Homebrew Yinglet (Inspired by ValSalia's "Out-of-Placers") Species Details

Here I was, pullin' out my trusty rod n' bait durin' dawn, when a strange Kobold darts past me- covered in dark fur, and leaps headfirst into the river. Seconds later it popped right back up with a fish in it's jaw, n' it also snagged a few mussels just for the sake of it. Dropped it all on the docks, next t' me, then went under again.
Soon that fuzzy little thing had a day's catch in the same time it'd take me to cast my line.  

— Fisherman Dominic

 

Biology and physique

At a glance you'd be forgiven for mistaking a yinglet with the average kobold, were it not for their fur and slimmer frames. Yinglets are native to smaller islands that are separated from the main landmasses, and their isolation has steered their specie in a drastically different route. Slimmer body types, fur instead of scales, seafood instead of gold and a survivalist spirit unlike any other are all trademarks for the various yinglets. 
Sightings outside of their natural archipelago are rare but not completely unheard of.

The immediate differences between a Yinget and Kobold are their appearances, which are a far cry from their shared draconic ancestry.
Yinglets have fur instead of scales, some of which grows out longer near their head and neck, the base of their tail's underside and - which is largely limited to females, the tip of their tail. Their limbs are also noticeably slimmer, with their legs bearing a stronger resemblance to those of avian creatures, which sets the two sibling species even further apart.
Their fur is most commonly found in a variety of warmer colors, such as different hues of brown, orange or even blonde. In much rare cases white, grey, black and even indigo have been observed to some degree.   

The largest difference can be found in their heads however: 
kobold heads bear a distinct draconic appearance, not to dissimilar from a wyrm or wyvern; Meanwhile a yinglet has a shape that bears more similarity to a fox. The snout is covered in short fur much like the rest of their body, but their eyes are also noticeably larger and often are a single color (The eyeball and iris often share very similar colors, making it much harder to discern where on ends and begins). Both species still share the iconic slitted pupils of a draconic ancestor.
Yinglets also possess large ears, which move noticeably depending on their moods and expressions. A close parallel would be that of a desert fox, whose ears share a similar shape. 
Finally, the maw differs immensely: While kobolds typically possess a large amount fo sharp fangs fit for tearing apart various forms of meat, yinglets often only possess a small number of semi-sharp teeth that are very spaced apart. They also bear a larger and much sharper "buck tooth" on their upper jaw, located at the front. It is commonly referred to as a "shell tooth" by yinglets, as it allows them to break open seashells with ease.

Their notably different jaws are in large part thanks to their diet, which consists mainly of shellfish, berries, insects, common shallow-water fish and fruits. Yinglets will use their dextrious hands to break apart their meal into smaller pieces, then swallow it whole. 
While not deadly by any known extent, yinglets are known to struggle with digesting grain of varying kinds. This can occasionally lead to stomach pains for the less fortunate.

Society

Yinglets live in larger settlements, not unlike their mainland cousins, and are known to value cooperation and devotion to their settlements and eachother. They make their dens close to ground level (or sometimes even above ground),  made out of branches, soil, clay and heftier forms of timber.
Contrary to popular belief yinglets are not very skilled excavators, and as a result their dens rarely stretch deep under the surface. It's far more common to see a miniature village with makeshift huts strewn close together.
These 'dens' are commonly ruled by a designated female (or matriarch), with a group of experienced males (or patriarchs) carrying out requests and assisting when needed. The oldest female is often selected as matriarch, but exceptions are known to exist between settlements. 

Due to their willingness to trade away shiny objects (food, tools and seeds are valued far more by yinglet societies) a somewhat considerable number of dens have grown close to other humanoid settlers, and most notably kobolds, as their archipelago has been settled into over time. Kobolds that settle in these regions will often have an excess of food, which yinglets will happily buy with some of their own scavenged goods. While yinglets aren't able to consume common grain, and while kobolds rarely share the former's fondness fo shellfish and berries, both races tend to get along surprisingly well. Trades commonly take place on neutral ground, outside of either's settlements, before both parties return with their traded goods. 
Yinglets' proficiency in scavenging has even earned them the nickname of "scavs" by larger humanoid settlements near their home, particularly by humans and halflings. While not immensely popular of a nickname most yinglets tend not to mind. 

