Kobold
Yips of Doom
A reptilian humanoid standing under 3 feet tall with reddish brown scaled skin and burnt orange eyes (kobolds were also known to have black skin). Its two legs are sinewy and digitigrade (walking on its long toes and not touching the ground with its heels, like a dog or cat). It has long, clawed fingers and a jaw like a crocodile.
Granted, the ones seen by the Wild Cards were Blue!
Kobolds are craven reptilian humanoids that worship evil dragons as demigods and serve them as minions and toadies. Kobolds inhabit dragons' lairs when they can but more commonly infest dungeons, gathering treasures and trinkets to add to their own tiny hoards.
Strength in Numbers. Kobolds are egg-laying creatures. They mature quickly and can live to be "great wyrms" more than a century old. However, many kobolds perish before they reach the end of their first decade. Physically weak, they are easy prey for predators. This vulnerability forces them to band together. Their superior numbers can win battles against powerful adversaries, but often with massive casualties on the kobold side.
Tunnelers and Builders. Kobolds make up for their physical ineptitude with a cleverness for trap making and tunneling. Their lairs consist of low tunnels through which they move easily but which hinder larger humanoids. Kobolds also riddle their lairs with traps. The most insidious kobold traps make use of natural hazards and other creatures. A trip wire might connect to a spring-loaded trap that hurls clay pots of flesh-eating green slime or flings crates of venomous giant centipedes at intruders.
The Lost God. In addition to the dragons they revere, kobolds worship a lesser god named Kurtulmak. Legends speak of how Kurtulmak served as Tiamat's vassal in the Nine Hells until Garl Glittergold, the god of gnomes, stole a trinket from the Dragon Queen's hoard. Tiamat sent Kurtulmak to retrieve the trinket, but Garl Glittergold played a trick on him, collapsing the earth and trapping the kobold god in an underground maze for eternity. For this reason, kobolds hate gnomes and pranks of any kind. Kurtulmak's most devoted worshipers dedicate themselves to finding and releasing their lost god from his prison-maze.
The Mighty Menagerie saw some at the Fossilized Forest/Beach
Basic Information
Anatomy
Kobolds were aggressive, insular, yet industrious small humanoid creatures. They were noted for their skill at building traps and preparing ambushes, and mining. They were distantly related to dragons and urds.
“The dragon scale toughens our skin. The dragon bone adorns our skull. The dragon heart flames our sorcery. We are the dragon, and for the dragon we live. Long live the dragon.”
Description
A kobold was a reptilian humanoid, standing between 2 and 2.5 feet (60–75 centimeters) tall, weighing 35 to 45 pounds (16–20 kilograms), with scaled skin between reddish brown and black in color and burnt orange to red eyes. Their legs were sinewy and digitigrade. They had long, clawed fingers and a jaw like a crocodile. Small white or tan horns protruded from their head, and they had rat-like tails. They would often smell of wet dog and stagnant water. Kobolds liked to wear red or orange garments, which were usually ragged.Subraces
Dragonwrought koboldBiological Traits
Lycanthropy
At some point in time, kobolds learned to domesticate dire weasels to serve them as guards and hunters. This resulted in lycanthropic kobold dire wereweasels. Around one in ten thousand kobolds was a natural lycanthrope in this manner.Genetics and Reproduction
Reproduction
A pregnant female would lay her egg within two weeks. About one in ten pregnancies led to two eggs. An egg needed incubation for about two months, but the newly hatched kobold could walk in just hours. The eggs were particularly sturdy, and the young inside could survive even if the egg broke as much as fifteen days early. Kobold young matured quickly, having reached young adulthood in six years. Some rare kobold children had wings, while still others were dragonwrought, and showed signs of descent from a specific color of draconic ancestor. It was possible to identify a dragonwrought egg because the shell would be speckled with flecks of the dragon's color, which became more numerous throughout the incubation period. While winged kobolds were often disparaged by ordinary kobolds, ritual demanded that dragonwrought eggs be taken to a sacred hatching place so that dragonwrought kobolds could be raised above ground in case they were able to fly and needed to learn to use their wings.Ecology and Habitats
Dietary Needs and Habits
Kobolds were omnivorous, eating plants and animals, but would not refuse to eat intelligent creatures if the opportunity presented itself. They were able to eat just about anything when the situation became desperate, even tree bark or bone. Due to their cold-blooded nature, kobolds that had spent time in a warm place would not need to eat for days.
