Kobolds

Kobolds are small, bipedal reptilian humanoids. Most stand around 3 feet tall and weigh about 45 pounds. They have powerful jaws for creatures of their size and noticeable claws on their hands and feet. Often kobolds' faces are curiously devoid of expression, as they favor showing their emotions by simply swishing their tails. Kobolds' thick hides vary in color, and most have scales that match the hue of one of the varieties of dragons, with red scales being predominant. A few kobolds, however, have more exotic colors such as orange or yellow, which in some tribes raises or lowers an individual's status in the eyes of his fellows.

Tunnel-hives. Dragon worship. A scandalous running track for unwise business expenditures, high population, and one tracked thinking. Kobolds are known for many prestigious(?) aspects, and not one of them is unwarranted, unearned, or mentioned in casual conversation less than once a day. Many a wench has heard a tunneling joke come from the same kobold more times than would ever be funny.

Kobolds live underground, constantly digging interwinding tunnels, holes, and caverns. Why? No one really knows. But their tunneling habits do serve more purpose than confusing behavioral scholars: they use the earth to get stinking rich. But you would never know it from looking at an average kobold; even the adventuring sort is typically no better off than your average elf, human or centaur. No, kobolds are rich, but they don’t keep their money (or much more often than not, gold and jewels). They offer it up to various dragons or dragon like species. Krynn are typically offered valuables to keep them away, and protect the kobolds. Naga on the other hand, are handed off treasures... Because they’re regarded as larger, stronger kobolds. Which can lead to confusion and aggression when they awaken a day after celebration short a few silver pieces.

Dragonkind worship is not the only thing kobolds use this dirty filthy loot for. The rarest colonies, usually the exotic colored ones who don’t have a corresponding dragon color, use these valuables to make heavily fortified, trap encrusted, goblin tier kobold infested caves and dungeons. They dig up kingdoms, sometimes making them or sometimes actually finding them, and use them to their advantage.

The final matter to address, though probably not strictly academic, is the kobold’s luck. Kobolds are tiny, scrawny guys who’s skin is leather and breeding habits are nothing short of... Well its hard to keep track of lineages. So how do they survive for so long? Witty resourcing? Using their riches to supply themselves with food and medicine? Or maybe their venerated dragons simply protect them? No no no. Kobolds are just ridiculously lucky. Give a man a pickaxe and he’ll give you a statue by night fall. The kobold will find a diamond while carving out the statue’s junk and have run off to the inn before the innkeeper could bring the ale up from the cellar. Though no one notices it, or refuses to admit as much, a kobold’s luck is as much a racial trait as any other’s physical features.

In recent years, kobolds can be found working for more than just Draconic races and they can often be found here and there cleaning up or cooking meals for the wealthy. As long as they’re given “shinies” to keep them happy and kept in a cooperative (or submissive) mood they don’t cause much of a fuss or a mess. 'Though if one of them starts acting out in rebellion the rest are sure to follow... then you end up with things like a sudden “renovation” to the parlor, or worse, the kitchen. Then you have to hire a Krynn to put them all back into line or you just kick them all out and hope they don’t come back. 'Those who manage the kobold “servant” trade are almost exclusively Krynn (calling the kobolds slaves to their faces tends to upset them.) 'Kobolds who aren’t enslaved are more uncommon than they used to be, though sometimes you’ll end up with a random kobold “infestation” with groups of kobolds suddenly digging themselves a big hole in the ground. 'Existing kobold communities are usually left alone or rooted out depending on how well they get along with their neighbors, though in Krynn lands they are forced to regular pay tribute or have some of their number rounded up and taken away into the slave trade.