Bugbear

"You ask why I stand with the little ones? The Goblins are loud. They run at swords three times their size. They scream at the sky demanding answers from silent gods. They are foolish, and they are small, and they are freezing. I am large. I am warm. And I am here to make sure they survive their own courage."

— Koda, The Silent Wall of the Iron-Tooth Tribe

Origins: The Shadow-Kin

• The Divergence: Where Goblins adapted to be quick and communal to survive, Bugbears adapted to be Silent and Solitary. They are the manifestation of the "Fight or Flight" response that chose "Hide."
  

 
• The Cryptid Status: For centuries, humans didn't believe Bugbears existed. They were just "The Shadow in the Woods" or "The Moss-Man." This suits the Bugbears perfectly. They prefer to be myths. Being perceived is exhausting.
  

 
• The Godless Comfort: Like Goblins, they have no active deity. But while Goblins are frantic to find one, Bugbears are content in the silence. They find divinity in the quiet, dark places of the world.
  

Cultural Values: The Nook & The Anchor

• The Shadow-Nook: A Bugbear’s home is their sanctuary. It is always a small, enclosed space. SAcave behind a waterfall, a loft in an abandoned barn, or a deep cellar are perfect examples. They practice "Nesting." They fill these nooks with soft things (moss, furs, blankets) to dampen sound.
  

 
• The Heavy Hitter (The Anchor): Despite their solitude, they feel a biological pull toward Goblins. They view Goblins as "Energy" that needs grounding. In a Goblin camp, the Bugbear is not the leader; they are the Anchor. They are the ones who lift the heavy beams, carry the exhausted wounded, and stand motionless at the gate.

 
• The Economy of Motion: Bugbears are lazy in the most efficient way. They do not move unless necessary, and they can sit perfectly still for hours. This "low energy" is a strong cultural value. Why run when you can walk? Why walk when you can reach?