The Marblehead Clan was the first goblin tribe to arrive in Bahar during the Decades of Devastation. They found a land with few defenders and enough loot to establish themselves outside the Shazstundihr entrance to the Serpentspine Mountains.
History[]
The Greentide[]
After being driven south out of the Serpentspine Mountains by Korgus Dookanson as he consolidated his orcish horde, the Marblehead Clan emerged from their home mountains into a Bahar already laid low by the Decades of Devastation. Combined with their unusually (for goblins) militarized traditions, the clan easily established themselves as a presence in the region, taking what wealth remained. They were dubbed The Great Looters by the local populace, which the clan took as a badge of honor.
The Fall of Aqatbar[]
The jewel of the Marblehead's holdings was the Bulwari city of Aqatbar and the tale of how it was acquired is a popular one. Clanboss Jenthib had enriched his people with his many successful raids and slow encroachment on Baharkandi land. These bold actions goaded the elven ruler of the Kingdom of Baharkand, Kaltan III Eletarzuir to invade clan territory to put an end to clan's raiding once and for all in 1432.
Bolstered by the local humans, who found goblin overlords less burdensome than their former elven masters, and Jenthib's sound tactical mind, the Marblehead clan army baited the Baharkandi into a trap and overwhelmed them, forcing them to break and flee. Nearly the entire army was routed and Kaltan III was killed; riding this massive victory, Jenthib lead his forces to Aqatbar. Human resentments against the Sun Elves aided Jenthib once again, as the city's inhabitants surrendered in exchange for keeping their property and some additional rights and privileges.
Jenthib spent the remainder of his life consolidating his holdings but his death in 1441 with no clear heir led to a succession crisis. After several years, Idraseff pobnek-Vakkra, one of Jenthib's top raid leaders had emerged victorious as Clanboss.
The Rise of Goblin Aqatbar[]
Under the rule of Perzuk pobnek-Vakkra, son of Idraseff, the first goblin school in Bulwar was founded in 1464. They employed several human teachers to teach the subjects of history, theology, and language. These efforts at educating the populace were bolstered by the already impressive Great Library of Aqatbar. It is said when the Marblehead goblins first entered the fabled library, they were stunned by the scale and amount of knowledge within.
As more goblins became literate, increased funding was dedicated to translation of the works in the Great Library. Later, efforts were turned to adding original works to the library and gathering new information to keep the collection up to date
The city itself served as an excellent defensive and bureaucratic center, becoming integral to Marblehead society and rich off its successes. Though it had been a human majority city, goblins became the dominating force in the city within a few short decades of its fall.
Religious and Cultural Practices[]
While many goblin cultures had relatively tolerant attitudes to foreign faiths, the Marblehead Clan took this practice a step further by codifying it into law. Called the "Sun Tax", humans were allowed to worship Surael (or Surakel) as long as this tithe was paid.
The Marblehead Clan has always had a much larger integration of non-goblin populations since its arrival in Bahar. In the latter half of the 15th century, the clan instituted a policy of participating in local traditions and feasts, to better incorporate their human and elven subjects. As time went on, these celebrations would become normal parts of Marblehead goblin culture.