Kobolds

Kobolds are often characterized as filthy little reptiles barely better than goblins. They’re malicious but of little actual menace. Catch kobolds in their lairs, where they are almost certainly hard at work mining, and such a description might be fitting. No one ever suspected that being underestimated was the kobolds’ goal.

It was widely believed Kobolds were created as one of the consequences of the Tearfall.

## Physical description

Kobolds are small bipedal, reptilian humanoids of Draconic origin. Most are between 70 and 90 centimeters high. They have powerful jaws for creatures of this size and claws on their hands and feet.

The color of their thick skin varies from one to another, and most have scales with red scales being the most common. However, some kobolds have more exotic colors like orange or yellow, which in some tribes is a mark of higher or lower status.

The kobold habitat prevents them from cultivating the land. They therefore prefer to hunt small animals and gather edible plants. Half of the traps they build around their lairs are intended for hunting, and they do not hesitate to venture outside their area of influence to construct such traps in order to catch prey of almost any size. sizes, instead of confronting the animal during a more traditional hunt.

The kobolds  being omnivorous, they eat plants and animals, but do not refuse to eat intelligent creatures if the opportunity presents itself. They are capable of eating just about anything when the situation becomes desperate, even tree bark or bones.

A kobold that inhabits a region with a warm temperature for 24 hours can go for another three days after that time before having to eat normally. The downside is that kobolds feel the cold more profoundly. Sudden and prolonged cold increases their need for sustenance. After inhabiting a cold region for more than three days, kobolds must consistently consume three times as much food per day than is normal for their size.

Like other reptiles, kobolds shed their skin periodically. A growing kobold might do this as frequently as weekly, but a developed one usually shed once per season. Unlike snakes, kobolds did not shed their entire skin at once; they instead shed portions of it over a period of time, much like lizards do.

## Physiology

Kobolds have close biological ties to dragons. The most important difference between the two, however, is that kobolds are cold-blooded creatures, and dragons are warmblooded. While kobolds do generate some internal body heat from taking in food and engaging in activity, they are dependent on their environment for warmth. This is one reason why they live underground, especially in their native temperate climate.

Kobolds can eat a wide variety of foodstuffs, drawing nutrition from a broad, omnivorous diet. The kobold habitat prevents them from cultivating the land. They therefore prefer to hunt small animals and gather edible plants. Half of the traps they build around their lairs are intended for hunting, instead of confronting the animal during a more traditional hunt.

## Behaviour

Kobolds are pragmatic about fashion. They dress appropriately for the occasion, which includes finery for special celebrations and ceremonies. While an individual kobold enjoys looking distinguished and fine, tailored or inlaid clothing is an extravagance seen only in the wardrobes of tribal dignitaries and leaders. Most kobolds spend all their time mining, however, and working kobolds wear work clothing.

As a miner, the typical kobold dresses for freedom of movement, which usually takes the form of a sleeveless leather tunic and breeches that stop above the knee. The consistent temperatures found in underground environments mean kobolds usually don’t have to consider dressing for warmth.

Due to the prolific mining of the typical kobold tribe, those kobolds able to afford it favor metal and gem-encrusted adornment. While they are usually sensible with the

cut of their garments, kobolds love jewelry and ornamentation. Both sexes wear all sorts of jewelry, including tail rings. Warriors often don symbolic metal armor pieces such as bracers, decorative gorgets, and greaves.

Mining is a dirty profession. It requires endurance and determination. Being grimy is a part of the mining life, but kobolds are far from uncivilized when it comes to hygiene.

For a kobold, a lack of hair doesn’t mean less grooming. As reptilian humanoids, kobolds shed their skins like other reptiles do. Adult kobolds shed their skin in patches. This process takes up to a week if allowed to transpire naturally, but kobolds accelerate the shedding by scrubbing the old skin from their bodies.

Adult kobolds shed their skin about once a season. Many adults use oils to strengthen their scales and keep them shiny.

Between shedding cycles, kobolds are quick to take advantage of the natural springs discovered in their excavations. Swimming is one of their favorite pastimes. Although kobold tribes don’t actually construct public baths, all kobolds gather at pools to bathe and socialize.

