Fellow DM, playing a campaign for the first time in awhile. I have created a Kobold Artificer (Battle Smith) his Iron Defender is in the shape of a bear. I have no idea where to start, my DM has a basic high fantasy world i don't have much information on the world. So go crazy and through out your best ideas for a backstory for this kobold. *age, gender, color, etc haven't been chosen*
For standard D&D lore, I offer: The Kobold serves a Silver Dragon. The Silver Dragons are the most sociable with "lesser" races. Kobolds can be fanatical and not understand the requests/demands made of them, but they'll do it faithfully all the same. Fanatic doesn't mean stupid, though, even with a natural tendency for a low INT and WIS.
A Silver Dragon's natural tendency is Lawful Good and sociable and interested in mingling, though a loner considering other Dragons. A Kobold's natural tendencies are Lawful Evil and xenophobic and sensitive to sunlight, though better in groups of Kobolds - at least in pairs.
The reasons why a Silver Dragon might command a fanatic of that kind to go out into the world alone might be beyond a Kobold's INT/WIS or might simply be beyond a Kobold's blind obedience - not caring about the reasons. It could be a trial-run to see if Kobolds can have other uses or to see if Kobolds can be conditioned against their nature. It could be a way to test the people regarding their bigotry. It could be a need for an adventuring party to succeed but with the Dragon not allowed to directly intervene for some reason and having no other options. It could be a need for the party to succeed, and instead of the Kobold finding someone to help the party as ordered, the Kobold gets dragged into the party's adventure directly which still fits within the instructions given.
Maybe no instruction was given. Maybe the Kobold likes the shiny Silver Dragon and the Dragon's hoard, and it could be a situation where the Kobold wants to impress the Dragon by trying to emulate the Dragon - trying to be helpful, mingling with "lesser" races, and being away from the Kobold's own kind. Maybe the Kobold thinks that the long life of a Silver Dragon comes from its lifestyle and seeks to lengthen its own lifespan through emulation (which can technically fall under Evil motives). Maybe the Kobold seeks access to the Dragon's hoard for the sake of its own tribe under a rival Dragon's rule and wants to "prove" it can be trusted by emulating the Dragon.
There are so many possibilities. My brain hurts trying to narrow it down.
(I'm less concerned about age, gender, color, etc. I'm always more concerned about actions and reasons.)
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Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider. My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong. I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲 “It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
One idea that came to mind for me was that, as a Kobold, their natural instinct would be to work in a group, but for whatever reason you decide, they're out all on their own. Hence the desire to build a partner to travel with... maybe they base it on a bear because they were attacked by one at one point, so they perceive it as a particularly large, powerful form that they want on their side.
Maybe your Kobold was the loyal servant of a Dragonborn, who decided to sacrifice the kobold or sent him/her on a suicide mission or sold him/her into slavery...and just as the kobold was about to die/be dragged off to the slave market, a wandering bear blundered into the area, and ended up killing whoever it was that threatened the kobold. Now the kobold hates its cruel former master with all its heart, and reveres the bear that saved it.
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Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) WoodElf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2 Last Tree StandingTabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1 Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
I have thought about a Kobold character as well, I think playing the grovel pathetically action would be awesome, as well as the pack tactics. I kind of thought about it this way, what would cause a Kobold to break with the old ways? So many towns have Kobolds who live in secret in the sewers (or are contracted by the town as engineers), scavenging and staying out of sight. A town Kobold would have an opportunity to observe and learn from other species, learn about other forms of worship. Become fascinated with learning magic, or music, (kobold bard)? Maybe become linked to the thieves guild. Then maybe a plague or invasion of some horror from below destroys the kobold nest, and the character is on their own having an interest in the outside world.
He could just have amnesia, and you fill in the character traits and such as you go. He's figured out that he's an artificer since one took him in and he realised that he knew how to complete those activities, but he doesn't know much else about himself. Could lead to some really interesting plot shifts and roleplay!
