Races (Goblin Trilogy)
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Within the two races in the Goblin Trilogy, they can all be sub-divided into distinct groups.
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[edit] Goblins
Descendants of surface human dwellers who found themselves trapped beneath the Earth during one of the Turnings. They eventually evolved into their form.
[edit] Betweener
The Betweeners are the generation of goblins since the last Turning. They live in the between levels of the goblin caverns are those who tend to have the most tolerance to light and have a more human appearance, although of course, there will be some mixing between deeper dwelling and older goblins.
Mythologically, due to their appearance they are most likely to be those dubbed as fairies and elves[1]. In fact, some are deemed to be somewhat attractive in an "alien, yet ethereal way"[2], aking int oaccount their adrogenous and refined features, ofwhichAnton takes note of upon emembering the eventsfollowing a Dance[3]. Even with their human appearance, their goblin features are nonetheless noticeable with their pointed ears and green skin.
In another reference to human mythlogy, the Betweeners are most likely to take on the role of Incubbus and Succubus, being the closest kin to humans. It was mainly done to rectify the damage caused by too much inbreeding within both species, similarly to the practice of Changelings.
[edit] Darek
Darek is one of the first goblins we are introduced to (though not by name). He is the goblin that was seen by the party of humans searching for Caleb, unwittingly setting out the events in Dance of the Goblins[4].
[edit] Talla
Although she is considered a Betweener (having been brought up amongst their grottos by a Betweener female), especially with her role as Succubus, her parentage is none of the sort. Her mother is one of the Kol'ksu, the prophetess Le-ina, and her father is rumoured to have been Haghuf's predecessor Anknor although neither had denied or confirmed the rumours.
Relative to the goblins, she does indeed resemble a Betweener although with different characteristics. Her hair is long and white like those of the Kol'ksu confirming her maternal line, along with her white almond eyes.
[edit] Leap
One of the last Changelings[5]. When given as a gift to the humans as an attemptto undo the generations of inbreeding that has plagued both races, yet the humans rejected him, subjecting him to torture and abuse until the goblins brought back the human child and took back theirs.
He is cared for, or watched over, by the elder Haghuf who sees him as being his successor one day[6].
[edit] Those Who Provide
Being one of Those Who Provide is more of a title than a type of goblin. Any goblin can become Those Who Provide. They are gnerally the adventurers amongst goblin ranks as they are those who have the most contact with the surface world, since they are the garders and gatherers of food for the other goblins.
The acquisition of food can take many forms. Goblins generally eat "whatever comes to us"[7], but are predominantly vegetarian. Those Who Provide raid human supplies, hunt the rare animal, or grow their own food. It is known that there are gardens around the woods near Daestmah[8].
Jaq D. Hawkins's website talks that it is only Those Who Provide who know where the "magical golden apples are grown and gathered"[9]. It is speculated as to whether it is these apples that Anton ate on many occasion such as during Storytelling, wherehe ate a "small, yellowish apple" with a "particularly sweet and cinnamon-like flavour"[10]. They may also be he product used in the making of the liquer he had drunk after that Storytelling which tasted of "apples... and cinnamon. Sweet, but not sickly."[11]
A perticular ability known to Those Who Provide is the chameleon-like ability to change their skin colour, as demonstrated by Nala who changed his skin colour to that of the cave wall [12].
[edit] Those Who Protect
Those Who Protect are warrior goblins who live deep within the earth avoiding human contact, until the need for their protection arises. When Those Who Protect come to the surface in a crisis, the normally anarchic goblin world becomes like a place under martial law, although there is no actual authority involved. One simply does not argue with one of Those Who Protect.
These goblins come in an array of sizes and shapes like any other goblin, but it is the most likely place to find the large, troll-like goblins of the very old races. In the times when they are seen, they are likely to carry some form of weapons. Swords are most popular, although archers and talented knife fighters also live among Those Who Protect. Too often an unwary human will focus attention on a large troll fighting with a sword in each hand, missing the lethal assassin goblin who will despatch him with a silent blade across the throat.[2]
[edit] Deep Dweller
The Deep Dwellers are very old as a race. Although some remember a time when they fought wars with the humans, the stories are so old now that they have become no more than legends among the humans.
