Kobolds

**Kobolds** were a diminutive humanoid species, distantly related to dragons, whom they often devoted themselves to. Kobolds were noted for being aggressive, albeit not especially dangerous except in large numbers, and their tremendous skill at constructing traps and ambushes.

Even the tallest kobolds stood at just under three feet tall, something nearly all kobolds were resentful of. They tended to compensate for their lack of height with aggression or humor, and would make certain their resentments were known even to the larger creatures they often were minions of. Kobolds were largely content to stay separated from the other races of the world, except for the hope of conquering their lands. Despite this isolationism towards other races, kobolds were eager to share with each other.

Kobolds had scaly skin that ranged in colors from reddish brown to black, and rat-like tails. Their heads resembled those of crocodiles, save for the horns protruding from each side. Typically they smelled like stagnant water or wet dog. They often wore red or orange clothing, which was often tattered and ragged.

## Biology

Unlike dragons, kobolds were cold-blooded and therefore susceptible to the cold. They were also sensitive to light, naturally possessing darkvision.

### Reproduction

Kobolds had the highest birthrate of any of the humanoid species of the world, with a pregnant female laying her eggs within about two weeks. Most pregnancies produced only one egg, but twin eggs were not overly uncommon -- appearing in about one out of every ten pregnancies. The eggs would only need to incubate for about two months before hatching. The young could survive if the egg broke as early as fifteen days ahead of time. Kobold young reached adulthood in just six years.

Occasionally, a kobold would be born with wings. These kobolds were often disparaged in kobold society. However, some kobolds were dragonwrought -- bearing clear signs of their specific draconic ancestry. These were clear even as eggs, for the eggs would be speckled with the colors of the dragon species and the speckles would increase as the incubation went on. These eggs were revered, and taken to a sacred place to hatch. Dragonwrought kobolds also had wings, but held a special place in kobold society.

## Society

Kobolds lived in the dark, most often in caverns but sometimes in overgrown, thick forests. These lairs were almost always overcrowded, and eventually as the population grew one tribe would split up into several smaller ones. The huge population of these limited spaces removed any concept of privacy, every area was considered communal and nudity was not considered shameful or taboo -- however, conflict was also common in kobold lairs. The fights between two arguing kobolds were seldom deadly, but were usually fairly immediate. Because of this, kobolds rarely held grudges or grievances against each other.

Kobolds had specialized laborers, although the most common profession for a kobold was a miner. Kobolds also had a penchant for sorcery.

Kobolds valued the good for their tribe over their own, considering the tribe's success their own personal success. They also enjoyed the activities they engaged in together -- particularly swimming and bathing together.

### Mating

Kobolds did enter into monogamous relationships and -- due to the importance of propagating -- kobolds chose who to mate with based purely for practical reasons. Love was not a factor, and mating was entirely a practical matter. This does not mean that kobolds did not fall in love, simply that the emotions were not related to the act of mating.

### Language

Kobolds could speak Common, and naturally understood the scent-based Saurial language. They also spoke Yipyak, a dialect of Draconic unique to their species. Some kobolds also spoke Undercommon.

## Real World

Kobolds are derived from *Dungeons & Dragons*. For canon information, please visit:

* The Forgotten Realms Wiki