 

Much like their scalebound cousins yinglets are dangerous when cornered. While abuse from larger humanoids can occur, sometimes to the degree of enslavement or far worse fates, they are far from defenseless all the same. Centuries of survival instincts and their tendencies to cooperate mean that a small group of yinglets are far deadlier than one would first believe, and their own variation of kobold pack tactics can be nothing short of deadly.

You ever seen a yinglet trio hunt a bear? Lemme tell ya it's one helluva sight, and kinda terrifying if ya ask me. Makes me a bit terrified of that small one I shooed away from my stall a while back...

— Unnamed trapper

 

The value of community

Much like kobolds, yinglets are adept at identifying broken, misplaced, discarded, or leftover crafted items from other creatures that can still be used. Yinglet settlements and encampments often lack the technical prowess of more advanced humanoids, and anything remotely advanced or useful is coveted as a result. Anything that can benefit their society is immensely valuable to them, regardless of how big or small.

Stealing is far from common for most yinglets, unless they have been ousted by their own community. At this point desperation will often take over and anything edible is fair game to a starving yinglet. When stealing occurs they will try and remain hidden or unnoticed, and should they be detected they'll likely flee above all else. 
Without the safety of others a yinglet will often focus on self-preservation, which usually leads to cowardly behaviors. 

Yinglets do not share an inherent dislike toward other races, but cases of abuse and enslavement from other humanoids have made them cautious over time. Compassion and kind acts are usually enough to win the trust of a common yinglet, but one should still be careful not to upset them all the same. Trust is often a struggle to build and can be lost in an instant if one is not careful.

Alignment

Yinglets are seldom compleely selfish and often value their family and community highly. This results in most yinglets leaning more toward neutral- or even good alignments in most cases.
Due to their energetic nature and short attention span it can be a struggle for one to keep a Yinglet from getting into some form of mischief. Tasks that require little physical exertion are especially challenging for most. Because of their active nature they tend to lean toward more chaotic alignments.  

 

 

Draconic ancestry and traditions

Yinglet culture and worship is far removed from that of kobolds, to the point that dragons and draconic creatures are sometimes outright feared rather than worshipped. 
In yinglet culture a fully grown drake is seen as a great terror due to sheer size alone, and cases of worship are far from common. There is very little known behind this drastically different culture, but it has led to unusual traditions in larger settlements where yinglets gather. Excess food is sometimes left in a woven basket on the outskirts of settlements in the evenings, as a way of satiating large creatures and keep them from attacking the yinglets themselves. Thunderclaps are also widely feared in these settlements, as it is sometimes compared to wing beats of a drake. 

Yinglets have inherited their ancestors' usage of draconic, which has been passed down for generations and preserved to the best of these settlements' abilities. This is a large part in how yinglets are able to cooperare with kobolds, despite their radically different societies and traditions implying otherwise. Due to cultural exchanges yinglets and their societies have been made more aware of their connection with kobolds, which has largely led to kobolds being highly respected by a majority of yinglets who are more versed in their culture. 

Magic and it's usage

Due to the rather undeveloped state of Yinglet societies magic is far from common and even feared by most, but there are still cases where it occurs. Magic is often taught via the aid of kobold settlements after a long history of trust and cooperation has been built, and for most it is considered an immense honor when opportunities arise.
Yinglets that are given the chance to learn magic, often after excessive trading and negotiating, are taught by established sorcerers in kobold territories, which is seen as a sign of trust by yinglet societies. These courses can last for days at a time and nothing is guaranteed, but those who pull through will learn basic forms of sorcery if all goes well. Augmentation spells and cantrips are extremely common for a novice yinglet to learn, as it not only benefits their own settlement but is also hardly a threat toward kobolds themselves. 
The usage of magic is feared due to how little yinglets commonly know of it, but their strong sense of community overrides any potential of shunning a novice spellcaster. 

