Overview
Cave Goblins are subterranean Goblin communities that have adapted to life beneath Aldoria’s mountains, ruins and deep cave systems. They are skilled scavengers, miners and tunnel builders who can survive in places most surface dwellers would consider uninhabitable. Their settlements often grow around abandoned mines, natural caverns and forgotten underground structures.
Appearance
Cave Goblins commonly have pale green, grey, yellowish or almost colourless skin due to generations spent underground. Their eyes are often larger or more sensitive to light, while black, grey and white hair are common. Their clothing is practical and usually made from leather, cloth scraps, rope and scavenged metal. Goggles, masks, belts and tool harnesses are common.
Personality
Cave Goblins tend to be cautious, resourceful and highly suspicious of waste. They are often clever problem-solvers and may value useful objects far more than attractive ones. Many possess a dry sense of humour and take pride in surviving situations other races would consider miserable.
How They Live
Mining, scavenging, fungi cultivation, trapping and underground livestock are common ways of life. Cave Goblins reuse almost everything they find, repairing damaged tools and turning abandoned materials into useful equipment. Knowledge of tunnels, unstable ground and underground water sources is passed carefully between generations.
Culture & Traditions
Practical skill carries great respect. A Goblin capable of repairing broken tools, finding a safe tunnel or keeping a settlement supplied may earn more status than a wealthy individual. Trinkets recovered from dangerous expeditions are often kept as trophies and stories are commonly exaggerated each time they are retold.
Settlements
Cave Goblin settlements are built into caverns, mines and ruined underground complexes. Rope bridges, wooden platforms, narrow tunnels and scavenged structures are common. Entrances are frequently hidden or trapped to prevent outsiders from easily locating the community.
Common Roles / Professions (Optional)
Alchemist, Weaponsmith, Armorsmith and crafting-focused roles suit Cave Goblins particularly well. Miners, scavengers, trappers and repairers are also extremely common.
Relationships With Other Races
Cave Goblins frequently encounter Dwarves and Dark Elves underground, leading to both trade and territorial disputes. Trolls may be avoided or occasionally tolerated if they do not threaten Goblin tunnels. Surface races often underestimate Cave Goblins, something many of them are happy to use to their advantage.