Kobolds in a Draconic Campaign

CAMPAIGNS OF THE DRAGON Draconic Elemental Cleric (CR 10)

This draconic dwarf is dedicated to elemental spirits.

She pays homage to Moradin but is not a devotee of the dwarven deity. The sapphire dragon blood in her ancestry has made her more self-suffi cient and territorial, with a great hatred of drow.

Inala Axeblood CR 10

Female draconic dwarf cleric 9 LN Medium humanoid (dragonblood) Init –1; Senses darkvison 60 ft., low-light vision, Listen +4,

Spot +6 Languages Common, Dwarven, Undercommon AC 23, touch 9, flat-footed 23; +4 AC against giants hp 62 (9 HD) Resist +2 against spells and spell-like effects, +4 against sleep and paralysis, stability (+4 against bull rush and trip) Fort +8 (+10 against poison), Ref +2, Will +10 Speed 20 ft. (4 squares) Melee +1 dwarven waraxe +11/+6 (1d10+4/×3) Base Atk +6; Grp +9 Special Actions spontaneous casting (cure spells), turn energy 5/day (+2, 2d6+11, 9th), turn earth creatures 5/day (+2, 2d6+11, 9th), energy sustenance, feat of strength 1/day (PH 188) Combat Gear scroll of repel vermin, scroll of lesser planar ally, wand of cure moderate wounds (20 charges) Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 9th): 4th—divine power, freedom of movement, neutralize poison, spell immunityD 3rd—dispel magic, invisibility purge, searing light (+5 ranged touch), stone shapeD 2nd—aid, align weapon, bull’s strengthD , hold person (DC 15), spiritual weapon 1st—bless, doom, magic stoneD , sanctuary (DC 14), shield of faith 0—detect magic (2), guidance, read magic, resistance (2) D: Domain spell. Domains: Earth, Strength. Abilities Str 16, Dex 8, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 18, Cha 14 SQ stonecunning (PH 15) Feats Combat Casting, Martial Weapon Proficiency, Spell

Focus (conjuration), Weapon Focus (dwarven waraxe) Skills Concentration +11 (+15 casting defensively), Intimidate +4, Knowledge (the planes) +6, Knowledge (religion) +6,

Spellcraft +10, Spot +6, Survival +4 (+6 other planes) Possessions combat gear plus +2 full plate, +1 heavy steel shield, +1 dwarven waraxe, periapt of Wisdom +2 Energy Sustenance (Su) Expend one turn energy use when attacked by an energy damage effect to heal 1 point for every 3 points of damage the attack would otherwise deal.

Kobolds might not seem like the most racially tolerant humanoids, but they’re not without their charms. It’s true, kobolds have destructive impulses toward gnomes. Yes, their primary deity hates all races except for kobolds. Sure, the majority of kobolds are lawful evil in nature. Putting all that aside for the moment, once you look beneath the surface, you might see that most kobolds are not evil by nature, but rather by reaction. It is only through enduring mistreatment and being looked down upon that kobolds have become the revengeseeking scions they are today. When putting a Draconic campaign together, especially one that involves nondraconic races, any problem can be solved by giving kobolds their space, respecting their culture, and never disparaging them—not even in jest. If you really want to befriend kobolds, let them come to you.

OUT OF THEIR ELEMENT

Once you remove a kobold from his lair and give him a chance to interact with other cultures, he either seeks the fastest possible route back to his tribe or he decides to linger a while. A kobold who stays behind in a foreign culture might initially justify his decision as an opportunity to study the “weaknesses” of his enemies, only to discover that those weaknesses are actually benefits. The result of mingling with individuals who do not automatically consider kobolds hostile, such as potential adventuring companions, can have a surprising effect on individual kobolds. Instincts of servitude start to wane as their personality emerges for the fi rst time. Even kobolds who would rather return home but cannot due to circumstance often fi nd themselves enjoying the freedom of individuality. One quality that all kobolds share is their desire to be an active member of a working family, which makes them well suited to adventuring groups. Elves, halfl ings, half-orcs, humans, and even dwarves can become extensions of a kobold’s racial family. The same does not hold true for gnomes—no matter how much time passes in a relationship between a gnome and a Kurtulmakworshiping kobold, the very best that can be hoped for is a vicious rivalry. A kobold who worships Io is a different matter. Such kobolds are very different from those who worship Kurtulmak. They already value their individuality, do not mind keeping their own company, and do not harbor ill will toward any particular race. Io-worshiping kobolds deliberately expose themselves to creatures that would normally evoke their racial ire (such as gnomes) in order to challenge their own preconceptions. Their goal is to perceive all races with objectivity, in the same way that Io accepts draconic worshipers of all alignments.