The Goblinoid Pantheon[]
Some planars say the goblins are nothing more than cheap knock-offs of orcs, that goblins have no identity of their own and rely on the imaginations of others to get their deeds accomplished. Well, sods who flap their bone-boxes like that have another think coming. For all their diminutive size and savage reputations, the goblins're more crafty than most folks'd give them credit for. They've scrabbled along through the ages, surviving by the skin of their fangs, waging endless war on Acheron with the orcs of the battle cube. The pantheon of goblin powers commands both surly cunning and brute strength, tempered by intelligence that makes their charges stronger than expected. The head of the pantheon is Maglubiyet. He rules from a flaming iron throne, crushing all contenders. Maglubiyet over-sees both goblins and hobgoblins, but he tolerates no dissent between the two races — or at least none that works against mutual growth and survival. He lets the other deities of the pantheon wield considerable strength, though only up to a point; Maglubiyet crushes any berks who threaten to grow too powerful. Thus, the rest of the goblin gods bow to his wishes, content to fill their roles, afraid to entertain thoughts of revolt.
- On Hallowed Ground
Maglubiyet's Subjects[]
Here's the dark: Maglubiyet claimed the Goblinoid Pantheon as his own by right of conquest, and the lesser deities who serve him are merely those he let live in return for their eternal servitude, kept unflinching loyal by the threat of meeting the same fate as their ancient compatriots. Course, whether a cutter believes it or no's their own choice — you ask a goblin chief, you'll hear one of three things: they'll say it ain't so; or they'll say it's true and that's why they follow him, 'cos the right of might is all there is; or they'll refuse to answer one way or the other, usually followed by something along the lines of "scrag 'em, boys!"
Maglubiyet, Lord of Depths and Darkness[]
Alignment: Lawful Evil. Portfolio: War, Rulership, Goblinoids.
Bargrivyek, the Peacekeeper[]
Alignment: Lawful Evil. Portfolio: Cooperation, Territory, Goblins.
Kurgorbaeyag, the Overseer[]
Alignment: Lawful Evil. Portfolio: Slavery, Oppression, Morale.
Nomog-Geaya, the General[]
Alignment: Lawful Evil. Portfolio: War, Authority, Hobgoblins.
Bugbear Deities[]
The Bugbear tribes are a sneaky, cunning lot, maintaining a great deal of independence from Maglubiyet's rule through subtle manipulation and fierce, stubborn resistance. Served well by their Gods' opportunistic pragmatism, the Bugbear pantheon maintains relations just cordial enough to get their followers into goblin raids and make off with the spoils. Lacking anything but the loosest hierarchy, the three Bugbear gods squabble and compete amongst themselves in their divine cave-lairs in Pandemonium, kept in line most of all by the fact it'd be rusting annoying to fight each other proper.
Hruggek, Headtaker[]
Alignment: Chaotic Evil. Portfolio: Combat, Violence, War, Bugbears.
Grankhul, Watcher in Darkness[]
Alignment: Chaotic Evil. Portfolio: Stealth, Hunting, Senses, Surprise.
Skiggaret, the Fear[]
Alignment: Chaotic Evil. Portfolio: Fear, Destruction, Madness, Torture.
Beyond Maglubiyet's Reach[]
Though Maglubiyet's rule over most Goblins and Hobgoblins is iron and absolute, there remain a few goblinoid deities who remain after the conquest of the old goblin pantheon. Meriadar, a peaceable Power, nurtures those few goblins who escape from under Maglubiyet's oppressive ways. Stalker, an ancient elemental embodiment of the Goblinoids' hate and fear, remains a terror whispered of by many and worshipped by few. And the nameless spirit is a strange, unknown figure that possesses abused goblins, granting them strange, chaotic powers at the cost of driving them mad; it lacks a name because the goblins who worship it fear that to name it would be to let Maglubiyet destroy it.
Meriadar, Hand of Peace[]
Alignment: Lawful Neutral. Portfolio: Patience, Mediation, Tolerance, Arts and Crafts, Mongrelfolk, Non-Evil Goblinoids.
Stalker, the Ancient Hate[]
Alignment: Neutral Evil. Portfolio: Hate, Death, Cold, Goblinoids.
The Nameless Spirit, Possessor of Nilbogs[]
Alignment: Chaotic Evil, Chaotic Neutral. Portfolio: Madness, Rebellion, Trickery, Goblins, Nilbogs.