Yet the goblins remember. The Deep Dwellers generally keep well away from humans, and from the surface world. Their eyes can no longer tolerate much light. Some of them are regarded as Wise Ones because they have lived long enough to learn the lessons of life. Often the hard way. Those who have survived long enough to become Deep Dwellers have done so by exercising wisdom and judgement. The younger goblins recognise that this is so.[3]
[edit] Haghuf
Haghuf is a respected elder within the goblin community and a prominent character within Dance of the Goblins. It is he who along with Count Anton forges a (somewhat uneasy) friendship between the two races on the basis of the Dance.
[edit] Winged Goblin
Winged goblins are very rare, and considered of special omen among the other goblins. They come from a very old line that has mostly died out, but a particular combination of genetics can result in the birth of such a creature among the oldest of goblins. These may not survive, as the inbreeding among the oldest of the Deep Dwellers has caused some genetic faults that too often result in premature birth.
However, those who do survive are considered to be very special. They are reputed to have special powers among certain types of creatures. The goblins do not speak of it aloud, even among themselves. Such powers are regarded with awe, even among a magical race of beings. The stories of the winged goblins pass through the generations only through whispers. It is mostly the memories of the old ones that keep knowledge of these almost mythological creatures alive.[4]
The birth of a healthy Winged Goblin, seeded by Haghuf himself, was prophesised by the Kol'ksu Le-ina when the child's brother was born weak and deformed, by the words "Tell the mother of this one, that his brother will live". Conception and healthy off-springs are notoriously difficult for goblins, especially those of the deeper levels. When the child's mother gave birth to the unhealthy child, she offered it to Haghuf as a gift to Le-ina and her brethren. Le-ina discovered the young wings thus making her prophecy.
[edit] Kol'ksu
The Kol'ksu are water goblins. They are very psychic, and they are very carnivorous. They are also beautiful, in an alien sort of way. They have white hair and white irises in their dragon-like eyes. The features are delicate and they might easily be mistaken for mythological mermaids...or sirens.
Kol'ksu never allow themselves to be seen by humans, and woe to the human who might somehow encounter one! It is not a pretty death. A human can be lured to the feed by the siren's song, or they might simply disappear without trace while swimming. They do not leave evidence.
One in every generation will usually consent to speak to the other goblins, but on their own terms. It takes a stout heart, even for a goblin, to brave the deep pools where the Kol'ksu dwell.[5]
[edit] Le-ina
A prominent Kol'ksu within the stories is the prophetess Le-ina. She is also the mother of the succubus Talla who was allegedly seeded by Haghuf's predecessor Anknor.
[edit] Foringen
The Foringen are said to be the deepest of the Deep Dwellers, respectively. They live very much deep within the Earth to the point that they see next to no light except that of the molten rock that flows in their caverns.
In appearance, they are relatively dark compared to that of ordinary goblins. The combination of light deprivation plus the intense heat and lack of air that their race must endure in their living conditions could be an explanation for their appearance. In Dance of the Goblins Count Anton remarks the burnt appearance of the hands described as "dark and rough skinned in a way that resembled overly roasted meat". It is later revealed that the rest of his body is similarly so, including a dark, hairless, leathery head.
With the lack of air in their environment, they have developed an entire physical means of communication as a way of conserving air, as to not waste it through speech. Very few other goblins know how to communicate in this manner with the Foringen, one notable exception being Haghuf.
It was one of the Foringen who offered Count Anton with a goblin sword, which surprised Haghuf to a great extent since the sword of a goblin has never been given to a human in the entire of their history, symbolising his acceptance among goblins although Haghuf comments "You see... you have been accepted by something that... I have not the words to explain."
[edit] Human
These are the remnants of the surface dwellers that were once the humans race that we know of today. The humans are generally inclined to conform to the rules of society and know their place. They often harbour prejudices, especially against goblins and other free thinkers, and are not inclined to increase their own awareness of the extent that the magicians control their world and live in ways not in keeping with the superstitions of the ordinary human's belief system.
