Gobules are basically a mouth and stomach mounted on two powerful, rubbery legs. They have two sexes. They are the primary scavengers and garbagebeings of the Basement. While they have no arms or hands, their tongues are very long and prehensile. Their entire culture and religion appears to center around eating; public consumption of new or unusual items gains a Gobule considerable social status. They are sentient, and they can most definitely talk--it is their second-favorite activity. Constant squabbling among individual Gobules and Gobule factions keeps them from becoming a menace to Basement society as a whole.
The Gobules of the Basement traditionally give birth in the Fringes, the undeveloped reaches of the Basement. Gobules are born non-sentient and as small as insects. Rather than being raised by their parents, they live as animals until they suddenly achieve sentience. At this point, they either live feral in the Fringes (the unfortunate fate of many) or find a Gobule Mentor to teach them the ways of the world. Mentoring appears to be unique to Gobules, although the Mentoring of non-Gobules is not unheard of.
Gobules were not kept in the Ettin Zoo but instead worked(
) for the Ettins.
Eating Events
To elaborate on the role of Eating Events: any consumption of food that is sufficiently novel (e.g.: Operator) or difficult to eat (such as stealing one of Sina's shroomcakes), is called an Event. It is not necessary to completely consume something for it to become an Event, it is sufficient if they are only tasted (presumably if the food in question is sufficiently novel). Events require witnesses, usually other Gobules that understand the gravity of an Event and preferably a Gobule of note (e.g.: Maw). Gobule gangs/factions can start fights over an opportunity for an Event.
Notable events:
- Ningle biting the Operator, while the Demon was unconscious (seen here). His success (and thus, some indication on how Events work) is noted by Gorp and Phiga. Ningle thus started the Elevator Fire.
Notable Gobules
- Maw
- Guttle
- Bung
- Cram
- Theophan the Recluse (Mentor of all four of the above)