The LO-Kobolds

A Brief Summary of the Lo-Kobolds

by Talo Preest, Scholar of the Daemedran Academy

The simian, non-humanlike race known as lo-kobolds (hereafter referred to simply as ‘kobolds’) arrived in Solitude during the Era of Migration only a couple years after the first eyra migration. They are a race of primates but considerably different from humans and elves. Resembling stocky and muscular baboons they live in nomadic clans that can number into the hundreds. Kobolds were the first of several migrant races (including the two other known races of kobold) who would ignore the guidance and teachings of the gods to pursue their own traditional way of life.

When the first migrant kobolds appeared through the eastern rift gate, they were greeting by a delegation of elves and angels, as was common in the era. This first meeting was said to have gone well, with the kobolds leading dozens of clans through the gate and moving into lands set aside for new arrivals. It wasn’t long after this however, that the kobold’s infamous ethical code and traditions prodded them into conflict with the many human settlements that dotted the southern half of Torin. Within weeks of their arrival, the kobolds began raiding small towns, villages, and trade caravans, killing anyone who resisted and making off with as many goods as they could carry. When the humans fought back, the clans would melt into the wilderness with their bounty, mostly metals and other valuable materials. The clans spread across the east quickly, and soon reached the west and south, raiding and pillaging as they went. All attempts at diplomacy were met with dismissal and disgust from the kobold leaders – human and elven envoys were usually sent running. Eventually, through the interrogation of prisoners captured during failed raids, the humans and elves gained an understanding of what drove the kobolds to act as they did. 

The kobolds believe in what they call the Before and the Eternal – that their current lives are only a prelude to a greater existence that they will enter into upon death. This belief states that the purpose of one’s first life is to prepare for the next. To that end, a kobold must grow strong and skilled, and acquire fine possessions that they can take with them into the Eternal. Because they consider this life to be nothing but a prelude, little care is given to the actions one might take while preparing for the next. This has led to an unusual relationship with life and death. On the one hand, cutting short one’s Before is seen as bad form since you’ve robbed them of the chance to enter the Eternal fully prepared – because of this, kobold’s will often avoid unnecessary bloodshed. On the other hand, “sending someone to the Eternal” is not as serious a crime as it would be among the other races of Solitude. 

As an aside, it is my personal belief, after examining existing sources, that the kobold’s emigration to Solitude only strengthened their belief in the Before and Eternal. Passing through a Rift Gate to another world entirely proved that such travel was possible. Add on to that the sudden introduction of magic, gods, and other phenomena (mostly) unique to Solitude, and I believe we have an answer as to why this race so quickly and completely cemented their belief in such a fantastical life-cycle. But, back to the matter at hand.

In modern times, kobolds have spread to every corner of the world and have had their numbers bolstered by two additional migrations of similarly troublesome subspecies (the viz- and nar-kobolds). Kobold raids have become simply a part of life for those who live outside of large, well defended settlements. In some parts of the world, certain kobold factions have actually formed partnerships with other races and engage in mutually beneficial trade. Kobolds are excellent metal crafters and their armor and weapons fetch a high price in the right markets.

Relative to Solitude’s other races, kobolds are decidedly darker in morality. That isn’t to say they aren’t capable of kindness and compassion, however. Life within their camps has often been reported to be no different from that within a human or eyra settlement.