Kobold
Live Fast, Die Young
Basic Information
Anatomy
Kobolds resemble dragons in many ways. They are small, reptilian humanoids that blend the features of large dogs and tiny, wingless dragons. Their scales glint in the light, and their roars reveal their draconic ancestry. A skinny body, supported by skinnier legs and topped with a dragon's head, surveys the earth with purposeful eyes. Despite their physical limitations, kobolds are fierce and cunning, using their small size to their advantage. However, their size also makes them easy prey for predators.
Biological Traits
Kobolds, like most reptiles, have nearly identical male and female characteristics. Males may have more and larger hornlets and crests than females, but this is not a reliable means of identification. Kobold females are not exempt from war or work because they lay eggs that do not require much tending. Additionally, kobolds can slowly change sex to help balance a tribe's male to female ratio. This allows the tribe to quickly repopulate with just a few survivors.
There are two distinct subtypes of kobolds: Warren kobolds, who work as miners, merchants, and trap builders, and Dragon kobolds, whose society changes when they are brought into the influence of a dragon, find a dragon egg, or start watching over a wyrmling. Although it may be difficult for humans to tell similar-looking kobolds apart, the kobolds themselves can easily recognize each other.
Some kobolds are born with leathery wings and can fly, which is viewed as a blessing from Ausdremwuld. Swolbolds are the brutes of the kobold world, with rippling muscles betraying their ferocious strength. They act as battering rams and moving shields, allowing the smaller kobolds to use their ranged attacks and devious tactics to the greatest effect. One or two swolbolds may accompany a larger force of kobolds, acting at the vanguard of an attack.
Some kobolds theorize that the gods gift these monsters to tribes particularly fervent in their worship, while others conclude that carefully crafted alchemy transformed normal kobolds into these beastly creatures. Mutant kobolds use alchemical mixtures to emulate a dragon's abilities and are viewed with awe by other members of the colony.
There are two distinct subtypes of kobolds: Warren kobolds, who work as miners, merchants, and trap builders, and Dragon kobolds, whose society changes when they are brought into the influence of a dragon, find a dragon egg, or start watching over a wyrmling. Although it may be difficult for humans to tell similar-looking kobolds apart, the kobolds themselves can easily recognize each other.
Some kobolds are born with leathery wings and can fly, which is viewed as a blessing from Ausdremwuld. Swolbolds are the brutes of the kobold world, with rippling muscles betraying their ferocious strength. They act as battering rams and moving shields, allowing the smaller kobolds to use their ranged attacks and devious tactics to the greatest effect. One or two swolbolds may accompany a larger force of kobolds, acting at the vanguard of an attack.
Some kobolds theorize that the gods gift these monsters to tribes particularly fervent in their worship, while others conclude that carefully crafted alchemy transformed normal kobolds into these beastly creatures. Mutant kobolds use alchemical mixtures to emulate a dragon's abilities and are viewed with awe by other members of the colony.
Genetics and Reproduction
Kobolds lay clutches of pale, leathery-shelled eggs ranging from 17 to 24 in number, which are placed in a communal nesting chamber. They tend to their eggs by nesting them in a shallow pit lined with earth and dried grass, and keep them near a slow-burning fire or an insulating layer of dung and decomposing matter to protect them from the cold. Females may even lay viable eggs in the absence of males. The tribe operates like a group of cousins, as there is no effort made to keep track of each egg's mother, and the hatchlings are communally raised.
Growth Rate & Stages
Kobolds mature quickly and are considered adults at the age of six. They grow and develop at a much faster rate than other humanoid races. While they can live up to 150 years, most succumb to violence, accidents, or disease before reaching the natural end of their lifespan. Despite their longevity, kobolds have a high mortality rate due to complications or lack of food. They attribute their long lifespan to being distantly related to dragons. The majority of kobolds perish before they reach the end of their first decade, and most warren kobolds will never see the sun in their adult lives.
Ecology and Habitats
Kobolds regulate their body temperature and prefer warmer areas, often found in the vicinity of volcanoes. Although colder regions tend to have smaller populations, resulting in more aggressive hunting, kobolds can be found in any terrain that supports tunneling. They entrench themselves in dense woods, hills, or large rock outcroppings and create warrens above the water line in swamps or along coastlines where digging into the soft ground is problematic. Most commonly, they reside in hilly or mountainous terrain, with natural caves suitable for living space and ready sources of food.
