Goblin (race)

The Goblins are green-skinned, hunch-backed, with elongated ears and teeth. Goblins are very important to the game since they appear in many quests.

Since the God Wars, goblins are divided into surface goblins and cave goblins. Surface goblins are found in numerous places all over Gielinor, with only humans being more widespread. Goblins can be found in Misthalin, Asgarnia and Kandarin with small populations found elsewhere.

Following the commandments of Bandos, whom they refer to as "Big High War God," most goblins try to live an unthinking life of fighting, wars, and bloodshed. They are simple-minded, warlike, easily controlled, and they have been used as basic foot soldiers by many different entities throughout the game's history. The exception is the Dorgeshuun tribe, also known as the cave goblins, who are educated, civil, and peace loving.

Historical background

Originally, the goblins were a gentle and moderately intelligent race living in Yu'biusk; a green and fertile place in an alternate dimension from Gielinor. They were mainly hunter-gatherers and lived in small huts. Sometimes conflicts between tribes did happen, but organised warfare was nonexistent during that time.

However, Bandos arrived looking for soldiers to fight in his army in the God Wars, became the goblins' official deity, and then sent them to fight for him in Gielinor. Later visitors to Yu'biusk have found the place to be dead and devastated and have blamed Bandos for this, though although the actual events that occurred in Yu'biusk are not known for sure.

The goblins were gullible and followed Bandos to fight in his wars. Since the banishment of Bandos at the end of the God Wars and the dominance of humans, the influence and military might of goblins has lessened and over time goblins (other than the cave goblins, who hid underground) became less and less intelligent with few magical or technological abilities other than forging weapons and armour. Nowadays most goblins live in peace and harmony (sort of) with humans, but they are still violent, rude, unintellegent, and often have delusions of grandeur and think that goblins are the "chosen race" of Bandos the "Big High War God".

Notable Goblins

General Wartface and General Bentnoze - Goblin generals prone to disagreeing with each other. Both are found in Goblin Village, during the Recipie For Disaster quest, and the Land of Snow in the 2009 Christmas event.
Goblin as seen in the 26th Issue of God Letters
Grubfoot - A low ranking worker in Goblin Village.
Sergeant Slimetoes and Sergeant Mossfists - Goblin sergeants from Goblin Village. Found only during Another Slice of H.A.M. quest.
Mudknuckles - Inventor of fast food. Currently in Goblin Village.
Wormbrain - A thief. Currently in Port Sarim prison. Found during Dragon Slayer for map piece.
Mistag - Overseer of the Dorgeshuun Mines.
Kazgar - Shows players through the Dorgeshuun tunnels, allowing easy access to the mines and Dorgesh-Kaan.
Zanik - A Dorgeshuun adventurer who plays a pivotal role in the four quests: Death To The Dorgeshuun, Another Slice of H.A.M, Land of the Goblins and The Chosen Commander.
Ur-Tag - The Dorgeshuun headman. Hangs out in the Dorgesh-Kaan council chamber in the northern upper level of the city.
Sergeant Strongstack, Sergeant Steelwill, and Sergeant Grimspike - Three incredibly strong goblins who assist General Graardor in the God Wars Dungeon.
Clothears, a goblin fisher found at river Dougne.
Goblin high priests Snothead, Snailfeet, Mosschin, Redeyes and Strongbones.
Hopespear - A goblin prophet. He tells a story about goblin wars, Battle of Plain of Mud and his vision.
Goblin (Lumbridge and Draynor tasks) - A goblin in Lumbridge who harasses a man for a bronze sword.
Yelps, the host of Squeal of Fortune.
Kringle, a goblin cook seen at 2011 Christmas event.
Players become goblins after drinking goblin potion from the Land of the Goblins quest. This is a temporary transformation and will be reverted by fighting, entering a sunlit area or wearing unsuitable clothing for a goblin.

Goblin tribes

File:Goblinsymbols.png

The goblins are often presented as siding with enemy gods and nations, however, many became allies with humans after the human hero Arrav united them. Despite this, goblins still try to cause trouble to human settlements when possible, although they are generally not a threat. The goblin tribes can follow any god and most still are friendly with humans or too weak to attack them, but there are some which will always be loyal to Bandos and kill humans freely. Some also follow Zamorak, notably the Huzamogaarb tribe. It is believed that the tribe of Saragorgak was sold by Bandos to Saradomin since in the book it is said they are "Footsoldiers of Holy Wrath" and their name also begins with 'Sara'.

Goblin language

Goblins have (or at least have had) a language of their own though they do use the language of humans widely in the present day. Goblins seem to call them selves either shuun or huun, in which most of their tribes names end to.

Known words

Arrav - a curse, battle-cry<ref>Jagex. "The Legend of Arrav, Part I." RuneScape Lores and Histories. *</ref>
Dorges - Strong Spears
Drogokis - Fierce Blades
Ekeles - East
Garagors - the Sea
Horogothgar - Eaters of human flesh, (which is anthropophagy, not cannibalism, as they are different species)
Huun - Tribe/Goblins
Huzamogaarb - Live-Flesh Eaters of the Chaos God (notice the "Zamo", likely derived from Zamorak).
Idit - South
Naragos - West
Rekes - North
Saragorgak - Footsoldiers of the Holy Wrath (notice the "Sara", likely derived from Saradomin).
Thorobs - Hills
Yurkolgokh - The ones with flatulence, The Flatulent