribe

Goblins take a rather traditional view to their outfits, with some pieces even dating back to the First Era. This is called the "Primal" culture set by ethnographers, however, it is unknown if they inherited it from previous generations, looted it from ancient ruins, scavenged it from other civilizations, or forged it themselves.[69] Much of their scavenged equipment is said to be of poor quality, and falls apart easily

Goblins are commonly known to make things out of bones, such as their arms and armors. They are also known to carve femurs into flutes.[70]

Goblin-ken such as those in the Coldsnap Tribe, have been observed progressing into a basic metal age by using scrap metal from Dwarven ruins, with them creating daggers by fusing scrap together in open fires and beating it into a rough blade form. Prior to the Dwarven influence, their helmets were either hide or bone, with a troll crest being most prized. After recognizing the superiority of metal, however, the Goblins then widely employed a horned skullcap reminiscent of a troll. The tribe also began to embed animunculus scrap into layers of baser metals to create shields, which greatly improved the strength of these shields. As the Goblins became more confident with metalworking, they created swords of fused metal, which although heavy, are very sharp.[71]

Goblins were likely the only inhabitants of Stros M'Kai between the Dwemer's disappearance and the Redguard colonization, perhaps allowing them to develop more than Goblins typically do. They developed tiny waterwheels made from iron and the flexible bark of tropical trees, which were then attached to Dwemer steam pipes to power tools.[72]

The Western Reach clans were known to be particularly advanced, having the ability to create and inscribe magical runes onto handcrafted obelisks, with some saying that the workmanship speaks to a better time in Goblin history.[73]

There are a couple of artifacts relating to Goblins, such as Shadowsilk gems, which grant the user the appearance of a Goblin. Another is the Emerald Chalice, which when drunk from, turns the drinker into a Goblin, the only way to reverse this is by using blood from a human.[74][75]

  • Goblin Sword

  • Goblin Club

  • Goblin Buckler

  • Goblin Jaw Elevator

  • An underground Goblin house

  • Goblin Caverns teleporter

  • A magical obelisk created by Western Reach Goblins, inscribed with unique runes

  • Grutbug the Unhealthy, a showcase of simplistic Goblin equipment

Animal HusbandryEdit

 
A Goblin and his Durzog pet (ESO)

Durzogs are reptilian dog-like creatures that Goblins raise for war and to hunt down their victims.[16] Goblins also heavily use durzogs for a multitude of other uses, mostly relating to the crafting of items requiring hides, Goblin belts for example are made of the hides. Goblin durzog handlers often have thick hide gauntlets. The Coldsnap Tribe uses the guts of durzogs to string their bows. Some Goblin Chiefs have also been known to make makeshift saddles to ride durzogs into battle.[37] Many tribes practice more advanced husbandry and breeding of durzogs,[76] [77] some creating war mounts known as "Warzogs".[78] Some have characterized the durzog pets of Goblins as being more intelligent than their masters.[16][76][37]

Goblins have been known to tame other creatures as well; they often raise rats for food,[79]:53 and some keep skeevers as pets.[80] The Goblin tribes of Morrowind have been known to farm large arthropods such as spiders and kwama.[68][81] The Goblins of Craglorn are one of the many pastoral societies there to have domesticated Welwa.[82]

LanguageEdit

Goblins can communicate with their own language that can be learned by others, though it largely comes off as gibberish.[83] Vice versa, some Goblins are capable of speaking Tamrielic to a coherent level.[55][84][55]

Known Goblin Words and PhrasesEdit

  • Aaarrrlll - Unknown translation
  • irgola - Means 'master'[85]
  • mluku - Means 'fecal matter'[52]
  • muulk - Used when chastising durzogs or children[52]
  • ubula - Possibly means "open"
  • uliiifff - Unknown translation
  • uulllf - Unknown translation
  • dead crawler - Used by goblins when speaking in Tamrielic to refer to zombies.[86]
→ See also: Goblin Names

Goblin TribesEdit

 
Tribes of Cyrodiil uniting circa 4E 180
"Goblin tribes are notoriously insular and wary of outsiders, not surprising considering their only interactions with people tend to be at the point of swords."
—Landal Gevont, Scholar of Goblins[83]

Goblins usually live in a tribal society, although they are not always part of a named tribe. Those tribes that do have names are notable for their use of symbols, strong leadership, and distinctive traditions.

For information on every individual tribe, see this article.

Interactions with Other RacesEdit

ConflictEdit

Current Goblin society is known to be primitive, and often poses a threat to the more advanced societies that surround them.

