Viceroy Sootscale

Level 6 Kobold Chief

### Relationships

Sootscale Kobolds (Subjects), The Kingmakers (Allies), Tartuk (Former Manipulator), Hargulka (Would-be King)

## Campaign

### First Appearance

Kingmaker Episode 03: Mites & Mayhem

*"Viceroy Sootscale, eh..?" "You- you understand that you would also be a viceroy in my offer as well-" "Viceroy Sootscale......."*

*-Viceroy Sootscale and Hargulka*

The "fearless" "leader" of the Sootscale Kobolds, Sootscale was the latest of a long line of leaders to hold his name and title. But with the arrival of a mysterious outsider in the shape of Tartuk undermining his rule, Sootscale found himself slowly but surely losing his leadership position... until The Kingmakers arrived to aid them!

## Description

Sootscale was more physically intimidating than many of the other Kobolds in the area, standing at 3'6 and more muscular. Alongside the side of his face, he had prominent frills, and he dressed ornately with bone, fur and hide trim all over his body, and a ring in his nose marking him as the leader of the clan.

## Personality

At first glance, one might write Sootscale off as inept and ill suited to his position as a leader. He's naive, indecisive, and quick to bow to power greater than his own. However, when left unchallenged and allowed to do as he pleases, Sootscale makes for a remarkable manager, able to erect an ideal village around Sootscale Hill for Kobolds and other monstrous folk who shudder at the concept of living in St. Gilmorg. He's cunning, has a way with words, and is able to manipulate when he needs to. He does, however, have a horrifically inflated ego, and is quite easy to work with with simple reverse psychology or praise.

## Abilities

While his main abilities are management and other skills well suited to leading the Vassal State of Sootscale Hill, Sootscale is also a competent fighter. He is skilled with clubs, and could easily pose a challenge to those who would try fight him with force, meaning that it's usually safer to get through him with psychology.

## History

Sootscale was born in 4685. When the previous Chief Sootscale died when he was young, this black kobold was given his name and title, and became the new leader of the Sootscale Kobolds. He did his job well for years, until in 4710, when an outsider came to the Clan- a Kobold named Tartuk who brought with him a Religious Idol named Old Sharptooth, a statuette of a dragon which he claimed was giving him instructions from beyond the beyond. Tartuk, actually a re-incarnated gnome who hated Kobolds with a burning passion, intended to destroy the clan from the inside out by sending them to their dooms on the orders of Old Sharptooth. Tartuk told Sootscale that only intelligent Kobolds could hear the voice of Sharptooth and, not wanting to look weak in front of his clan, Sootscale pretended he could indeed understand. Slowly but surely, he lost control of the clan, allowing Tartuk to become de-facto leader. When Tartuk had the Sootscales engage in a war with the Mites of Old Sycamore (a fight they could not, in the long run, win), there was an incident whereupon the statuette was stolen by the Mites, and a group of Kobolds were sent to retrieve it. Only one of them returned... and with them, he brought the Kingmakers. Spurred on by the Kingmakers bravery and given Old Sharptooth to hold for the first time, Sootscale smashed the idol on the floor and proclaimed "DEATH TO TARTUK!", leaping on him with the others. Though Tartuk escaped, Sootscale offered the Kingmakers his thanks for helping return life to normal at Sootscale Hill.

In 4711, the Kingmakers went to investigate Sootscale Hill again when they heard rumours of Giant Kobolds in the area and to negotiate the potential annexation of Sootscale Hill in order to help expand the fledgling Barony of Kilcela. Sootscale welcomed them to the feast he was throwing for some other guests, and hurriedly asked them to partake in negotiations. The other guests-- the Troll King, Hargulka, his cohort Nargundi and some other Troll Guards-- engaged the Kingmakers in a tense debate over whether the Sootscale Kobolds should join Hargulka's Monster Kingdom and be allowed to live as monsters independent of humanity's ideas of "civilization", or should they join Kilcela and live freely under Kilcela. Both sides offered Sootscale a Vassal State, a nation alligned with another but governed independently. Ultimately, Sootscale chose Kilcela, since they'd mentioned the title of Viceroy (which is what the leader of a Vassal State is), and also because Sootscale has seen Kobolds being devoured by Trolls before, and didn't trust that. Sootscale Hill became its own Vassal Nation, gaining resources from Kilcela but governing itself. In honour of the Kingmakers, Sootscale built a statue of himself in the middle of his capital. Sootscale Hill was almost attacked by the Kaiju Owlbear in the wake of the Battle of Kongerike during the Kilcela-Kongerike War, but it was slain before it could get to Sootscale Hill by the Kingmakers.

Over the next few years, Sootscale continued the development of Sootscale Hill, and he aided in administration while the Kingmakers investigated The Varnhold Vanishing. Many Kobolds joined the Kilcelan Army during the Siege of Armag's Tomb and the War of the River Kings. In 4715, when the Kingmakers left to enter the Thousandbreaths, Viceroy Sootscale delivered a set of "powerful rings" crafted by Mikimek and Nakpik to them. When asked what they could do, Sootscale clarified they were "not magic rings, just made of powerful metal." When Kaska inquired if this meant they'd used Skymetal (a type of Numerian metal that
crashed to Golarion as part of the spaceships which landed in the nation
 millenia ago), Sootscale further clarified that no, they were in fact made of iron.

## Relationships

### Rigg Gargadilly

Sootscale and Rigg Gargadilly appear to be at least friends, the two of them having been seen sharing gossip over the Rainwater Razor's murders at the height of his slayings. It helps because they both have ridiculously annoying voices.

## Trivia

* According to Derry, Sootscale's voice comes from this meme.