The dwellings of warren kobolds are winding labyrinths of cramped, pitch-black tunnels that crisscross and overlap one another at different levels. They are fierce fighters on their own terms and use their weight of numbers to survive in places where larger but less numerous races cannot sustain a settlement. They live in underground warrens, which are often extensions of existing structures like dungeons, sewers, and natural caverns. Skilled miners, they carve intricate tunnel systems that enable them to hold off and discourage enemies several times their size. They practice defending the lair against intruders and always know the best escape routes and who is responsible for blocking tunnels to deter pursuit. They use traps, ambushes, terrain, allied monsters, and any other advantage they can squeeze out of their environment.
The lair of a kobold tribe is a maze of twisty little passages, frequently guarded by traps. The area has a host of intersections, abrupt dead-ends, tunnels that cross over or under one another, concealed passages, and other features that make the lair difficult for outsiders to navigate. The kobold tribe's lair changes over time as they migrate through the rock to meet their needs and ensure their safety. They rig their lairs with traps, using their gift for tunneling and their skill at repurposing found items. They set up deadfalls to kill intruders or block off key areas of the warren. Any place where a tunnel takes a sharp turn or becomes narrow is a natural choke point that forces invaders to fight from a disadvantaged position. Murder holes are included in these locations, allowing the kobolds to drop rocks, poisonous vermin, and other annoyances on those below. Each lair has an escape tunnel that leads to a concealed surface exit, and the residents always know the shortest path to that tunnel. The living spaces in each lair can hold ten to thirty adult kobolds and are served by a deep pit for their sanitation needs. The throne room is always protected by traps and features a throne, and the location may include a basin where offerings such as metal nuggets, raw gems, and teeth can be left.
The dwellings of warren kobolds are winding labyrinths of cramped, pitch-black tunnels that crisscross and overlap one another at different levels. They are fierce fighters on their own terms and use their weight of numbers to survive in places where larger but less numerous races cannot sustain a settlement. They live in underground warrens, which are often extensions of existing structures like dungeons, sewers, and natural caverns. Skilled miners, they carve intricate tunnel systems that enable them to hold off and discourage enemies several times their size. They practice defending the lair against intruders and always know the best escape routes and who is responsible for blocking tunnels to deter pursuit. They use traps, ambushes, terrain, allied monsters, and any other advantage they can squeeze out of their environment.
The lair of a kobold tribe is a maze of twisty little passages, frequently guarded by traps. The area has a host of intersections, abrupt dead-ends, tunnels that cross over or under one another, concealed passages, and other features that make the lair difficult for outsiders to navigate. The kobold tribe's lair changes over time as they migrate through the rock to meet their needs and ensure their safety. They rig their lairs with traps, using their gift for tunneling and their skill at repurposing found items. They set up deadfalls to kill intruders or block off key areas of the warren. Any place where a tunnel takes a sharp turn or becomes narrow is a natural choke point that forces invaders to fight from a disadvantaged position. Murder holes are included in these locations, allowing the kobolds to drop rocks, poisonous vermin, and other annoyances on those below. Each lair has an escape tunnel that leads to a concealed surface exit, and the residents always know the shortest path to that tunnel. The living spaces in each lair can hold ten to thirty adult kobolds and are served by a deep pit for their sanitation needs. The throne room is always protected by traps and features a throne, and the location may include a basin where offerings such as metal nuggets, raw gems, and teeth can be left.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Kobolds, despite their sharp teeth, are omnivores and can consume a variety of foods, including meat, fruit, tree bark, bone, leather, and even eggshells. After a successful hunt, they leave nothing behind, utilizing everything from the kill to make tools or adornments. While not a primary means of food, kobolds have been known sustain themselves with subterranean agriculture, growing mushrooms and other hardy plants that can grow underground. Their farming areas are typically located underground or in caverns near the surface with holes in the ceiling providing sunlight. Similar to humans, kobolds set aside rooms with deep pits to store food for lean times.
