In this study we were forced to depart from the traditional bonds of our cultural studies. Kobolds are a race apart, different from the others in that far fewer Source Documents exist to reference. While this is troubling, it is also liberating, in that we don't have to worry quite so much about reconciling contradictory information.
Or so it should have been. However, even give so few source documents, how to reconcile one source document that describes Kobolds as small lizards and another that has them as brownies or dwarves? Alas, all to often the simplest tasks turn out to be the hardest.
Assumption One: Kobolds, properly speaking are a race of small, viscious bipeds, possibly with variable animalistic appearence. Some Sources depict all kobolds as possessing the same animalistic traits, while others are incredibly diverse.
Assumption Two: Kobolds do not mix well with other species, not even the possibly related Gobliniods. On the other hand, they are not known for expansionistic armies or hordes. Kobolds tend to viciously attack non-kobolds who stumble upon them.
Assumption Three: Little has been said about the diet of kobolds, but preliminary indications show that there is a marked tendency towards a carnivorous diet. Many Kobold subspecies are depicted as having small sharp teeth suitable for tearing meat. However, as one of the smallest intelligent species, this does not pose an undue hardship as Kobolds are fully capable of sustaining themselves on a diet of rodents and large insects.
Assumption Four: Kobolds are a troglogdytic species, preferring subterranian habitats. Often assumed to be 'miners' by many, there is no real indication that kobolds actually perform such activities beyond creating warrens and burrows. Unlike many troglodytic species, Kobolds do appear to function easily on the surface, chosing to live closer to it than, say, Gobliniods. While often depicted as dwelling in rocky caverns, Kobolds appear most at home in earthy warrens and cramped tunnels.
Assumption Five: Given their preferred habitat and living arrangements, there are no useful examples of 'Kobold Architecture' or 'Kobold Cities'. While a warren complex might be sufficently populated to be considered a 'city', no useful studies exist describing infrastructure.
Assumption Six: Many source documents refer to Kobolds as possessing great strength. We can assume that this is in specific reference to their size. Kobolds, as a general rule are weaker then men. However, despite being half the size of Halflings or gnomes, they are no weaker than either of those races, and in individual cases may even be stronger.
Assumption Seven: Kobolds have little aversion to working as mercenaries for other races, either in large bands or as individuals. They are more commonly found working for Gobliniods or Orcish hordes, if only because such species are more tolerant of Kobold behavior. Kobolds only do hired labor as slaves, so there appears to be a common thread in Kobold employment.
Assumption Eight: Kobolds are exceedingly clever with mechanical devices. More to the point, Kobolds are at least as intelligent as other races, and are often far smarter than those they work for (in the case of Orcs). Intellectually, Kobolds are more than capable of grasping the long term impact of trade and less confrontational relations with other cultures, yet to date they have never opened dialog at all in either way. Furthermore, their nearly primative living conditions seem very much at odds with their intellectual development and capabilities. Therefore such choices are deliberate.
Assumption Nine: Due to the often animalistic appearence of Kobolds, they have developed a language which is suitable to their vocal apparatus, which involves clicks, hoots and even howls. Other intelligent species find it almost impossible to belive it is a real language, yet the Kobolds are capable of communicating even complex ideas in it, such as coordinating strategy on the battlefield. Kobold mercenaries rarely speak with their employers, prefering to barter in non-verbal terms such as pantomime. It is clear that Kobolds are unsuitable to speaking human languages, though it would be a mistake to assume they don't understand it, and other races have a hard time learning, much less speaking the kobold language. This creates a significant barrier to communications.
As always when attempting to study the culture of a race that is so far removed from the mainstream one must attempt to isolate the known factors and extrapolate one's data from there. The history of Kobolds is very nearly as mysterious as the psychology of the race itself, which only adds to the difficulty. As Kobolds have always seperated themselves, hidden themselves away from other species, we have very few historical records of note.
