Goblins

Background

In Longfall, so the saying goes, you’re never more than three meters away from the nearest goblin. And indeed, you see them—gray-green, small, and pointy-eared—scurrying everywhere through the streets. But to dismiss them as a nuisance, albeit an easily controllable one, would be a fatal mistake. The goblins are a powerful faction on Leonera, and they’ve managed to compensate for their physical shortcomings with tireless ingenuity.

Not only have they realized that bullets and shrapnel are no less devastating just because the finger on the trigger is thin and green, but they also have a few orcs in their ranks who provide the necessary dose of brute force when the goblins’ interests need to be defended.

Hire

Claim

In a Goblin team, the following number of characters from the listed ranks can be recruited:

1 Leader
1+ character from the entourage
0-1 Specialist for one character from the entourage
0-2 mercenaries. One mercenary can replace a variety of specialists.

History

Goblins have shared the world with humans since time immemorial. Well, “shared” is a relative term, since—due to their weaker physique—they were kept as slaves by humans for most of their history. But then, a few decades ago, an orc washed ashore and taught the goblins how to fight. The humans were once again deeply preoccupied with their own affairs, and the goblins seized the opportunity to fight for their freedom in an empire-wide uprising.

This worked particularly well in the chaotic melting pot of Longfall—so well, in fact, that the goblins were able to conquer an entire quarter of the city and still claim it as their own to this day. This part of Longfall, which they proudly call Goblinopolis, shines as a beacon of hope for all the goblins in the rest of the Empire who are still struggling to secure their newfound freedom.

Appearance

Goblins can change their gender at will and usually have none unless it is needed. Some, however, take a liking to certain forms and retain them permanently. Goblins therefore tend toward a general, shapeless, wriggling form with individual, distinct features.

In general, goblins stuff their greenish bodies into whatever clothes they can find. Some still wear the uniforms from their days as slaves; others, fresh out of the jungle, are lucky if they have a pair of leggings. Cowardly as many of them are, they like to wear things that protect their precious skin—from crab shells to half a shark to a wooden barrel, you name it, they’ll wear it.

Equipment

Goblins are cowardly and usually a bit weak in the chest—which explains the high number of wooden legs on the team. They make up for these shortcomings with plenty of creativity and a penchant for explosions. The goblins’ arsenal includes rockets, mobile battering rams, bombs, armed octopuses, and many other exotic weapons.

Of course, goblins also use conventional weapons, even if, in some cases, these are little more than shaped rust with a metal core. But then there’s the legendary Paddel of Doom…

What Sets Them Apart

Goblins are always found in large groups, which helps them compensate for their individual weaknesses and cowardice. But they aren’t just a force to be reckoned with because of their sheer numbers. Their sometimes exotic weapons and gear make them extremely versatile and difficult for their opponents to predict.

The combination of numerical superiority and creative “secret weapons”—along with the occasional orc—is the true strength of a goblin team. While this isn’t always a sure thing, it’s always entertaining. If you like to let fate take you by surprise and have fun in the process, gather a horde of goblins around you.