Biological Cycle
Shedding
Like other reptiles, kobolds shed their skin periodically. A growing kobold might do this as frequently as weekly, but a developed one usually shed once per season. Unlike snakes, kobolds did not shed their entire skin at once; they instead shed portions of it over a period of time, much like lizards do. The process was usually accelerated by rubbing. Bitterleaf was often applied after shedding to help the new scales acquire strength and shine.Behaviour
Combat
Kobolds used their cunning and sheer weight of numbers to defeat enemies. They preferred to lay traps or ambushes, and would only engage a foe directly after it was weakened. If their numbers were diminished such that they had less than a two-to-one advantage, the group would usually flee. Kobold traps included spike pits, tripwires, flaming oil, and poisonous vermin. They disliked gnomes to such an extent that they would attack on sight. Kobolds would usually loot what treasure they could carry from their defeated enemies, who were usually killed. Occasionally, kobolds would enslave their foes, who then might be sold on, unless they were gnomes, which kobolds would always kill, but never eat.Additional Information
Social Structure
Society
“Kobolds are a lot less cute when they learn how to cast fireballs.”Kobolds lived in the dark, ideally underground or thick forest, in tribal societies. Their lairs were often overcrowded, although when one tribe became too numerous, it split into numerous smaller ones. The overcrowding eliminated the concept of privacy, so kobolds slept in communal areas where nudity was not regarded as shameful or offensive, even to the opposite sex. Kobolds wore clothing for function or ritual, but not to prevent nudity. The common overcrowding often led to conflict, and two kobolds would fight to settle their differences, although these fights were not usually lethal. This led to a lack of deep-rooted divisions or grievances in kobold society. They were respectful of authority figures, and would obey diligently, particularly when their ruler was of lawful evil alignment. A kobold sorcerer (with fake wings), probably casting fireball. Kobolds had natural tendencies towards sorcery. They could live up to 135 years, and dragonwrought kobolds even longer. Kobolds were similar to dragons, but while dragons had warm blood, kobolds were cold-blooded. Due to this, they were susceptible to cold, especially if it was brought on quickly. They enjoyed swimming and would gather to bathe together, especially after shedding (see below). Kobolds would take a lot of care maintaining their claws and teeth, using smooth stones to polish claws and chewing roots to clean teeth. It was unknown how kobolds were of dragon heritage. While each kobold valued its own life, the tribe came first. They considered the success of their tribe to be their own success.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Usages
Leather made from kobold skin was soft and flexible, and elves had been known to craft items from it. Kobold bones were sometimes used in the hilts of weapons.Harvesting
Instructions
Instructions: Because this creature is an Humanoid, the player should roll a Medicine Check using the DCs in the table below. On a success, the player is able to harvest the item. On a failure, the item cannot be harvested (either because the character is not skilled enough, or because the item is ruined). The DM should note that many of the items have an expiration, and can not be sold or used after the expiration has passed.
| DC | Item | Description | Value | Weight | Expiration | Crafting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Kobold's Tail | A kobold's tail has little value, but it can be used to collect any bounties on the creatures. | 5 cp | 3 lb. | 3 days | - |
This kind of creature may carry a few coins. This kind of creature may have a small hoard. This character usually carries: 1 Dagger, 1 Sling Random loot, generally very little. they can be carrying weapons and armor which could range in quality and abilities.
