Page 69 - Volo's Guide to Monsters

gets hit with a bent sapling adorned with sharpened
ing them out.
might look flimsy or poorly designed, but a creature that
squeeze through, to keep larger creatures from follow-
more than a kobold's weight, and so on. Kobold traps
ends in a narrow opening that requires even kobolds to
sharp stones, rig platforms to collapse under anything
escape tunnel is rigged with traps to slow pursuers and
and bend it to create a spring-arm, line pits or pools with
always know the shortest path to that tunnel. Usually an
materials. They pound nails or spikes through a sapling
that leads to a concealed surface exit, and the residents
pecially when adapting natural hazards and salvaged
A kobold warren always has at least one escape tunnel
Kobolds are amazingly creative at building traps, es-
ESCAPE TuNNELS
TRAPS
on those below.
nuggets, raw gems, and teeth can be left.
to drop rocks, poisonous vermin, and other annoyances
might include a basin where offerings such as metal
ceiling that features murder holes, allowing the kobolds
with the belief that their god hears them. The location
Such a location usually includes a small chamber in the
ber to pay homage, kobolds offer prayers at its entrance
forces invaders to fight from a disadvantaged position.
idol behind the throne. Rather than entering the cham-
comes exceedingly narrow is a natural choke point that
features a shrine to Kurtulmak in the form of a carved
Any place where a tunnel takes a sharp turn or be-
A warren's throne room is always protected by traps and
the trapped kobolds to squeeze through in a few more.
THRONE ROOM
within an hour, and create an opening large enough for
they and their fellows can usually chisel open an air vent
around the eggs.
if a deadfall traps some kobolds in an enclosed space,
an insulating layer of dung and decomposing matter
dislodging it as the creature moves through area. Even
are kept near a slow-burning fire, or are protected by
in a space so tight that a larger creature can't keep from
grass. Because the eggs are susceptible to cold, they
fleeing kobold can yank the rope, or the beam might be
ing them in a shallow pit lined with earth and dried
lapse by pulling a rope connected to a support beam; a
as hatcheries. Kobolds tend to their eggs by nest-
employed in these traps. A tunnel can be rigged to col-
Most of the sleeping areas in the lair also double
expanding its tunnel system, older tunnels are often
area where refuse is deposited.
places. Since the tribe is continually migrating and
as they are, are served by a deep pit near each sleeping
off key areas of the warren as invaders approach those
while others sleep. The creatures' sanitary needs, such
the kobolds set up either to kill intruders or to block
although some kobolds might quietly work on crafts
The most common traps in a lair are deadfalls, which
of the tribe. These spaces are used primarily for resting,
loyal guard dog.
pit or a personal-sized alcove, depending on the customs
home, any more than a human is afraid of its vicious but
adult kobolds. Individual kobolds might rest in a shallow
don't feel threatened by having these devices in their
ing, each large enough to comfortably hold ten to thirty
more deadly than the kobolds themselves, the kobolds
Every lair has one or more spaces for living and sleep-
ing found items. Even though these traps are often far
SLEEPING AREAS
for tunneling in conjunction with their skill at repurpos-
lean times.
Kobolds riddle their lairs with traps, using their gift
needs and ensure the safety of the community.
rooms with deep pits in which they preserve food for
Much as humans do in their dwellings, kobolds set aside
as the kobolds "migrate" through the rock to meet the
ROOT CELLARS
of areas within the lair becomes increasingly inaccurate
tion that might be gleaned about the layout or location
with holes in the ceiling to let in some sunlight.
and caves as they carve new ones. As such, any informa-
be completely underground, or a cavern near the surface
The inhabitants regularly collapse or seal off tunnels
plant life that can live underground. A farm area might
The layout of a kobold tribe's lair changes over time.
sustenance from subterranean mushrooms and hardy
the first and last people in line.
Kobolds aren't good at agriculture, but they can get
move in single file and putting the burden of combat on
MUSHROOM FARMS
passages too narrow to turn around in, forcing them to
a kobold infestation often find themselves stuck in low
and to provide room for later expansion of the den.
the kobolds' territory. Adventurers trying to eradicate
and excavated, both to extract usable ore and minerals
oids (such as ores or hobgoblins) from trying to invade
isn't immediately needed for another purpose is mined
which by itself is enough to deter most hostile human-
Any chamber in the kobolds' underground complex that
in order to fit through the tunnels of a kobold warren,
MINES
Creatures larger than a kobold have to squat or crawl
ers to navigate.
noisy activities.
and other features that make the lair difficult for outsid-
and harden pottery. The room is also used for other
cross over or under one another, concealed passages,
their time in this area, using the kiln to bake mud bricks
a host of intersections, abrupt dead-ends, tunnels that
ing the breathable air in the lair. Kobold crafters spend
yards, and frequently guarded by traps. The area has
be vented to the surface in order to keep it from deplet-
little passages, sometimes stretching for hundreds of
permost areas of the warren, because the fire needs to
The lair of a kobold tribe is usually a maze of twisty
A chamber that contains a kiln is usually one of the up-
KOBOLD LAIRS
KILN AND CRAFTING AREAS