Page 106 - Ultimate-Bestiary-Revenge-of-the-Horde-5E

ese kobolds leverage the status that comes with associating
ese kobolds leverage the status that comes with associating
with a dragon to raid settlements and other monsters for better
with a dragon to raid settlements and other monsters for better
supplies, knowing that they can fall back to their lair and hoping
supplies, knowing that they can fall back to their lair and hoping
Dragon Kobolds that any pursuers know what lurks within. eir clothing tends to
be of better quality, as do their armor and weapons (which consist
Occasionally amongst a group of warren kobolds, a di erent sort of spears, curved blades, steel scale armor and, for a lucky few, true
of king will rise, more driven and focused than others. Commonly dragonscales). Dragon kobolds are o en well supplied enough to
lead by dreams of ight or re, this ‘dragon-touched’ will lead decorate themselves with jewelry, paying tribute to their master
their followers on a reckless pilgrimage, o en above ground, with horn and wing designs.
to seek a dragon egg. Sometimes, a particularly stealthy kobold
will be sent into an adult dragon’s lair to secret away an egg, and Culture
many a pilgrimage has been utterly wiped out when they are Whilst nominally ruled by the dragon they serve, most kobolds
discovered trying to transport it back to the warren, but other will never be allowed any level of interaction with it, and may even
times an abandoned egg or wyrmling is found and the pilgrims be forbidden from setting eyes on it. In practice, the group is led by
settle around it. Rarely, kobolds will stumble across a dragon egg a ruling class of priests who speak to the dragon and (supposedly)
in the course of digging tunnels, which typically leads to the same relay its will. Given that dragons are generally indi erent to their
end result. retinue of kobolds, their ‘will’ is o en open to a great deal of
e egg changes the dynamic of the kobold’s society. Instead of interpretation, and thus the priests have close to absolute power
mining ore for supplies, workers now seek gems and gold for the in the group. is, naturally, leads to a great deal of tension
hoard, and those with ambition and drive who would normally and in ghting in the priest caste, with individuals and factions
become kings among warren kobolds now rise as priests. is constantly jockeying for higher positions with greater access to the
dynamic continues to shi throughout the dragon’s long life. In the dragon’s ear. Some ambitious priests genuinely believe that they
beginning, the kobolds act as part foster parent and part animal will be able to in uence their master (and the most powerful of
handler, providing food and attempting an education (which is of them have been known to, with the help of enchantments), others
dubious value, even setting aside the fact that a dragon’s intellect see the reality of the situation and take any opportunity they can
outstrips their own in a matter of months). As the dragon becomes get to manipulate the populous to their own ends.
more self-su cient, it becomes more of a living idol; part monarch Beneath the priests are a multitude of acolytes, retainers, and
and part god. Younger dragons typically enjoy the worship heaped lackeys who carry out the organization and counting of tributes,
upon them and sometimes take an active interest in utilizing pronouncement of minor edicts, and the less glamorous parts
these minions to their own ends. A er a few decades of constant of tending to the dragon such as cleaning teeth (high fatality
fawning, however, most dragons lose interest; in the best cases, rate) and clearing waste (mid-to-high fatality rate). Acolytes are
they simply ignore the kobolds surrounding them, but it is just as frequently paid o to report their priest’s activity to rivals, and it
common for a dragon to carry out some pest control in its adult is not uncommon for a high-ranking priest’s retinue to be made
years (any surviving kobolds, devastated that they have done up entirely of individuals in someone else’s pocket. Some use this
something to so upset their overlord, will redouble their worship, to their advantage to spread misinformation about their doings to
or else wander like heartbroken lovers, possibly nding their way confuse the competition, but others simply make sure that bribed
into the underclasses of civilization).
acolytes are assigned to dragon duty as soon as possible.

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Chapter 5: Kobolds