Goblins of the Multiverse: Otaria

Of all the goblins in all the multiverse, there are few tribes more unified, more competent, and more powerful than those of Otaria. Set on the plane of Dominaria, these goblins inhabit a relatively small area of the Pardic Mountains known as Skirk Ridge, forced into close quarters due to threats on all sides. With dwarves, dragons, beasts, and elves pinning them in, they choose not to squeeze together as other goblin tribes, but to maximize their territory by building up and down, digging into cliff faces to make new homes, as well as by using complex systems of wood, stone, and cord to craft additional housing without using additional land.





Goblin War Strike by Pete Venters



Skirk Ridge’s goblins are friendlier to humans than most other goblins, maintaining reasonable relationships both with the local barbarian tribes and with the Cabal, a powerful religious organization worshipping the god of profit. The goblins’ primary opposition are the Wirewood Elves. After the Phyrexian Invasion, many elves fled the world’s various blasted landscapes to the lush greenery of Otaria. This significantly interfered with the goblins’ ability to gather resources, including wood, fiber for cord, and food. The resulting conflict continued for centuries. Otarian goblins have the following characteristics:





Goblin Piledriver by Matt Cavotta



Same as it ever was: Physically, Otaria’s goblins are much the same as anywhere else on Dominaria. They have green or orange skin, large noses and ears, and very little hair. It’s exceedingly difficult to recognize a physical difference between a Skirk Ridge goblin and one from elsewhere on the plane, and similarly hard to tell them apart from their Ravnican cousins.





Goblin Sharpshooter by Greg Staples



Trust me, I’m an Engineer: The goblins of Skirk Ridge have exceptional skills at architecture and engineering. Using a complex series of ropes and pulleys, they arrange and rearrange their mountainside homes as they need or desire. They regularly invent unique and innovative devices, granting them non-magical weapons such as mech suits, siege weaponry, and primitive firearms capable of standing against foes much more powerful than they are.





Embermage Goblin by Pete Venters



“Weaponsmithing”: Otarian goblins don’t differentiate magical skill from technological skill, and so they traditionally refer to their wizards as weaponsmiths. This term comes from a goblin wizard’s ability to attack with things that others are normally unable to wield. Toggo I, the best known Skirk Ridge Weaponsmith, is credited with the invention of both lightning and the rock, in that he devised spells that allowed him to attack with both. Many Weaponsmiths were also capable beast trainers.





Skirk Marauder by Pete Venters



Mighty Morphin’ Goblin Raiders: After the ‘Morph’ spell was created by the human illusionist Ixidor, it spread rapidly throughout Otaria. This spell allows goblins to wrap themselves in animated clay shells, shaped roughly like spiders. Though it only augments the combat prowess of weaker users, enabling dozens of different goblins with various weaponry and skills to appear identical is a significant battlefield advantage.





Goblin Goon by Greg Staples



The Strangest Super-Goblins of All: Due to the influence of the magical artifact known as the Mirari, hosts of mutations occurred throughout Otaria. These resulted in larger and stronger creatures of all races, but the strongest mutations occurred among the goblins and elves. These mutant goblins grew to tremendous sizes, often breaking ten feet in height to tower over even the larger races. Some mutated goblins also gained improved magical capability, able to conjure great fires or unleash powerful electric blasts. Unfortunately, they have yet to invent blue and yellow spandex.





Siege-Gang Commander by Christopher Moeller



If there’s anything you should take away from this, it’s that Otaria’s goblins can pretty much do whatever the hell they want, whenever they want, and however they want. The only thing keeping them from dominating the entire island is time.