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head cannon that started bouncing around my head...
Goblins are an oft maligned people. They are treated, all to often, as mad little maniacs and barbarians. In truth, When the world is looked at from their perspective, one cannot help but see the inherent logic.
Let us begin with violence. It is said that Goblins are savages who kill and slaughter for fun. this is not true. However, it is true that they do not hold life with the same reverence as the Longshanks do. Goblins reproduce rapidly, and as a people, were literally born from slaughter. Unlike Longshanks, who do everything they can to ignore their impending deaths, Goblins openly recognize that they will die. This is not something that is cushioned or softly broken to Goblin children. No, they are told early and often how fleeting and fragile, and inconsequential their lives will be. However, this bizarre nihilism, gives Goblins one of their greatest strengths, put best in a goblin proverb.
"When a longshank bites it in a big badaboom, the Longshank wants to be remembered for making the big badaboom.
"When Goblin bites it in a big Badaboom, the Goblin hopes the big Badaboom is remembered."
Goblins do not, generally, seek glory for themselves, but for their pursuit. In hopes that some day their big explosion, will inspire other goblins to make even bigger explosions. This leads to an interesting quirk of Goblin linguistics. "Goblin" is never singular. It is infact, incorrect to say "A Goblin" because Goblins know they themselves are not important, only what their Gob does. Gob being the Goblin word for Family, or clan, or other communal unit.
They reason they clash so much with Humans (to the point humans often assume 'Longshank' refers to them specifically, instead of the actual meaning 'non-goblin') is that Goblins find humans shortsighted and selfish. Goblins concept of "property" and "ownership" is very communal, much like Halflings. Goblins thus don't understand why a human get's upset when a starving Gob takes food from people with full fields, but they do know that they will be mad and will arm themselves.
And as we mention food we should mention the Goblin diet. it is alleged Goblins will eat anything, and this is true. the Gods have gifted Goblins with very hearty constitutions. There are even rumors of Canabalism among Goblins. This is rare, though some Gobs do practice a ritual form of canabalism to honor their dead (they would never eat a stranger or Longshank as that would be seen as calling them family or lovers). They also few Longshanks as quite rude in their eating picking at a meal slowly like they find it beneath them, instead of loudly enjoying it to show thanks to the food and to the one who prepared it. and yes, Goblin food is prepared. It is rare for a goblin to eat unprepared food. they do cook food, though their favored method of preparation is pickling and fermenting.