Palu.
COMMONLY CLASSIFIED AS: GOBLIN
Palu are small humanoid creatures found across a surprising number of worlds, realms and isolated civilisations throughout the BADLVCKVerse. Precisely where they originated is unknown.
This does not appear to concern the Palu.
Usually standing somewhere around three feet tall, Palu are recognisable by their compact bodies, large expressive eyes, swept ears and, most importantly, the distinctive mane that continues down the neck and spine.
Young Palu possess only the beginnings of this mane. As they mature, it develops into the large dorsal crest associated with adulthood, often becoming one of the most carefully decorated and fiercely individual parts of a Palu's appearance.
Colours vary naturally, although Palu frequently dye, braid and decorate their manes with beads, wire, metal, charms and whatever else they have decided looks particularly good that day.
Palu live communally, establishing settlements almost anywhere capable of sustaining them. They have been documented beneath cities, amongst ruins, within abandoned structures and in places other peoples had long since decided were uninhabitable.
This adaptability has allowed Palu populations to spread extraordinarily far. How far remains uncertain. Attempts to establish a point of origin have been complicated by the fact that Palu themselves preserve little interest in where their species originally came from.
They are far more interested in where they are now.
And what happens to be lying around there.
BEHAVIOUR
Palu are intensely social, curious and practical creatures.
They possess an extraordinary fascination with objects and are habitual collectors, scavengers, traders, repairers and occasional appropriators of anything they consider interesting or useful.
A Palu may assign enormous value to an object another civilisation considers worthless while showing complete indifference toward something supposedly priceless.
This should not be mistaken for stupidity. Palu intelligence is predominantly practical.
They may understand very little of the theory behind a machine while possessing an exceptional understanding of how to keep that machine functioning.
Knowledge is often preserved through demonstration, repetition and communal memory rather than formal study.
A Palu may therefore be unable to explain why something works. They will nevertheless insist that you have put the blue piece in backwards.
They will usually be correct.
DISTRIBUTION
Perhaps the strangest thing about the Palu is not their appearance, behaviour or society.
It is simply how many places contain them.
Recognisably related Palu populations have been recorded across worlds with no obvious historical relationship to one another.
Local cultures have consequently developed numerous names for them, with goblin being amongst the most common classifications.
The Palu generally reject these distinctions.
When asked what they are, the answer remains remarkably consistent.
Palu.
Further questions rarely improve upon this answer. Although they have certainly taken a liking to being called Pals by certain civilisations.
WISKER'S NOTE
I like Palu.
Most people eventually do.
They are noisy, they collect absolutely everything, and if you leave something unattended for long enough they may conclude that you have finished with it.
This is not stealing.
I have had this explained to me several times.
Apparently stealing is when somebody takes something that belongs to you. If you weren't using it, however, there is some disagreement amongst the Palu regarding whether it was still meaningfully yours.
I recommend keeping your pockets closed.
— Wisker