Ancestry: Kobold (Coh-bold, Kah-buhl)

Anthropoid | Kobold | Dragonfolk

Dragon

The Kobold

"Like goblins with scales, thanks to being part dragon. Not sure who devised these creatures, but they have a lot to answer for."

Kobold Mindset

You Might...

• Take pride in your connection to dragons or to other dragonkin.
• Move at a very fast pace in comparison to others.
• Have an observation or fixation that others willingly partake in. To their benefit or risk.

Others Probably...

• Assume that you are cowardly because you are small and/or easy to topple.
• Appreciate your ingenuity and resourcefulness, even if it comes across as impractical.
• Consider your claims of draconic power to be overblown, delusional, or endearing.

Description

Physical Description

Kobolds are short (about 3 feet tall) reptilian humanoids with slender bodies and long tails. They often boast distant draconic ancestry, and every kobold displays one or more draconic features, such as stout horns, razor-sharp teeth, or—more rarely—vestigial wings or draconic breath. They mature quickly, reaching adulthood by about 12 years and living to about 60.

The color of a kobold’s scales can vary widely. Most often, they mimic the hues of chromatic or metallic dragons, with a mix of slightly darker or lighter scales that create a mottled appearance. The scales of newly hatched kobolds often reflect the community’s draconic exemplar, whether that’s the dragon they currently serve or the dragon type from which they’re descended.

Anything Special?

There are often two kinds of kobolds, with no in-between. As a word of caution, however, one of them is just a gateway to being a furry (not that that is a problem). Not gonna tell you which one it is.

Kobold Mechanics

Ancestry Statistics

These do not change, unless you have the corresponding Ancestry Talent. All Kobolds start with these.

Base Stats

• Age.The average kobold age depends on the plane and where they hail from, and how willing they are to throw caution at the wind. Results vary, but it’s known they mature around age 6, and live to be at least a 200, with some only living to 11 days.
• Size. Kobold height ranges from 2 feet to 3.5 feet, the taller ones often being much stronger than they look. Your size is Small.
• Associated Traits. Kobold fand Anthropoid (means Humanoid). As well as Dragonfolk. And Dragon, despite being on the small side.
• Traditional Attribute Spread. Traditionally, Kobolds favor Charisma in all forms, thanks to their adjacency and reliance on dragons within and out of their culture. Strength of personality is often judged favorably instead of raw strength itself, though many Kobolds will definitely seek power in one form or another.
• Language(s). Common, Draconic (+1 per your positive Cha Mod when starting the game, list here)
• Base Movement / Speed. 20 ft, Burrowing Speed 5 ft
• Senses. Low-Light Vision, Darkvision 60 ft
• Starting HP (HP per level). 6 (+1)

Ancestry Talents

Kobold kOrigin

You retain the legacy of dragons, being born from their machinations rather than being created from some strange ritual. Your gifts are natural. And gracious. And AMAZING. You gain an instance of the Draconic Progenitor common feature. Additionally, your gracious natural amazingness and totally not your shortness grants you additional defenses. You have a permanent +2 Numerical Bonus to your AC and saves. Finally, you gain the Klaws of the Kobold ancestry talent for free. Special: If you pick the Draconic Legacy Versatile Heritage, You can pick an additional Ancestry Talent for every 3 Character Levels you have. This Talent cannot be swapped.

Klaws of the Kobold

The Koboldly Klaws at the end of your fingies are well filed and maintained, giving you a natural weapon. You have the Kobold Klaws Natural Weapon. They are melee weapons that deal Slashing damage equal to 1d6 + your Half-Proficiency and are part of the Unarmed Weapon Group. They have the Agile ⚙️, Finesse ⚙️, and Keen⚙️ traits. This Talent cannot be swapped. You maintain this Talent even if you were to lose one or both of your hands and replace them, as the nature of the claws comes from maintenance honed over many years.