However, we do not have 'no records'. Simply stated, there are referents to small verminious beings living on the fringes of more advanced civilizations dating back to antiquity, some more complete than others. Elves, for example, call Kobolds by a term that roughly translates to 'garden rat', and the etymology of the word itself suggests it has been in use for aeons. As Kobolds are both known for theft and attacking, even eating small children, the Dwarves have a particularly vile epithet for the race, and records suggesting that they were aware of the species prior to migrating underground... if in fact those records speak of the same species as we know of today. The evidence suggests that Kobolds are in fact one of the Elder Species, with roots going back very nearly to the time before time, the Titan War that has been suggested in some source documents.
However this leads us to an interesting speculation. The races as we know them may all be tied to this Oldest Race, these Titans by simple logical chains, fit to niches and origins within the existing legedary history. Kobolds on the other hand seem to be outside of it.
It would seem then that the Kobolds arose alongside whatever race became the Titans, but were not one with them. In the days of the titans, the Kobolds witnessed from without the excesses of the Titans, were possibly vermin, stealing garbage and young, even as they do today, and were possibly hunted extensively to exterminate them. Obviously such efforts failed, as most 'vermicidal' campaigns do, merely alleviating the problem without curing it.
However, you can not dismiss the impact such efforts had on this younger brother to the Titans. One can suppose that given time and room, the Kobolds might have developed their own civilization to rival that of the titans, but instead they were persecuted and eventually driven into their warrens to survive.
The end result is a species that shares almost nothing in common with the intelligent races of today, and can barely communicate with them at all, and has every reason to hate and fear the decendents of their ancient enemies.
Kobolds then are a race without freinds, without allies. They do not view Gobliniods as kin, nor Orcs, so one must wonder why the serve them willingly. The answer is obvious. Kobolds can not fight a war against the other intelligent races themselves, their numbers are insufficent, their culture is stuck in a permanent state of 'refugee', rather than developing naturally. Their efforts on behalf of their masters are for one purpose alone: Spreading discord and violence among their enemies.
Kobold culture appears to be 'gang' oriented. While there are certain elements that would suggest they are a tribal cultures, most warrens appear to contain multiple tribes with shifting populations and alliances. By gang culture, we are suggesting that Kobolds give their allegiance to a stronger Kobold and his followers, and such allegiances are strictly social convienences, rather than fixed on familial or other more binding ties. If a leader fails to maintain order, or if the Gang fails repeatedly at various activities, the Gang often falls apart if a new, stronger, leader does not step up. Kobolds that leave, wether as a preface to replacement, or during a fracture in the Gang are readily welcomed into new gangs. Status is based on a mix of ability (strength) and longevity.
Kobolds do have some industry, though it is limited and based largely on salvage for raw materials. It would appear that individual Gangs focus on certain activities, excluding others. The economy appears based on barter. A scavenger gang will supply broken and stolen weapons and armor to a 'blacksmithy gang' in return for a percentage of 'new' weapons and armor for themselves... which they may then trade to a war gang in return for protection and battlefeild salavage rights. The process is endless. Some gangs perform multiple related tasks, reducing their trade needs at a cost of dominance in any feild. There is relatively little infighting between gangs, certainly not the absolutely lethal combat that kobolds turn to when faced with non-kobolds.
Kobolds have a long fertility cycle, but a short gestation period, with multiple births as common. Males and females are promiscuious, though 'gang bosses' appear to have greater breeding rights, moving down heirarchally. As gang bosses can be of either gender this leads to a great deal of confusion among outsiders as to how breeding priviledges work. A gang boss can breed with anyone, though there appears to be some preference for other 'bosses' if one of the appropriate gender is available. Both genders use sexual behavior to establish dominance and pecking order, and apparently are similar to humans and most other races in that they can enjoy sexual relations outside of breeding behavior. Kobold 'pups' are raised communally in large gangs of their own, led by older children and gangs in a pyramid that stretches to the adult gangs. Many pups grow to join a gang that fostered them, others form their own gangs which remain whole into adulthood.
As a carnivorous species, Kobolds exhibit a range of behaviors that are uncommon in many other races. For example, it is not uncommon for Kobold Adult males to consume a pup that aggrivates them, and dominance rituals can be excessively violent, involving a great deal of bloodshed. Another thing is what could be called 'herding' behavior. Kobolds tend to leave a large amount of trash and food debris around their homes. This filthy behavior is not an indication of slovenly habits, but rather a survival behavior. The purpose of the debris is to attract rats, mice, cockaroaches and other vermin that make up the largest portion of the Kobold's diet. A sufficent amount of debris also gives the Kobold a camoflaged nest to sleep in, far safer and more comfortable to him than a human style bed would be.
