Page 99 - Ultimate-Bestiary-Revenge-of-the-Horde-5E

While this theoretically puts many kobold warrens in a constant Combat Tactics
state of civil war, violence is rare, and is usually restricted to one-
on-one scraps between kings. Where one king is triumphant, the Warren kobolds avoid combat whenever possible unless they are
loser may or may not renounce their claim, but if the kings are in the familiar surroundings of their home tunnels. eir usual
equally matched, it is common for each to gracefully concede part tactic is to retreat into tunnels too small for larger creatures to
of their domain and so become ‘King of the Western Tunnels’, ght in e ectively, where they can present greater numbers than
‘King of the Deep Caves” or so on. their opponents. eir tunnels can usually be collapsed in order to
funnel their foes through such tight spaces if they wish to proceed
Very rarely, warren kobolds can be found as an underclass of a further into the warren.
multicultural society, most likely in settlements of dwarven origin,
given their dislike of bright, open spaces. Sometimes these are All kobolds have a clear mental map of their tunnels, so know the
kobolds who have been exiled on the whim of a king, or have been most e cient routes to outmaneuver and ank their opponents
forced out of their tunnels by natural disaster, another monstrous and, if the kobolds are taken by surprise or the odds turn against
race, or an adventuring band, but occasionally a clan will surface them, the closest trap or hazard they can draw the enemy towards.
by chance in a settlement and see the bene ts of the richer life they If traps and battle fail them, warren kobolds are more likely to
could potentially lead there. Kobolds can scrape a living as tinkers, throw themselves at their enemy’s mercy than to ee, o ering
scrappers and miners, but rarely receive much love or respect from themselves as servants or slaves in return for their lives.
the population at large, who will usually view them as eccentric Warren Kobold Warbands
fringe dwellers at best and dangerous pests at worst.
Use these tables to generate a warren kobold encounter quickly
Environment and easily, either by rolling a d8 or selecting an appropriate
Most warren kobolds will never see the sun in their adult lives. challenge rating.
Enough rumors and tales make their way underground of kobolds CR 1–4
with an adventurous streak coming to a sticky end above ground,
or simply never being heard of again, that most are content with d8 CR Group Members
their subterranean life. e complex dwellings of warren kobolds 1 1 8 kobold miners
more than live up to the name. Winding labyrinths of cramped, 2 1 4 scutico, 2 kobold javelin throwers
pitch black tunnels crisscrossing and overlapping one another at 3 2 2 kobold beastmasters, 2 svaraskalos
di erent levels in a manner nearly impossible to map accurately
(kobolds, who usually remain in the tunnel network that they 4 2 4 kobold miners, 4 kobold javelin throwers,
travel to a er hatching until their death, are able to navigate their 2 kobold spearmen
confusing habitat with ease). 5 3 4 kobold spearmen, 2 kobold beastmasters,
A few of these tunnels are rigged with traps, and only used in the 2 svaraskalos
event of an attack. Triggered tunnel collapse is a straightforward, 6 3 4 scutico, 5 svaraskalos
if somewhat unimaginative, favorite, but some are more inventive, 7 4 6 kobold miners, 2 kobold javelin throwers,
such as a weakened oor giving way to anything heavier than a 1 seismosuchus
kobold, dumping the victim into a pit full of poisoned spikes (or
the lizard-hound den), or a steep narrow tunnel with a large rolling 8 4 8 scutico, 4 kobold beastmasters, 2 svaraskalos
boulder. Kobolds are taught from an early age only to use these
tunnels if they are luring an intruder into one of these traps, but CR 5–8
this doesn’t stop a few adventurous or absent-minded individuals d8 CR Group Members
wandering in from time to time and becoming the victim. 1 5 12 kobold javelin throwers, 8 kobold spearmen
Although able to regulate their body temperature to a certain 2 5 16 kobold miners, 8 kobold javelin throwers,
extent, kobolds have a marked preference for warmer areas. Large 1 kobold beastmaster, 1 svaraskalos
populations of kobolds can usually be found in the vicinity of 3 6 2 kobold javelin throwers, 6 kobold spearmen,
volcanoes, but such extremes of temperature are not necessary for 3 kobold beastmasters, 3 svaraskalos, 1
their survival so long as it doesn’t approach freezing point.
kobold king
Roleplaying Warren Kobolds 4 6 8 scutico, 4 svaraskalos, 1 seismosuchus
Warren kobolds are easily cowed, threatened or coerced, and 5 7 4 kobold miners, 4 scutico, 12 kobold javelin
the majority of their number are natural followers. If told to throwers, 8 kobold spearmen, 1 kobold
do something simple with enough authority, they will typically beastmaster, 1 svaraskalos
comply with little fuss. eir kings are another matter, convinced 6 7 4 scutico, 10 kobold javelin throwers, 8 kobold
as they are of their own importance and the loyalty of their spearmen, 1 kobold king
subjects. It is not uncommon for them to overplay their hand in 7 8 4 svaraskalos, 2 seismosuchus
this regard, overestimating the expendability of their minions and
nding out the hard way that even a self-proclaimed king among 8 8 6 kobold beastmasters, 8 svaraskalos, 1
kobolds is still just a kobold. kobold king

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Chapter 5: Kobolds