Biological Cycle
Kobolds are nocturnal creatures, meaning that they are more active during the night than during the day. Despite this, the inhabitants of their lairs do not all rest at the same time. In fact, kobolds sleep in shifts to ensure that work goes on around the clock. While one group of kobolds is resting, another group is busy working on various tasks such as mining and crafting. The sleeping areas are somewhat isolated from the noise of work areas, which allows miners and crafters to work without disturbing the sleepers.
Interestingly, kobolds learn to fall asleep to the noise of hammering nearby at a young age, which is a useful skill considering their nocturnal habits. However, they quickly wake up at the sound of any unusual activity, indicating a heightened sense of alertness and vigilance that is necessary for their survival in the wild. Overall, the sleeping and working patterns of kobolds are well-coordinated and efficient, allowing them to maximize their productivity at all times of the day and night.
Interestingly, kobolds learn to fall asleep to the noise of hammering nearby at a young age, which is a useful skill considering their nocturnal habits. However, they quickly wake up at the sound of any unusual activity, indicating a heightened sense of alertness and vigilance that is necessary for their survival in the wild. Overall, the sleeping and working patterns of kobolds are well-coordinated and efficient, allowing them to maximize their productivity at all times of the day and night.
Behaviour
Kobolds believe that anyone bigger and stronger than them views them with contempt and is ready to raid and slaughter them at any moment. Despite their cautious nature, kobolds can become enraged at any slight to their dignity. The blood of dragons flows in their veins, and like a raging drake, a kobold that is pushed too far or has its back against the wall becomes a miniature storm of fangs and claws as it desperately tries to defend its life. When the tables turn, kobolds rarely forgive bullies, though flattering words or glittering offerings may appease them.
Kobolds are survivors above all else. Without a dragon patron, their communities rely on stealth, traps, and numbers to survive. In a perfect world, they would be left alone to dig their tunnels and raise the next generation of kobolds, all the while seeking magic. As proud wielders of arcane magic, they see it as part of their connection to dragons. Due to their frailty, they have little use for healing magic.
In combat, kobolds avoid large-scale engagements. Instead, they use hit-and-run raids with smaller groups of warriors. They prepare the battlefield with small bolt-holes for them to hide in and simple pit traps to hamper their opponents. Their tactics include attacking light sources, leaving one defender in a room to lure invaders into a trap or an ambush, fleeing between attacks to better or more secure vantage points, and using poison, usually harvested from vermin such as centipedes and spiders.
Warren kobolds avoid combat whenever possible, unless they are in the familiar surroundings of their home tunnels. Their usual tactic is to retreat into tunnels too small for larger creatures to fight in effectively, where they can present greater numbers than their opponents. If the odds turn against them, they draw the enemy towards the closest trap or hazard. All kobolds have a clear mental map of their tunnels, so they know the most efficient routes to outmaneuver and flank their opponents.
Kobolds are survivors above all else. Without a dragon patron, their communities rely on stealth, traps, and numbers to survive. In a perfect world, they would be left alone to dig their tunnels and raise the next generation of kobolds, all the while seeking magic. As proud wielders of arcane magic, they see it as part of their connection to dragons. Due to their frailty, they have little use for healing magic.
In combat, kobolds avoid large-scale engagements. Instead, they use hit-and-run raids with smaller groups of warriors. They prepare the battlefield with small bolt-holes for them to hide in and simple pit traps to hamper their opponents. Their tactics include attacking light sources, leaving one defender in a room to lure invaders into a trap or an ambush, fleeing between attacks to better or more secure vantage points, and using poison, usually harvested from vermin such as centipedes and spiders.
Warren kobolds avoid combat whenever possible, unless they are in the familiar surroundings of their home tunnels. Their usual tactic is to retreat into tunnels too small for larger creatures to fight in effectively, where they can present greater numbers than their opponents. If the odds turn against them, they draw the enemy towards the closest trap or hazard. All kobolds have a clear mental map of their tunnels, so they know the most efficient routes to outmaneuver and flank their opponents.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Kobolds are a highly organized and stratified society, with the oldest and most intelligent kobold leading the tribe and using their knowledge to ensure the survival of the group. The Warren kobolds have a unique leadership system, where bribery can determine the strength of a king's claim, leading to the presence of multiple kings per warren. Despite this, violence is rare in this society.
