Goblins

Created by pseudo-magical experiments in the time of the Ophidians, the green-skinned Goblins are an aggressive and greedy lot, and a constant threat to the cities. Goblin males ofter wear Chain or Antique Armor and wield heavy weapons like swords. The female Goblins wear little more than loincloths, and often use blowguns. Both males and females are proficient with spears, which they throw at foes before engaging in melee. Known to torture and mutilate their enemies, they are also said to actually eat them alive.

Goblins roamed the land freely in Old Sosaria during the time of Exodus, but afterwards are found mainly on Serpent Isle in the Valley of the Goblins, from which they strike out at the many Human settlements.

Notable examples

 * Only two Goblins on Serpent Isle actually talk to the Avatar: The traitor in Monitor, and the Goblin King Pomdirgun. Pomdirgun is quite intelligent and a master strategist, but he primarily relies on the traitors in Monitor. He finds his end when the Avatar kills him to reclaim the Helm of Courage.

Goblin Language
The following are some 'barks' lifted from Serpent Isle: "Lorfag tar!" "Cra!!" "Eeeeeeeeerrrrrrr!" "Gloru gank!" "Kropf!" "Blakath!" "Ggblg!" "Urga jaag!" "Blaggar don!"

Lore
''The Goblins originated from forbidden arcane experiments performed on prisoners and other victims by demented, power-seeking mages. (It was for causes like these that magic was once banned in our lands.) During the Third Age of Darkness, Exodus bred the Goblins into an army dedicated to his wicked cause. Following his defeat, the survivors vanished from the face of Britannia - hunted down by vigilantes or banished to other realms. (In those times, the Goblins were so loosely bound to this world that a single spell could expel them from this plane of existence.) It was only after our Proclamation went out, promising clemency to those primitive monster forms who would undertake to follow the Path of the Avatar, that the Goblins were rediscovered. A delegation of Goblinfolk appeared at the gates of Castle Britannia, asking for an audience with Lord British. Not just one but two species of Goblins had survived in hiding from the days of Exodus. The Gray Goblins, originally mountain dwellers, had skulked in the caves of the Serpent's Spine mountains. The forest-dwelling Green Goblins hid themselves by retreating into an underground river's channel, near the baneful lake called Venom.'' Today, virtuous Goblinfolk make up one-third of our community. There was a time when a Green Goblin would rather slay a Gray Goblin than any other enemy, but the Path of the Avatar has brought the tribes together as brothers. (Though the two species rarely come to blows nowadays, the Gray and the Green still attempt to outdo each other whenever possible in matters of Virtue. Old enmities die hard. - Corby)

- from "The Memoirs of Cabirus", Ultima Underworld

Trivia

 * Goblins had populated Serpent Isle since before the Sosarians had arrived, thus the two races fought each other ever since.
 * Goblins sometimes go to the far north to war with the Gwanis. It's exceedingly rare for a Goblin to slay a Gwani, but if they do, the chieftan immediately claims the pelt. Only the toughest Goblin chiefs wear a Gwani pelt.
 * The Goblin chief's hut is always the largest and always at the centre of camp. Each day ends with a drunken revel and the celebrants sleep well into the day. Thus attacking at daybreak is the most effective.
 * Goblins dislike the sun, often marching to a city they want to attack and waiting for nightfall before making their assault.
 * Goblins avoid the Castle of the White Dragon for fear of the ghost of the King.
 * Goblins are almost completely impervious to cold.
 * Goblins were to be included in the cancelled Ultima X. Link: Ultima X Goblin