Kobold

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Kobold (狗头人)
Species/Race	Kobold; an intelligent subterranean race with at least a dozen rumored subspecies 2
Occupation/Role	Miners, mine guards, warriors, overseers/chieftains, and shamans
Affiliation	Kobold Den; Jangolode Mine kobolds; kobolds near the Murloc Shoal 2 10 28
First Appearance	Warcraft Fortress, Chapter 2: “Kobold Den”

Appearance

Kobolds are short, filthy cave-dwellers, generally standing under one meter tall. They are described as rat-tailed and typically wear red-and-orange rags, with lit candles balanced on their heads to navigate underground darkness. 2

• Poor eyesight adapted imperfectly to dim mines. 2
• Candles are worn directly on their heads despite dripping wax. 2
• Common kobolds may be malnourished, sallow-faced, frail, and unarmed. 2
• Stronger warriors wear greasy linen tunics and carry worn daggers. 3
• Shamans may wear ill-fitting mage robes and wield gemstone-tipped staffs. 3

Society and Culture

Kobolds possess their own simple language and are considered a civilized people that has only recently entered primitive society. Most do not understand Common; shaman witch doctors are among the few who know some of it. 11

Their communities are structured around mining and spiritual authority. Shamans serve as tribal leaders, possessing greater intelligence, mental power, knowledge, and magical ability than ordinary kobolds. 3

• Mining — Kobolds are exceptionally diligent miners, scavenging ore so thoroughly that little remains behind. 2
• Food hierarchy — Shamans take the best portions of food before warriors compete for what remains. 3
• Internal control — One aged shaman deliberately allowed subordinate warriors to fight over food, believing infighting helped maintain authority; it had learned such methods from Stormwind’s human nobles. 3
• Fearfulness — Ordinary kobolds are cowardly and prone to panic or flight when confronted by a larger, decisive opponent. 3
• Legendary history — The Withered Whisker Kobolds of the Stoneclaw Mountains allegedly allied with a giant to seal the Earth Princess. 2

Abilities & Skills

Mining and Resource Extraction

Kobolds operate extensive subterranean mines, using pickaxes and mine carts to collect and transport ore. 2 11

• Jangolode Mine kobolds could rapidly assemble more than a dozen ore-filled mine carts when commanded through the Kobold War Horn. 11
• Their mining activity supplied Barren Gold Ore within the Kobold Den. 2

Combat

The combat capability of kobolds varies sharply by role.

• Common kobolds — Usually rated at Challenge Level 1; an average adult human with a wooden stick is estimated to have at least a 90% chance of defeating one. 2
• Warriors / overseers / chieftains — Stronger than ordinary kobolds and rated at no lower than Level 2; they use crude daggers and can threaten ordinary humans. 3
• Shamans — Spiritual leaders and spellcasters with Challenge Ratings of at least Level 3; their spell offense may rival that of a Level 5 warrior, though their bodies remain frail. 3

Shamanic Spellcasting

Kobold shamans are capable of low-level evocation arcana, including spells such as Fireball and Frostbolt. 3

• Their staffs can serve as magical equipment; the Kobold Shaman Wizard Staff grants spell effect +1. 4
• Shamans participated as battlefield spellcasters during the Gold Coast conflict, trading Fireballs with Murloc casters. 43
• Despite their offensive power, shamans are vulnerable to surprise attacks and assassination. 3 4

Mass Mobilization

Though individually weaker than Murlocs, kobolds can become highly dangerous when united and driven into a frenzy. 29

• Hundreds of kobolds overwhelmed Murlocs during the assault on the Murloc Shoal. 29
• More than a thousand Westfall kobolds joined the later raid on the Gold Coast. 42 43
• Their fanaticism faded with the Kobold War Horn’s effect, after which surviving kobolds reverted to fear and fled. 43

Equipment

• Candles — Worn on the head as a light source in dark mines. 2
• Mining picks — Used by mine guards and laborers. 28
• Mine carts — Used to transport ore. 2 11
• Worn daggers, iron swords, and axes — Used by kobold warriors. 3 43
• Shaman staffs — Magical implements carried by kobold spellcasters. 3 4

Relationship with Shawn Feathermoon

• Shawn Feathermoon — Initially kills several Kobold Den inhabitants while gathering resources, including the aged Kobold Shaman Wizard. 3 4
• Kobold War Horn — The horn causes Westfall kobolds to recognize Shawn as the legendary Warbringer and obey his commands despite the language barrier. 10 11
• Jangolode Mine kobolds — Shawn repeatedly uses the horn to direct them against the Murlocs of the Gold Coast. 11 42
• Murloc Shoal kobolds — Respond to the horn as though Shawn is their leader and follow him in an assault on the Murlocs. 28 29

Story Role / Major Arcs

Kobold Den

The Kobold Den is Shawn’s first dungeon destination. Its kobolds inhabit a sprawling, candle-lit mine containing gold ore, abandoned tools, and mine carts. 2

Shawn encounters weak common kobolds before discovering a group led by an aged shaman and guarded by two stronger warriors. He exploits the warriors’ fight over food to ambush and kill the isolated shaman, then clears the dungeon with a C rating. 3 4 5

Jangolode Mine Conflict

After receiving the Kobold War Horn as a Kobold Den clearance reward, Shawn tests it on three Jangolode Mine kobolds. The horn enthralls them, and they respond as if the ancient Kobold Warbringer has appeared before them. 10

Shawn uses the horn to obtain ore carts, then orders kobolds to attack the Gold Coast Murlocs. The resulting battle kills roughly one-third of Jangolode Mine’s kobold population and more than half of the Murlocs present. 11

Murloc Shoal Assault

Shawn identifies the Kobold War Horn as the likely key to clearing the Murloc Shoal dungeon. He finds a nearby mine whose kobolds recognize him as their leader after hearing the horn. 28

Hundreds of kobolds charge the Murloc Shoal under Shawn’s direction. Their unity and aggression allow them to overwhelm Murlocs despite inferior individual strength, though the Murloc Guard ultimately proves devastating. 29

Gold Coast War

Shawn again rallies the Jangolode Mine kobolds, presenting the Murlocs as their eternal enemies and directing them toward Gold Coast. Kobold scouts and vanguards along the route join the force, producing an army of more than a thousand. 42

The kobolds launch a surprise attack and initially inflict heavy Murloc casualties, but the larger Murloc force eventually repels them. As the horn’s influence fades, the survivors flee and are slaughtered by Gryan Stoutmantle’s militia. 43

Trivia

• Kobolds love darkness and generally avoid sunlight, remaining inside mines during the day except for a few guards. 10
• The Kobold War Horn is fragile: it can be used for only ten minutes before shattering, while each activation lasts thirty minutes. 10
• Shawn cannot understand kobold speech, but the Kobold War Horn nevertheless allows his spoken commands to be understood. 11