Baldob

Baldob are a sapient race of Earthkin that resemble impish humanoids, native to the lower reaches of Subterra. Characterized by their pale skin, large eyes, and comically large ears, Baldob are a secretive yet curious people, well-known for doing business with all cave residents. They also have an innate talent for learning and mimicking speech, possessing a supremely developed set of vocal chords. This ability to recreate sound has earned them the moniker of "echo goblins" among cavers.

Appearance
Baldob are comparatively short in stature, rarely growing taller than a single meter, though this is rarely seen as they have a natural tendency to squat and hunch over, sometimes even walking on their knuckles.

Origin
The origins of the Baldob are not well understood, even by the Baldob themselves. Oral tradition tells of a tale that the mysterious Earthheart summoned them into the Cave through its cryptic "song" countless years ago. Supposedly intrigued by the humming tune emitted by the earth itself, the Baldob descended into the Cave to better hear and understand the cries of Galimma, and became excellent listeners. They became excellent gatherers and collectors of the many bounties to be found within the treacherous Cave, and were quick to trade them with their fellow subterranean neighbors. Soon, they came to be known as respected members of the Subterra community, sharing their reverence for the ground with their fellow Mulls and Troggen.

Culture
Baldob culture is often considered strange and alien, even by Subterra standards. They place a great emphasis on guile, creativity, and community, and are naturally a curious people. Through the same instinct that drove them to seek out the sounds of the Cave, the Baldob actively seek to learn about the many oddities of the Cave, and regularly intermingle and trade with other Subterra races.

This interest in cultural exchange is aided in large part by the baldob's ability to mimic almost any sound on many frequencies, allowing them to learn the languages of all Subterra's various races to great fluency. So naturally does their linguistic talent come that often they challenge themselves in their daily speech, sometimes speaking only in rhyme, alliteration, a certain pentameter, or other quirk. Reciprocating this will garner much favor among baldob as it is considered a great demonstration of wit and charisma.