Emotional Exploitation

With kobold posturing, bravado or simple displays of something or another, you can open up your foe to getting seriously hurt. As an Action | ◈, or a Reaction | ⮌ against an enemy attack when it's not your turn, all enemies within a 10 ft radius are affected by your posturing. Until the start of your next turn, your allies have Advantage on attack rolls against each affected enemy. Alternatively, you can inflict Disadvantage attacks made by enemies, including the triggering attack until the start of your next turn. You can use this talent a number of times equal toHalf-Proficiency per Short Rest. This feature can visually be anything the player and GM can agree on, from simply groveling to distract, or a draconic battlecry that chills them to the bone. At Character Level 7, this talent gains the Aura⚙️ trait.

Hyperdiversity	Diversity is your strength. You may raise two of your starting Attributes by 1. This talent allows you to raise a stat up to +5 at level 1. Alternatively, you may swap this talent out for any Skill Talent, in addition to any Ancestry Talents you qualify for. Once this talent is swapped, this trait cannot be gained again.

Heritage Choice

You may pick a heritage. You gain everything listed from such.

Variant Ancestry Talents

Some of your talents can swapped for the ones listed below, or be taken at a later levels via Character Progression. If your GM is using the Classic Ancestries optional rule, you can only take the talents below as you level up, after level 1.

Furthermore, due to the nature of Kobolds, they can gain talents available to other Ancestries who count as 'Dragonfolk' or 'Scalefolk'. Those talents will be listed underneath their unique talents for each section below.

Here are the talents you can swap at level 1.

Here are the ancestry talents you can gain at later levels.

Unlockable at Character level 3

Unlockable at Character level 5

Unlockable at Character level 7

Unlockable at Character level 9

Unlockable at Character level 11

Note: The Origin Customization rule allows you to swap any skill proficiency gained for another you don't have, if playing with traditional or other rules.

Deeper Lore

Kobolds are well known for their destructive tendencies, as well as their status as being on the lowest rungs of society more oft than not. But their history is rich, and heroic kobolds do exist.

Settings

Golarion

Base

Every kobold knows that their slight frame belies true, mighty draconic power. They are ingenious crafters and devoted allies within their warrens, but those who trespass into their territory find them to be inspired skirmishers, especially when they have the backing of a draconic sorcerer or true dragon overlord. However, these reptilian opportunists prove happy to cooperate with other humanoids when it’s to their benefit, combining caution and cunning to make their fortunes in the wider world.

Kobolds are resourceful survivors whose snare-guarded warrens and opportunistic scavenging have cast them as villains to most other humanoids, with their draconic reverence lending them a reputation as mere minions and nuisances. Yet some kobolds have emerged from their secluded warrens seeking the relative safety of surface settlements, the lucrative prospects of the adventuring life, or validating awe from followers of their own.

Society

Kobolds have an ingrained cautiousness that keeps them alive. They're secretive or subservient around powerful creatures to avoid becoming victims. This meekness fades once kobolds secure either a formidable patron (like a dragon) or a potent source of supernatural power (like an artifact or sorcerous leader). They often achieve an unshakable fervor and loyalty to their new cause or leader. However, kobolds are infamous for sensing a proverbial sinking ship, and once their source of power fails or seems doomed, their morale breaks swiftly.

Whether led by a dragon or not, kobolds almost always identify themselves with a type of dragon that serves as their spiritual exemplar. Their societies regularly adopt laws and cultural norms inspired by the exemplar's personality.

Names

Golarion

A young kobold’s given name is rarely more than a syllable or two. However, as they age, achieve status, and accomplish great deeds, kobolds add more syllables to their names, imitating a common draconic practice. Kobolds rarely have surnames except in an effort to better fit into a community, in which case they typically adopt the surname of an inspiring figure in that group.

Sample Names
Azrnak, Draahzin, Enga, Fazgyn, Fazij, Jekkajak, Kib, Kirrok, Mirkol, Tarka, Urkak, Varshez, Vroklan, Zekstikah, Zgaz

Alignment and Faith

Dragons

Trivia

• Kobolds are not Dragonborn, despite sharing many similarities. And Talents. And themes. And

Examples of Kobolds

To Come