Kobolds

Origins & Mythology

Kobolds are believed to have originated as a corrupted offshoot of the goblin race, twisted by dark magic or lingering in cursed places. Over time, they developed a distinct culture defined by fierce territoriality, trickery, and an obsession with collecting glittering treasures.

Physical Characteristics

• Average Height: Similar to goblins, usually 0.7 to 1.0 meters tall
• Build: Small, wiry, and nimble
• Skin: Often darker or more mottled than goblins, sometimes tinged with red or blue hues
• Distinct Features: Sharp claws, pointed snouts, glowing or beady eyes, and hunched posture
• Lifespan: 40 to 80 years

Culture & Society

• Habitat: Prefer caves, dense forests, or abandoned ruins; settlements are well-hidden and fiercely defended
• Social Structure: Live in packs or small tribes, led by the cleverest or most aggressive kobold
• Traditions: Renowned for setting devious traps, sabotaging bridges, ambushing travelers, and obsessively hoarding shiny objects
• Economy: Scavenging, raiding, and occasional trade with less reputable merchants or other goblinoids

Subraces & Variants

• Trapmaster Kobolds: Experts in constructing intricate traps and ambushes within their lairs.
• Shinetooth Kobolds: Obsessed with collecting and guarding shiny treasures, often acting as the tribe’s bankers or guardians of the hoard.

Notable Facts

• Encountering a single kobold is rarely dangerous, but a pack can quickly overwhelm the unprepared.
• Kobold settlements are rife with traps and hazards for intruders.
• Kobolds are notorious for sabotaging roads, bridges, and other infrastructure near their territory.
• They are drawn to shiny objects and will go to great lengths to steal or defend their hoards.