Races of the Dragon.pdf - The Techno Jesus

CHAPTER 3
KOBOLDS
48
Illus. by C. Malidore
halfl ing rogue would, honestly speaking, disagree with
this assessment only feeds the kobold opinion. The two
races can fi nd common ground in trapmaking.
Humans: Humans are mysterious to kobolds, sometimes
enemies and sometimes friends. Kobolds realized
long ago not only that human behavior couldn’t be easily
predicted, but also that humans apply energy and conviction
to whatever they do. If humans weren’t so numerous
and ubiquitous, kobolds would avoid them. Since that isn’t
possible, kobolds test the waters of nearby human populations
to determine whether they are friends or foes.
Spellscales: Despite being obviously descended
from dragons, spellscales fi nd themselves the object of
exasperation and disgust on the part of kobolds. Kobolds
view spellscales as chaotic, selfi sh individuals who drift
aimlessly, squandering their birthright. The only exception
to this outlook is held by kobold sorcerers, whose
annoyance is tempered by their respect for the sorcerous
power that spellscale sorcerers hold. Being in the same
place as a spellscale for any length of time, however, is a
trying experience for any kobold.
True Dragons: The body and soul of any kobold is
dedicated to dragons, whether literally or fi guratively.
Kobolds search for the dragon in themselves, and they
pledge themselves to the dragon in their rites of passage.
In the presence of an actual dragon, kobolds are servile,
doing anything required of them. Kobolds see dragons as
older and wiser kin and cultural heroes. Kurtulmak is the
kobold deity, but dragons represent a tangible glory that
Kurtulmak cannot provide.
Roleplaying Application: How do kobold preconceptions
affect your kobold character’s mindset and prejudices?
Are you naturally suspicious of other races, or do you
keep an open mind? Do you share in kobold hatred for all
gnomes or wish to end the cycle of retribution? Will you
serve dragons, or do you act independently from them?
RELIGION
Kobolds have no time for organized religious
ceremonies, but they are pious despite
their preoccupation with work. Hard work
is worship to a kobold, and action on behalf
of the tribe is a prayer for success.
Still, every kobold lair includes one
or two temples to Kurtulmak, limited
only by spatial confi nes and mining
priorities. These temples serve as
housing for clerics and adepts and as
storage places for the tribe’s important
treasures, not as congregating halls for
sermons or worship. Clergy must travel
to the fl ock, and clerics oversee workers
and provide support and admonishments
to keep going. In this way, religion helps
to maintain productivity. Priests help kobolds
affi rm their devotion through living by the ideals
of hard work and sacrifi ce.
Primarily, dutiful kobolds prove their worth
through steadfast dedication to their tribe. In
this regard, kobolds who work to exhaustion are
Holy symbol
of Kurtulmak
considered upstanding role models. Kobolds who willingly
suffer injury so that the daily work can continue without
interruption are treated with praise as zealous disciples.
Finally, kobolds who sacrifi ce their lives to facilitate the
tribe’s success are remembered as folk heroes (the equivalent
of saints).
Every kobold mining crew includes at least one adept
whose constant presence is meant to keep kobolds strictly
motivated. Adepts also serve as onsite physicians, healing
and treating workers’ injuries. Kobold adepts and clerics
move among the workers, divinely bolstering stamina
where needed. For this reason, kobold adepts replace
animal trance with lesser restoration and daylight with create
food and water on their spell lists.
Besides supervising mining operations, kobold clergy
also look after the eggs and wyrmlings thought to be
reincarnations of distinguished kobolds. On a ritualistic
level, kobold clerics receive the vows of kobolds selected
by instructors to become lifelong sorcerers. Kobolds
worship Kurtulmak, but individual tribes and kobolds
might venerate another dragon deity. See Dragon Deities,
beginning on page 149, for more on draconic divinities.
KURTULMAK
The Horned Sorcerer, Steelscale, Stingtail, Watcher
Intermediate Deity
Symbol: Gnome skull
Home Plane: Baator
Alignment: Lawful evil
Portfolio: Kobolds, trapmaking, mining, war
Worshipers: Kobolds
Cleric Alignments: LE, LN, NE
Domains: Evil, Law, Luck, Trickery
Favored Weapon: Spear
Kurtulmak is the god of kobolds, distinguished by his large
size, mottled scales, and long tail tipped with a dreadful
stinger. Kurtulmak encourages his followers to win
battles by any means, retreat to fi ght another day, and
to mete out revenge on every enemy, regardless
of how long that retribution takes to achieve.
Kurtulmak has hated gnomes ever since Garl
Glittergold collapsed a mine on him (see The
Ascension of Kurtulmak, page 50).
Cleric Training
Kurtulmak’s clerics begin their careers
as miners, learning how to appreciate
the kobold work ethic. Kobolds who
regularly sustain injuries while mining
are selected to become adepts or clerics
(before they end up getting killed on the
job). Such clerics train under military discipline,
learning doctrines for defending and
leading the kobold race.
Quests
Any task that furthers the power of the kobolds
and their propagation is a holy undertaking.
Kurtulmak’s followers fi nd suitable locations for
new lairs and mines to accommodate swelling