The third race are little-known and less seen. They dwelt in the islands of Prydain when it was Albion, and even before that. They dwell in those islands, in burrows and barrows under hills and behind thorn hedges, harvesting their weeds and strange fruits for their feasts. They can eat anything, but prefer their own food, cooked their own way, with their own flavours. They drink their ale and mead from bell-shaped beakers, and inhale gums and incense in pipes. Despite their love of such intoxicants, they cannot be harmed by poisons of any kind, and cannot become werewolves. They are called Coblyn, or Holbytlan, worlds meaning “dwellers in holes” to the Britons and the Belgae. They are small even smaller then some fauns, and their feet are covered with scales like those of snakes’. Their eyes are small and narrow, snakes’ eyes; their arms are slightly too long for their size, and their legs slightly too short. Some Holbytlan paint or tattoo themselves with woad, but no matter how brightly painted, if a Hoblytan wishes to hide it takes the eyes of Selenite to find him. Their scaled feet move utterly silently over rock, earth, and foliage, and can cling to the most unlikely spots in the walls of a cave or ruin. Their weapons are the short bow, the dagger, and the lariat, although they do not go to war as a rule. In the hands of Coblyn, any stone can became a dagger or an arrowhead, though flint or obsidian is still best. They value steel bodkins, though, and happily use them if available. The Holbytlan seek the Ring as a trophy from both Sun and Moon; they wish to use its magic to make themselves completely invisible from both. Then they can do as they like in Prydain, no matter how the Britons there press and breed.

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(I have to confess that I’m mostly posting this because I really liked the article and want to spread its fusion of Tolkien and roman mythology, even if just partly)