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A Common Ground Goblin (Diabolus vulgaris)

Field Guide description[]

Goblins (Family: Adentlidae)[]

Malicious and grotesque, a single goblin is a nuisance, but in large numbers they can be quite dangerous. Goblins travel in roving bands that scavenge for good and hunt smaller prey. They make their homes in rocky outcroppings, caves, or even in ditches along the sides of roads. Their pranks run from distasteful to depraved. The rare goblin that is mischievous but good-natured is known as a hobgoblin. Most goblin species are born without teeth. They must find substitutes, either the teeth of other animals, or sharp objects like glass, rocks, or metals other than iron. There are many signs to look for if you suspect goblin folk are in the vicinity. Cats, dogs, and other small domesticated animals going missing is a telltale sign, as goblins will capture and eat them. Nightmares, especially of being chased, are another indication. For some reason, goblins have this effect on humans. Certain types of goblin species haunt battlefields where many soldiers have fallen. They soak their hats in the blood of the slain and in that of their own victims. Appropriately, they are called redcaps.

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Greater Bull Goblin

[]

  • A rare goblin who is mischievous but good-natured is known as a hobgoblin.
  • Goblins and Hobgoblins are related to Knockers.

Spiderwick Chronicles[]

A Goblin pack camped in a forest north of the Estate. This pack consisted of Claw-Snotbelly, Flowerbutt and around eight others. Hogsqueal lived with this pack until he tried to save a cat from being eaten by the others. As penance, the Goblins locked him in a cage. The pack later captured Simon Grace and a Griffin named Byron. After Jared and Mallory rescue Simon and Hogsqueal, they trick the Goblins into heading toward a hungry River Troll, who proceeded to eat them.

Mulgarath later gathered a large number of goblins to serve as his army and elects Wormrat would be his second-in-command. At least one of these goblins were killed by Mallory, who was briefly traumatized after killing a sentient being. After Mulgarath's death, the Goblins scattered into smaller, squabbling bands. 

Another Goblin was eating the trash of Devon L.'s family. Devon managed to capture the Goblin, who then used glamour to look like a big toad. Devon made the Goblin promise to not eat any more trash or cats before he released it. Devon later felt good when he saw lots more cats in the neighborhood- until the neighbors' long-eared bunny disappeared.

One member of the International Sprite League kept a Goblin in a cage for years, believing it was a Sprite; he didn't have the Sight and thus couldn't see what he kept.

Another member of the ISL caught one of the above-mentioned decoy Sprites, keeping an invisible specimen in a cage. The creature remained hidden until dark, where-apon it opened its prison and mauradered its "owner's" home, eating anything fitting into its mouth.

Unfortunately, there is an organization called the Goblineers Association who specializes on keeping Goblins as pets.

Role in The Spiderwick Chronicles (film)[]

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Red Cap (voiced by Ron Perlman) with some Goblin underlings.

The goblins serve as supporting antagonists in the film adaptation. While the goblins in the book seem to only be green, in the film, the goblins vary in shades of green, brown, and orange. They also appear in folklore.

In British folklore, a Goblin is a generally evil, prankish spirit. Goblins range from mean-spirited pranksters to violent brutes who break into houses and kidnap children. 

Appearances[]

Gallery[]

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Concept art for a goblin.

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