Humor, done seriously, for fun
Jape (or japing) is a
Kobold practice of executing daring pranks and tricks. Japes done well earn the respect of ones' peers, however it is more complicated than it appears from the outside. A master prankster is lauded among kobolds as a hero, but great care must be taken not to take a jape too far. While a jape is performed at the expense of another, it should only result in inconvenience or mild humiliation, for the amusement of those observing. Likewise, the target of a jape should receive it in good spirit; becoming angry or violent in response is bad form and can cause the target to lose face. Japes should not cause the target to lose money or food, and if damage or loss occurs due to a jape, the prankster is expected to pay back said losses. Assuming these unwritten rules are observed, and the audience is both impressed and entertained by the jape, both the prankster and target are accorded respect for their parts.
The jape is its own reward
Kobolds respect panache and daring; the higher risk involved, the more panache is accorded the prankster. Because of this respect for panache, japes are performed publicly, and the prankster always makes their identity known to both target and audience. Japes attempted without identifying oneself are seen as cowardly, as the goal it to show off ones' skill. After a well-executed jape, drinks are bought and shared, and stories are told across the city, for the entertainment of all.
The highest form
Japing is usually done among and between kobolds; however some kobolds risk higher panache by targeting
Dragonborn or Otherfolk. These folk do not always recognize a jape for what it is meant to be, and the prankster may need to be quick of both wit and feet to get away. While the prankster should still strive not to cause lasting harm, neither the target nor the prankster will suffer a loss of respect if a non-kobold reacts badly to a jape.
Comedy turned scary
If someone should cause large enough offense to the local kobold community, word is passed between families, and the transgressor is targeted for a special form of jape. For a week's time, anytime the transgressor is found in public, they will be surreptitiously marked by one or more kobolds. This mark designates the transgressor as an open target for japes. Unless the target has a good sense of humor, it will end up being a very bad week for them as every kobold that observes the mark will be encouraged to jape the target. Hiding does one no good, as kobolds are notoriously able to get in where they may not be wanted, and no one knows a city or town better than the local kobolds. The target's only choice it to weather the barrage of japes until the end. Contrition and good humor can gain respect from the kobolds involved; retribution or escalation only invites an escalated barrage of japes.
Common japes
Some common japes are as follows, but not limited to:
Pick-pocketing and then returning an item, sometimes inviting a chase to retrieve said item
Handing someone something unpleasant or unnerving when they were expecting something else, such as a piece of rotten fruit or a live spider in place of money or good food
Planting something smelly or mess-causing in someone's pockets, or in their breeches for them to sit down upon
Causing someone to sit on an air-filled bladder, which when sat upon makes a loud fart noise
Splashing someone with paint in a manner which covers up the target's Scalestain Tattoos
Distracting someone and then taking the former object of their attention and running off with it, eliciting a chase
Repeatedly running under the legs of and/or around larger Folk, encouraging by ultimately foiling their attempt to catch the prankster
Running off with someone's hat, purse, dagger, etc; often eliciting a chase before giving the item back
Tying a ribbon or bell onto someone's clothing, horn, tail, etc. without their knowledge. The ribbon can then be commented upon subtly by the prankster or others until the target notices. The bell, if it doesn't ring by itself from movement, can be struck surreptitiously by the prankster until its discovery by the target
Fast-talking or banter that causes the target to stumble over their words, especially if it confuses their position in an argument
Kobolds, often having access to
Cavies, will use their dung pellets in some japes. These pellets are dry on the outside, but when "fresh" are still wet on the inside. The dry outside is almost odorless, however the wet inside is very smelly, and many japes involve somehow causing the target to crush one or more pellets, thus releasing the odor and potentially causing a mess.