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Fellow DM, playing a campaign for the first time in awhile. I have created a Kobold Artificer (Battle Smith) his Iron Defender is in the shape of a bear. I have no idea where to start, my DM has a basic high fantasy world i don't have much information on the world. So go crazy and through out your best ideas for a backstory for this kobold. *age, gender, color, etc haven't been chosen*
For standard D&D lore, I offer:
The Kobold serves a Silver Dragon. The Silver Dragons are the most sociable with "lesser" races. Kobolds can be fanatical and not understand the requests/demands made of them, but they'll do it faithfully all the same. Fanatic doesn't mean stupid, though, even with a natural tendency for a low INT and WIS.
A Silver Dragon's natural tendency is Lawful Good and sociable and interested in mingling, though a loner considering other Dragons. A Kobold's natural tendencies are Lawful Evil and xenophobic and sensitive to sunlight, though better in groups of Kobolds - at least in pairs.
The reasons why a Silver Dragon might command a fanatic of that kind to go out into the world alone might be beyond a Kobold's INT/WIS or might simply be beyond a Kobold's blind obedience - not caring about the reasons. It could be a trial-run to see if Kobolds can have other uses or to see if Kobolds can be conditioned against their nature. It could be a way to test the people regarding their bigotry. It could be a need for an adventuring party to succeed but with the Dragon not allowed to directly intervene for some reason and having no other options. It could be a need for the party to succeed, and instead of the Kobold finding someone to help the party as ordered, the Kobold gets dragged into the party's adventure directly which still fits within the instructions given.
Maybe no instruction was given. Maybe the Kobold likes the shiny Silver Dragon and the Dragon's hoard, and it could be a situation where the Kobold wants to impress the Dragon by trying to emulate the Dragon - trying to be helpful, mingling with "lesser" races, and being away from the Kobold's own kind. Maybe the Kobold thinks that the long life of a Silver Dragon comes from its lifestyle and seeks to lengthen its own lifespan through emulation (which can technically fall under Evil motives). Maybe the Kobold seeks access to the Dragon's hoard for the sake of its own tribe under a rival Dragon's rule and wants to "prove" it can be trusted by emulating the Dragon.
There are so many possibilities. My brain hurts trying to narrow it down.
(I'm less concerned about age, gender, color, etc. I'm always more concerned about actions and reasons.)
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
One idea that came to mind for me was that, as a Kobold, their natural instinct would be to work in a group, but for whatever reason you decide, they're out all on their own. Hence the desire to build a partner to travel with... maybe they base it on a bear because they were attacked by one at one point, so they perceive it as a particularly large, powerful form that they want on their side.
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Maybe your Kobold was the loyal servant of a Dragonborn, who decided to sacrifice the kobold or sent him/her on a suicide mission or sold him/her into slavery...and just as the kobold was about to die/be dragged off to the slave market, a wandering bear blundered into the area, and ended up killing whoever it was that threatened the kobold. Now the kobold hates its cruel former master with all its heart, and reveres the bear that saved it.
Edeleth Treesong (Aldalire) Wood Elf Druid lvl 8 Talaveroth Sub 2
Last Tree Standing Tabaxi Ranger, Chef and Hoardsperson lvl 5, Company of the Dragon Team 1
Choir Kenku Cleric, Tempest Domain, lvl 11, Descent Into Avernus Test Drive
Poinki Goblin Paladin, Redemption, lvl 5, Tales from Talaveroth
Lyrika Nyx Satyr Bard lvl 1, The Six Kingdoms of Talia
I have thought about a Kobold character as well, I think playing the grovel pathetically action would be awesome, as well as the pack tactics. I kind of thought about it this way, what would cause a Kobold to break with the old ways? So many towns have Kobolds who live in secret in the sewers (or are contracted by the town as engineers), scavenging and staying out of sight. A town Kobold would have an opportunity to observe and learn from other species, learn about other forms of worship. Become fascinated with learning magic, or music, (kobold bard)? Maybe become linked to the thieves guild. Then maybe a plague or invasion of some horror from below destroys the kobold nest, and the character is on their own having an interest in the outside world.
He could just have amnesia, and you fill in the character traits and such as you go. He's figured out that he's an artificer since one took him in and he realised that he knew how to complete those activities, but he doesn't know much else about himself. Could lead to some really interesting plot shifts and roleplay!