CooperationEdit

"Tired of Elf-speak. All lies! Not want any of you, just to be left alone."
—Chief Koth

Goblins generally appear to coexist more often with other races of Goblin-ken and Orcs than they do other humanoid races. Freed Goblin slaves were among those responsible for the original founding of Orsinium along with Orcs, Ogres, and Gremlins.[31] Goblin tribes have commonly allowed Ogres within their ranks,[87] with the Ogres often ranking high in them or leading them.[88][89][90]

Goblins are also more than capable of not being hostile to humans who observe them, with the Stonechewer Tribe shamans stopping the warriors from killing a scholar known as Nellic Sterone, with there being no further incidents of hostility and them tolerating his presence as long as he kept a distance from the female Goblins and their offspring.[52] Certain bottles of clear, odorless green liquid are sold to mask one's scent from Goblins.[91]

Goblins have also been known to want to be recognized as equals, and have worked with groups like the Veiled Heritance to attempt to achieve this,[92] where they formed a contract that the Goblins thought would make the Elf kings and lords stop harming them. The Goblin chief Koth was told that the Veiled Heritance had lied to them, and instead of going mad, just said that the Goblins wanted to be left alone. Koth had previously been a slave and attempted to ask for better living conditions from his Altmer master for him and his fellow Goblins.[93][94]

Scholarly pursuits into the intelligence of Goblins are often met with rejection, as the premise that Goblins can be domesticated is viewed as "ridiculous" by academia.[81] One such avenue of research was a scholar who had pointed out the fact that Goblins are not as primitive as they are perceived, saying that Goblins are capable of taming creatures such as spiders and kwama.[81]

SlaveryEdit

 
A slave market with Goblin slaves
(Arena Pre-release)
 
A House Dres goblin slave (ESO)

Goblins have been slaves in many societies, with the Altmer having goblin slaves to do menial tasks such as mucking out dung pits and cleaning floors, often being beaten by their elven owners, this has been known to give the goblins forms of mental trauma, with escaped goblins still sweeping and being frightened of others.[84] The Altmer also use heavy leg-irons for restraining Goblin slaves who are flight risks.[95] Goblins have also been used traditionally by the Altmer to supplement their armies.[16]

House Dres also keeps goblin slaves.[96] Some Argonians sympathize with goblins due to this fact and wish to free these goblins, as they have experienced slavery often at the hands of House Dres.[97] Goblins were also used by Dunmer as slaves for mines when the Pact was formed in 2E 572, due to Argonian slaves being freed. These goblins were controlled by the Dunmer by them owning the goblin tribe's totem, one example of this was the Gnaw-Root Tribe, who rose up against their Dunmer master in 2E 582 by taking back their totem, making the goblins think they were unstoppable.

The Tsaesci of Akavir are known to enslave the goblins of the surrounding isles, who they use for labor and fresh blood.[3]

Goblins require a lot of education before they are slave worthy. However, they are worth a lot, and they were a highly valued commodity in the second era, one slave trader having sold an entire tribe to a high ranking political minister in High Rock.[96]

Uses and Cultural ImpactEdit

Some people have been known collect Goblin teeth or toenails,[98][99] using the teeth as paperweights or to make blessed charms.[100][101]

Some have been known to craft small pewter "Pocket Goblins" that are said to bring good luck when dropped into any drink.[102]


MorphologyEdit

VariationEdit

They can range in height from three feet to over eight feet. Appearance-wise, Goblins usually have green or yellow skin (sometimes white or black), yellow eyes with slitted pupils, pronounced canine teeth, pointed elven-like ears, and sometimes horns and hunchbacks.

  • Warchief Durgoc, a modern Goblin of huge stature with horns

  • Three-eyed Goblin from the Western Reach

  • Ghost of an ancient Giant Goblin

Distinct SubracesEdit

While goblins are often grouped as Goblin-ken, some of the other races of that group are addressed as also being subspecies of Goblins.[71]

  • Rieklings — Blue skinned ice Goblins.[71] Tiny variants are found on Solstheim, but they tend to be bigger on mainland Tamriel.
  • Riekr — White skinned ice Goblins that have an innate connection to magic. They can be found in Wrothgar. They are sometimes described as crossbreeds between standard Goblins and Rieklings,[103] or as just a larger variety of Riekling.[71][103]

  • Riekling, blue-skinned Ice Goblins

  • Riekr, pale-skinned Ice Goblins

GalleryEdit

  • Goblin
    (Arena)

  • Goblin
    (Redguard)