It is almost completely unheard of for yinglets to rely on divine miracles, and to this day there are no records on their archipelago that would indicate it's usage.

Life and Outlook

Each yinglet tribe varies greatly from eachother, in everything from lifestyle to developments. Some have progressed into more advanced forms of cultivating and construction while others are little more than tents that sustain themselves on hunting local wildlife. Most still carry traditions between eachother, such as the evening offerings that occasionally occur, but there is no hard rule on how advanced a settlement might be.

Due to their strong sense of unity and kinship yinglets care greatly when it comes to affection. They do not have a common concept for "marriage," but a yinglet couple are always extremely close and display great careand affection for each other. A long period of trust must be build beforehand, but once a pair decide to mate very few things can break their bond.

Rather interestingly, same-sex couples are moderately common in yinglet communities. These tend to be far more romantic than otherwise, and there are instances where a yinglet's mate will dress- or even behave, in a manner more commonly seen in the opposite sex. 
Clothing and fabric are a highly valued commodity for yinglet communities, with some more established settlements sewing clothes based off of those worn by various humanoid races, such as elves, humans, tiefling or anything in between. Less established communities will often be more than eager to barter for fabrics from other species as well. In cases of same-sex couples there are instances of intentional crossdressing being displayed, which is fascinating in itself.
Males will often have sharper and more "masculine" body features- most notably longer ears and fangs, when compared to yinglet females and their distinct tail tuft, but this is by no means a set-in-stone rule. Yinglet males can sometimes be slightly smaller, have softer features, a smaller tail tuft of their own or even all of these features together, while the opposite can occasionally apply for females.  

When an egg is laid by a female it is raised in an underground hatchery, with the community itself taking responsibility of tending the eggs. In some communities the duties are split between a select few (who are often selected by the community patriarchs, or in some cases their matriarch), while others will see the responsible females and their community matriarch watching over the eggs. 
Once a batch of eggs are hatched the yinglet 'children' are commonly raised together with chosen members of the community. Each yinglet is soon taken in by a couple and raised from then on. It's not common for the biological parents to be the caretakes of their child, but this tends to vary greatly between certain communities.

Enduring and surviving

Despite their common ancestry yinglets do not share as swift growth when compared to kobolds. At 6 years old a kobold is considered an adult, while a Yinglet will need close to 12 years before the same is true. Their average lifespan is usually around 30-35 years, but they are more than capable of reaching 90 years in the right conditions. Females are usually limited to just a single egg each year, but some are able to lay two eggs if they are fortunate. Each egg will hatch after 70-75 days, or two-and-a-half months.

Yinglet funeral ceremonies and procedures vary vastly from those carried out by kobolds: Dead members are buried outside of yinglet settlements, usually near tree roots or underneath tree saplings, as a way of drawing potential carnivores away from their homes and as a way of fertilizing local fauna. These grave sites are usually marked out by etchings on adjacent trees- usually three vertical lines, to symbolize the tree stems in the area.

Yinglets are surprisingly hardy despite their frail appearance and lighter overall weight (usually weighing in 5-10 pounds less when compared to a kobold of identical height). Bone fractures and other injuries tend to heal very quickly and it rarely takes long for a yinglet to get back on their feet. Their lower body weight is in part due to a majority of their bones being hollow, not unlike most avian creatures. 

Yinglet tribes and communities will avoid hunting or eating meat from intelligent humanoids, but unlike kobold tribes it is instead done as a result of taboos. Yinglets are able to eat a vast variety of different foods, from insects to berries and anything in between, so there is no need for either cannibalism or consumtion of meat from these species. Due to their strong sense of community the act of cannibalising another is seen as a horrific crime, and most yinglet tribes have extended this view toward other intelligent races over time. 

