Hobgoblin

Hobgoblins are a race of goblinoids in Exandria known for being great soldiers and military strategists. Those on the continent of Tal'Dorei almost exclusively use their talents to selflessly serve the Iron Authority and worship Bane, while those of Xhorhas tend to serve either the Luxon (if part of the Kryn Dynasty) or Lolth (if part of the Children of Malice).

Appearance
Hobgoblins are Medium-sized humanoids who usually reach a height of between 5 and 6 feet and tend to weigh between 150 and 200 pounds. They are generally described as having red, brownish-red, or deep reddish-brown skin. They may have wide or pointed noses. Aside from the hair on their heads, which can include a beard and may be dark red or simply dark, the rest of their bodies are unusually smooth.

The hobgoblins of Dumaran, having been twisted by Lolth, have dark black hair and pale yellow eyes.

History
During the Calamity, Bane revealed himself to the dranassar, a strong, cunning, multitudinous race of humanoids then living in what is now Xhorhas. Many of them, enthralled by Bane's power, followed him willingly, and their capital of Ghor Dranas became the seat of the Betrayer Gods' power. Those who opposed him were bent to his will and were corrupted first. When Bane needed loyal legions, he made some dranassar slaves into hobgoblins; for other roles he twisted the dranassar into goblins and bugbears. As the war raged on, even those loyal to him were corrupted to fill the ranks.

The Curse of Strife
Though Bane was defeated by Melora in one of the final battles of the Calamity and banished beyond the Divine Gate, all three races of goblinkin are still affected by the curse of strife, which allows Bane's voice to prey on their minds and compel them to evil. Hobgoblins are specifically prodded toward regimentation and conquest (lawful evil).

The curse can be broken, but it is nearly impossible for a goblinkin to do so on their own. There are several ways it can be done:
 * A goblinkin born within 100 miles of a Luxon beacon does not inherit the curse. Any creature transfigured or reborn into the body of a goblinkin (such as through consecution) is likewise free of the curse.
 * In the Lushgut Forest, the Vinewreathed Enclave is a druidic order of bugbears and goblins who broke free from Bane's influence decades before 835 PD.
 * After being reduced to 0 hit points and returning to consciousness, they can make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 20), with advantage if they were brought back to life. On a success, the goblinkin breaks free from the curse of strife.
 * A goblinkin targeted by remove curse can also make this saving throw, with advantage on the save if the caster is a trusted companion.

Unless the curse is broken early in life, the individual is likely to retain the same attitude toward law and chaos.

The Iron Authority


The hobgoblin empire controls the entirety of the Beynsfal Plateaus and is pushing into the Rifenmist Jungle to subjugate the natives. Its capital is Tz'arrm, and the Iron Emperor Tz'Jarr's palace there is the 30-foot helm left behind by Bane after his defeat in the Calamity. The rest of Bane's shattered armor helps to bolster the Authority's war machine. The Iron Authority brought four other city-states on the plateaus under its control: "Rybad-Kol, city of the Forge Lords; Hdar-Fye, the necropolis of Prince Hdar; Ezordam-Haar, eyrie of the red pegasi; and Ortem-Vellak, the petrified elventree." Each of those city-states is run by a general loyal to the Iron Emperor.

The Iron Authority is extremely hierarchical and regimented, with each person knowing their place exactly: whom they serve, and who serves them. This structure is promoted by constant, stirring propaganda and enforced by numerous secret police. One-tenth of the population are goblins living as second-class servants. One-fifth of the population are other races captured as slaves in the Authority's wars of conquest, and the slaves are generally laborers used to chip iron scraps from Bane's shattered armor or forage for food.

Hobgoblins farther afield, north of the hostile Rifenmist Jungle and separated from the Authority's propaganda, can be somewhat more independently minded, even if their warband is loyal to the Authority.

Wildemount
Hobgoblins are a common sight in Xhorhas.

Dumaran


Dumaran is a fortress built into the western side of the Penumbra Range, facing the Vermaloc Wildwood. The hobgoblins of Dumaran are descended from survivors of the Calamity who fought the clans of the Iothia Moorland for resources. This population converted to worship Lolth and join the Children of Malice. As a result, these hobgoblins were transformed in appearance, granted dark powers, and are culturally different from typical hobgoblins found throughout the Kryn Dynasty.

Hobgoblins of Dumaran despise the drow of the Kryn Dynasty for turning their backs on Lolth in favor of the Luxon. Under the command of Head Matron Vivurk Tonn, the drow and hobgoblin houses of Dumaran prepare to one day destroy the Kryn Dynasty by building paths through the Penumbra Range towards Rosohna. For the time being, the hobgoblins raid those traveling through the Vermaloc Wildwood at night, commanding the giant, poisonous arachnids living in the forest to aid in their efforts.

Kryn Dynasty
Hobgoblins are particularly common near Rosohna, and one of the seven villages of the Many Hosts of Igrathad is the militant hobgoblin settlement of Oshinik-Ka, marked by stone bunkers and barricades. Goblinkin born within 100 miles of a Luxon beacon are free of Bane's curse of strife, and the Kryn Dynasty has forged close ties with goblinkin.

In the Ghostlands just north of Rosohna is a nomadic war band of hobgoblin Children of Malice, led by Ironeye Jaglord Brukk.

A few hobgoblins (and bugbears) in the lands of the Dynasty still worship Bane in a cult called the Lords of Strife.