Kobold Yokai

**Kobold Yokai** are creatures of Germanic mythology who can take on the form of animals, humans and objects.

## Physical Appearance

Kobold Yokai can take on any form. The most common are small humanoid sprites that has the height of small children. They can become anthropomorphic animals like wolves and dogs as well as becoming objects such as candles.

## Description

There are three types of Kobold Yokai. One type is those who live inside human houses. They're often seen wearing peasant clothing. These type of yokai are house spirits of ambivalent nature. They're the most common type of Kobold. Sometimes performing domestic chores. But they can play malicious tricks on the humans if insulted or neglected. The second type is those who lives in mines. These type of yokai haunts underground places, such as mines and are described as old men dressed like miners to short, bent creatures with ugly features, including, in some tales, black skin. The third type is those who lives in on ships smoke pipes and wear sailor clothing. They often help sailors and are seen as a small, pipe-smoking humanlike figure wearing a yellow nightcap-style sailor's hat and a red or grey jacket.

## Abilities

Here are the abilities that Kobold Yokai can have in their arsenal:

* Animal Morphing
* Candle Mimicry
* Fire Mimicry
* Invisibility
* Human Disguise
* Subterranean Adaptation

### Variations

* Canine Physiology
* Dragonman Physiology
* Reptilian Physiology

### Associations

* Fairy Physiology
* Hobgoblin Physiology
* Mythic Physiology
* Spirit Physiology

## Pop Culture

In modern times, the game *Dungeons & Dragons* is responsible for re-imagining as craven reptilian humanoids that commonly infest dungeons. There aggressive, inward, yet industrious small creatures. They were noted for their skill at building traps and preparing ambushes, and mining. They were distantly related to dragons and urds and were often found serving as their minions. They make up for their physical ineptitude with a cleverness for trap making.

## Variations

### Canine Yokai

In some depictions, Kobolds are seen as anthropomorphic canines like dogs and wolves.

### Dragonman Yokai

In some depictions, Kobolds are seen as dragonmen.

### Reptile Yokai

In some depictions, Kobolds are seen as being reptilian creatures.

### Fairy Yokai

Kobolds can be both benevolent and malevolent creatures. It depends on how they're being treated by the humans.

### Hobgoblin Yokai

Some Kobolds can become malevolent by pulling malicious tricks on the humans.

### Spirit Yokai

Though usually invisible, Kobolds can take on any form of their chosen.

## Life in the Hidden World

Kobold Yokai work as housekeepers for others. They would perform domestic chores such as laundry, taking out the trash, cleaning and dusting the rooms, and many more. They perform their chores with efficientacy. Never missing one spot of dirt or dust on the ground. However, if they're being insulted or neglected by their clients, they shall perform malicious tricks to teach them a lesson on how they should treat others with respect. Kobold Yokai who lives in mines and other underground places would do some mining to gather the many materials on the stone walls. Those who live aboard ships would help sailors during their long journey in the water. They even ask the help of the Seagull Yokai to assist them with specific tasks if necessary.

## Symbolism

The kobold (occasionally cobold) is a sprite stemming from Germanic mythology and surviving into modern times in German folklore . Although usually invisible, a kobold can materialize in the form of an animal, fire, a human being, and a candle. The most common depictions of kobolds show them as humanlike figures the size of small children.