Kobolds are a diminutive subterranean race. They resemble small, wingless and humanoid dragons, and as a result are believed to be related to, or even created by, the dragons. Though widely considered weak and cowardly, kobolds' mechanical prowess is well-known thanks to their tendency to use cunning traps to protect themselves. This would eventually evolve into their own form of artificer mastery, which would let them industrially rival that of the gnomes and goblins.
Physiology[]
The modern authority on kobold physiology is generally considered to be Dr. Pakchi Steeltrap's Notes on Racial Phylogeny, the contents of whose kobold section are summarized here and the following sections.
Kobolds stand roughly three to four feet tall on average, the smallest of any sapient rest on Halann, tending (partly because of their typically hardscrabble, impoverished lives) towards slight and wiry builds. Whereas most races have smooth skin, kobolds - as with their draconic relations - have scaled skin, which primarily comes in three colors; red, blue, and green. A fourth subgroup in Haless has been reported sporting gold scales. These scales (and their hide in general) are very tough for their size; kobolds' reputation for fragility is more due to their small size and slight builds. As such, kobolds are widely considered to be sneaky and dexterous rather than direct combatants, preferring ambushes and traps to fight their enemies.
Kobolds share many other features with dragons, such as the general shape of the head, the eye, and the limbs, though they lack wings and are bipedal. They do possess a tail, which is used for balance and cannot be regrown if removed; the tail and limb shapes allow kobolds to be excellent swimmers, which is abnormal for a subterranean race, especially one typically regarded as poor sailors (though this is due more to outside factors than inherent inability). Many of their physical features are very different from that of other reptiles, however, such as their respiratory and digestive systems. This is partially why kobolds are considered (as of 1905, at least) to have been created by the dragons rather than naturally evolved, though many details are unclear.
Kobolds have almost no visual sexual dimorphism and lay eggs instead of giving live birth, with the mother usually laying only one egg at a time, though two is not unheard of if very rare. Eggs take approximately two weeks to gestate and then another two to three months to hatch after laying. Even considering that kobolds typically wait for eggs to hatch before trying for another due to the physical stress of childbirth, this gives them a potential birth rates of four to five children per mother per year, which is among the highest known fecundity rates for sapient species. Kobolds also mature quickly, reaching full physical size by age 10 to 12, though kobolds do not consider their children to be adults until age 15 at the earliest. Despite this, kobolds' maximum average modern lifespan is very long, in the neighborhood of 120 years; this was almost never reached in the pre-Modern era, however, with an expected maximum average of around half that.
History[]
The specific timeline of kobolds is complicated and difficult to distinguish in a simple modern form due to their subterranean tendencies for most of history in tandem with the separate appearance of the Halessi Goldscale Kobolds from the Dragon Coast kobolds. Particularly, kobolds are often considered having first appeared during the Dragonwake but there is credible sources dating the first Goldscale appearance in Yanshen as a result of the Day of Ashen Skies. Even further than that, multiple Yan myths and superstitions speak of lone creature who greatly resembled Goldscale Kobolds, myths whose origins trace back much further than the DOAS. In addition to this, there is a question of how the Goldscale Kobolds can originate nearly 500 years before the Dragon Coast kobolds, and on the other side of Halcann, yet can interbreed and share the same physiology.
It is known too, that the Dragon Coast kobolds had a subterranean society regarded as "prehistoric" culture, as they had no written traditions of recording history, dating back further than we might think. Ultimately these kobolds were brought out to the surface world during the Dragonwake by Tayekan the Blue. This event, known as the Kobold Uprising, lead to the destruction of the First Gnomish Hierarchy and the centuries of devastation following (though this would not be recorded by kobolds who still lacked written traditions and whose oral traditions had been disrupted by the chaos).
After the upending of the First Gnomish Hierarchy the Dragon Coast kobolds would established separate clans based off their scale color, Redscale, Bluescale, and Greenscale. For centuries these clans would come into conflict with each other, remnants of the Gnomish hierarchy such as the Nimscodd Hierarchy, and nearby Cannorian powers. Ultimately they were pushed back into the Dragonspine yet they declared the unified title of Kobildzan.
A different story in Haless, the Goldscales of Balrijin still exist as a proper state, having actually gained land since their first establishment. Much of this is likely attributed to their good relations with the rest of Yanshen, and the Yan adoration for kobolds, in addition to the general Yan dislike for followers of the Devouring Path (whose land they've annexed).
