Tattoo Goblins are among the most feared hazards of the Shri-Lat Mountain Pass.
Not terribly deadly, the Tattoo Goblin is best known for its ability to dance between the second and third dimensions and its infectious bite. They’re known to disguise themselves as graffiti, peeling themselves off the mountain walls to ambush passers-by. If they’re able to break skin with their jagged, puzzle-piece teeth, they’ll return to their two-dimensional forms and attempt to inject themselves under the skin of their victim.
A Tattoo Goblin thus embedded lives as a sort of subdermal psychic parasite, feeding off its host’s energy, creativity, and luck.
I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Acquiring a Tattoo Goblin is a simple matter: just get bit.
The Goblin makes a regular attack roll. Damage should be minor, a d4 for most games. Depending on your system, you may allow a saving throw (vs spell, Will save, Charisma save, Luck Test, w/e). Failure indicates the Goblin’s slipped under its target’s skin.
The Goblin will remain quite active for a week or so, dancing around the body and jeering at its new host. After it’s had time to settle in and feed, it’ll likely grow sedentary. Such Goblins appear as normal (low-quality) tattoos. They’ll become active again if bathed in wine, exposed to unhosted Tattoo Goblins, or near dark sorcerers.
Whenever a character is infected with a new Tattoo Goblin, they lose 1 Int, Wis, or Cha. If you’re playing Troika, lose 1 point of Luck instead. Removing the Tattoo Goblin heals the stat loss.
Social Consequence
The Shri-Lat Traders are an insular group; one is not a true Trader until bitten by a Tattoo Goblin. Dealing with a Trader, either in the Pass or at the inns around its entrances, without hosting at least one Tattoo Goblin puts all Social Rolls at Disadvantage (reaction rolls, charisma checks, mein).
The Mountainfolk of the Pass are, likewise, often bitten and quite proud of it. The untattooed are attacked on sight; an outlander with six or more Tattoo Goblins living on their skin may even be worthy of talking to.
Lowlander nobility is less impressed. Individuals with Tattoo Goblins will typically not be invited into the houses of the rich; if an infection is revealed once a host is already indoors, scandal and alarm are sure to follow. Rumour has greatly exaggerated the transmissibility of Tattoo Goblins, and prejudice and social panic are common irritants to those passing through the Shri-Lat.
Spiritual Consequences
Apart from minor ability loss, the biggest issue with Tattoo Goblins is that the Goblin King can see and hear everything they can. No host can possibly plot against the Goblins while infected. Parties being spied on this way are at great risk of Goblin ambush. This ‘Goblin Luck’ is considered one of the great consequences of infection.
The Goblins do not enjoy being exposed to hallowed ground. They’ll attempt to free themselves from their host; unfortunately, it’s easier getting in than out. Each round, the host takes d6 damage per Goblin, rolling a save (vs poison, Fortitude, Con, Luck); on a success, they may choose to allow the Goblin to escape, reasserting its 3D form, or to try to hold it within longer; failed saves indicate the Goblin is still clawing its way out. Goblins freed this way will attempt to destroy the nearest religious icon and then flee.
The good news is that Tattoo Goblins will defend their host against Elven Magic. Hosts get Advantage on saves against Elven charms, illusions, sleep spells, and similar. The Goblins will jeer and yell, trying to get their host to ignore the elven enchantments.
Removing Goblins
They say there is a mountain spring, high in the Shri-Lat, where the waters run purple and smell of flowers. Bathing within it causes Tattoo Goblins to float away downstream, like pictures drawn on the surface of a river.
The downside is that this spring is guarded by a red-maned Unicorn, sword to kill all goblins that attempt to scale her mountain’s peak. She doesn’t much care if said Goblins live under your skin or not.
Like this? We’ve done some fun Goblin stuff in the past; check out the Weird Parade! Or, if tattoos interest you more than Goblins, check this blog post about the symbolism of Drow tattoos. And if weird fantasy and 2d/3d hijinks are your thing, try Drawn from the Margins.