  • Goblin concept art
    (Redguard)

  • Goblin
    (Morrowind)

  • Goblin officer
    (Morrowind)

  • Goblin officers working together
    (Morrowind)

  • Goblin
    (Shadowkey)

  • Goblin
    (Oblivion)

  • Goblin Witch
    (Oblivion)

  • Goblin
    (Oblivion Mobile)

  • A goblin in light armor (Skyrim)

  • Early concept of Goblins (ESO)

  • Goblin (ESO)

  • A female goblin (ESO)

  • Goblin Witch (Legends)

  • Goblin (Blades)

  • Goblin (Castles)

  • A goblin (Betrayal of the Second Era)

NotesEdit

  • 1. According to the research of the Antiquarian Circle, the goblins' attack on Ojwambu was one of several to justify the Siege of Orsinium, a conflict that started in 1E 950 and lasted for thirty years. They also theorized that the attack on Ojwambu took place in the seventy-four-year timespan between the beastfolks' exodus from Hammerfell in 1E 874 and the start of the siege.[30] But this contradicts Derik's status as the last Ansei because it would place his death several years before Makela Leki's fight against King Joile in 1E 973.[104]
  • In Nordic folklore, Falmer are sometimes known as "riekr-kin", they are derogatorily nicknamed "bogles" and "clatter-coats".[105] Though incredibly similar in nature and physique, they are not related to goblins.[106] In fact, they are just the corrupted descendants of the Snow Elves.[107][108]
  • Goblin wax is known to have alchemical properties.[109]

See AlsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ Undertow Cavern loading screen in ESO
  2. ^ Gar's dialogue in ESO
  3. ^ a b Mysterious Akavir
  4. ^ a b Loremaster's Archive - Elder Scrolls & Moth Priests — Sister Chana Nirine
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Notes For Redguard History — Destri Melarg
  6. ^ Mirri Elendis' dialogue in ESO
  7. ^ Naliara's dialogue in ESO
  8. ^ The Real Barenziah, v 3 — Anonymous
  9. ^ Gathering Force: Arms and Armor of Tamriel, The Goblin Filth, Grutbug the Unhealthy
  10. ^ a b Toothmaul Gully loading screen in ESO
  11. ^ a b King's Haven Pass loading screen in ESO
  12. ^ a b c King's Haven Scouting Record
  13. ^ a b Mehdze's dialogue in ESO: Summerset
  14. ^ King's Haven Trade Record
  15. ^ King's Haven Territory Record
  16. ^ a b c d Fedris Hler's dialogue in Morrowind: Tribunal
  17. ^ A Life of Strife and Struggle — King Laloriaran Dynar
  18. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: The Ra Gada: Hammerfell — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  19. ^ a b c d e Throne Keeper Farvad's dialogue in ESO
  20. ^ King Edward, Part I — Anonymous
  21. ^ The Mystery of Gargoyles—Solved! — Porbert Lyttumly
  22. ^ a b The 26th of First Seed is Upon Us!
  23. ^ a b c The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel: Elsweyr — Flaccus Terentius, 2E 581
  24. ^ a b Varieties of Faith... — Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
  25. ^ a b Talisman of Hunding description in Redguard
  26. ^ a b Festival of Blades holiday description in Daggerfall
  27. ^ a b Shrine to Divad Hunding
  28. ^ a b c Derik Hallin's dialogue in ESO
  29. ^ a b c The True-Told Tale of Hallin
  30. ^ a b c d Antique Map of Bangkorai's antiquity codex entries in ESO
  31. ^ a b c d Pocket Guide to the Empire, 1st Edition: The Wild Regions — Imperial Geographical Society, 2E 864
  32. ^ Sentinel, the Jewel of Alik'r — The Unveiled Azadiyeh, Songbird of Satakalaam
  33. ^ Wayrest, Jewel of the Bay — Sathyr Longleat
  34. ^ a b Bangkorai, Shield of High Rock — King Eamond
  35. ^ Pocket Guide to the Empire, 3rd Edition: Orsinium — Imperial Geographical Society, 3E 432
  36. ^ Thulgeg's March — Kraltha the Rememberer
  37. ^ a b c Kyne's Challenge: A Hunter's Companion — David S. J. Hodgson
  38. ^ a b Trithik's dialogue in Redguard
  39. ^ Mariah's dialogue in Redguard
  40. ^ Jagar Tharn's dialogue in Arena
  41. ^ Imperial Dungeons quest in Arena
  42. ^ Biography of Queen Barenziah, Vol. III — Stem Gamboge, scribe
  43. ^ Queen Blubamka's dialogue in Arena
  44. ^ Fang Lair quest in Arena
  45. ^ The Goblin Army quest in Morrowind: Tribunal
  46. ^ Goblin Trouble quest in Oblivion
  47. ^ Derelict Mine in Oblivion
  48. ^ Gaius Platorius' dialogue in Blades
  49. ^ a b Blue in the Face quest in Skyrim
  50. ^ a b Mirisa's dialogue during Goblin Trouble in Oblivion
  51. ^ a b Pim's dialogue during Seeking Armistice in ESO: Gold Road
  52. ^ a b c d e f Sacred Rites of the Stonechewers — Nellic Sterone
  53. ^ a b Letter to Clexius — Avanessa Calladius
  54. ^ a b Goblins in Oblivion
  55. ^ a b c Ivgrizt's dialogue in Shadowkey
  56. ^ Miharil's dialogue in ESO
  57. ^ Blood Revenge quest in ESO
  58. ^ Varieties of Faith: The Orcs — Brother Mikhael Karkuxor of the Imperial College
  59. ^ Children of Muluk event in Blades
  60. ^ The Blue God item appearance in Blades
  61. ^ Discussion with Abal at-Inzil, priest of Tava — Abal at-Inzil
  62. ^ Malacath's dialogue in Oblivion
  63. ^ Cragkin Tribe behavior in ESO
  64. ^ Goblin-Style Grilled Rat
  65. ^ Cracked Wood Cave loading screen in ESO
  66. ^ Chef Amadour's dialogue in ESO
  67. ^ "The air smells different up ahead. It looks like the Goblins are growing mushrooms for different properties than those growing naturally in the cavern" dialogue in Fearfrost Caverns in Shadowkey
  68. ^ a b Muck Vallery Cavern loading screen in ESO
  69. ^ Crafting Motif 13: Primal Style — Seif-ij Hidja
  70. ^ Nellic Sterone's dialogue during A Means to an End in ESO
  71. ^ a b c d Crafting Motif 71: Coldsnap Style — Landal Gevont, Scholar of Goblins, Invisible College of Daggerfall
  72. ^ Goblin Steam Mill in ESO
  73. ^ Goblin obelisk in Fearfrost Caverns in Shadowkey
  74. ^ The Emerald Chalice quest in ESO
  75. ^ Shadowsilk Gem in ESO
  76. ^ a b Emberthroat Durzog pet description in ESO
  77. ^ Topal Durzog pet description in ESO
  78. ^ Emberthroat Warzog mount description in ESO
  79. ^ The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Official Game Guide — Peter Olafson
  80. ^ The Goblins' Pet quest in Castles
  81. ^ a b c Academy's Rejection Letter — Felicitas Mallicius
  82. ^ Longhair Welwa's description in ESO
  83. ^ a b Landal Gevont's dialogue in ESO
  84. ^ a b Byz's dialogue in ESO
  85. ^ Irgola's dialogue in Morrowind
  86. ^ Scared Goblin's dialogue in Shadowkey
  87. ^ Ogres in ESO
  88. ^ Servants of the Blue God quest in Blades
  89. ^ Big Ozur in ESO
  90. ^ Taborra's Camp in ESO
  91. ^ Ghastly Goblin Masker item description in ESO
  92. ^ The Toothmaul Contract
  93. ^ Chief Koth's dialogue in ESO
  94. ^ Altmeri Overseer's Journal
  95. ^ Goblin-Sized Weighted Shackles item description in ESO
  96. ^ a b Aldryn Dres in ESO
  97. ^ Free Our Goblin Brothers!
  98. ^ Fruit Jar full of Goblin Teeth item description in ESO
  99. ^ Jar of Repulsive Goblin Toenails item description in ESO
  100. ^ Crude Tooth Paperweight item description in ESO
  101. ^ Goblin-Tooth Talisman item description in ESO
  102. ^ Pocket Goblin item description in ESO
  103. ^ a b ESO Live Orsinium Special Twitch Stream, time stamp 18:02–19:08
  104. ^ From The Memory Stone of Makela Leki — Makela Leki
  105. ^ Monsters of Northern Folklore — Minerva Calo, Imperial Chronicler
  106. ^ The Falmer: A Study — Ursa Uthrax
  107. ^ Loading screen in Skyrim
  108. ^ Gelebor's dialogue in Skyrim
  109. ^ Goblin Wax in Shadowkey

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Daggerfall Preview - REDGUARD.TXT
  2. ^ Michael Kirkbride's Posts
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