History

The history of Kobolds, known among themselves as Oboldskay, is largely unknown and almost completely uncared for. Kobolds are regarded as vermin and nobody but the craziest of scholars shows any interest in recording the stories of the little red race. Certainly nobody cares less than the Kobolds themselves. After all, thinking about the past is boring, except for the explosive and shiny parts!

Geography

Kobolds are found universally in all locations and climates. Wherever other beings may live, Kobolds will be there alongside them, wanted or otherwise. Kobolds have no documented homeland or kingdom, and no one knows where in the world they originated.

Because they are regarded as pests and incapable of accomplishment by the other races, the only notable groups of Kobolds are whichever ones happen to be bothering you at this time.

Culture

Perhaps the closest comparison to Kobold culture is that of rabbits. Any problem not solved by explosions will almost certainly be solved by sex, and Kobolds as a race have survived as long as they do by breeding at a rate unprecedented among any of the other sentient races.

Being a race that are generally more suited to destruction than construction, Kobolds tend to live in large groups concentrated in large caves, which they are fully capable of expanding as needed. It is rumored that new caves are created in a form of sporulation, where a large number of Kobolds are thrown out of one cave by a large explosion, and land near enough to other caves to infest them and start a whole new cave group.

Kobolds have little regard for the concept of personal property, at least as it applies to others, and acquire much of their resources by theft and looting, as much from their fellow cave-members as from outside peoples. Kobolds are capable of eating almost anything, down to the dirt from their caves if they can’t manage to steal anything from a passing caravan.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the Kobold race’s preferred deity is the ‘Great Kaboom’, though little is known about it even among the Kobolds themselves, including whether it represents Light or Dark. Priests of the Great Kaboom travel the lands, blowing things up in the name of their god and teaching people – generally other Kobolds – the ways of their deity.

Most Kobolds do not reach the elderly age of 5.

Politics

Among Kobolds, what little reverence they can muster goes first to those who represent the Great Kaboom, second to those who have accumulated and managed to hold on to the largest collection of shiny objects, and thirdly to those of relatively advanced age.

Being so scattered, and being a race of almost entirely literal children by other races’ standards, Kobolds have no formal or permanent governance structures, political institutions, or military forces. Temporary forms of these may appear in individual caves when a miracle of some sort manages to make a group of Kobolds rally around a single goal. This goal is generally the acquisition of a particularly impressive shiny object or, in rare practical cases, the acquisition of food or defense against a slow-moving threat.

When organized in a multi-race military, Kobolds are typically used by other Goblinoids as trap makers and disarmers, or even cannon fodder. The latter is not generally explained to the Kobolds themselves.

Common Personalities & Views

Kobolds are young and childish. They are generally regarded as stupid, but can be clever and crafty, especially where traps are concerned. Kobolds universally love shiny objects, often to a suicidal extent, and are easily distracted by them. Older Kobolds may be smarter and more mature than your average Kobold, but that doesn’t stop them from blowing themselves up or being distracted by shiny things.

Kobolds are universally amoral. They aren’t evil; they simply have no moral compass or loyalty. A Kobold will kill his own mother if she has more shinies than him and he thinks he can get away with it.

Views on Other Races

Other races are universally feared or pitied, depending on how threatening the individual in question is at the moment.

The only exception to this is Goblins, who, being similar in size and also interested in traps, are seen as mere wannabe Kobolds who just haven’t grasped the concept of how great shiny things and explosions really are. If the Goblins are being threatening or pitiable, then see above.

Roleplaying Tips

• Outside of unusual circumstances, you will likely be playing an adult with the mind of a 2-year-old. While you don’t have to be stupid necessarily, remember your age and act it.
• Remember to like shiny objects. You don’t have to be suicidally obsessed with them, but they should at least get your heart racing and attract your attention.
• While you are by no means required to worship the Great Kaboom as your racial patron deity, you should show some reverence for it.
• Remember, the only authority worth following is whichever one has the sharpest swords pointed at you, or the shiniest objects on offer.
• Talk in a loud, squeaky voice.