Blog Issue #6
This is an illustration of Mort and his friends Gunther, Celia, and Petro, who are goblins in my fantasy/adventure/mystery series for middle-grade readers, titled The Wythic Wood Mysteries. In the above image, they are strolling along a path, or stairs, within Mort’s fort, located in the center of a pond on Opa’s property known as Clayton Forest.
Image: Catharina Steel, combined images using AI and Photoshop, October and November 2023
When crafting Mort’s character, I included some traditional goblin features such as their elongated fingernails and toenails. However, I deviated from the usual European folklore portrayal of goblins as rogue, thieving, evil, or mischievous spirits (with the exception of hobgoblins) to explore the theme of “not judging a book by its cover.”
In my story, there are both good goblins like Mort and his friends, as well as goblins who have allied with the Witch of Wythic Wood. Later in the series, it’s revealed how these goblins were swayed to aid the witch but now feel ensnared—especially after the revelation of the Elven King’s deceit.
Living Environments
Most goblins have little to no privacy, residing and sleeping in large communal spaces. Only the leaders have their own private quarters. Their hideouts are often filthy or foul-smelling, yet they are easy to defend when attacked. Many of these lairs are equipped with simple traps for protection. Some tales describe goblins inhabiting grottoes.
Image: Catharina Steel, NightCafé AI, June 2025
In The Wythic Wood Mysteries Series, Mort lives in a fort made within rocks with two rows of closely grown fir trees forming its protective walls.
The goblins who live in Wythic Wood live in a camp with a nomadic style like the Mongols and Huns who used yurts and other portable dwellings. They often incorporated furs and textiles for warmth and comfort. The meeting tent in my story uses pillows for beings to lounge against as they nibble on food and discuss various topics.
Antics
In some stories, goblins are depicted as attaching themselves to families, where they clatter pots and pans, pull nightwear off sleeping individuals, rearrange furniture during the night, and scurry away after knocking on walls and doors.
Appearance
Image: Catharina Steel, NightCafé AI and edited in Photoshop, June 2025
They are small and ugly beings that first emerged in medieval tales. Depending on the narrative and region, their powers, dispositions, and looks vary. Frequently, they possess mystical powers akin to those of fairies or demons, such as the power to transform their shape (a skill the goblins in my book don’t have).
Redcaps
Redcaps, a type of goblin as featured in the world of Harry Potter, have their roots in the folklore of the Anglo-Scottish border. Their name originates from their chilling habit of soaking their hats in blood. In contrast to their more playful goblin kin, redcaps are infamous for their viciousness and insatiable hunger for blood, making them truly frightening figures in every story told about them.
Image by Catharina Steel, Multiple NightCafé AI images merged and edited in Photoshop, June 2025
Coming Up Next
Next month I will be researching Witches.
To read my previous post about gnomes, click here.
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