Kobold

Kobolds are short and oafish in appearance, but are amongst the cleverest of man's foes. They live in warrens but have culture and industrial know-how to rival, even surpass, that of mankind. Although they were first encountered by humans along with formorians, kobolds actually predate the Cataclysm.

Kobolds are described as hating humans, who have a history of scorning and mocking their physical appearance, and they appear to have a vendetta against the defenders of Valhold and Skrekk. Skrekk Cavern is the capital of the Kingdom of Korabar, the King of the Kobolds.

Kobold architecture is characterized by liberal use of finished metals and stitched leather.

Lore

 * Of all the creatures that were discovered in the Formorian era, none are more challenging, more fascinating and more terrible than the Kobold. Named, like the elves to the south, after a legend long forgotten, the Norguard at first thought them oafish and weak. They were not huge of stature, nor were they particularly savage in their first combats. Yet, the kobolds, like the men they fight, are far more than an initial glance would suggest. They are far from stupid; in fact they may be among the cleverest of mankind’s foes. They form armies, fight with tactics learned from hundreds of battles, and use unique weapons forged with their own knowledge of metal and steel. In fact, the few who have survived the kobold warrens report a level of industry in many ways beyond that of man. The kobolds are not stupid, traveller, oh no. They know that the first, instinctive reaction of men to their appearance is that of scorn and laughter at their dimunitive size. It has, in fact, shaped much of their culture – and yes, the kobolds have their own culture, tales and loves. They have a sense of honor, in many ways more than those men they fight – and this irony, they too are well aware of. They know we men scorn them, and it drives them into an even more furious hatred of us. They call us weak, traveller, and honorless, and craven and corrupt, and worse yet. And from their viewpoint, they are not wrong. You will discover that, too, traveller, if you have the courage to see.  They consider it their duty, their own courage, to cast down the defenders of Valhold from their base in the Thrones of Skrekk. The few prisoners that have been taken have one, only one message, full of scorn and hatred returned for the race of man. That message is simple: they will never stop.  - Arabella


 * The kobolds of Novia are a unique race. Not a construct of the Obsidians like the elves or the trolls, the kobolds emerged after the Cataclysm from their underground cities – how they survived the disaster, and what horrors they went through in the aftermath, only they could say, and they will not. The kobolds are a fiercely proud race, and a deeply honorable one. Yet in the brief time that humans and kobolds existed at peace, humans treated the kobolds poorly. No human has ever been able to learn the kobold language, so kobolds learned the speech of man, and were mocked for doing so poorly. They gave the knowledge of their technology and industry freely – for the kobolds were always superior engineers and craftsmen – and were mocked for not holding out for a better price. They were mocked and beaten for being smaller than humans, but their society was always more united than any human one.  And finally, from that unity, the kobolds, as one, decided that humans could not be trusted to share Novia. And ever since, the Knights of Norgard, the first and only line of defense of humanity against the new threat, have never, ever mocked kobolds again…  – From the Journals of Arabella

Trivia

 * Kobold females and young are kept hidden from humans because they view humans as genocidal weirdos and females/children are the future of kobolds. Kobold females also serve in the military (they are reptilian and do not have human sexual dimorphism) but this is rarer. Kobold society is egalitarian but also very survival-oriented.
 * Kobolds live longer than humans but not much longer. Their aging is not physically obvious.
 * Kobolds build automatics that resemble man and surface animals, mostly because some kobolds think humans are amusing in the same sort of way you think pets are amusing, so they make toys for them much the way we make toys to keep pets amused and happy. Kobold automation for kobolds is chiefly functional and involves energy production and maintenance.
 * Some kobold nobles keep small animals as pets as luxury/a sign of status, but they are imported from the surface. Underworld creatures are seen as pests not pets.
 * Kobold mages are generally seen only as utility in combat. Magic is one of the few ways humans have superior knowledge to kobolds. Kobold mages are not seen as particularly prestigious.
 * Kobolds predate the Fall. They have adapted to their surroundings since. If you talk to some Kobolds you'll find Skrekk was essentially built as a bomb shelter.