The Bound Claw Tribe
Along the north eastern banks of the Green River in southern Tuulet, the Bound Claw Tribe has burrowed out a large space for their colony beneath ancient Dwarven fortifications dating back to the age of the great cataclysm.
These black kobolds are a true-breeding clan of winged kobolds, or urds. However, even though they uniformly have wings, most tribe members bind their wings, limiting their flight for use in extreme situations. The exception to this rule are those that live distant to the colony (such as the small cohort who live in Kosto) and members of the warrior caste, tasked with patrolling the northern reaches of the Green River, identifying threats to the group.
Like most of their kind they are insular, and shun most outside contact other than with the settlement of Kosto. The tribe supplies medicines and cures derived from their proprietary mixtures of both river plants and tubers that grow deep enough below the water line that few other creatures can access. The tribe as a whole has a preternatural understanding of the various diseases native to the swamp, and have natural resistance to both poison and disease. The keep the nature of these resistances secret, even from large groups of their society. Only those who have reached adulthood and are well ensconced within the protection of the colony are They will allow travelers to camp near their home for trade or money.
in addition they have potions of cure disease they will sell, and can minister to sick travelers - again for payment either in gold or trade.
Structure
Ancient Worms
Each colony of the bound claw tribe is headed by a "great Old (or Ancient) Worm." Typically these will be ancient kobold sorcerers that have inherited the longevity of the draconic progenitors, and along with that some additional perspective on the world. They are therefore heartier, and have gained additional resistances to acid and poison. Only one or two (at most) ancients will be present in a colony, and will act as their guiding force, negotiating with surrounding settlements if necessary, and tempering the more viscous impulses of their younger brethren. They hold their "family" as the most important connections, but have gained enough empathy with age to understand that the life of other intelligent creatures may be of value as well (as long as there goals don't conflict with the clan's).Scouts
Those kobolds who survive long enough and show a propensity for hiding and climbing become the scouts of the tribe. Typically they do not have wings, and specialize in ambushes.Dragon Shields
Stocks, brutish defenders, the Dragon Shields rarely leave the warrens and caves the tribe. They are generally proud, haughty, and fiercely lowly to the tribe, seeing the safety of their future generations as their principal purpose in life.Inventors
Typical of other kobold tribes, the inventors of the Bound Claw are nearly mad, crafty and inquisitive. Kobolds The lowly rank and file of the tribe make up the vast majority of any colony.Assets
The caverns have numerous treasures, including:
potions of healing
cures of local diseases
potions of water breathing
quaal's Feather Token: Swan Boat (several of these kept in reserve in case they need to flee
Ancient Black Dragon Teeth
Currency: stand GP and PP of the realm, in addition, they have a variety of coinage from the fallen lawful Dwarven nation, as well as massive gold ingots from Melnibone which they found when digging in various places in the Water Fields of Titaani
History
The Green River branch of the Bound Claw was dispatched to south eastern Tuulet generations ago. Irtos was one of the first kobolds to be sent by Lord Ornithax in an attempt to secure more control over the Water Fields of Titaani.
Since that time they have provided eyes and ears to the ruler of Uo while pursuing some of their own aims. Weather or not Ornithax finds their efforts acceptable or not remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, over the last 100 years, the Bound Claw tribe has developed an unlikely relationship with the people of Kosto, going so far as to have a small shop selling their potions on the river docks there. Over the last 10 years, people from Kosto will travel north along the Green River to trade in supplies as well. As a result, 5 years ago the tribe built a small receiving room into their cavern network to allow for comfortable trade.