In this tribal confederacy society, each kobold has a specific role to play. Sorcerers specialize in a variety of magical abilities, including damaging, augmenting, or divining magic, while hunters and warriors are trained for combat. Crafters and strategists are trained for cleverness, and miners and beast-wranglers for toughness. The king or queen leads all tribes within their territory, commanding loyalty through warriors and traps.
Kobold chieftains lead individual tribes, and they are attended by bodyguards, advisers, and pet drakes. Favored champions are skilled in combat tactics and inspire their allies, while elite kobolds serve as archers, miners, and trap-makers. Trapsmiths turn a kobold lair into a deadly gauntlet, and kobold alchemists bring valuable contributions but require expensive and hazardous substances. Sappers specialize in destroying enemy defenses, while kobold scale sorcerers have an innate talent for arcane magic.
In addition, kobold shamans provide healing and artillery support, while kobold assassins demonstrate exceptional cunning and roguecraft. Lastly, dragonsingers are a rare breed of kobold, trained in bardic magic and the performing arts, adding a unique and diverse skill set to the community.
In this tribal confederacy society, each kobold has a specific role to play. Sorcerers specialize in a variety of magical abilities, including damaging, augmenting, or divining magic, while hunters and warriors are trained for combat. Crafters and strategists are trained for cleverness, and miners and beast-wranglers for toughness. The king or queen leads all tribes within their territory, commanding loyalty through warriors and traps.
Kobold chieftains lead individual tribes, and they are attended by bodyguards, advisers, and pet drakes. Favored champions are skilled in combat tactics and inspire their allies, while elite kobolds serve as archers, miners, and trap-makers. Trapsmiths turn a kobold lair into a deadly gauntlet, and kobold alchemists bring valuable contributions but require expensive and hazardous substances. Sappers specialize in destroying enemy defenses, while kobold scale sorcerers have an innate talent for arcane magic.
In addition, kobold shamans provide healing and artillery support, while kobold assassins demonstrate exceptional cunning and roguecraft. Lastly, dragonsingers are a rare breed of kobold, trained in bardic magic and the performing arts, adding a unique and diverse skill set to the community.
Facial characteristics
Kobolds have good all-round vision, thanks to their large, expressive eyes positioned high on their heads. Throughout their lives, they shed teeth as they wear out and grow new ones.
Average Intelligence
Kobolds are a fascinating species known for their intellect and resourcefulness in various fields. Their physical abilities may not be their strongest suit, but they more than make up for it with their ingenuity and know-how. In particular, they are adept at creating intricate traps that are capable of ensnaring even the most experienced adventurers. Additionally, their skills in tunneling and excavating are unparalleled, allowing them to navigate even the most complex of underground networks with ease. When it comes to trade, kobolds are also shrewd negotiators, often able to procure rare and valuable goods at a fraction of their market value. Finally, their proficiency in tinkering and crafting enables them to create ingenious devices and gadgets that are both practical and innovative. All in all, kobolds are a species that should not be underestimated, as their intelligence and adaptability make them a formidable force to be reckoned with.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Kobolds have a number of unique physical features that enable them to survive in their environment. In addition to their scaly skin, they possess keen night vision that allows them to see in the dark. Kobolds also have sensitive snouts that allow them to detect the presence of other creatures and quickly sense danger. Additionally, they have a good sense of hearing and can detect even faint sounds, which is useful for avoiding predators and detecting prey. Overall, the combination of these senses makes kobolds highly attuned to their environment and able to quickly react to any potential threats or opportunities.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Kobolds derive their names from the Draconic language, often based on a characteristic of the owner, such as scale color, distinctive body parts, or typical behavior. A kobold may change its name upon adulthood or add additional syllables after significant events, such as completing its first hunt, laying its first egg, or surviving its first battle. Warren kobolds prefer short and simple names, while higher-ranking dragon kobolds favor longer, more grandiose names in the fashion of true dragons.
Gender Ideals
Kobolds are a fascinating species with a unique social structure. Having no assigned gender roles for young or adults, both females and males have equal opportunities to become leaders, sorcerers, miners, or crafters. Kobolds do not determine their roles based on gender, but rather on their individual abilities and interests.