Possible Trinkets
Possible trinkets
1d20 Item Weight Value 1 1 dried mushroom ration(s) 2 lb. 5 sp 2 1 jar of grubs (alive) 5 lb. 3 sp 3 1 pouch of mushrooms (poisonous?) 1 lb. 1 sp 4 1 small animal carcass(es) 1 lb. 1 sp 5 1 waterskin full of filthy rainwater 5 lb. 2 sp 6 1 necklace of various teeth 1 lb. 3 sp 7 1 pouch of jewelry (stolen, or from victims) 3 lb. 15 gp 8 1 pouch of rib bones, carved into crude tools 1 lb. 8 sp 9 1 rope, woven from human hair (20 ft.) 5 lb. 3 sp 10 1 parchment with a crude drawing of a trap design -- -- 11 1 heavy rock, crudely painted with a red dragon 5 lb. 2 cp 12 1 large insect shell, used as a bowl 2 lb. 3 cp 13 1 pouch of mushroom spores 3 lb. 5 cp 14 1 giant spider fang on a string 3 lb. 5 sp 15 1 stitched cloth doll of a red dragon 2 lb. 6 sp 16 1 small unpolished red gem ½ lb. 5 gp 17 1 a red animal collar, with lizard scales embedded on the inside 2 lb. 5 cp 18 1 necklace of linked, colored lizard scales -- 9 sp 19 1d4 small bottle(s) of paint 3 lb. 2 sp 20 1d6 crude lockpick(s), single use -- 5 cp
This creature produces 1-4 pieces of Harvested Meat, weight total of 4-16 lb. DC: 5, Expire: 1 day, Value: 2-8 sp There is a stigma to eating meat belonging to sentient creatures that have a humanoid form and features. Harvesting the meat may be frowned upon and even considered cannibalism. Some communities may refuse to buy the meat (and some evil communities may pay a premium). The meat may even be difficult to eat, or unedible. Of course, these are all up to the Dungeon Master to decide.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
They possessed darkvision and were particularly sensitive to bright light.
Civilization and Culture
Courtship Ideals
Mating
Kobolds did not maintain monogamous relationships, and due to the importance they placed on propagation, they chose mates by practical measures rather than love or other emotions. Mating was an impersonal act for kobolds.Major Language Groups and Dialects
Kobolds spoke Yipyak, a version of the Draconic language, with a yipping accent. Some could also speak Undercommon.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Mining
Kobolds were talented miners. Kobolds often created their lairs by mining them from the rock. Mining was a meticulously planned and conducted process where nothing was left to chance. Divination magic was used to locate ore and mineral deposits. A high proportion of a kobold tribe were miners. Each family group was expected to cut its own room, the walls of which they would adorn with a pictorial history of the family.in the morning she shows Barlo and asks if he might know what it is. Survival (22), he is very certain this belongs to a Kobold , as they tend to lose a lot of teeth from time to time. Many know that kobolds love to mine, and they are one of the more "monstrous" creatures that have slowly been accepted by more civilized areas. Generally they stay in their tribes and mine, they are generally found in large groups dedicated to their society. They tend to not be much of a problem when they stay in their mines, it's when they go in search of a new mine that problems arise.
