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Goblinoids in D&D 5e: Their Origin, Story, and Tragedy (+)
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<blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 8529919" data-attributes="member: 20323"><p>Nice article!</p><p></p><p>I recall reading AD&D2e <em>Monster Mythology</em> (1992) about goblins when I was doing lore-building for Batiri goblins in our <em>Tomb of Annihilation </em>campaign. One of the PCs was a Batiri goblin worshipping Meriadar (a Lawful Neutral goblinoid/mongrelfolk deity of meditation, tolerance, and crafts).</p><p></p><p>There's a reference to a pre-Maglubiyet entity known as "Stalker" which I <em>think</em> is the canon inspiration point (or one of the points) for the designers' fey origin ret-con of goblins. Interestingly, "Stalker" is not worshipped formally (in 5e terms the lore makes it sound like a warlock patron OR something like Auril the Frostmaiden), has a semi-antagonistic role to goblinkind, has an undefined origin which could involve the Underdark or Shadowfell/Feywild version of the Underdark, is definitely opposed to Maglubiyet, and in terms of its profile it thematically has overlap with the Queen of Air and Darkness. </p><p></p><p>Quoting:</p><p></p><p>(p. 43) "Most goblinoid gods are clearly of a specific racial type, although Maglubiyet rules goblins and hobgoblins both, and their specific racial deities, and the entity known simply as Stalker does not appear to have any specific racial origin."</p><p></p><p>(p. 57) "<strong>Stalker (Demigod).</strong> The entity known simply as "Stalker" is an elemental entity related to the racial root stock of all goblinoid races. Stalker is always held in creation myths to have emerged from a dark underground complex into which the goblinoid race telling the tale entered in pre-history. Their intrusion drove Stalker out from his domain, and the demigod has sought revenge ever since.</p><p></p><p>Stalker is a solitary entity, without priests or shamans; goblinoids usually don't even attempt to propitiate it (a rare exception is the employment of ritual dancing to terminal exhaustion with the promises of a battle, and deaths/ souls to be devoured, offered to this dire entity). The deaths of goblinoids strengthen the hate and anger which rules the deity and its power, so it always seeks conflict, war and death (which may be why other goblinoid gods don't attempt to destroy it). It has a ravening, eternal, hateful hunger for lives and souls, but it is not powerful enough to directly oppose the stronger goblinoid gods such as Gruumsh and Maglubiyet. For this reason, it focuses its hate on bugbears, kobolds, urds, gnolls and mongrelmen. It has an especial hatred of Meriadar, the deity who attempts to bring back some semblance of respect for life to goblinoids. In many worlds, Stalker has some form of alliance with Skiggaret; while the two do not work together, there is some form of mutual tolerance.</p><p></p><p><strong>Role-playing Notes: </strong>Stalker will send its single avatar when there is a good prospect of preying on weak communities or damaged populations (after a mass battle, for example). The goblinoid gods often permit "Stalker's share" of souls after such a conflict.</p><p></p><p><strong>Statistics:</strong> AL ne; WAL n/ a; AoC hate, death, cold; SY creeping shadow."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Quickleaf, post: 8529919, member: 20323"] Nice article! I recall reading AD&D2e [I]Monster Mythology[/I] (1992) about goblins when I was doing lore-building for Batiri goblins in our [I]Tomb of Annihilation [/I]campaign. One of the PCs was a Batiri goblin worshipping Meriadar (a Lawful Neutral goblinoid/mongrelfolk deity of meditation, tolerance, and crafts). There's a reference to a pre-Maglubiyet entity known as "Stalker" which I [I]think[/I] is the canon inspiration point (or one of the points) for the designers' fey origin ret-con of goblins. Interestingly, "Stalker" is not worshipped formally (in 5e terms the lore makes it sound like a warlock patron OR something like Auril the Frostmaiden), has a semi-antagonistic role to goblinkind, has an undefined origin which could involve the Underdark or Shadowfell/Feywild version of the Underdark, is definitely opposed to Maglubiyet, and in terms of its profile it thematically has overlap with the Queen of Air and Darkness. Quoting: (p. 43) "Most goblinoid gods are clearly of a specific racial type, although Maglubiyet rules goblins and hobgoblins both, and their specific racial deities, and the entity known simply as Stalker does not appear to have any specific racial origin." (p. 57) "[B]Stalker (Demigod).[/B] The entity known simply as "Stalker" is an elemental entity related to the racial root stock of all goblinoid races. Stalker is always held in creation myths to have emerged from a dark underground[B] [/B]complex into which the goblinoid race telling the tale entered in pre-history. Their intrusion drove Stalker out from his domain, and the demigod has sought revenge ever since. Stalker is a solitary entity, without priests or shamans; goblinoids usually don't even attempt to propitiate it (a rare exception is the employment of ritual dancing to terminal exhaustion with the promises of a battle, and deaths/ souls to be devoured, offered to this dire entity). The deaths of goblinoids strengthen the hate and anger which rules the deity and its power, so it always seeks conflict, war and death (which may be why other goblinoid gods don't attempt to destroy it). It has a ravening, eternal, hateful hunger for lives and souls, but it is not powerful enough to directly oppose the stronger goblinoid gods such as Gruumsh and Maglubiyet. For this reason, it focuses its hate on bugbears, kobolds, urds, gnolls and mongrelmen. It has an especial hatred of Meriadar, the deity who attempts to bring back some semblance of respect for life to goblinoids. In many worlds, Stalker has some form of alliance with Skiggaret; while the two do not work together, there is some form of mutual tolerance. [B]Role-playing Notes: [/B]Stalker will send its single avatar when there is a good prospect of preying on weak communities or damaged populations (after a mass battle, for example). The goblinoid gods often permit "Stalker's share" of souls after such a conflict. [B]Statistics:[/B] AL ne; WAL n/ a; AoC hate, death, cold; SY creeping shadow." [/QUOTE]
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