THE
GOB-OC
ORCS
("GOBLINS") |
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.
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Appearance.
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.
Territory.
The Gob-Oc live in the wide caverns and tunnels of the Tandalas which they took
as home after the failed campaign against
Santharia in the Third Sarvonian War (298-203 b.S.). The number of
settlements is unknown as are the routes and tunnels that might lead deep into
Santharia or to the north. Escaped people
who were enslaved by Gob-Oc raiding parties report about dozens of settlements
built into great caves or carved into the stones by hand. The greatest of all is
said to lie in a huge cave overseeing a lava lake.
People.
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.
Very little is known about what role the females of the Gob-Oc tribe might have
in their society in general. What is known however is that their females are
rarely seen by non-tribe members. Because of this, it is assumed they, like most
female orcs, live under some restriction.
Diet.
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.
Weapons.
Sometimes there rumors spread that the Gob-Oc must have captured a colony of
dwarves because of the fine metal works and weapons
they're able to produce. While the any dwarf will
strongly deny such rumors as stupid human fantasy it is
a noteably statement about the quality of their weapons and armor.
The common equipment of the Gob-Oc seems to be a breast plate and a back plate
over either a chain or scaled mail, with strengthened gloves and armoured
leggings. Additional to that some of them bear rectangular shields. On the
sparse occasions Santharians fought these
orcs in their own tunnels these shields have proven
perfect to enact a shield wall in a tunnel that is difficult to conuqer.
As a very warlike race the Gob-Oc quickly learned tactics usable in these closed
quarters. Many Gob-Oc seem to favour no shield at all before having one in
territory it only hinders them. All weapons known to orcs
seem to have been slightly adjusted to fit the new needs by making them more
suitable for stabbing, equipping pikes with additional hooks and making the bows
shorter.
Government.
Not much is known about the government of the Gob-Oc as only warbands and at
rare occasions whole armies emerge from the darkness.
Whatever the government is, it seems the orcs seem to
gather for certain purposes when leaving the tunnels, always chosing someone as
the leader they think most fitting, either because he’s clever, brave or most
generous in dividing the loot. If a leader proves incapable or plainly
unsuccessful he is simply abandoned and a new one is chosen. This system seems
to work efficiently in a surrounding where a wrong decision often can mean death
through starvation or other unpleasant things.
Another myth that has emerged around this strange orc
kind is that the Gob-Oc erected a big city within a huge cave overseeing a huge
lava lake which gives them warmth for their homes and heat for their melting
pots. While most scholars doubt that, they point to old
dwarven myths that tell about a dwarven city that
once ruled over most of the Tandalas lying deep beneath the surface and
suggesting the orcs used these ruins to establish their
own capital.
Production/Trade.
To what extent the Gob-Oc trade with their northern brothers is not known as the
subterran routes have never been revealed. But possibly their weapons and armor
became highly praised by the Losh-Oc,
their nearest northern neighbors, and possibly by the
Ashz-Oc as well. Anything else,
precious and rare, but not usable in the underground must be traded via these
tribes, even the dark elves north of the Tandalas are possible partners when it
comes to silver, precious stones and crystals.
To the south their only trade partner are trolls
residing in the equally named mountains. Though they often ally on their raids
it is unknown if the trolls have something worth to
trade.
More disturbing are other tales about these orcs
controlling a hidden link to the dungeon of Hegedorn but as with most other
things about this tribe it is unconfirmed.
Natural Resources.
Ore of many different metals can be found in the deep tunnels of the Tandala as
well as other raw materials precious or practical. To what extent the Gob-Oc
have learned the art of mining is unknown but it seems to be enough to supply
them with a good amount of fine armor and weapons. They also dig for precious
stones, crystals and silver which they might trade with surface tribes.
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Information provided by
Koldar Mondrakken
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