Kobold (Co-bold)
Kobolds are craven reptilian humanoids that commonly infest dungeons. They make up for their physical ineptitude with a cleverness for trap making.
Basic Information
Anatomy
A kobold is a reptilian humanoid, standing between 2-2.5 ft tall, weighing 35 to 45 lbs, with scaled skin that can be of almost any color (most commonly red) and burnt orange to red eyes. Their legs are sinewy and digitigrade and have long, clawed fingers with a jaw like a crocodile. Small white or tan horns protrude from their head, and rat-like reptilian tails protrude from their backsides. They often smell of wet dogs and stagnant water.
Some rare kobold children have wings and could even be dragonwrought. Dragonwrought show descent from a specific color of draconic ancestor, which affects the pigment of their scales and physical height (they are usually taller). Some kobolds are born with wings and are called winged kobolds. While winged kobolds are disparaged among kobold society for being unrightfully superior, a winged dragonwrought kobold is considered a gift from Kurtulmak.
Like other reptiles, kobolds shed their skin periodically. A growing kobold might do this as frequently as weekly, but a developed one usually sheds once per season. Unlike snakes, kobolds don't shed their entire skin at once; they instead shed portions of it over some time, much like lizards do. The process is usually accelerated by rubbing. Bitterleaf is often applied after shedding to help the new scales acquire strength and shine.
Genetics and Reproduction
Kobolds are extremely fecund egg layers. A pregnant female will lay her egg within two weeks. About one in ten pregnancies led to two eggs. An egg needs incubation for about two months, but the newly hatched kobold can learn to walk in just hours. The eggs are particularly sturdy, and the young inside can survive even if the egg breaks as much as fifteen days early. Kobold young mature quickly, reaching young adulthood in six years. They often lay eggs in a common nest, with specialized foster parents watching over the eggs and wyrmlings.
It is possible to identify a dragonwrought egg because the shells are speckled with flecks of the dragon's color from which they are descended, which become more numerous throughout the incubation period. While winged kobolds are often disparaged by ordinary kobolds, ritual demands 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.
Kobolds don't maintain monogamous relationships, and due to the importance they place on propagation, choose mates by practical measures rather than love or other emotions. Mating is an impersonal act for kobolds.
Ecology and Habitats
Kobolds live in the dark, ideally underground or in thick forests. They often create their lairs by mining them from the rock. Mining is a meticulously planned and conducted process where nothing is left to chance. Divination magic is sometimes used to locate ore and mineral deposits. A high proportion of a kobold tribe are 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.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Kobolds are omnivorous, eating plants and animals, but wouldn't refuse to eat intelligent creatures if the opportunity presented itself. They can eat just about anything when the situation becomes desperate, even tree bark or bone. Due to their cold-blooded nature, kobolds that spend time in a warm place don't need to eat for days.
Behaviour
Kobolds use their cunning and sheer weight of numbers to defeat enemies. They prefer to lay traps or ambushes, only engaging a foe directly after it was weakened. If their numbers are diminished such that they have less than a two-to-one advantage, the group would usually flee. Kobold traps include spike pits, tripwires, flaming oil, poisonous vermin, etc. They dislike gnomes to such an extent that they attack on sight.
Kobolds usually loot what treasure they can carry from their defeated enemies, who were usually killed. Occasionally, kobolds enslave their foes, who then might be sold on, unless they were gnomes, which kobolds would always kill, but never eat. They enjoy keeping their loot in large hoards, much like a dragon. If they are in service to a dragon, all loot they collect becomes a part of their master's hoard instead.
Kobolds are resentful of their short stature and hate members of other races who poke fun at them for this. Most feel as though they ought to compensate for their small size in other ways, such as humor or aggression. They naturally tend to hate larger creatures, and although they would show respect and obedience if required, they always look for ways to display their resentment.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Kobold lairs are often overcrowded, although when one tribe becomes too numerous, it splits into numerous smaller ones. The overcrowding eliminates the concept of privacy, so kobolds sleep in communal areas where nudity is not regarded as shameful or offensive, even to the opposite sex. Kobolds wear clothing for function or ritual, but not to prevent nudity. The common overcrowding often leads to conflict, and two kobolds fight to settle their differences, although these fights are not usually lethal. This leads to a lack of deep-rooted divisions or grievances in kobold society.
Kobolds have specialized laborers, yet the majority of kobolds are miners. They possess darkvision and are particularly sensitive to bright light. Kobolds prefer exile to execution, and sometimes rarely even have natural tendencies towards sorcery. They can live up to 135 years, and dragonwrought can live even longer. Kobolds are similar to dragons, but while dragons have warm blood, kobolds are cold-blooded. Due to this, they are susceptible to cold, especially if brought on quickly. They enjoy swimming and often gather to bathe together, especially after shedding. Kobolds take a lot of care maintaining their claws and teeth, using smooth stones to polish claws and chewing roots to clean teeth.
Kobolds are known to revere dragons. Although they are very devout in the worship of their god Kurtulmak, kobolds can often be found in the service of dragons, good or evil, when they encounter them. It is unknown whether kobolds actually descend from dragons.
Average Intelligence
Kobods are usually below the average intelligence of a human. Although they are practically stupid, they are very creative and often come up with unique solutions to problems.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Kobolds have excellent darkvision, though their reptilian eyes are sensitive to sunlight.
Civilization and Culture
Average Technological Level
The greatest art for kobolds is trapmaking. The use of invention and cunning in traps is the mark of a good trapmaker. Another art form appreciated by kobolds is the pictorial representation of the tribe's history, created on the walls of a specially created room in every lair.
Kobolds enjoy making jewelry from the gems and precious metals they encountered while mining. They could be possessive about their personal jewelry collections, and much effort is put into crafting beautiful jewelry, unlike other items, which were functional rather than aesthetically pleasing.
Common Etiquette Rules
Common Dress Code
Most kobolds are miners and so dress in sleeveless tunics and breeches, however, they enjoy dressing in more elegant clothing for festivities. These usual outfits include clothes made from silk or leather, and tailored clothes are common among leaders. Garments are often made to compliment the wearer's eyes, which involve the use of orange or red dyes. Other garments are dyed to demonstrate the wearer's affinity to a particular kind of dragon. Kobolds require the dexterity of their feet too often to wear footwear, and the soles of their feet are hard enough to cope with most surfaces. Due to the amount of time kobolds spend mining, gemstones are readily available, and they commonly use these to adorn their clothing and make jewelry.
Common Myths and Legends
A major kobold legend is a story of the evil gnome god Garl Glittergold. The story states that in time immemorial, Garl insulted the kobold god Kurtulmak's trap-making prowess, and challenged him to make his way through a trap-filled labyrinth of his own creation. Not wanting to shame his wonderful children, he accepted. This, however, was a mistake, for as soon as Kurtulmak entered the labyrinth, Garl sealed it, trapping the oh-so-humble kobold god inside.
Kobolds to this day harbor a hatred for all gnomes because of this story. Kobold priests never gain any divine power from praying to their god, but they prey on despite this, hoping they can grant their god the power to escape his eternal prison.
"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." -A common kobold saying
Lifespan
135 years
Average Height
2-2.5 (2'6") ft
Average Weight
35-45 lbs
Average Physique
Kobolds are physically frail, though are aware of this weakness. They use their large numbers and skill of trap-making to make up for any shortcomings they may have.
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