Courtship Ideals
Kobolds, who are known to be pragmatic in their approach to relationships, tend to choose their mates based on practical reasons such as proximity or mutual benefit. This is because they do not place a high cultural emphasis on emotional bonding or permanent family relationships, although they do acknowledge the importance of reproduction to ensure the survival of their species. Despite this lack of emphasis on emotional bonds, Kobolds are still capable of forming strong bonds with their chosen mates, and may even develop a deep sense of loyalty and affection towards them over time. Overall, Kobold relationships may appear transactional on the surface, but they are still capable of being meaningful and fulfilling for those involved.
Relationship Ideals
Kobolds are fascinating creatures. Their unique culture is based on a cool affinity or kinship rather than a strong emotional bond with other members of their tribe. They tend to be reserved and rarely show affection towards each other, even after years of knowing each other. Interestingly, they only consider themselves as either friends or enemies, with no in-between.
Despite their apparent lack of emotional warmth, kobolds are highly productive. They spend most of their time working, and this leaves little room for adversarial kobolds to engage in physical altercations or exchange insults over their differences. This focus on work is also what makes kobolds such efficient and effective creatures. They are always busy with something, whether it's mining, crafting, or building, and they take great pride in their work.
Furthermore, kobolds have a rich tradition of storytelling that they use to pass down their knowledge and history from generation to generation. They have a deep respect for their elders and value their wisdom and experience. Kobold stories are often filled with adventure and magic, and they are a testament to the imagination and creativity of these fascinating creatures.
Despite their apparent lack of emotional warmth, kobolds are highly productive. They spend most of their time working, and this leaves little room for adversarial kobolds to engage in physical altercations or exchange insults over their differences. This focus on work is also what makes kobolds such efficient and effective creatures. They are always busy with something, whether it's mining, crafting, or building, and they take great pride in their work.
Furthermore, kobolds have a rich tradition of storytelling that they use to pass down their knowledge and history from generation to generation. They have a deep respect for their elders and value their wisdom and experience. Kobold stories are often filled with adventure and magic, and they are a testament to the imagination and creativity of these fascinating creatures.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Kobolds are a fascinating species to study when it comes to language. They speak a simplified version of Draconic known as Low Draconic, which is derived from the original language. Although speakers of Draconic find the kobolds’ variant irritating due to its rule that repetition equals emphasis, there is more to this language than meets the eye.
In fact, the kobolds have a unique way of communicating through nonverbal cues. This form of communication is critical in their society, as it allows them to convey their thoughts and ideas without speaking. Whether it is through gestures or facial expressions, kobolds use nonverbal cues to get their point across.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that kobolds are incredibly intelligent creatures. While they may not rely on verbal communication as much as other species, they are still able to convey complex ideas and concepts. For example, they can use nonverbal cues to indicate the location of valuable resources or warn others of potential dangers.
In fact, the kobolds have a unique way of communicating through nonverbal cues. This form of communication is critical in their society, as it allows them to convey their thoughts and ideas without speaking. Whether it is through gestures or facial expressions, kobolds use nonverbal cues to get their point across.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that kobolds are incredibly intelligent creatures. While they may not rely on verbal communication as much as other species, they are still able to convey complex ideas and concepts. For example, they can use nonverbal cues to indicate the location of valuable resources or warn others of potential dangers.
Common Dress Code
Warren kobolds are a fascinating sight to behold. They dress themselves simply, with only a few metal adornments and spines from their beasts as their choice of ornamentation. However, do not let their modest dress sense fool you - they have an affinity for tall, narrow shields and spears which they find effective in tight spaces. While they often forgo armor and rely on the natural toughness of their scaly hide, high-ranking individuals and their retinue sometimes use leather or metal scales for additional protection. Interestingly, many of them wear their own shed teeth as jewelry. The more teeth an individual possesses, the older and wiser they are perceived to be. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous individuals wear teeth stolen or harvested from others in an attempt to make themselves appear older and more respectable.
The king kobold is a sight to behold, draped in tattered finery and silver and gold jewelry while sitting on a magnificent throne surrounded by an assortment of grisly traps and weaponry. As expected, Kobold kings demand tribute from their loyal subjects, allowing them a little more ornamentation in their good quality armor. Its crown, a garish mass of precious metals, adds weight to its boastful decrees. The king wears the gilded skull of a small dragon as a helmet, adding to its grandeur.
Kobolds are also known to be quite adept at crafting and have a remarkable amount of treasure in the form of small, noiseless jewelry such as rings, necklaces, and armbands. They savor these items, perhaps as some echo of a dragon's inclination to collect treasure. Their blades and arrow points are also tipped with venom, making them even more formidable in battle.
