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Kobolds                                               adults, instinctively travel upwards through the tunnels to the
                                                                surface where they will scatter, traveling in groups of between   ve
             e dry air of the tunnel is engulfed in a fresh wave of heat as, far o  ,   and ten, attempting to   nd another colony to join, or discover a
          its denizen makes its presence known. As dust rains from the ceiling,   suitable burrow to settle in and start a new one of their own (the
          a creature barrels into the passage, made bold by the promises of   dispersal of the newborns in this way helps to ensure diversity
          dreams. A skinny body supported by skinnier legs, a gangly neck   across the species and means that a single kobold family line can
          topped with a dragon’s head - though with none of its majesty –   stretch across continents).    eir only sustenance during this time
          surveys the earth, its eyes a  ame with purpose. It is an awkward   is the remnants of their egg’s yolk, and the majority perish a  er
          creature, skittering forward stop-start like an anxious bird. Its head   failing to   nd a suitable location within the few days they have.
          sways this way and that as if using every sense to search. Suddenly      ough it is the exception rather than the rule, female kobolds
          it crouches, ripping up handfuls of earth in a tireless, frenzied   have been known to lay viable eggs even in the absence of males.
          scrabble. At the sight of a smooth, rounded surface, it relaxes. Its
          eyes illuminate, full of wonder, and greed, and possibility.    is is   Kobolds tend towards a nervous disposition, and can descend
          a kobold.                                             into   ts of anxiety if they are away from the soothing dark of their
                                                                enclosed tunnels.    is has led to the belief that all kobolds are
          Kobolds are small reptilian humanoids averaging around three-  frail cowards by the civilized world at large, but the truth is the
          and-a-half feet tall, with a lean, gangly frame.    eir large eyes,   majority of the population have not encountered kobolds in their
          positioned high on their heads, give them good all-round vision,   native territory. Underground, kobolds are as capable of defending
          be  tting their rank near the bottom of the monstrous food chain.   their home as any other race, though they prefer guerrilla tactics,
          As with most reptiles, males and females are nearly identical.   ambushes, and traps to conventional warfare.
          Males may tend towards having more and larger hornlets and
          crests than females, but this is by no means a certain means of   Kobolds divide neatly into two distinct subtypes. Warren kobolds
          identi  cation.                                       are kobolds le   to their own devices; simple miners and trap
                                                                builders. When a colony discovers, or seeks out a dragon egg
          Females lay clutches of seventeen to twenty-four pale, leathery-  or wyrmling, their society entirely changes to that of the more
          shelled eggs, which incubate in communal nesting chambers for   grandiose and self-important dragon kobolds.
          around seven months.    e hatchlings, perfect miniatures of the


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        Chapter 5: Kobolds
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