Elo Goblands
by Giulio CarolettiThe Elo Goblands are the mountainous regions of the western Tangor Chain where several tribes of Dark Goblins live. Goblands is a term used by the Tangors; the Dark Goblins call the mountains simply Elo (home), and refer to themselves as Elo Goblins. There is a number of independent tribes, that count more than 175000 individuals in total, plus other 50000 goblinoids under the control of the city of Lamu [these tribes will be covered in the Lamu entry]. The Dark Goblins live hunting and warring against each other, and are stationary, living in small villages.
Black Axe: These goblins have settled the northern mountains, where they have risen to power given the presence of iron mines. They are excellent smiths and are mostly peaceful, because they are able to trade their iron with the Tangors and thus are quite rich, and are better organized than the other goblinoid tribes. Population: 16500, scattered in a couple dozens of villages.
Fire Dogs: The Fire Dogs live on the western part of the Tangor Chain, and often raid the eastern Minaean cities. They are expert wolf-riders, and wear wolf-furs. Their typical weapons are short swords and bows, and they are very savage and brutal. However, they often have internal frictions and wars, and thus they are dangerous only when united by a strong leader- which is not the present case. Population: 19600, divided in many small bands of 200-300 goblins each.
Hammerers: The Hammerers have settled the central plateau of the Goblands, from which they plan their hunting expeditions in the surrounding pine forests, and their raids against other goblinoid tribes. The Hammerers' chiefs are on the Ants pay book, and thus they almost never attack Tangor caravans. They control the trade rout to the Black Axe villages, and never attack humans if they pay a small tribute (the Ants caravans have free access). Population: 19300, with Mogg (pop. 3100) as their capital.
Nightwatch: These goblins are controlled by shamans of Nyx. They master necromantic arts and are feared by all other Dark Goblin tribes. The Tangors consider taboo their land, a small part of the central Goblands east of Mogg. The Nightwatch tribe is dangerous: usually they conduct raids in northern Mawuru villages and goblinoid ones to get slaves for their undeath experimentations, then remain secluded and peaceful until they run out of bodies... Population: 8400, living in seven villages.
Stone House: Another western tribe, the Stone House take their name from their habit of building villages in mountain caverns. They have become good engineers, and are now exploring the mysteries of Skothar's underworld. They have worked for centuries on a complex of tunnels that connect most of the villages of the tribe. They farm goats and grow fungi in the caverns for sustenance. They are not particularly savage, but they don't like strangers and attack all intruders, other goblins included. Population: 19200, divided in nine Stone Houses.
Throatslitters: A southwestern tribe, the Throatslitters are hunters with the bad habit of cutting the throat of their enemies, which they impale outside the wooden walls of their villages, leaving them there for weeks. The foul stench of a Throatslitter camp can be smelled miles away; it is a religious ritual in the name of Vaprak, and the smell is particularly awful after a battle against another tribe. They never impale others of their brethren. Population: 18400, divided in about thirty small villages.
Lifestealers: The most coward Dark Goblin tribe, the Lifestealers carve out a dull existence in the eastern parts of the Goblands; they have few contacts with the Tangor area, and their occasional raids are most often directed at the kingdoms of the Westbay region. Their main activities is, however, goat herding. They are vassals of the Red Fox. Population: 15500 living in twenty villages
Red Fox: The strongest Dark Goblin tribe of the Goblands, the hobgoblins of the Red Fox occupies the eastern Goblands, near the borders of Blande [see Westbay entry]. They are creating a true kingdom, and not simply a tribeland like most of the other tribes. The hobgoblins of this tribe control also the Lifestealers, although they are nearly useless. The Red Fox attacks often the Blande outposts in the mountains, and are determined not to unite the goblinoid tribes, that are anyway not a threat, but to bring the Blandeans out of the Tangor Chain, although their king doesn't know how yet. Population: 23600 living in six towns and thirty villages, the capital being Salamandra (pop. 6800 ).
Crypt Guardians: This is a tribe composed of goblins and hobgoblins. They live in the northern part of the Goblands. Their name comes from the fact that they control an area where the Tomb of the Ancients lies. This is a goblin-chief cemetery, where several past goblin chiefs have been buried. The Crypt Guardians have very little to do with the Tangors and their southern cousins. Population: 17700, living in about forty villages
Ants Marching: This is a tribe composed just of hobgoblins, living in the central-eastern part of the Goblands. They are currently holding a low profile, because they don't want to raise the attention of the Red Fox. All the warriors of the tribe wear ant-masks, and it is possible that they have some contact with the Hivebroods. Their leader is known as Kaphtal, and has unified all the tribe under his rule. Population: 16900, scattered in more than twenty villages.