Kobold, Variant (5e Race Variant)
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Kobold
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Kobolds are weak, craven, and seethe with a festering resentment for the rest of the world, especially members of races that seem stronger, smarter, or superior to them in any way. They proudly claim kinship to dragons, but beneath all the bluster, the comparison to their glorious cousins leaves kobolds with a profound sense of inadequacy. Though they are hardworking, clever, and blessed with a natural talent for mechanical devices and mining, they spend their days nursing grudges and hatreds instead of celebrating their own gifts. Kobold tactics specialize in traps and ambushes, but kobolds enjoy anything that allows them to harm others without putting themselves at risk. Often, they seek to capture rather than to kill, taking out their frustrations on the helpless victims they drag back to their claustrophobic lairs.
Physical Description
Kobolds are small, bipedal reptilian humanoids. Most stand around 2 and a half feet tall and weigh about 30 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 chromatic 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.
A few kobolds are born with leathery wings and can fly. Known as urds, they like to lurk on high ledges and drop rocks on passersby. Although the urds' wings are seen as gifts from Tiamat, the Dragon Queen, wingless kobolds are envious of those gifts and don't get along with the urds.
Society
Kobolds thrive in cramped quarters far from the light of the sun. Most live in vast warrens deep beneath the earth, but a few instead prefer to make their homes beneath tangles of overgrown trees and brush. Saving their malice for other races, most kobolds get along well with their own kind. While squabbles and feuds do occur, the elders who rule kobold communities tend to settle such conflicts swiftly. Kobolds delight in taking slaves, relishing the chance to torment and humiliate them. They are also cowardly and practical, and often end up bowing to more powerful beings. If these creatures are of another humanoid race, kobolds often scheme to free themselves from subjugation as soon as possible. If the overlord is a powerful draconic or monstrous creature, however, kobolds see no shame in submission, and often shower adoration on their new leader. This is especially true if the kobolds serve a true dragon, who they tend to worship outright.
Kobolds often seethe with hatred and jealousy, but their innate caution ensures that they only act on these impulses when they have the upper hand. If unable to safely indulge their urge to physically harm and degrade members of other races, they resort to careful insults and "practical jokes" instead. They consider both dwarves and elves to be deadly rivals. Kobolds fear the brute power of half-orcs and resent humans for the dominant status that race enjoys. They believe half-elves blend the best qualities of both parent races, which strikes kobolds as fundamentally unfair. Kobolds believe halflings, small in stature, make wonderful slaves and targets for kobold rage and practical jokes. When the gnomes first arrived in the mortal realm, kobolds saw them as perfect victims. This sparked waves of retaliation and reprisal that have echoed on down through the centuries and earned the kobolds' permanent enmity.
Kobold Names
Male: Draahzin, Eadoo, Ipmeerk, Jamada, Kib, Makroo, Olp, Yraalik, Zornesk
Female: Adriaak, Harkail, Neeral, Ozula, Poro, Saassraa, Tarka
Kobold Traits
A little reptilian race with a strong social structure that stresses devotion to the tribe.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2.
Age. Once hatched, kobolds mature at a breakneck pace. By the time a kobold reaches 7 or 8 years old, on average, they are mentally and physically capable to assist the tribe in some capacity. Kobolds can live to be over 120 years old, but usually die to external causes well before then.
Alignment. Kobolds are fiercely loyal to their tribe. Thus, they tend toward lawful alignments.
Size. Kobolds are diminutive creatures, virtually never reaching over 3 feet tall. Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Pack Tactics. You have advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of your allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.
Slim Build. You count as one size smaller when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight whenever you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Draconic.
Subrace. There are three distinct varieties of kobold: the cunning burrows kobold, the spellcasting loredrake kobold, or the winged urd. Choose one of these subraces.
Burrows Kobold
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Ambusher. When you roll damage for an attack with a melee weapon against a creature that is surprised, you may reroll the weapon's damage dice and use either total.
Bonus Proficiency. You are proficient with thieves' tools.
Loredrake Kobold
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Sorcerous Initiate. You know 2 cantrips of your choice from the sorcerer spell list. In addition, you know one 1st-level spell from the Sorcerer spell list. You can cast this spell once, regaining the ability to cast it when you complete a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Winged Kobold (Urd)
Flight. You have a flying speed of 30 feet. To use this speed, you can't be wearing medium or heavy armor.
Random Height and Weight
| Base Height | Height Modifier | Base Weight | Weight Modifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2′ 1″ | +2d4 | 25 lb. | x 1 lb. |
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