Many of them are inflexible in their attitudes, and stuck in their ways. They like things to be simple and predictable. Those who deviate from this approach to life are likely to be noticed by the magicians, and may possibly be invited to share in the richer aspects of life that an alternative society has to offer.[6]
[edit] Northerners
The Northerners are the group of humans who live north of the river within the community in the story. They are seen are somewhat 'freer' then those living in the southern part of the community. Also there resides the leader, Count Anton, who lives in a castle with the rest of the magicians.
[edit] Caleb
Accidentally walked into the goblin caverns at Nodgnirraf, after he decided to go walking to let off some steam after a fight with his wife. As was usual when unwitting humans enter their caverns, they took him to an open cave where he was used for the amusement of the goblins there before being given the mushroom potion to cloud his memory and releasing him back into the surface world.
When released by the goblin Darek, the goblin was sighted by the group of humans looking for him setting the scene for the unfolding of the events of Dance of the Goblins.
[edit] Lantham
One of the members of the party sent to look for Caleb after he had unwittingly walked into the goblin cavern at Nodgnirraf. Upon 'rescuing' Talla, when she had adopted her glamour in order to lure the humans out of the caverns, he took her to one house in a row of terraced houses with the intentions of raping her.
[edit] Ranalf
A young member of the northern community, who is taken in by Count Anton as a possible prodigy in his free-thinking beliefs, to one day join the magicians.
He was stoned to death when he admitted to being the father of Talla's child by Northerners and Southerners alike.
[edit] Southerners
They are somewhat similar to modern puritan fundamentalist Christians. They are steadfast in their puritan beliefs and are easily herded by the Temple leader, Brother Paul.
They look at the Northeners with disgust and disdain seeing them as corrupt sinners who deserve all the 'demon attacks' that they have been receiving but who nonetheless deserve to be 'saved' from their sin.
[edit] Brother Paul
Paul is the Temple leader in the southern territory of the human city. He is devout and steadfast in his beliefs, one of the many reasons he believes he was named after the Prophet, most probably St. Paul the author to many of the epistles within the New Testament.
[edit] Magician
The magicians are the ruling class among the humans, or at least it started out that way. After a few generations, more magicians were recruited among ordinary people who keep secrecy as they carry on with normal life among the villages and only meet with the other magicians on the Sabbats, or when called. [7]
[edit] Count Anton
The descendent of Count Victor, the first leader of the humans within the city that is portrayed in the stories. Anton inherited the position from his father and is the current leader of the human community. He is also the leader of the magicians who in the stories tend to be the ruling class of the commoners although some of the magicians have been known to be servants most usually hand chosen by Anton.
As one in tune with magic and the rhythms of the Earth, he has been know to Dance. In the stories we are lead to believe that only the goblins Dance.
[edit] Dani
One of Count Anton's servants and a member of the inner circle of the magicians. When Anton was believed to dead, it was he who took the lead of the other magicians during the battle between the southerners and the goblins.
[edit] Jerak
Another important member of Anton's inner circle of magicians and a member of his household.
[edit] Laura
Ranalf's aunt who escaped the compulsory marriage within the communities of the southerners by rowing across the dangerous river the divides the two sides of the city.
[edit] References
- ^ Hawkins, Jaq D.: Dance of the Goblins, pg. 241
- ^ Hawkins, Jaq D.: Dance of the Goblins, pg. 267
- ^ Hawkins, Jaq D.: Dance of the Goblins, pg. 241-242
- ^ Hawkins, Jaq D.: Dance of the Goblins, pg. 10/24
- ^ Hawkins, Jaq D.: Dance of the Goblins, pg. 278-279
- ^ Hawkins, Jaq D.: Dance of the Goblins, pg. 279
- ^ Hawkins, Jaq D.: Dance of the Goblins, pg. 116
- ^ Hawkins, Jaq D.: Dance of the Goblins, pg. 284
- ^ Paragraph on Those Who Provide [1]
- ^ Hawkins, Jaq D.: Dance of the Goblins, pg. 223
- ^ Hawkins, Jaq D.: Dance of the Goblins, pg. 241
- ^ Hawkins, Jaq D.: Dance of the Goblins, pg. 255