The king kobold is a sight to behold, draped in tattered finery and silver and gold jewelry while sitting on a magnificent throne surrounded by an assortment of grisly traps and weaponry. As expected, Kobold kings demand tribute from their loyal subjects, allowing them a little more ornamentation in their good quality armor. Its crown, a garish mass of precious metals, adds weight to its boastful decrees. The king wears the gilded skull of a small dragon as a helmet, adding to its grandeur.
Kobolds are also known to be quite adept at crafting and have a remarkable amount of treasure in the form of small, noiseless jewelry such as rings, necklaces, and armbands. They savor these items, perhaps as some echo of a dragon's inclination to collect treasure. Their blades and arrow points are also tipped with venom, making them even more formidable in battle.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Warren kobolds live in a harsh environment, a world of darkness and danger where surviving every day is a struggle. They have carved out a life in their tunnel network, working tirelessly to maintain and expand their tunnels, cultivate their mushrooms, and hunt for food. Every activity within the lair contributes to their survival, from guarding their territory to building their traps. These traps are a testament to their intelligence and resourcefulness, using natural hazards and salvaged materials such as oil barrels, bear traps, and nets attached to ropes to pull creatures up vertical shafts. Kobolds are survivors above all else and avoid combat whenever possible, preferring to use stealth, traps, and their numbers to take down powerful foes. They may be physically weak individually, but they know that they can achieve greatness through their superior numbers and cunning.
Although they prefer to keep to themselves, kobolds are closely allied with and related to dragonborn, drakes, and dragons. They feel both awe and kinship with dragons, who often extend protection to their distant kobold cousins. Kobolds worship evil dragons as demigods and serve them as minions and toadies. They are dangerous if cornered, vicious when defending their eggs, and notorious for the dangerous improvised traps they use to protect their warrens.
Kobolds have a natural talent for tunneling and have a near-instinctive sense of the structure of stone and earth, identifying what sections are strong or weak, bearing a load or safe to excavate, or are likely to contain minerals or offer access to water. They instinctively hoard treasures and trinkets, always on the lookout for broken, misplaced, discarded, or leftover crafted items that can still be put to use. They extract metals found in their natural state and polish raw gemstones. Nuggets of raw metals used for trade, bribes, or crafting can commonly be found in kobold lairs.
Warren kobolds are natural followers and easily cowed, threatened, or coerced. Their kings are convinced of their own importance and the loyalty of their subjects. However, as they are forced to interact more with the outside world, you can see a glimmer of curiosity in their eyes. They are slowly starting to appreciate the beauty of the world beyond their tunnels and are beginning to explore new areas and make new allies. As their world grows larger, the Warren kobolds will continue to rely on their resourcefulness and cunning to ensure their survival.
Although they prefer to keep to themselves, kobolds are closely allied with and related to dragonborn, drakes, and dragons. They feel both awe and kinship with dragons, who often extend protection to their distant kobold cousins. Kobolds worship evil dragons as demigods and serve them as minions and toadies. They are dangerous if cornered, vicious when defending their eggs, and notorious for the dangerous improvised traps they use to protect their warrens.
Kobolds have a natural talent for tunneling and have a near-instinctive sense of the structure of stone and earth, identifying what sections are strong or weak, bearing a load or safe to excavate, or are likely to contain minerals or offer access to water. They instinctively hoard treasures and trinkets, always on the lookout for broken, misplaced, discarded, or leftover crafted items that can still be put to use. They extract metals found in their natural state and polish raw gemstones. Nuggets of raw metals used for trade, bribes, or crafting can commonly be found in kobold lairs.
Warren kobolds are natural followers and easily cowed, threatened, or coerced. Their kings are convinced of their own importance and the loyalty of their subjects. However, as they are forced to interact more with the outside world, you can see a glimmer of curiosity in their eyes. They are slowly starting to appreciate the beauty of the world beyond their tunnels and are beginning to explore new areas and make new allies. As their world grows larger, the Warren kobolds will continue to rely on their resourcefulness and cunning to ensure their survival.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Kobolds are subterranean creatures known for their unique culture, mining and gear production skills, and their curiosity. They are also scavengers who prefer to take lost or discarded items, but will sometimes take objects that belong to others if they are in good condition. Kobolds try not to get caught and avoid conflict. They have no funeral ceremonies and believe that dying in service to their tribe will bring their spirit back to life in the next egg laid in their tribal hatchery. Kobold drake riders train drakes as scouts in times of war. Kobolds work together to build creative traps using natural hazards and salvaged materials. Examples of traps include oil barrels, bear traps, and nets attached to ropes that pull creatures up vertical shafts.
