Kobolds are short, reptilian humanoids with cowardly and sadistic tendencies who live in the dark recesses of the hills, mountains and forests of Arrasia. They are scaly creatures, with a skin color that ranges from dark rusty brown to a rusty black and have glowing red eyes and short, pointy nonprehensile tails. Kobolds wear ragged clothing, favoring red and orange and are generally 2 to 2-1/2 feet tall and weigh 35 to 45 pounds.

A Kobold community can vary from anywhere between 100 to 500 in size, though most tend to be a few hundred strong. Deep in the belly of Arrasia, however, lies the kobold city of Xarakharg, where thousands of kobolds live and work, well defended from the dangers and chaos that surround them. Xarakharg is the spiritual home of kobolds on Arrasia. For those that dwell on the surface, the dangers are no less, for the kobolds are weak and easily preyed upon when in small numbers.

Kobold communities are very organized and structured, with every kobold aware of their place within the community. The head is usually its strongest individual, who rules with absolute authority. Kobolds are aware of their weaknesses, but they are also aware of the weaknesses of their enemies, and often find that discipline and teamwork allow them to overcome obstacles that might otherwise have defeated them.

Because of their small size and frail nature, kobolds like to attack with overwhelming odds - at least two to one - or through trickery; should the odds fall below this threshold, they usually flee. However, they attack gnomes on sight if their numbers are equal. Kobolds are excellent slingers and usually begin a fight by pummeling their opponent with slingshot, closing only when they can see that their foes have been weakened.

Kobolds are also excellent at trapmaking and are ingenious in utilizing this skill to set up deadly ambushes where their traps can cause all manner of chaos amongst their enemies. They also apply their art in this area to defending their homelands, which are often filled with trapped tunnels and doors that serve no other purpose than to surprise the unwary.

Kobolds were created by Wamranoch to serve and delight him and came to Arrasia during the War of Chaos, when the struggle for the dominion of Arrasia saw the races clash in a violent and bloody struggle. Kobolds soon found many of their foes too powerful for them and were driven from the battlefield, forced to hide in the places where they now make their homes. However, during one glorious episode of their history, kobolds rose up under the banner of Fane, a human wizard, and marched against the cities of the south lands. For a while, they swept all before them and the glory of Wamranoch could not be denied. However, the people of the south soon rallied and the kobolds were defeated and driven back from where they had come and Fane locked in his dark tower.

Kobolds speak Draconic with a voice that sounds like that of a yapping dog.

Challenge Rating: Kobolds with levels in NPC classes have a CR equal to their character level -3.

KOBOLD CHARACTERS

Kobold characters possess the following racial traits.

• -4 Strength, +2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution.
• Small size: +1 bonus to Armor Class, +1 bonus on attack rolls, +4 bonus on Hide checks, -4 penalty on grapple checks, lifting and carrying limits 3/4 those of Medium characters.
• A kobold's base land speed is 30 feet.
• Darkvision out to 60 feet.
• Light Sensitivity (Ex): Kobolds are dazzled in bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
• Racial Skills: A kobold character has a +2 racial bonus on Craft (trapmaking), Profession (miner), and Search checks.
• Racial Feats: A kobold character gains feats according to its character class.
• +1 natural armor bonus.
• Special Qualities (see above): Light sensitivity.
• Automatic Languages: Draconic. Bonus Languages: Xamian, any Human Tongue.
• Favored Class: Sorcerer.
• Level adjustment +0.

SUBRACES

The information above is for the most common variety of kobold. There is one other major kobold subrace, which differs from normal kobolds as follows.

Arctic Kobolds

Arctic kobolds are most commonly found in and around The White Mountains and the northern mountains of The Wild Lands, where the winters are long and the lands frozen. They are seldom seen outside of their mines, which they dig constantly as they expand their subterranean territories. These expansions often lead to tension with the arctic dwarves, as they can often mine into the same areas. As a result, conflict between the two races is almost constant.

Arctic kobolds possess the following racial traits in addition to the usual kobold traits, unless otherwise stated.

• -2 Strength, +2 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, -2 Wisdom. Arctic kobolds are stronger than other kobolds, but are weaker of will. This replaces the ability modifiers associated with the more common variety of kobold.
• Cold Endurance: Arctic kobolds gain a +4 racial bonus on Fortitude saves made to resist the effects of cold weather or exposure.