Tibian goblins in a dungeon

Origins

The legends say that when Zathroth saw Banor, the first human, he was filled up with jealousy, and tried to create something like that himself. But his evil powers could only create the green-skinned and ugly creatures known as goblins. These were so ugly that he hid them in the great Femor Hills.

Another legend says that goblins was created when Burkok, an evil dwarf married an orc and got a terrifying child. He put this creature in a basket and let it flow down a river. Later, a wolf who lived in the Femor Hills found the basket. She fed the creature, and he became the first goblin.

There are many legends about goblins, and most tell about how the creator, or the goblins themselves became ashamed and hid in Femor Hills. In ancient Tibia language, Femor actually means “Scrap-pile”, and that would very well be fitting for the hills, which has become very messy since the goblins came.

The bridge over the small river that
leads from Femor Hills, locally known as “Goblin Bridge”.

Physical characteristics


Goblins lives most of their lives in tunnels under the world, thanks to this, they have developed very good sight. They are usually 50 to 100 centimetres, with a dark green skin and red eyes. Their ears are elfish-like, so maybe the goblins aren’t relative to the human species, but to the ancient elves. The goblins eat fish, mushroom, various fruits, meat, ham and cheese. This information is derived from the fact they leave pieces of food to rot everywhere in their rooms.

Some people have wondered why the skin of the goblins (and orcs) is green, while their blood is red. The answer is that the green pigment of goblins (and orcs) is produced by photosynthesis occurring in algae just beneath the skin. This does not affect internal tissues and blood.

Living places


As said before, goblins live in tunnels. One of their main settlements is Femor Hills, in which they have digged out big rooms, pigsties, mines and food storages. They try to ambush wanderers from Kazordoon and Carlin, but generally they fail, getting slaughtered even by novice adventurers from the strange world know only as “RL”. The goblins are very messy and explorers of their caves have reported mouldy food, scrap, torn books, and other such things. The caves are usually also littered with the bodies of dead goblins, and it seems that goblins never bury their dead (at least not in Femor Hills), since no graveyard have been seen.

A goblin pigsty.

Ways of war


The goblins usually fight with short swords, daggers, spears and small throwing stones. They usually attack in big bands of green-skinned creatures, and sometimes use wolves snakes, spiders and rotworms as well. In close combat they are quite weak, and even so-called “newbies” can slay them with ease. Their throwing stones can be quite dangerous if you are not well protected, but experienced adventurers shouldn’t need to worry. The goblins wear leather vests and helmets as protection sometimes, but most just wear their normal clothes.

The goblins prefers underground settlements like this one,
which they use to their advantgage in battle.

The goblins uses wolves, snakes, spiders and sometimes
wasps to help them in the battle.

Social structure


The goblins seem to be ruled by a king, though no human have ever seen him. The theory derives from the island Edron, where some adventurers have reported a throne room. Perhaps this is just a local warlord, not a king over all of goblins in the world. Maybe they have the same social status as an Orc leader. Other ranks of goblins haven’t been encountered yet, but I think we can draw some conclusions from what has been seen. Some goblins are better equipped for battle than other (leather armour and helmet, short swords etc). I believe that these could be some kind of elite warriors (although they don’t seem to be better fighters than normal goblins). I also believe that the goblins have different jobs in the society. There are guards, warriors, pig keepers, wolf tamers and so on, although they don’t seem to be different physically or in appearance to other goblins.

An interesting thing is that there seems to some kind of "mining company" that leads the mining operations in Femor Hills. But it looks like they have trouble with the discipline, and many goblins have deserted. The ones still left are irritated because they don’t get better equipment.

Language


Goblins seems to use the standard Tibian language, but with a bad grammar. They sometimes also use words unheard of anywhere else. The war cry "Zig Zag! Gobo attack!" has been speculated upon by many goblin researchers. Some thinks that maybe "Zig" and "Zag" are the goblins gods of war. Other says that it is part of the goblins own language. Most people think that it’s just a cry, like the human "Yahoo!" or "Mine PLZ!". It is believed that goblins have their own language. Then only word (except the war cry) that has been heard by humans is "Bugga! Bugga!" No one knows what it means, and most people don’t care anyway. However, Lord Nocturnal has an interesting theory: "However, I have something to add to the Goblin text, as you mention their language is at times very cryptic - one of their warcries, 'Bugga! Bugga!' is actually a reference to an ancient event where a man first made contact with the Goblins. He was not at all very inclined of sparing them, however, and the first Goblin he saw he roared 'YE LIL' BUGGER!' to and butchered, more Goblins came faster than he could kill - fortunatley they did very little damage, but for an hour and a half the man stood there yelling 'Bugger! Bugger! Bugger!' whilst chopping down the wee buggers."