Kobold Kobolds are aggressive , inward , yet industrious small humanoid creatures . They are noted for their skill at building traps and preparing ambushes , and mining . Kobolds are distantly related to dragons and urd s and are often found serving the former as minions . Physical description . Kobolds are reptilian humanoids . A kobold stands between 2 ' and 2 ' 6 " ( 60cm – 75cm ) tall , weighing 35 to 45 pounds ( 16 – 20kg ) . They have skin between reddish brown and black in color , with burnt orange to red eyes . Their legs are sinewy and digitigrade . They have long , clawed fingers and a jaw like a crocodile . Small white or tan horns protrude from their head , and they have rat - like tails . Kobolds smell of wet dog and stagnant water . They like to wear red or orange garments , which are usually ragged . Culture . Kobolds live in the dark , ideally underground or thick forest , in tribal societies . Their lairs are often overcrowded , although when one tribe becomes too numerous , it splits . The overcrowding has eliminated the concept of privacy , so kobolds sleep in communal areas , and 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 leads to conflict , and two kobolds will fight to settle their differences , although these fights are not usually lethal . This leads to a lack of deep - rooted or severe divisions or grievances in kobold society . They are respectful of authority figures , and will obey diligently , particularly when their ruler is lawful evil . Language . Kobolds speak Yipyak , a version of the Draconic language , with a yipping accent . Some can also speak Undercommon . Psychology . Kobolds hold a hatred for nearly all other humanoid races and enjoy killing and torturing them , in particular brownie s , gnome s , pixie s and sprite s . The ultimate goal of the kobolds is the conquest of as much land as possible . They will plan and dig mines industriously , while laying cruel traps for interlopers , preferring an ambush to direct confrontation . If they must confront an enemy , they will try to overwhelm foes with sheer numbers . Among the monstrous humanoids , they are known for cunning plans , unlike many they also share those plans among the tribe . General plans and goals are common knowledge , and detailed plans are shared with all who ask to allow them to work fruitfully for the good of the tribe . Their society is influenced by their lawful evil alignment . Kobolds are happy to remain separated from the other races , and are a confident race . A kobold saying states : It is unknown how kobolds are of dragon heritage . While each kobold values its own life , the tribe comes first . They consider the success of their tribe to be their own success . Mining . Kobolds often create their lairs by mining them from the rock . Mining is a meticulously planned and conducted process and nothing is left to chance . Divination magic is used to locate ore and mineral deposits . A high proportion of a kobold tribe are miners . Each family group is expected to cut its own room , the walls of which they will adorn with a pictorial history of the family . Culture . The greatest art for kobolds is trapmaking . The use of invention and cunning in traps is the mark of a good trapmaker . The other art form is the pictorial representation of the tribe ' s history , created on the walls of a specially created room in every lair . Kobolds enjoy making jewellery from the gems and precious metals they encounter while mining . They can be possessive about their personal jewellery collections , and much effort is put into crafting beautiful jewellery , unlike other items , which are functional more than aesthetically pleasing . Lycanthropy . At some point in time , kobolds learned to domesticate dire weasel s to serve them as guards and hunters . This resulted in lycanthropic kobold dire weasels . Around one in ten thousand kobolds is a natural lycanthrope in this manner . Kobolds also use dire weasels as mounts . Where other races consider heroes to be those who enact great feats of strength or military prowess , kobold heroes are those kobolds who show great prowess in trap setting , torture and ambush . Personality . 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 humour or aggression . They will naturally tend to hate larger creatures , and although they will show respect and obedience if required , they will always be looking for ways to display their resentment . Fashion . Most kobolds are miners and so dress in sleeveless tunics and breeches , but kobolds enjoy dressing in more elegant clothing for festivities . This includes clothes made from silk or leather , but tailored clothes are only common among leaders . Garments are often made to compliment the wearer ' s eyes , which involves the use of orange or red dyes . Other garments might be dyed to demonstrate the wearer ' s affinity to a particular kind of dragon . Kobold garments have conservative lines , not exposing bare scales in a suggestive way . Kobolds require the dexterity in 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 use these to adorn their clothing , and to make jewellery . Religion . The main deity of the kobolds is Kurtulmak , the god of war and mining , who hates all living things besides kobolds . A main part of their religion is to seek out magic items that may hel free kurtulmak from his eternal prison . The other main god worshipped by the kobolds is Gaknulak , the god of protection , stealth , trickery , and traps . A lesser - known kobold demigod is Dakarnok . The remainder of the kobold pantheon is comprised of deified kobold heroes . Kobolds are also known for serving dragons and praise them as gods . A kobold tribe will present a dragon with tributes and sacrifices and whatever they think it may like , and they might even see it as a great honor to be devoured by the creature . If a kobold tribe is not accepted by a dragon they might start working for it in secret . Once a tribe settles to serve a dragon , their entire existence is to serve their god in every way . Ecology . 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 in some disputes , kobolds will split tribes in order to spread their kind over a larger region . Kobolds have natural tendencies towards sorcery . They can live up to 135 years , and beyond this if dragonwrought . 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 it is brought on quickly . They enjoy swimming and will gather to bathe together , especially after shedding ( see below ) . Kobolds will take a lot of care maintaining their claws and teeth , using smooth stones to polish claws and chewing roots to clean teeth . Reproduction . Kobolds do not maintain monogamous relationships , and due to the importance they place on propagation , they choose mates by practical measures rather than love or other emotions . Mating is an impersonal act for kobolds . Kobolds are extremely fecund egg - layers , having the highest birth rate among humanoids . A pregnant female will lay her egg within two weeks . About one in ten pregnancies leads to two eggs . An egg needs incubation for about two months , but the newly hatched kobold can 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 to watch over the eggs and wyrmling s . Dragonwrought . Some kobold children are dragonwrought , and it is possible to tell this because the egg is speckled with flecks of the dragon ' s colour , which become more numerous throughout the incubation period . These kobolds possess wings like those of a dragon , and some are of enough use to allow flight . Ritual demands that the egg be taken to a sacred hatching place , and dragonwrought kobolds must be raised above ground if they are able to fly , so that they can learn to use their wings . Diet . Kobolds are omnivorous , eating plants and animals , but will not refuse to eat intelligent creatures if the opportunity presents itself . They are able to eat just about anything when the situation becomes desperate , such as bark or bone . Due to their cold - blooded nature , kobolds having spent time in a warm place need not eat for days . Shedding . Like other reptiles , kobolds must shed their skin periodically . A growing kobold might do this as frequently as weekly , but a developed one usually sheds once per season . Unlike more common reptiles , such as snakes , kobolds do not shed their entire skin at once ; they instead shed portions of it over a period of time . The process is usually accelerated by rubbing . Bitterleaf is often applied after shedding to help the new scales acquire strength and shine . 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 . Subraces . Aquatic kobold • Arctic kobold • Desert kobold • Dragonwrought kobold • Earth kobold • Jungle kobold Notes . Page 57 of the " Monster Manual 1st edition " states that kobolds can speak goblin and orcish , This is because originally the kobold was considered a goblinoid . Over the past few editions it has gradually taken on more reptilian characteristics until 3 . 0 MM stated definitively that they are indeed reptilian subtype .