Common Myths and Legends
According to legend, kobolds are said to have emerged from the depths of the earth shortly after dragons claimed their first lairs. These creatures believe that they were created by Ausdremwuld from the blood of dragons, which is supported by their reptilian appearance. The legend of their origin is passed down from generation to generation within each tribe, instilling a sense of pride and self-respect within them.
In addition to this, there is another story that speaks of a kobold prophet of Ausdremwuld who was once favored by the dragon god until an adventurer stole a trinket from Ausdremwuld's hoard. The dragon god then sent the prophet to retrieve the trinket, but the adventurer played a trick on him, leading to the collapse of the earth and trapping the kobold prophet in an underground maze for eternity. This legend is believed to be the reason why kobolds have developed a strong dislike towards pranks of any kind.
Despite this, there are still many devout worshippers among the kobolds who dedicate themselves to proving their worthiness to Ausdremwuld, hoping to be more deserving than that ancient prophet. As such, the legend of the kobold prophet has become a symbol of hope and aspiration within their culture, inspiring many to strive for greatness and earn the favor of their dragon god.
In addition to this, there is another story that speaks of a kobold prophet of Ausdremwuld who was once favored by the dragon god until an adventurer stole a trinket from Ausdremwuld's hoard. The dragon god then sent the prophet to retrieve the trinket, but the adventurer played a trick on him, leading to the collapse of the earth and trapping the kobold prophet in an underground maze for eternity. This legend is believed to be the reason why kobolds have developed a strong dislike towards pranks of any kind.
Despite this, there are still many devout worshippers among the kobolds who dedicate themselves to proving their worthiness to Ausdremwuld, hoping to be more deserving than that ancient prophet. As such, the legend of the kobold prophet has become a symbol of hope and aspiration within their culture, inspiring many to strive for greatness and earn the favor of their dragon god.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Kobolds have a fascinating relationship with dragons. They are known for worshipping and serving dragons as if they were divine beings, and they fear the day when a dragon no longer values their devotion. However, their relationship with humans is quite different. Kobolds have a well-developed ability to avoid detection, allowing them to compete and thrive with surface-dwelling humanoids without being noticed. In fact, when discovered, kobolds may even form mutually beneficial arrangements with larger humanoids. For instance, some communities even hire kobolds to dig their sewer tunnels.
Despite feeling persecuted by other races, many kobolds have found ways to integrate and live in multicultural societies. In these societies, warren kobolds, in particular, can be found working as tinkers, scrappers, and miners. They are skilled at capturing and taming smaller animals and reptilian creatures, using them for pest control, food, and even as mounts or pack animals. However, it's important to note that kobolds are cautious and fearful of bears. When encountering them, they may panic.
Despite feeling persecuted by other races, many kobolds have found ways to integrate and live in multicultural societies. In these societies, warren kobolds, in particular, can be found working as tinkers, scrappers, and miners. They are skilled at capturing and taming smaller animals and reptilian creatures, using them for pest control, food, and even as mounts or pack animals. However, it's important to note that kobolds are cautious and fearful of bears. When encountering them, they may panic.
Lifespan
150 years
Average Height
2 to 3 ft.
Average Weight
25 to 35 lbs.
Average Physique
Physically weak, they are easy prey for predators.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Kobolds are fascinating creatures due to their unique and diverse scale patterns and colors, similar to the way dog breeds vary from one another. These scales come in a range of colors like blacks, blues, browns, grays, greens, oranges, orange-browns, reds, red-browns, tans, and whites. Interestingly, while the scales of each individual kobold may be unique, members of the same tribe tend to have similar coloration. Furthermore, the scale patterns of kobolds can be just as diverse as their colors, with mottled, reticulated, shaded, spotted, or striped patterns having been observed.
Related Ethnicities
Comments