Kobold
Basic Information
Anatomy
Kobolds are small, humanoid reptilian creatures standing between two to three feet tall with a (relatively speaking) large tail, and clawed hands and feet. They have a variety of different scale colorations and patterns, with most kobold clans having a few hereditary main colorations.
Most kobolds have horned heads, which come in a variety of shapes which are passed down genetically. Few kobolds weigh more than 35 pounds.
Kobolds are coldblooded creatures, and can become somewhat sluggish when exposed to temperatures at either extreme. Most underground warrens are carefully designed to control airflow, capturing and warming fresh air while expelling excess smoke.
Genetics and Reproduction
Kobolds reproduce at a fairly rapid rate when resources allow, and can lay clutches of one to three eggs each month. Eggs can be rendered dormant fairly easily by maintaining specific humidity levels, and can last several years like this, allowing them to temporarily slow the growth of a clan when necessary.
Ecology and Habitats
Kobolds typically thrive in dark, relatively moist areas. Naturally formed caverns and caves are often excellent examples of this, and warrens often expand these systems greatly during their stay in them. More rarely, a warren might be constructed in a rainforest with a thick canopy, or dug into an area of soft clay.
Kobolds can survive on a smaller oxygen percentage than many other humanoids, even accounting for their size. This allows them to dwell in large numbers in poorly ventilated caves without notable discomfort, though most warrens tend to find alternate ventilation solutions.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Kobolds can be found across the world, with different regions having varying ethnicities just as other humanoid civilizations do. They generally stay away from biomes with extreme temperatures, such as deserts and tundras.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Kobolds see in the dark exceedingly well, with some living their entire lives in the underground. While their hearing isn't terribly good, many cave and underground dwelling kobolds become very skilled at detecting the source of a sound thanks to years of differentiating echoes in caves from the creature creating them.
Civilization and Culture
History
Scholars suggest that kobolds may be a distant relative of dragons due to their similar scale colors and horn structures, but more modern texts tend to refute this. Among other minor biological differences, kobolds are cold blooded while true dragons are warm blooded.
