Goblins of Zarma

Goblins of Zarma

Overview

The goblins were regarded as a menace to the northern reaches of Atrebla, concentrated in the area bordering Zarma. Despite their reputation as dangerous creatures, they were considered by some to be a lesser threat compared to larger geopolitical enemies. King Malaky XVI notably assessed that the Wyranth Empire posed a far greater danger than the goblins, placing them in a secondary tier of threats facing the kingdom.

Description

Goblins were described as possessing evil red eyes, sickly green skin that sagged and wrinkled, and long ears that bent. Sharp teeth protruded from their mouths, and they walked with a hunch. Among their number, some carried small daggers and shields, while others held torches that burned something with a foul smell. Goblins spoke a guttural language among themselves, though at least one individual was capable of speaking the king's speech.

Spoiler: The Steam Knight 2Click to reveal

Lore and Customs

Role in The Steam Knight

In The Steam Knight, the goblins were referenced in the context of Atrebla's ongoing security concerns. A character remarked, "We already have enough trouble with the goblins along our northern countryside by Zarma," underscoring that the creatures remained an active problem at the time of the novel's events.

Baron Theodore von Monocle was noted to have dealt with the goblins more than a decade prior to the events of The Steam Knight, suggesting a history of direct confrontation between the baron and these creatures.

Dr. von Breech claimed that his electricity arm contraption was capable of eradicating the goblins entirely, indicating that inventors and engineers of the era viewed them as a problem potentially solvable through emerging technology.

Relationships

• Baron Theodore von Monocle: Dealt with the goblins more than a decade before the events of The Steam Knight.
• King Malaky XVI: Acknowledged the goblins as a threat but considered the Wyranth Empire far more dangerous.
• Dr. von Breech: Claimed his electricity arm contraption could eradicate the goblins.
• Wyranth Empire: Cited by King Malaky XVI as a significantly greater threat than the goblins.

On the world map

The region of Zarma appears on the official world map north-east of Artrebla (Atrebla), consistent with goblins in Atrebla's northern countryside "by Zarma".

In A History of Rislandia

According to A History of Rislandia, goblins are real, small, subterranean creatures inhabiting vast tunnel networks beneath the Oler Mountains and other regions across Areth and beyond. The sourcebook treats them as a distinct and ancient people with a complex hidden civilization, providing considerably more detail on their nature and history than is recorded in the novels.

Origins and Cosmology

According to A History of Rislandia, goblins emerged from the deep places beneath the earth, shaped by the forces of Umbraeth's shadow and Terravon's stone. During the Age of Separation, they built underground kingdoms while surface peoples developed their own civilizations. The sourcebook records that they dwelled in cave systems beneath both continents, in tunnel networks, underground cities, island caverns, and deep places where crystals grew.

Physical Description

The sourcebook describes goblins as approximately 3–4 feet tall, with large eyes adapted to darkness, long fingers with claws, and a wiry, strong build. They are capable of seeing in complete darkness. Their lifespan is recorded as unknown, but possibly longer than that of humans.

Society and Culture

According to A History of Rislandia, goblins are organized into complex societies comprising kings, nobles, and workers, as well as family-based clans. They keep their kingdoms hidden from surface dwellers and are skilled at mining, metalworking, and gem-cutting. Their underground cities are carved into rock and lit by bioluminescent fungi and crystal light. The sourcebook notes that goblins have a king with a legendary hoard in the Oler Mountains.

Goblins speak their own guttural language; some learn human tongues. The sourcebook states that goblins understand human languages even if they do not always speak them. They are described as intelligent and capable of speech.

Behavior and Relations with Surface Peoples

According to A History of Rislandia, goblins generally avoid humans but will defend their territory. Most are described as not malicious but opportunistic. They emerge at night to trade or raid surface dwellers, maintaining an uneasy coexistence with surface peoples. They value metal, gems, and food for trade, and sometimes raid surface settlements for food and supplies. The sourcebook notes that some goblins have been known to help or hinder travelers depending on their mood, and that goblins who feel threatened can be vicious.

The sourcebook also records that giants occasionally enslaved goblins for mining, and that goblins are largely unaffected by surface conflicts. Goblin trading caravans are noted as a hazard—or potential encounter—in wilderness settings.

Known Aliases

A History of Rislandia records two additional aliases for goblins not noted elsewhere: the Goblins of the Oler Mountains and the Underground Ones.