Tribe relations

Yinglet tribes are often open to cooperation with eachother, even if some tend to be more reluctant or cautious than others. Typically a patriarch acts as emissary for each tribe and negotiations are handled on neutral ground, with exchanges handled outside of either tribe's territory. Technology, luxuries, seeds and seafood are common commodities between tribes, with salt being immensely valuable as a commodity.

conflicts between tribes are very rare and tend not to last long. Differences and conflicts are usually settled by selecting three members from each tribe and enacting a form of play-fighting on neutral ground. 

Environment

Yinglets are notable for being warm-blooded, despite their close ancestry with kobolds. Their tribes will often be situated near flowing water, usually behind a treeline, in colder locales or ones where the temperature is not as high.

Yinglets are not plagued by sunlight sensitivity, but this step in evolution has also resulted in them lacking darkvision all-together. However, their eyes have instead developed to tolerate underwater vision, with the average yinglet being able to see without issue when completely submerged. This has played a large part in them becoming excellent fishers in shallow waters, and the average yinglet is incredibly swift when swimming and diving.  

Yinglets will sometimes go out of their way to settle close to other humanoid settlements in hopes of trading for different wares and luxuries, which can occasionally result in fruitful cooperation between the two.
Yinglets have a very short attention span and are extremely energetic, which sadly limits most of their available tasks in these situations, but they can still be an immense help when fostered in the right way.

 

Those little rat-birds are awfully helpful messengers when they aren't folding their letters into paper planes...

- Postmaster Ayara

Yinglet Names

Yinglet names are based off of words in the draconic language, and most common names are words that are chosen due to their meaning. Colors, different kinds of weather and even creatures are used as names for most yinglets. Some tribes even borrow common kobold names due to the shared language. 

Roleplay Advice

Still unsure of how a yinglet could be portrayed? Maybe these tips can give you ideas!

• Yinglets have shorter attention spans than most playable races and are often very energetic. Exceptions exist, but don't be afraid to try out a slightly more alert and active personality. When taking a seat, depict the Yinglet as jumping into the seat itself or maybe twitching its tail once in a while. Jerky and sudden small movements can also be par for the course, so give it a try!
  

• Yinglets often value food and basic necessities above gold or anything with a high value. It's not uncommon that a Yinglet might ask for food or lodging as payment for work instead of money, so don't be afraid to lean into that aspect. They're survivors, not hoarders.
  Picture this: You have the option to rob a merchant's purse or their fruit stand. Most Yinglets will go for the fruit, and those who steal the purse will often use the money to buy basic necessities of some kind. This isn't a set-in-stone rule but if you're portraying a less fortunate Yinglet it's always an option.
  

• Yinglets are small and light, and their curious nature complements these traits quite well. They'll use their lower weight and small stature to climb into smaller areas with ease, and because of their energetic nature you can find them sitting on top of shelves or tall furniture more often than not.
  Don't be afraid to explore a room in its entirety when playing a Yinglet character and feel free to climb around a little while at it. You might find something valuable with a bit of luck.
  

• Because of their unusual dental structure (the large fang on their upper jaw) Yinglets sometimes struggle with pronouncing certain sounds and words. Syllables such as “th” can be difficult for them, so it's somewhat common that Yinglets replace these sounds with substitutes such as “ze” or “de” instead.
  You obviously don't need to give your Yinglet an accent if you don't want to, but it could be a fun way of helping them stand out. Just make sure it's not an annoyance for a majority of the other players that are involved since everyone has different preferences.
  If you like the accent idea but don't want to portray it then try the following: Mention your character sentence, then wrap it up with “I say in my usual accent.” Establish the accent when introducing your character for the first time, then let imagination carry everything from there.
  

