Otto: Yes, the larger goblins are simply hobgoblins and bugbears with the serial number files off - scholars disagree on exactly how goblins progress in size, and since so few goblins have been willing to take part in such conversations, its been a mystery in more civilized lands. In fact, during the game its quite likely you won't see anything but goblins as "humanoid of the week." There will be no orcs in this game. Speaking of which, anyone who wished to play a half-orc is more than welcome to. Keep it mechanically the same (a side effect of the goblins' advancement process mixed with human blood), but call them half-goblins.
And, since we've had not one but two people talk about playing more divine classes: a word on both politics and religion, which - as always - seem to be tied together.
Politics:
The following facts will be known to anyone with any sort of education or knowledge of current events.
The Crimson Empire: Sometimes called the Bloody Empire by its detractors (though always quietly), the Crimson Empire has been expanding rapidly for the past generation, when the current Emperor (his August Majesty, Tannic V, the Conqueror) took the throne. While his grandfather, Tannic III had been successful at peaceful annexation of nearby lands, the latest Emperor has captured lands through brute force. Six different kingdoms have fallen to the Emperor and his Marshalls, each more bloodily than the last.
The latest addition to the Empire was the Kingdom of Faris. When the Farisian King died without a full grown male heir, the Emperor put forth a claim to the crown based on ancient texts. When the nobles rejected his claim, Tannic invaded, taking the King’s eldest daughter as a consort and claiming the throne by right of marriage. The nobles, predictably, fought and were slaughtered wholesale by Marshall Rax, a cunning and brutal general, in a long and drawn out conflict that finally ended 10 years ago.
At present, the Empire is split into provinces, each of which is under the control of a Marshall. Laws are uniform throughout the Empire, and citizens (with papers to prove it) are supposedly able to travel without hindrance from one side of the Empire to the other. In practice, however, taxes stifle this sort of travel for all but the most wealthy. Additionally, certain parts of the Empire are under martial law (and have been since they were conquered).
The Frontier: While life within the borders of the Empire is filled with taxes, laws, and the like, the frontier is something wholly different. Though the Empire claims ownership of the land, it has little power there. It is fair to say that the reach of the Empire ends in the shadow of the trees. That is not to say, however, that the frontier is totally without law.
Across the frontier are a loose confederation of forts and townships governed by men “loyal” to the Empire. However, many of these men, while loyal to the Empire itself, have little love for the Emperor and his Marshalls.
The Post: Since its expansion, the Empire has either taken over or destroyed several large organizations under the protection of conquered Kingdoms. However, three have managed to retain some level of independence: the Silver Wheel, a very powerful merchant’s guild with a stranglehold on cloth and fabric, the Forge, a semi-independent network of master weapon and armor smiths, and the Post, which delivers mail all over the Empire and even into the Frontier. The Post is known to have ties with the Church of the Rising Sun, and many of their faithful volunteer to carry Post packages from area to area.
Religion:
In the Empire and the surrounding lands, the worship of local nature gods is common. Shrines often dot the landscape, and certain areas of the Empire even have “house gods” that watch over families. However, three major sects also exist, all of which believe they serve the “one true god.”
The Children of Rao: The oldest and largest church in the Empire has endured as long as the Empire has. However, since its founding by the Daughter of the Sun 1500 years ago, it has changed many times. Currently, it is a religion centered in the mountain monasteries at the northern edge of the Divide in the South Eastern Empire. Most people in the Old Empire consider themselves to be one of the Children of Rao, though this has little bearing on their day to day lives beyond the occasional visit to temple and yearly offerings.
The sect is a monotheistic religion that believes that Rao is the source of all things. All other supernatural beings are spirits, ghosts, demons, and angels that exist – as does Man – at the whim of Rao. Devout followers of the sect believe that the Universe follows Rao’s plan (and that such a plan is both supremely ordered and beyond mortal comprehension), and that the best possible life is one that fits perfectly in that plan. Thus they concentrate on perfection of self in word, deed, body, and spirit.
[Clerics of the Children of Rao can freely mutliclass as Monks due to their emphasis on spirituality, order, and the belief in perfection of self.]
The Church of the Rising Son: Originally, this sect was simply an offshoot of the Children of Rao, but 400 years ago, when the Daughter’s Son returned and put evil men under sword and hammer, some believed that he was more than a saint. They spoke of him ascending to the heavens on a stallion made of fire to live with his mother and grandfather. Eventually, this sect broke with the Children of Rao to become the Church of the Rising Son.
Faithful in the Church believe strongly that the good and just will be rewarded in the afterlife (as do the Children of Rao), however, they also believe that righteous men and women have the duty to spread as much good works as possible while still mortal. At their best, they run charitable organizations, serve as guardsmen to protect the weak, and support the Post (because there are few joys that match seeing the look on a person’s face when they receive much needed news from a home far away). At their worst, however, they have been known to also try to mete out punishment to the evil and wicked. Yet the most righteous of the faithful temper their justice with mercy, as the Son did when he spared Cadogen the Redeemed.
[Clerics of the Rising Son can multiclass freely as Paladins due to their emphasis on order used for the protection of the innocent and the smiting of evil.]
The Cult of the Red God: The Cult, known to its members as the Holy Order of the Crimson Hand, was a little known religion from beyond the Divide until the rise of House of Tirel (the current ruling house) 140 years ago. Since then, it has grown to become one of the more popular religions in the Empire. 50 years ago, it even became the Official religion of the Empire. Lay persons in the Holy Order attend services every High Day in huge celebrations, while the priests of the order hold Halffday services for the Initiated. The Initiated do not speak of the services.
The Holy Order is a popular religion that teaches many of the same credos as both the Children of Rao and the Church of the Rising Son, but historians agree that it is not related to the other two.
And some less specific info on druids: if you played or are familair with 1e Druids, you've got a pretty good handle on the Circle. They are a loosely organized group of druids who watch over the forests, swamps, and hills of the Empire. Most druids watch over a specific area (as in most NPC druids will be static in nature), though a handful after "training" have been allowed to roam freely. These druids are most often the ones that have been idenitified as being destined for greatness or leadership.