Kobolds are meticulous about their teeth and claws. A flat stone in every kobold dwelling serves as a tool for polishing claws. Kobolds chew roots and bones to strengthen their gums and clean the surface of their teeth.

Kobolds are talented miners. They created their lairs by extracting them from the rock to create large fortress cities similar to labyrinths.

A high proportion of a kobold clan is made up of miners. Each family group must carve their own piece, the walls of which they will adorn with a pictorial history of the family.

Ancient kobold cities contained large stone structures, carved from strong cliffs and rocky mountains, and engraved with frescoes.

They are fully aware of the value of these materials and their greedy draconic nature make them keen negotiators with races not directly at war with them.

Kobolds take great pride in designing their warrens. Digging a labyrinth or a mine is no offhand matter, with careful planning of a layout taking place before excavation begins. To aid in this process, kobolds use divination magic to identify the location of large ore or precious stone deposits before a single shaft is dug. Whenever possible, kobolds leave no part of mine construction to guesswork, allowing them to concentrate on both functionality and appearance.

Usually, the kobolds’ craftsmanship of everyday objects is neither crude nor exceptional. They excel at making useful objects rather than beautiful artworks. In general, the only time kobolds invest any extra effort into their craftsmanship (aside from mine layouts) is for jewelry.

Kobolds love jewelry. Jewels are often crafted from an exotic array of colored metals, either mined from veins of rare ore or using different minerals smelted together to create new and unique amalgams. Kobolds are more than a little materialistic when it comes to accumulating baubles and trinkets, not unlike dragons and their hoards.

## Magic and Technology

On a theoretical level, kobolds draw very little distinction between magic and technology. They use muscle and tools to move and shape their surroundings and to defend themselves, and they use magic to do the same. Magic and technology are complementary disciplines with practical applications. No wise kobold leader fails to invest in both.

Kobolds are a hardworking race, easily rivaling dwarves for productivity. What they lack in physical strength, they more than make up for with numbers.

This work ethic permeates every level of magical and technological advancement in kobold society. From planning to execution, kobolds work competently and with amazing speed.

Curiously, kobolds have a near-fatalistic attraction for volatile chemicals. When dense stones obstruct mining, kobolds reduce them to rubble with explosives they call dither bombs. Dither Bombs are also used in war and in trapmaking.

If the greatest obstacle a kobold faces is their lack of strength, it's not an obstacle at all. From the moment a kobold accepts his physical weakness, the more powerful he can become through means other than brute force. For the Kobolds the power doesn't come from their muscles, but from their number and their hereditary magic: in the heart of each kobold flows the blood of dragons.

## Language

Kobolds speak a version of Draconic. The written form of Draconic was developed long after the spoken version. The recorded history of kobolds chronicles their relationship to dragons throughout the ages. This history began with paintings, gave way to pictograms, and gradually developed into the runic script of Draconic still used today.

## Habitat

Although living in underground domains, kobolds easily tolerate extreme temperatures and harsh climate. They are therefore frequently found throughout the world, from the highest and coldest mountains to the wettest jungle. Caves or ruins with extensive underground complexes will often be sought out to provide an easily defensible lair. Forests and jungles are also favored locations if underground accommodation is lacking, with fairly thick foliage creating almost constant twilight.

The majority of kobolds actually live in the perpetual darkness of caves, tunnels and other caves. But the increase in their numbers, the competition for living space and shade, and sometimes also nameless horrors, regularly force them to come to the surface.

In addition to dark areas, kobolds also naturally seek out damp areas, due to atmospheric conditions or proximity to water sources.

There are many stories of small groups of kobolds being seen emerging at night from ruins deep in deserts and savannas. Probably such places hid a stream, or perhaps these kobolds were able to dig beneath the surface deep enough to discover underground rivers and lakes.

Give them enough time, and kobolds can transform any abandoned cavern into a complex warren capable of withstanding an army's siege. A typical kobold lair will have dozens of tunnels and branches of all sizes, connecting all spaces together.