• Shellfish, Clams, small-sized fish; You name it, they want it. A clam is like catnip for a Yinglet and seafood is a delicacy for most Yinglets that reside further inland. Conversely, grain and products involving it are difficult for a Yinglet to consume, since their stomachs struggle with digesting these and can turn upset as a result.

  If you want to add a bit more flair to your Yinglet then their diet is always an option to focus on. When ordering food at a tavern or inn you can ask for specific meals such as the above, which might lead to roleplay opportunities with a bit of luck.
  

• Most Yinglets often live in very shoddy conditions and will always try to make due when in sub-par ones. If a room is lacking a bed then they might curl up on a carpet instead when needing a rest, and if hungry out in the wild they won't think too much about eating caterpillars or ants in order to make due. When push comes to shove they might curl underneath the foundation of a house in order to last the night, and when hunted by someone or something they'll be quick in making an escape.
  Yinglets are survivors at heart and are rarely picky when it comes to base necessities. If your Yinglet is growing tired then it might be enough to curl up underneath a tree with your clothes and belongings wrapped around you. The survivalist aspect is always a possibility if you want a bit more flair or are unsure on how you want your Yinglet to behave.
  

• A scavenging Yinglet might find small valuables or trinkets once in a while, and most will gladly trade these for necessities of any kind. If there's an opportunity to barter then a Yinglet is often happy to take it.
  If the survivalist aspect doesn't interest you then the peddling aspect might. If you find something shiny, regardless of how useful most will find it, then it might be worth hanging onto, at least until you can sell it off to someone in exchange for something more useful (Food, coin, equipment, etc).

 

• Yinglets are rarely skilled in sewing and more established ones will instead trade with humanoids of any kind for proper clothing if possible. Sometimes they're after something more functional, other times they're not. Regardless of what way you slice it some Yinglets adore clothes and will be very fond of theirs when they can acquire some.
  Does your Yinglet have custom clothing or do they travel with just the fur on their body? Is their outfit functional or is it meant to be fancy instead? Since some Yinglets will attempt to resemble the opposite sex you can always have a male Yinglet that's wearing a light blue dress, or a female Yinglet dressed in miniature studded leather if you so please. Don't be afraid to get creative when it comes to their clothes.

 

 

 

If you can read this then THANK YOU for giving this bit of homebrew your time! 
This custom race is heavily based off of Valsalia's work, which shares the same name. While some traits could definitely be tweaked to be more authentic I'm still quite new to D&D as a whole; It's why the kobold was used as a base in the first place.

Oh well. 
I originally made this to share with a friend or two, but I hope whoever reads this gets a bit of enjoyment outa this. I certainly had fun throwing it all together.

Avatar pics are originally from Heartgear and watsup respectively. I do not own any artwork used in this.

 

Yinglet (Inspired by ValSalia's "Out-of-Placers") Traits

Your Yinglet character has the following racial traits.

Optional proficiencies

Yinglets are survivors and can be adept in many fields. Some are incredibly athletic thanks to their naturally light frames and constant practice, some are skilled survivors that can stay alive even in the worst environments, and some are experts at avoiding large creatures and staying hidden due to their small size. 

You may choose to add proficiency in either Athetics, Survival or Stealth when creating a Yinglet character. 

Aquatic expert

Yinglet biology have helped them thrive in aquatic environments, especially when it comes to their sight. A keen yinglet can see through water almost like it's air and can swim with unmatched speeds

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Age

Yinglets reach adulthood at age 12 and can live up to 90 years if extremely fortunate.

Size

Yinglets are between 2 and 3 feet tall and weigh between 20 and 30 pounds. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Grovel, Cower, and Beg

As an action on your turn, you can cower pathetically to distract nearby foes. Until the end of your next turn, your allies gain advantage on attack rolls against enemies within 10 feet of you that can see you. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Yinglet Pack Tactics

You have advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least two of your allies is within 5 feet of the creature and at least one ally isn’t incapacitated.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Draconic.