Goblin Warriors

fractal-goblin

In goblin lore, warriors are the essential force that drives goblin society’s success, making up the majority of their tribe's fighting force. These warriors, while often seen as small and weak individually, are known for their tenacity, cleverness, and their ability to overwhelm foes with numbers and underhanded tactics. Though they lack the discipline of more organized forces, goblin warriors rely on their cunning, unpredictability, and sheer aggression to survive and thrive.

Role & Power

Goblin warriors are primarily responsible for raiding and defending their tribe. They are the fighters who storm enemy villages, ambush travelers, and protect the entrances to their underground lairs. Their approach to combat is chaotic and opportunistic—they are not concerned with honor or rules. Instead, goblin warriors use every dirty trick they can, from surprise attacks to setting traps.

These warriors are most effective in large numbers. Their tactics often involve swarming their enemies, using the environment to their advantage, and avoiding direct confrontations where they might be outmatched. Despite lacking in individual power, they make up for it with teamwork, trickery, and a relentless attitude.

Key Characteristics of Goblin Warriors

1. Guerrilla Tactics: Goblin warriors excel at hit-and-run tactics. They often ambush enemies from hiding places, attack quickly, and retreat before their enemies can react. They are masters of using terrain, whether it’s thick forests, caves, or even urban areas, to outmanoeuvre their opponents.

2. Improvised Weapons: Goblins are known for scavenging whatever they can find to use as weapons. They fight with crude swords, daggers, slings, and spears, often made from scraps or stolen from other races. Their armour is pieced together from bits of leather, bone, and metal, offering just enough protection to keep them alive in a fight.

3. Resourcefulness: Goblin warriors are highly resourceful, using traps, poisons, and other dirty tricks to gain an edge. They might set pitfall traps, create nets to ensnare enemies, or smear their weapons with venom from local creatures. This makes them dangerous even to more powerful foes, as they rarely engage on even terms.

4. Frenzied Fighting Style: In combat, goblin warriors fight with a wild, reckless energy. They often seem chaotic and unpredictable, which makes them hard to defend against. While they lack the training of more professional soldiers, their aggression and willingness to throw themselves into battle make them formidable in large groups.

5. Cowardice and Self-Preservation: While goblin warriors can be fierce, they are also known for their cowardice. If the tide of battle turns against them, they will not hesitate to retreat or flee entirely. This behaviour is more about survival than honor—goblins live to fight another day, and they know when they are outmatched.

Life of a Goblin Warrior

Goblin warriors live a harsh and chaotic life. They are always ready for battle, constantly training, brawling, or preparing for the next raid. Their existence revolves around fighting for loot, food, and status within the tribe. Most goblins view fighting as a means of survival, and only the toughest or cleverest warriors make it to old age.

1. Training and Brawling: In between raids, goblin warriors engage in rough, informal training. They spar with each other, often resulting in injuries or fights over resources. This training is more about building toughness and aggression than skill, as goblins favor brute force and cunning over formal combat techniques.

2. Weapon Crafting and Maintenance: Goblins are resourceful when it comes to crafting their own weapons. Warriors often maintain their crude weapons themselves, adding spikes, poison, or sharp edges to make them more effective. The forges in the goblin dens are always busy, turning scrap metal into jagged blades and shields.

3. Eagerness for Loot: Goblin warriors are highly motivated by the promise of loot. Raiding is not just about survival—it’s about the thrill of stealing treasure, food, and weapons from other creatures. The more loot a warrior can collect, the higher their status among their peers. This hunger for wealth often drives them to fight more ferociously.

4. Traps and Ambushes: Goblin warriors are expert trap-setters. They fill the areas around their lairs with hidden pitfalls, tripwires, and snares to catch intruders. During battle, they often lure enemies into these traps, giving them a decisive advantage. These traps are also used to defend their territory from stronger foes.

5. Living Quarters: Warriors typically live in the outer regions of the goblin lair, where they can quickly mobilize to defend the entrances or launch raids. Their quarters are crude and often shared with other warriors, creating a chaotic and competitive environment. Fights over living space, food, or weapons are common.

Goblin Warrior Types

1. Raiders: The most common type of goblin warrior, raiders specialize in attacking settlements and caravans to steal resources. They are fast, sneaky, and work best in groups, relying on numbers to overwhelm their targets.

2. Skirmishers: Lighter and quicker than regular warriors, skirmishers act as scouts and harassers. They use slings, bows, and javelins to attack from a distance before quickly retreating. Skirmishers are essential in wearing down enemies before a full attack.

3. Berserkers: Some goblins, in the heat of battle, become berserkers, fighting with a wild fury that makes them reckless but terrifying. Berserkers charge headlong into battle, ignoring danger and focusing only on causing as much damage as possible. Though often short-lived, their ferocity can break enemy lines.

4. Trappers: These warriors focus on setting traps and ambushes. They are masters of creating hidden dangers, using the environment to their advantage. Trappers are especially dangerous in forests or underground tunnels, where they can manipulate the terrain to confuse and ensnare enemies.

End of a Warrior's Life

The life of a goblin warrior is usually short and violent. Many fall in battle, either during raids or in defence of their tribe. Those who survive long enough often become leaders of raiding parties or respected veterans. However, death in combat is the expected fate for most, as goblin warriors are constantly fighting and rarely retire peacefully.