Anuheim Murklin Goblins

The swamp goblins, known as the Murklins, are a gnarled and grimy breed that has adapted to the harsh, moist environments of their swampy homes. Their appearance, culture, and relationships with the world around them paint a picture of a society driven by experimentation, cunning, and the murky depths of their ancestral origins.

Origins and Tribal Dynamics

The Murklins emerged from the swamps themselves, born from a cesspool of fungi spores and flourishing flora. The swamps, with their toxic pools and vibrant fungi, gave rise to these resilient creatures. This murky birthplace shaped their gnarly physicality and their society's twisted values.

The Murklins harbor ambitions of power over all other species, dreaming of being world rulers, though their short lifespans and constant infighting have always made these dreams elusive. Relationships with other goblin factions vary—Krurt are seen as a seat of power, respected by their shamans for potential alliances. Mountain goblins are recognized for their great strength but dismissed as stupid brutes. Forest goblins, or Skragglins, are both feared and respected for their stealth and cunning, making them both potential threats and valuable allies.

Day-to-day life for the Murklins is filled with mundane infighting, hunting, mushroom consumption, and farming, interspersed with more violent power struggles. In times of relative peace, covert power plays happen behind the scenes. In times of war, factions openly clash, seeking dominance over one another.

Appearance and Physical Traits

Murklins are notably gnarly, grimy, and almost ghoulish in appearance. Their hunched backs and protruding heads give them a rather crude silhouette, while their appendages often fold inward, as though they have never stretched open fully. Their greenish-blue, greenish-gray, and mossy green skin tones reflect their swampy origin, often coated with a layer of slime.

Their large webbed feet used for navigating murky waters and thick mud, are a distinguishing feature, particularly valued in their society as a marker of beauty and status. The minimal presence of skin conditions and the deepest grassy green skin are also considered highly attractive features.

Their fingers and toenails resemble claws, adding to their menacing appearance, but their surprising dexterity allows them to handle tasks more delicate than one might assume, making them adept in certain crafts. Despite their hunched postures, they reach an average of three feet in height and typically live for about fifty to sixty years.

Social Structure and Customs

The Murklins have a rigid social hierarchy led by hobgoblins, who serve as the chiefs of the community. Shamans hold a special position that can be equivalent to that of the hobgoblins, especially when they demonstrate significant magical prowess. Below them are the warriors, breeders, assassins, and goblins with specialized skills like herbalists and crafters. The rest of the goblin horde serves as the workforce, with no upward mobility between the classes.

Elders among the Murklins are rare, as old age is not tolerated kindly. Those who become weak are removed from power, while wise elders voluntarily step aside before being forcibly ousted. Many succumb to disease and illness.

Murklins display their emotions vividly: happiness through jumping, guttural cheers, and waving weapons; disrespect by spitting or implying elf-like qualities in others, which is considered the highest insult; and respect through cowering, bowing, and adopting servile postures.

Rites of Passage and Traditions

Upon reaching seven years old, Murkgoblin children are considered adults. The shaman select those with an affinity for magic and subject them to harrowing trials to prepare their minds for shamanhood. Those who fail this test are ostracized if not already dead, while those who succeed join the shaman caste. The rest of the goblins children are integrated into tribes without mentorship, left to carve out their own paths.

Death rituals are divided along class lines. A hobgoblin leader receives a funeral attended by the entire tribe, with mushroom glog and celebrations commemorating their rule. The lesser goblins, however, receive no such ceremony and are discarded without ritual or recognition. While shamans will perform a ritual that 'melts' the body of a deceased goblin shaman to be used in powerful elixirs.

Festivals and Beliefs

The Murklins celebrate the Summer Solstice as their single major festival. The event is centered on worshipping their supposed "god," Alk, often depicted by their tribal leader, who masquerades as a divine emissary. The festival is filled with awe, fear, and drunken chaos, as goblins celebrate under the guise of divine reverence.

Marriage is not a formal concept within Murklin society. Relationships can be either monogamous or polygamous, particularly among leaders who have the privilege of choosing multiple partners, but these arrangements are based on desire and convenience rather than any sacred or civil institution.

Language and Communication

The Murklins speak a guttural language full of grunts, squeaks, and squeals, making it nearly incomprehensible to outsiders. Their language is often slurred due to the influence of the swamp environment. When dealing with outsiders, they use a rudimentary form of common, primarily for trade and communication with non-goblins.

Among themselves, Murklins greet each other with "Pruh", which can mean either "friend" or "fight," depending on the situation. Honorifics such as "Grish" are used to denote rank or superiority, often reserved for hobgoblins and other leaders.

Outsiders and Interactions

Murklins are slightly more open to interactions with outsiders compared to their forest counterparts, viewing them as curiosities rather than immediate threats. The shamans, in particular, may engage with outsiders through proxies, seeking knowledge or power. However, this curiosity is often short-lived, and any interaction can quickly turn hostile if they feel threatened or disrespected.

Within their community, relationships are power-driven—goblins are either assets to be used or obstacles to be eliminated. Animals are seen merely as food or as targets for sport, and nothing more.

Conclusion

The Murklins are a grim and experimental faction of swamp goblins, driven by a desire for power and survival. They live amidst the toxic swamps that birthed them, shaping a society that is cunning, ruthless, and hierarchical. Their unique customs, vivid emotional displays, and constant internal strife make them a compelling force among goblin kind. Though they may not seek glory in the eyes of others, the Murklins' world is one of resilience, intoxication in a relentless pursuit of power, and survival.