There are only a few things that were noticeably missing from Skyrim on release. Oblivion Gates were the most obvious, as the game only takes place a little over a century after the most disastrous crisis Tamriel had ever seen. Another thing missing from Skyrim was Goblins, the small green folk Oblivion players run into almost immediately upon escaping the Imperial Prison.
Goblins were a prominent creature in Oblivion and, according to the Elder Scrolls lore, are spread out all across Tamriel. They are featured in their own questline containing an Oblivion-like dungeon, new items, a false Daedric Prince, and even a Goblinoid follower.
Updated June 7, 2022 by Erik Petrovich: Skyrim Goblins are added to the game with one of the most popular addons in the Creation Club. Also included in Skyrim Anniversary Edition Goblins have a similar model as the Rieklings of Solstheim, though of course much closer in appearance to their Oblivion predecessors. There are lots of things included with the Goblins creation for Skyrim, but most popular among them is arguably Gogh, a new follower who wields a unique unobtainable staff. Skyrim Goblins should really have been included from the get-go - the province borders Cyrodiil, after all – and this Creation Club pack fixes a lore inaccuracy that plagues the deepest corners of the Elder Scrolls history aficionado's mind.
Goblins and the Blue God
To add Goblins to Skyrim, players must either download the Creation Club addon through Special Edition or purchase 2021's Anniversary Edition to get access to all Creation Club content at once. Goblins are a race tangentially related to the Daedric Prince Malacath, the Prince of the Spurned and Ostracized, who they refer to as Mauloch or Muluk. In Skyrim and in Oblivion, they revere a being called the Blue God, thought to be an aspect of the Daedric Prince Malacath, though the truth of the matter is that they are just a regular Orc masquerading as the Goblins' patron deity.
The lore, religion, and general public knowledge of the Goblins are all hazy – as a semi-intelligent race, they don't do a great job of keeping track of their people's history. The Goblins addon helps to explain some of this, though what is and isn't canon is ultimately up to the player.
Gogh: A New Goblinoid Follower
In addition to Goblins Skyrim Anniversary Edition and the Creation Club also include Gogh, a new Goblinoid follower. He barely speaks, though the player seems to be able to communicate with him in some way. Gogh can summon a Storm Atronach with a unique staff that cannot be acquired by the player without resorting to cheats or the console.
Gogh is obviously named after Vincent Van Gogh, though the exact inspiration is a bit hazy. Though the Goblin might not be able to paint, Gogh seems like a suitable enough name for this strange creature. Gogh helps the player during the quest added with the Skyrim Goblins creation - to gain him Gogh as a follower, you just have to complete this quest. First, of course, you have to start it.
Where To Find Goblins In Skyrim
Goblins in Skyrim are located in Gromm's Pass, a new location on the border of Skyrim and Cyrodiil. Head south of Forelhost, the ruin in The Rift, until you see the entrance to this cave in the Jerall Mountains. The associated quest Blue In The Face starts upon entering, or at the Bee and Barb in Riften after the player reads the note titled Letter to Clexius on the second floor. Players are then informed that there is an infestation of Goblins in Gromm's Pass, which once served as a passageway between the two provinces.
The Dragonborn is instructed to kill The Blue God, an Orc masquerading as the Daedric Prince Malacath, and are then directed to a nearby fighting pit. Players have the option to free a Goblin in the pit, which adds Gogh as a follower. This is a particularly powerful follower thanks to its unique summoning ability, and Gogh is surprisingly verbose despite the lack of actual voice lines in this creation (or, indeed, any creation).
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition is available for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S