Kobolds are small, weak and seethe with resentment that rest of the world refuses to recognize them. They proudly claim kinship to dragons, but beneath all the bluster, they resent that dragons view them as mere servants rather than kin.
They are hardworking, clever, and blessed with a natural talent for mechanical devices and mining. They enjoy celebrating their gift with all things mechanical. Kobold tactics specialize in traps and ambushes. Often, they seek to capture rather than to kill.
Physical Description
Kobolds are small, bipedal reptilian humanoids. Most stand around 3 feet tall and weigh about 35 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 varieties, 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.
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. While squabbles and feuds do occur, the elders who rule kobold communities tend to settle such conflicts swiftly. They are also 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.
Relations
Kobolds innate caution ensures that they only befriend when certain there will be no backlash. They resort to careful insults and “practical jokes” to test the measure of a person. They believe half-elves blend the best qualities of both parent races, which strikes kobolds as fundamentally unfair. When the gnomes first arrived in the mortal realm, kobolds saw them as perfect prank victims. This sparked waves of retaliation and reprisal that have echoed on down through the centuries and earned the kobolds' permanent friendship.
Alignment & Religion
Kobolds readily knuckle under to superior force, but always scheme to reagain freedom. Most kobolds are some form of lawful. Kobolds often pray to Rakesh or Keagon. A few others instead venerate Nightslayer, hoping for his blessing when making traps.
Adventurers
Kobolds rarely leave their cozy warrens by their own choice. Most of those who set out on adventures are the last of their tribe, and such individuals often settle down again as soon as they find another kobold community willing to take them in. Sometimes they have also been exiled for some reason.
+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence: Kobolds are fast and smart
Small: Kobolds are Small creatures and so gain a +1 size bonus to AC and attack rolls, a –1 penalty to their CMB and CMD, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.
Normal Speed: Kobolds have a base speed of 30 feet.
Darkvision: 60 ft. Kobolds can see perfectly in the dark up to 60 feet.
Natural Armor: Kobolds gain a +1 natural armor bonus to their Armor Class.
Master Tinker: Kobolds gain a +1 bonus on Disable Device and Knowledge (engineering) checks. Kobolds are also treated as proficient with any weapon they have personally crafted.
Trapmaster: Kobolds are masters of crafting traps. They gain a +2 bonus to Craft (traps) and Disable Device.
Stalker: Kobolds are inclined towards stalking their targets. Perception and Stealth are always class skills kobolds.
Weapon Familiarity: Kobolds are familiar with bolas and whips.
Languages: Kobolds begin speaking Draconic and Kobold. Kobolds with a high enough inteligence may begin play with these languages: Common, Kingdom, Dwarven, Elven, Goblin, Orc, Undercommon.