Goblin

The name goblin covers a whole spread of related, ugly and misshapen humanoids, from three-footers up to a seven-foot kind weighing 350 pounds or more (the appendix gives weights of 40-240+ pounds). Every tribe is ruled by the strong, so the smaller and weaker sorts are easily bullied by their mightier cousins. Size aside they look much alike: bow-legged, with long, almost ape-like arms and twisted features, skin of yellow, brown or a muddy dark green, pitch-black eyes with white or yellow pupils, and broad, flat faces with mouths full of sharp teeth and jutting lower fangs.

Goblins are evil, quarrelsome and warlike. Sunlight they hate and dread, though a few can endure it if necessary, and they mostly live underground, coming out at night to raid for plunder, food and slaves. For a goblin the last two are much the same thing, since these meat-eaters devour any captive they have no other use for. Their own gear is shoddy; looted arms and armor go to the strongest, who are thus also the best equipped.

Dwarves are their bitterest enemies, because both want the finest tunnel systems. Goblins sometimes work with rival tribes, trolls, ogres or other vile creatures, or serve evil spell casters, but tribes usually act alone and often war with each other. Few are clever and fewer learn any magic, yet now and then a bright goblin rises to lead an alliance of tribes that endangers civilized lands far around. Most never rise above 4th level, but a rare exceptional goblin may pass 10th as a Warrior, Rogue, Shaman, Necromancer or Witch Doctor. All goblins have infra-vision.