"Dere's nuthin in life as proper as hunt'n from da back of a 'ard taught wolf. Dere speed an' grace makes da world flow by as a stream. Prey who manage to give a good fight'n die with some dignity are way better dan does wot scream and soil der britches, but I take whatever I catch all da same..."
- —Brodai, Hobgoblin Warrior[1a]
A Hobgoblin warrior of the Eastern Steppes
The Hobgoblins are a distinctive sub-species of steppe-dwelling Goblins who are found only within the lands of the Far East, in the rolling, untamed plains of the Eastern Steppes, where lies the domains of the great Hobgobla-Khan and his Hobgoblin Empire, the greatest Greenskin empire in the Known World.[1a]
The Hobgoblin race are considered traitors by all of their Greenskin cousins, including other Goblins, not because of their unbelievably treacherous nature, but by their specific betrayal of the Greenskin slave uprising that almost overthrow the rule of the Dawi-Zharr in their capital city of Zharr-Naggrund.[1a] This betrayal of their entire race and their inability to even trust each other has ensured that the Hobgoblins have become utterly enthralled to the brutal protection and patronage of the Chaos Dwarfs, making them in many ways the perfect slaves.[2a]
Though they are despised by their kin, the Hobgoblins are nonetheless the scourge of the steppes; feared, hated and powerful in almost equal measure. Hobgoblins are widely abhorred for their cruelty, wickedness and their appalling standards of hygiene. Few Imperial scholars would be perverse enough to note the important differences between an ordinary Goblin and a Hobgoblin, and the truth is that the two sub-species are really quite similar.[1a]
Quick Answers
What makes Hobgoblins different from regular Goblins?
What are the distinctive features of a Hobgoblin warrior?
What is the typical habitat of Hobgoblins in fantasy?
What is the significance of wolves in the life of a Hobgoblin?
History
"Aye, some of us speak better than our uncouth brethren. Indeed, we do most things better than the others, except perhaps, die in droves. We leave that to the Goblins and the Orcs. My lads aren’t particularly interested in falling on fields far from our beloved steppes, though we may be willing if the price is right. What are you offering? It will cost you extra if we have to leave anyone alive."
- —Choknech, Hobgoblin Mercenary[1a]
When Hobgoblins are not fighting amongst themselves, they make war on other mortal races, mostly the Men of the great Far Eastern empire of Grand Cathay, with whom they have spent much of their history in conflict. However, these Hobgoblin clans would also come across nomadic tribes of Northmen such as the Kurgan and Hung of the Eastern Steppes. Like the Hobgoblins, these Human warriors are primarily nomadic horse warriors and huge running battles between thousands of mounted troops regularly sweep across the steppes, staining the plains red with hundreds of combats that have raged on for countless generations.[1a]
In an effort to stem the tide of the Hobgoblins and the other raiders of the steppes, the Dragon Emperor of Cathay built the Great Bastion -- a thousand-mile-long wall hundreds of feet high, which protects Grand Cathay's northern borders from the worst Hobgoblin or Chaos incursions.[1a]
Yet the Great Bastion itself is simply far too large for the Celestial Empire to completely garrison, so the occasional ravening bands of Hobgoblin raiders breaks through or scales the walls of the Great Bastion and causes havoc in the rice fields and villages that lie just beyond. The Hobgoblins will always be an ever-present threat towards the mortal races living in or near the lands of the Eastern Steppes, and will be forever known as the "Scourge of the East."[1a]
Anatomy & Physiology
The Hobgoblin chieftain Gorduz Backstabber as rendered for Total War: Warhammer III.
Physically the Hobgoblins are slightly taller than other Goblins, almost as tall as a man, yet they still walk with a stooped posture. They have a smaller nose than other Goblins, needle-like teeth and a perpetual sneer.[1a]
Their red eyes are sly and shifty and almost all Hobgoblins have a distinct bony hump on their back, further emphasizing their slovenly slouch. This bony plate most likely evolved due to a single, defining characteristic of the race. Hobgoblins are infamously conniving and treacherous beyond those of any creature living in the mortal world today, and so having additional biological protection from a backstab was most likely an early adaption for survival.[1a]
Cultural Characteristics
Concept art of Gorduz Backstabber for Total War: Warhammer III showing typical Hobgoblin armour and wargear.
Hobgoblins are completely untrustworthy, so much so that they would back-stab a friend or ally just to further their own gains without a second thought, and would more often than not switch sides to whoever can pay well or just happens to be on the winning side. Indeed, Hobgoblins have a deep suspicion of any creature that doesn't betray its own comrades as soon as it is slightly more advantageous to do so.[1a]
Self-preservation is a very strong instinct in the Hobgoblin's mind, and they will endure any indignity to prolong or improve their miserable lives, or avoid suffering and anything like hard work.[1a]
Like other Goblin subspecies, the Hobgoblins are crafty, sneaky, and treacherous to a fault. In fact, compared to Goblins, the Hobgoblins seem to bring this way of life to the extreme in their own society. Within their tribes and clans their culture revolves around back-stabbing and assassination.[1a]
The use of poison is considered perfectly legitimate and is often viewed as a celebrated or distinguished way of advancing in Hobgoblin society. Honour, traditional morality and the spirit of cooperation is entirely foreign to a Hobgoblin's mind.[1a]
Notable Hobgoblins
- Khengai Khan - Khengai Khan is the infamous former Hobgobla-Khan who actually managed to die of old age.
- Morcar Khan - Morcar Khan was the Hobgobla-Khan who was the founder of the Hobgoblin Empire on the Eastern Steppes.
- Ghazak Khan - Ghazak is the khan of the southern Hobgoblin Empire of the Eastern Steppes.
- Oglah Khan - Oglah is an infamous Hobgoblin mercenary and the captain of his own band of Wolfboys.
- Gorduz Backstabber - Gorduz is a Hobgoblin chieftain who managed to survive many assassination attempts.
Miniatures
.jpg "Hobgoblins Regiment - Warriors (Solo).jpg (37 KB)")