Draconic Origin Theory[]
In regards to the theory of Kobold's origins at the hands of dragons, numerous pieces of evidence, which will be discussed, have come to light. Within physiology alone, dragons are frequently depicted (particularly Balris) with the very same barbels that kobolds have. Some say these are biased but it seems unlikely given the general negative attitude towards Kobolds throughout Cannorian history and the depiction of dragons with such in Dragonwake artifacts. Furthermore, the draconic resemblance of kobolds to dragons is undeniable, given the reduction of a dragon's wings, shrinking it, and given a bipedal frame. In addition, when looking at kobold culture there seems to be an intrinsic bond or attraction between them towards dragons. Of course, much of this evidence is harder to factually and modernly identify due to the lack of dragon specimens to analyze and dissect. Although specific creators are unclear, Balris the Gold is commonly accredited with the creation of the Haless Goldscales (with higher physical similarity than elsewhere), even having been directly involved in the early development of Goldscale society of Balrijin. Tayekan the Blue is proximally connected to the creation of Dragon Coast kobolds, and though a strain, Dragon Coast kobolds do have blue scales. In regards to the red/green scales, it is potential of Nimrith and Iothoral but little evidence supports this.
Sociology[]
Name Scheme[]
- Given Name - "Great Name" (ancestor) - Zendia Name - Trivu Name - "Great Name" (other)
A kobold's Tribu name is usually used as a conventional surname due to having the highest relevance with outside groups, within the Trivu, the Zendia name takes precedence as a "conventional" surname instead. Kobolds with only name have resulted from abnormal situations, such as being abandoned, exiled, or having their social units destroyed. The most prominent historical example is Zurzumex, who self-exiled himself with his followers. Later on surnames expanded to include locations as Trivu became less important and turned into other parts of society. Ultimately, type depends on the individual. Kobolds into elvenized Cannorian culture may use zil or zil na after sil/sil na; gnome-connected ones may use the Gnomish fen or fer. The fourth part of a kobold name can go after Given Name or usually at the end, such as honorifics, titles, famous ancestors, locational, etc. This is colloquially known as "great name" due to often being the most important.
Social Life[]
Kobolds are extremely social creatures, to the degree it is hard to properly stress. This leads to many kobolds gaining follower syndrome, or becoming self-sacrificing. While kobolds are not without sense of self, they are often more concerned with the greater whole. Wealth is tracked and handled at clan level, with kobolds traditionally having very little in the way of private or personal property due to social situation. This extends to having very little sense of privacy or personal space due to living lives with very little of either (perhaps in part leading to why they clash with many other societies throughout Halcann history). At some point though there was noted a significant rise in kobold's sense of individuality and self as seen in Zurzumexia. They began to focus on quality of life/prosperity/availability of space.
Gender Roles[]
Due to a total lack of visible or physical sexual dimorphism and gender differences, kobold societies seem to care very little about the difference between genders and sexes. Gender roles in terms of social and occupational are almost nonexistent as jobs are typically arranged by need of the greater whole (playing in their social tendencies). There are exceptions in terms of property and governance, property being tracked maternally due to the ease of tracking mothers. Governance itself is also traditionally a male job, though it should be noted a chief/group leader can be removed by collective action of socially important/respected females.
Culture[]
Kobolds, as mentioned before, have a distinctly social culture. Thriving in social settings, kobolds removed from group social situations can become followers, but many tend to in fact over-exert individuality. These kobolds take on larger-than-life personalities such as explorer Salvador sil Hotzaya, monk Rak Six Points, and artificer Zurzumex. In regards to others, kobolds are often sensitive about their height, general social stature, and maturity. It is common in Yanshen that they are seen as pets or children, to the dismay of the Goldscale kobolds. They seem to share a collective dislike for being seen as joke or children.
Hoarding[]
The kobold hoarding tendency is a unique instinctual mechanism that attracts them to shiny/valuable objects, subjectively valued by each individual kobold, given to collecting for their own sake. In other societies this tends to combine poorly with their loose sense of personal property, branding them as chronic thieves in combination with their "sneaky" tendencies and build. Some claim that the hoarding is actually to communal benefit, as it is a means of tracking property by clan and signifies their strength. Individual hoarding by kobolds can lead to complications such as adverse effects on individual psychology, creating dragon-like obsession and greed. Recently these skills have actually led to broader acceptance in the world as conscript armies become more commonplace the kobold's expertise to handle things en masse, especially money and people, become crucial skills.