Kobold
Kobolds (from the Draconic kobal, meaning "vagabond" or "rogue") are bipedal reptiles, thought to be closely related to the Dragonborn. Though the word "kobold" is probably the most widely used for and by them, some kobolds prefer to refer to their species as "dracopanae", meaning "attendants of dragons"; the choice of which of the two words that an individual uses to refer to themselves is one of a number of linguistic markers that differnentiate between various ethnocultural groups among the kobolds.
Basic Information
Anatomy
A typical kobold stands between two to three feet tall, and weighs 35 to 45 pounds. They are covered in scaled skin, most commonly rusty-brown in colouration, though red, blue, purple, and green tones are also relatively common. Like their larger Dragonborn cousins, they typically have four clawed digits on each hand and foot, though polydactyly is not uncommon; their heads are somewhat crocodilian in appearance, and are often crowned with small horns. Unlike dragonborn, almost all kobolds hatch with tails.
A very small number of kobolds hatch with leathery wings and become capable of flight when they mature; known in the common tongue as urds or urdlings (a Baltho-Volsangan calque of the Draconic word "moirai", meaning "fateful ones", by which they are known in most kobold societies), many kobold cultures consider their hatching to be a powerful omen of turbulent times to come.
Genetics and Reproduction
Like the dragonborn, kobolds undergo a process of cyclical hermaphroditism, and are capable of either producing eggs or fertilising them; unlike dragonborn, they have a third reproductive sex which is capable of parthenogenesis. These changes are typically triggered by exposure to the pheremones of other kobolds, and scholars have theorised that this helps to ensure that kobold societies can rapidly repopulate themselves in the event of large numbers of deaths.
Kobolds lay up to four eggs in a clutch, which need to be incubated for around two months before hatching.
Growth Rate & Stages
Kobolds can walk within hours of hatching, and grow rapidly in the first years of their life. They reach adult size after around a decade, and full physical maturity towards the end of their second decade.
Like many reptilians, kobolds shed their skins regularly - as much as once per week in their early growth stages, though this slows as they reach maturity. Unlike snakes, they do not shed their skins in a single piece, but rather shed patches of skin over a period of time; many kobolds will regularly scrub themselves with pumice to aid in the shedding process, and apply herbal preparations and alchemical oils to strengthen new scales and keep them flexible.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Kobold eyes are well-adapted for low-light vision, and they can see well in dim light and darkness. Those who spend the majority of their time in lightless places tend to become further adapted to the dark, and can be easily dazzled by sudden bright lights; though they can usually acclimatise to brighter conditions within a few days, some prefer to wear eye-pieces of leather and smoked glass when venturing into the surface world.
Civilization and Culture
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Several main ethnocultral groups exist among the kobolds; these divisions are as much philsophical and religious as they are ancestral. On the continent of Kataris, the main ethnocultral groups include the Dracopanae, characterised by their veneration of the Oath-Dragons and militaristic outlook; the Ektori, characterised by their rejection of the Oath-Dragons, strong communal ethos, and expert artificers; and the reclusive and mystical Paphnor, who dwell far beneath the earth and eschew contact with most outsiders. Kobolds not affiliated with any of these groups are often referred to as the Unguided.
Lifespan
50 to 100 years
Average Height
2-3 feet
Average Weight
34-45 lbs
Related Ethnicities
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