Kobolds

Kobolds are weak, craven, and seethe with a festering resentment for the rest of the world, especially members of races that seem stronger, smarter, or superior to them in any way. They proudly claim kinship to dragons, but beneath all the bluster, the comparison to their glorious cousins leaves kobolds with a profound sense of inadequacy. Though they are hardworking, clever, and blessed with a natural talent for mechanical devices and mining, they spend their days nursing grudges and hatreds instead of celebrating their own gifts. Kobold tactics specialize in traps and ambushes, but kobolds enjoy anything that allows them to harm others without putting themselves at risk. Often, they seek to capture rather than to kill, taking out their frustrations on the helpless victims they drag back to their claustrophobic lairs.
Physical Description: Kobolds are small, bipedal reptilian humanoids. Most stand around 3 feet tall and weigh about 35 pounds. They have powerful jaws for creatures of their size and noticeable claws on their hands and feet. Often kobolds’ faces are curiously devoid of expression, as they favor showing their emotions by simply swishing their tails. Kobolds’ thick hides vary in color, and most have scales that match the hue of one of the varieties of chromatic dragons, with red scales being predominant. A few kobolds, however, have more exotic colors such as orange or yellow, which in some tribes raises or lowers an individual’s status in the eyes of his fellows.
Society: Kobolds thrive in cramped quarters far from the light of the sun. Most live in vast warrens deep beneath the earth, but a few instead prefer to make their homes beneath tangles of overgrown trees and brush. Saving their malice for other races, most kobolds get along well with their own kind. While squabbles and feuds do occur, the elders who rule kobold communities tend to settle such conflicts swiftly. Kobolds delight in taking slaves, relishing the chance to torment and humiliate them. They are also cowardly and practical, and often end up bowing to more powerful beings. If these creatures are of another humanoid race, kobolds often scheme to free themselves from subjugation as soon as possible. If the overlord is a powerful draconic or monstrous creature, however, kobolds see no shame in submission, and often shower adoration on their new leader. This is especially true if the kobolds serve a true dragon, who they tend to worship outright.
Relations: Kobolds often seethe with hatred and jealousy, but their innate caution ensures that they only act on these impulses when they have the upper hand. If unable to safely indulge their urge to physically harm and degrade members of other races, they resort to careful insults and “practical jokes” instead.

Starting Ages

Adulthood	Intuitive	Self-Taught	Trained
12 years	+1d4 years (15 – 18 years)	+1d6 years (15 – 20 years)	+2d6 years (16 – 26 years)

Height and Weight

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Base Weight	Weight Modifier
Male	2 ft. 6 in.	+2d4 in. (2 ft. 8 in. – 3 ft. 2 in.)	25 lbs.	+(2d4 lbs.) (27 – 33 lbs.)
Female	2 ft. 4 in.	+2d4 in. (2 ft. 6 in. – 3 ft.)	20 lbs.	+(2d4 lbs.) (22 – 28 lbs.)

Standard Racial Traits

• Ability Score Modifiers: Kobolds are fast but weak. They gain +2 Dexterity, –4 Strength, and –2 Constitution.
• Type: Kobolds are humanoids with the reptilian subtype.
• Size: Kobolds are Small creatures and thus gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty on their combat maneuver checks and to Combat Maneuver Defense, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.
• Base Speed: Kobolds have a base speed of 30 feet.
• Languages: Kobolds begin play speaking only Draconic. Kobolds with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Common, Dwarven, Gnome, and Undercommon. See the Linguistics skill page for more information about these languages.

Defense Racial Traits

• Armor: Kobolds naturally scaly skin grants them a +1 natural armor bonus.

Feat and Skill Racial Traits

• Crafty: Kobolds gain a +2 racial bonus on Craft (trapmaking), Perception, and Profession (miner) checks. Craft (trapmaking) and Stealth are always class skills for a kobold.

Senses Racial Traits

• Darkvision: Kobolds can see perfectly in the dark up to 60 feet.

Weakness Racial Traits

• Light Sensitivity: Kobolds lives in darkness have caused them to suffer from light sensitivity.

Origin/Ancestry

Second Crossing

Lifespan

50