The Lazuli Clan

"Lapis Lazuli - a cobalt colored gem made of crystalized greed."
Cowering in the dark, struggling to survive, directionless...
That is the fate of kobolds without a dragonlord to lead them. Their true purpose comes through servitude to a vastly superior being. Without a strong hand, the kobolds were doomed to fall to impulses and greed. At least, that's what Queen Shavra would have her kobold horde believe.
Perhaps, there is some truth to her propaganda. Before she arrived at the Chuluu Mountains, the kobolds there were thin, nothing but scale and bones. Their bellies knew hunger well, and what food they could find only gave them strength to fight amongst themselves. Rarely did these fights have any real purpose to them. Once, twelve kobolds died in a struggle over a tattered boot. When the fight was over, the surviving kobolds forgot about the boot entirely. “Out of sight, out of mind”, is the mantra of the impulsive afterall.So when Shavra saw these bone-thin kobolds cowering in the caves of Chuluu, she knew her conquest would be too easy.
Manipulation was her tool of preference, for, despite being a dragon, she didn't have the most fearsome appearance. Her scales didn't shimmer in the sun like a powerful Cosmodrake. Her wings didn’t create great gusts like a Spiritwyvern. Her talons didn’t tear open flesh like a Firewurm. When most dragons would dwarf a giant, standing next to a single tree could be enough to hide her snakelike body. Even kobolds as starved as the Chuluu wouldn't respect such a lizard. But should you forget, Shavra is a dragon, all of whom are to be feared and respected.
With what she lacked in physical prowess, she made up for in magical ability. She could cast spells that enter the mind of lesser beings, controlling their thoughts and desires. She would study the kobolds from a distance to learn their weaknesses: who was greedy, who kept secrets, who would betray their friends for power. Her spells would send whispers into the kobolds, twisting their thoughts to her will.
Through her manipulations, she was able to develop a devoted cult in secret. When she gave the order, kobolds turned on kobolds. Daggers and spears, swords and hammers tore apart brother and sister alike. When the fighting ended, the caves were an inch deep in blood. Only those strong enough to withstand the slaughter were worthy in Shavra's mind.
She slithered into the cave, unable to hide her glee as her eyes reflected the river of blood and the dead bodies of hundreds of kobolds. Her cult followed behind her as she made her way to the treasure room. There she saw two kobolds shoving each other over the only thing left of any worth: a polished lapis lazuli egg. She raised her blood-soaked hand above the kobolds, her shadow snaking over their heads and dripping blood on the egg. The two kobolds froze in place only just becoming aware of the serpent in the room. She smiled, drinking in the kobolds' fear. A bolt of lighting shot forth from one of Shavra's talons, hitting the egg. The energy sizzled and popped and soon the room was full of the smell of burnt kobold. Shavra picked up the egg, wiping away the ash marks of small kobolds, to see it was unscathed from her attack. She lost herself looking into the glint of the gem, its brilliant cobalt and specks of gold. She hissed to her cult, "...clean the caves of the dead and blood... Then, scour the earth for more of this gem. The lazuli is the only gem worthy of me!"
The Cult of Shavra, colloquially the Lazuli Clan, emerged from their dark tunnels. They pillaged the countryside, gorging on the meat of slaughter livestock. They pledged themselves wholly to their queen. She would take from every raid, the most precious gemstones, and fashioned them into scales to adorn herself. Her body now glinted more brilliantly than the diamond skin of a Cosmodrake, or the emerald wings of a Spiritwyvern, or the ruby claws of a Firewurm. She had the beauty of them all, glinting like a rainbow in the sun. The scales around her head, she only allowed the privilege to the lapis lazuli.

Structure

The kobolds organize themselves based on favor from their queen.
Shavra leads the cult and develops a fanaticism for her among the high leaders. Those she takes particular liking to are adorned with a lapis lazuli gem. These kobolds, known as the Lazulis, have almost total immunity to act as brutally as they wish. Any who resist their impulses are swiftly punished by the queen herself. 
Beneath the  Lazulis, are the Gold Diggers. Kobolds who've proven themselves great warriors through experience are given the privilege to guard the queen's treasure horde. Should a Gold Digger betray the queen and steal from the horde, their bodies are pitted and roasted, and served to the Lazuli.
The remaining kobolds organize themselves based on the wealth the queen shares with them. She takes a particular liking to gems, so those wishing to curry more favor, adorn themselves are brilliantly as they can. A kobold has to be careful, however, for the more wealth they display, the more who will seek to take it.

Type

Illicit, Gang

Alternative Names

The Cult of Shavra

Location

Kai'bal