According to dramatist and novelist X. B. Saintine, kobolds are the spirits of dead children and often appear with a knife that represents the means by which they were put to death.
Menurut ahli drama dan novelis X. B. Saintine, kobold adalah roh anak-anak yang meninggal dan sering terlihat membawa pisau yang menunjukkan alat yang telah mengakibatkan mereka meninggal.