Crafting
The greatest art for kobolds was trapmaking. The use of invention and cunning in traps was the mark of a good trapmaker. The other art form was the pictorial representation of the tribe's history, created on the walls of a specially created room in every lair. Kobolds enjoyed making jewelry from the gems and precious metals they encountered while mining. They could be possessive about their personal jewelry collections, and much effort was put into crafting beautiful jewelry, unlike other items, which were functional rather than aesthetically pleasing.Fashion
Most kobolds were miners and so dressed in sleeveless tunics and breeches; but kobolds enjoyed dressing in more elegant clothing for festivities. These included clothes made from silk or leather, but tailored clothes were only common among leaders. Garments were often made to compliment the wearer's eyes, which involved the use of orange or red dyes. Other garments might be dyed to demonstrate the wearer's affinity to a particular kind of dragon. Kobolds required the dexterity in their feet too often to wear footwear, and the soles of their feet were hard enough to cope with most surfaces. Due to the amount of time kobolds spend mining, gemstones were readily available, and they used these to adorn their clothing, and to make jewelry.History
Toril History
Time of Dragons
Kobolds were the first of the dragonspawn and were created by Asgorath (another name for Io) alongside urds around −24,500 DR. They lived under Kurtulmak in Darastrixhurthi, a vassal state of Darastriverthicha, a nation ruled by the green dragon Caesinsjach. They found the gems in which the souls of the gnomes waited to be turned into living creatures and enslaved those who already lived. When the elves caused the Rage of Dragons, their dragon turned on them, and Garl Glittergold took this chance to kill Kurtulmak and the kobolds by collapsing the cavern in which their nation lay. A blue dragonwrought kobold called Kuraulyek took the urds and fled out of egoism to the Thunder Peaks against Kurtulmak's orders to protect the kobolds against their mad master. This led to the near extinction of the entire kobold race. Io subsequently elevated Kurtulmak to deity status as leader of the kobolds, but also elevated Kuraulyek both as reparation but also to ensure the continued existence of the race. Kurtulmak learned about Kuraulyek's actions, and since then it was said that the latter was hiding from the former out of fear of reprisal.Common Myths and Legends
Religion
The main deity of the kobolds was Kurtulmak, the god of war and mining, who hates all living things besides their kin. A main part of their religion was to seek out magic items that they believed may help free Kurtulmak from his eternal prison. The other main god worshiped by the kobolds was Gaknulak, the god of protection, stealth, trickery and traps. A lesser-known kobold demigod was Dakarnok. The remainder of the kobold pantheon was comprised of deified kobold heroes.Patron deity
Kurtulmak Kobolds were also known for serving dragons and praising them as gods. A kobold tribe would present a dragon with tributes and sacrifices and whatever they thought it may like; they might even see it as a great honor to be devoured by the creature. If a kobold tribe was not accepted by a dragon, they might start working for it in secret. Once a tribe settled to serve a dragon, their entire existence was to serve their god in every way.Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Kobolds held a hatred for nearly all other humanoid races and enjoyed killing and torturing them, in particular brownies, gnomes, pixies and sprites.
Kobolds were known to use dire weasels as mounts.
Sources
Source(s):
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Scientific Name
Animalia, Materia (draconian), humanoidus, Bipedia, Dragon (Kobold)
Origin/Ancestry
Humanoid (Monster Kobold)
Lifespan
Usually up to 50 years, max 120 years
Conservation Status
Long ago Goblins and other creatures like kobolds were attacked on sight as they were often the aggressors, however the past two thousand years or so have seen kobolds finding some acceptance, more so in larger cities. However, there is still discrimination and disappearances of kobolds all the time as well as attacks outside of city walls. Many places still don't consider the murder of a kobolds the same as the murder of others.
Granted, Kobolds can be very territorial and generally they do not seek permission to mine, which can cause all types of issues.
Average Height
2–2.5 ft (60–74 cm)
Average Weight
35–45 lb (16–20 kg)
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
5E Statistics
Goblin
| Size | Small |
| Type | Humanoid |
| Tag(s) | Kobold |
| Alignment | Lawful Evil |
| Challenge Rating | Kobold 1 ⁄8 Kobold inventor 1 ⁄4 Kobold dragonshield 1 Kobold scale sorcerer 1 |
General Information
| Patron Deity | Kurtulmak |
| Vision | Darkvision |
| Diet | Omnivorous |
| Average Lifespan | Usually up to 50 years, max 120 years |
| Language(s) | Common, Draconic, Yipyak |
| Subraces | Dragonwrought kobold |
| Favored Climate | Temperate |
| Favored Terrain | Forest Terrain |
Appearance
| Average Height | 2–2.5 ft (60–74 cm) |
| Average Weight | 35–45 lb (16–20 kg) |
| Skin Color(s) | Reddish brown to rusty black |
| Eye Color(s) | Red |
| Distinctions | Scales, small |
See Also: Kobold on Forgotten Realms Wiki