Kobold
qivʾi šupāt (/ɣiːvʔi ʃuːpɒːt/ , the dog people in Modern Draconic)
Kobolds are a scaled, canine-like race of sentients that was once considered monstrous. They often have a symbiotic relationship with dragonborn -- the dragonborn brought them civilization and safety while the kobold act as servants and laborers. Some civilizations consider this too similar to slavery for comfort.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Kobolds resemble halflings in many respects -- they are short, bipedal, and lithe. However, the similarities often end there. Kobolds have faces that resemble that of a canine, but with leathery or scaly skin. Occasionally, a kobold can grow some form of facial hair, such as bushy eyebrows or a scruffy beard. Kobolds have nimble tails that help them balance on their digitigrade feet. Their clawed hands have slender fingers and they do not have body hair.
Kobolds are naturally nocturnal. Their skin and eyes are naturally sensitive to the light of Allathra, the sun.
Kobolds have rows of small spikes or horns along their snout, over the bridge of their eyebrow, and down the back of the neck. These horns are made of keratin, similar to an impala's or a hard nail. They constantly grow and, if they get large enough, will shed off on their own. Many kobolds trim their horns to aesthetic lengths, which also keeps them from getting too long and shedding.
Kobolds are warm-blooded.
Genetics and Reproduction
Kobolds reproduce readily and frequently in clutches of four to six soft-shelled eggs. An egg can be laid any time of year and hatched four months after it was laid. In a typical clutch of five eggs, two to three are expected to hatch.
Growth Rate & Stages
A healthy kobold ages at a rate of about 0.75 times a healthy human. A typical kobold could reach the following milestones:
- Adolescence at year 10
- Adulthood at year 13
- Death from old age at year 57
Ecology and Habitats
Kobolds are at home in caves, shadowed forests, dark marshes, or in the buildings of cities. They can handle a wide range of temperatures and are able to endure cold temperatures more readily than dragonborn.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Kobolds are a scavenging omnivore able to eat a wide range of organic material. They favor meat.
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
Kobold facial structure resembles canines, like a gray wolf or a coyote. They have ridges of horns or spikes that begin above the nostril on the snout and trail over the eyes, past the ears, and down the neck. There are cartilage ear flaps that kobolds use to express emotion alongside their lip emotes. Kobold eyes tend to be small with pale yellow scleara and slitted pupils.
Some kobolds are able to grow eyebrows or facial hair. When they do, the hair is often black and bushy.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Most United Halla Alliance kobolds live within a dragonborn society, such as Isoka. Some kobolds will live independent of the dragonborn authority outside of Isoka.
Average Intelligence
Kobolds are well-known for their ability to create improvised mechanical systems and curiosity for puzzles.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Kobold eyes are very sensitive to light. While they excel in dim or dark environments, they find bright light uncomfortable and sunlight difficult to deal with. Modern kobolds have developed special goggles and lotions to help mitigate the effect of sunlight.
Lifespan
57 years
Average Height
Males and females are typically 2.65 fl.
Average Weight
Kobolds vary in weight, with a decent range of 2.1 to 4.6 kobi (33 - 72 lbs).
Average Physique
Kobolds are naturally slender with lithe muscles.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Kobold skin is leathery with faint scales. There are often spotted marks on the back, shoulder, and tail. The skin tone is a rust red, tan, gray, or jade green.
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
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