Post by Deleted on May 1, 2004 10:00:56 GMT -5
The Goblins are often treated as a race of their own, though in fact they have orcish origins and are categorized by scholars as the Gob-Oc Orcs. It was not until centuries after the Third Sarvonian War (298-203 b.S.) when rumors spread about this new race living deep under the Tandalas. The vast cave systems once created by the Ylossian dwarves had become the home to a powerful but unknown orcish nation that seized it in the aftermath of the war. Most of the tunnels used by the advancing armies were destroyed, but the Gob-Oc proved to be as determined and energetic as the dwarves in working the stone and in later centuries they reopened new routes to even greater cave systems which (at least it is said) connect nearly the whole Sarvonian North with the Tandalas.
The Gob-Oc who are said to originate from the mix of orcish armies that attacked the Santharian lands in the last Sarvonian War are said to be of small built, with slender legs and arms that hide muscles like steel wires. Their appearance is about 1.5 peds in height, however their bowed walk suggests that they’re of average orcish height but got used to narrow tunnels. Their skin color is of a dirty, dark green/brown or even grey. Their thick, dark hair is either shaved or plaited into one broad plait.
The Gob-Oc's lower jaw exceeds the dimensions of most other orcish tribes housing two oversized tusks. People say that their ears grew bigger but this fact is unconfirmed because barely anyone except the northern guards know how big the ears of an orc usually are. It is confirmed though that in the blackness of the underworld the already sparkling and intense eyes of the orc kind increased even more into – for the underground anyway – bright globes of fire of varying hue. The eye color of the Gob-Oc varies from the common red and yellow to intense purples and greens, the brightness multiplied compared to their brothers of the northern lands.
In all the reports about Gob-Oc it became clear that they can vary very much in their appearance though the circumstances of the underground made them all become generally smaller but not necessarily weaker than their brothers.
The Gob-Oc seemed to have adopted quickly to the dark world around them in ways often only encompassed by the usual underground dwellers, the dwarves. They also seemed to have developed a good sense for smithing and mining though nothing more than their war equipment ever reached the surface.
About their habits and ways of life little is known, but the mix of many different orcish tribes has lead to a unique orcish society. Instead of strict tribal system the Gob-Oc live in a rough "democratic" society where everyone gains power by the number of followers that is willing to follow him. That somehow explains the quick adaption and expansion under the Tandalas as unsuccessful leaders were simply abandoned.
Though the Gob-Oc must have found similar sources of food like the dwarves their main supplies still seem to come from the surface. It is supposed that they’re herding livestock in some deep and hidden valleys of the Tandalas and the appearance of war bands in Northern Nermeran indicate much activity on the surface as well so hunting is most likely as well. Under the pressure of growing populations they need to fill up the storage rooms with hunting prey and maybe they found out how the dwarves tend their mushrooms fields beneath the surface and have established similar farms in their territory though this suggestion is not received too well by dwarven ears.