On a related cultural note, as Kobolds have no concept of family, and no real way of tracking relatives, they have no concept of incest, nor do they exhibit signs of inbreeding, possibly due to the promiscuity of their breeding behavior. This also seems to isolate Kobolds from a wide array of genetic disorders and diseases, though it may contribute to the wide array of morphology exhibited by the species. As noted earlier, Kobold morphology is often dramatic, though it should be noted that the 'tolerences' in terms of size and overall characteristics is somewhat tighter than exhibited by humanity. To find a Kobold who is more than six inches from the median height is a rare occurence indeed. This leaves us to speculate the reasons for such varied appearences. There appears to be no real social impact from the morphology as there is in humanity, but it is notable that many Kobold warrens contain on predominant morphology, rather than the spectrum exhibited by the race itself.
ARI...
... aw fuck it. It was funny once. This one never got any posts, alas...
From the
other Kobold thread... ;)
Recent comments from Gary Gygax on the Kobold in D&D: It seems there was a breakdown in communication with the artist for the Kobold entry in the Monster Manual.
Quote from: EGGKobolds were not meant to look like canines, nor have some reptillian features. they were patterened after the Teutonic kobolds, forest goblins.
(http://imgred.com/http://pobladores.lycos.es/data/pobladores.com/tr/ee/treetor/channels/el_sabio_brownie/images/2725251kobolds.jpg)
Quote from: EGGThose are great illustrations of goblinesque little fairy folk. Had I had that picture on hand when kobolds were put into the MM, that's is what I'd have passed along to DCSIII.
Neat. :)
Stu: These aren't D&D Kobolds, though you could apply them too D&D's rules/setting without much change. :D
Now, I know I am behind the rest in reading these but I have to tell you...all I could think of was a sociological experiment with infant kobolds left alone on a desert island with no outside influences or historical prejudices to hold them back and I'd bet that if they survived, they WOULD indeed build that mythical Kobold society given enough time!
That explains kobolds very well.
...A particularly clever GM could drop an advanced kobold society on his players. Given typical PC behavior...*Very Evil Grin*
As far as I am concerned Kobolds are generally stupid, love to eat babies, and have a king named Torg.
(ALL HAIL KING TORG!)
Oh, and they are furry like the dudes in the digital version of MM1's picture in Pool of Radiance.
But YMMV.
Good job on bumping this up. I really enjoyed it.
One thing I am curious about: where did the all kobold-love come from?
Ever since they became a potential PC race for 3E there's been a steady undercurrent of fondness for them.
Was it always there, or did new D&D make them suddenly appealing?
Quote from: Miacis3101;342384all I could think of was a sociological experiment with infant kobolds left alone on a desert island with no outside influences or historical prejudices to hold them back and I'd bet that if they survived, they WOULD indeed build that mythical Kobold society given enough time!
That's my stand on hobbits. The standard concept of fat shut-ins only applies to the middle-class idlers of Tolkien's shire, not the ones fighting for survival.
Quote from: Hairfoot;342433Good job on bumping this up. I really enjoyed it.
One thing I am curious about: where did the all kobold-love come from?
.
Well... I was particularly inspired by Kobolds Ate My Baby, but I can recall way back in the day, in my AD&D DMG a picture of Kobolds getting spanked by a green dragon.
I never thought much about Kobolds until I played World of Warcraft... in that game they're one of my all time favorite trash mobs... stupid, vicious and always showing up in inconveniently large numbers. Not an active threat to anyone unless you trespass on one of their mines.
Mostly they remind me of the Skaven in Warhammer... which I think are pretty much modified Kobolds.
Quote from: Narf the Mouse;342391That explains kobolds very well.
...A particularly clever GM could drop an advanced kobold society on his players. Given typical PC behavior...*Very Evil Grin*
That was MY thought exactly!!!
Quote from: Miacis3101;342505That was MY thought exactly!!!
Great minds think alike! :D
Yeah, my Kobolds are furry and vaguely canine.
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