Kobolds of Gero
Bureaucracy and Balance
Introduction
The Kobolds of Gero are a highly regimented race. They firmly
believe in a system of checks and balances that makes even the
most minor task a nightmare of approvals, requisitions and
documentation.
Society
Kobold communities consist of a series of interconnected
chambers dug into the larger foothills of mountain ranges.
These dwellings are collectively known as a Hive. Traffic
through much of a Hive is highly regulated, requiring passes for
almost any region in the community (along the lines of the
now-defunct Soviet Union).
Status in Kobold society is a matter of Rank and Titles.
The more titles a particular Kobold has, and the higher the rank
of those titles, the higher his peer's esteem. It is not
unheard of for two Kobolds who have just met to go through an
hour-long process of comparing their various positions so as to
determine who should defer to whom. Outsiders find the system
hopelessly complex, and thus are not considered part of the
ranking. In circumstances where a full accounting is not
possible, only the most significant title is used.
Kobolds who have achieved some kind of rank in non-Kobold
society will include that rank when talking with other Kobolds,
although this almost always comes last.
Typical title: Fifth Prefect of Danglesh Hive, Fourteenth
March, Third House of Kayle, Tenth Marshal Grish'nat Thule.
Religion/Philosophy
Kobolds have a very strict philosophy of Balance, set down by
the first of their kind. Called Shreck-nost, this maintains
that only a spirit in Balance can attain final rest. The key to
achieving Balance, or Gorash, is a perfect equilibrium between
Shreck (obligation) and Nost (favour). To perform an evil act
against someone causes Shreck, while performing a good deed on
another's behalf brings Nost. If either of these are dominant
on a Kobold's soul when he or she dies, the soul is
reincarnated, usually as a person of the opposite alignment.
The precise amount of Shreck or Nost generated by a
particular action is always viewed from the point of view of the
individual Kobold. For instance, say a wealthy merchant flips a
gold coin to a beggar who has not eaten for days.
The coin is a pittance for the merchant, who acquires a
small amount of Nost for his good deed. For the beggar,
however, a huge Shreck has been created, as the coin has
probably saved his life. Thus, in order for the beggar to
achieve Gorash, the beggar must now save the life of another.
Kobolds who follow Tufrone, the ascended diety of Wealth,
haven't abandoned this system, but they do view it only in
economic terms, a view which the Kobold faith regards as a
heresy. As a result, the faith of Tufrone is an underground one
in many of the more isolated Hives. (Those near large
populations of other races tend to be more tolerant.)
Names & Marriage
Kobold names consist of a family name (which is a hybrid of
both parents' given names), followed by an individual name,
usually one of an important ancestor. As noted above, this
almost always preceded by the highest of the individual's
titles. The family name always starts with the name of the
parent of the same gender. Therefore, Thule, son of Nat
(mother) and Grish (father), will introduce himself as Fifth
Prefect Grish'nat Thule, even to outsiders. (His sister Marga
would be Third March Nat'grish Marga.)
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