Kobold Physiology

Kobold Physiology
Kobold (German Folklore)
Power/Ability to:	Use the traits of a kobold.

The power to use the abilities of a kobold. Variation of Mythic Physiology.

Also Called

• Kobold Mimicry

Capabilities

User with this ability either is or can transform into a Kobold, a sprite stemming from Germanic mythology and surviving into modern times in German folklore. Although usually invisible, a kobold can materialize in the form of an animal (wet cats and hens, bats, cats, roosters, snakes, worms, etc), fire, a human being, and a candle. The most common depictions of kobolds show them as humanlike figures the size of small children. Kobolds who live in human homes wear the clothing of peasants; those who live in mines are hunched and ugly; and kobolds who live on ships smoke pipes and wear sailor clothing.

Legends tell of three major types of kobolds. Most commonly, the creatures are house spirits of ambivalent nature; while they sometimes perform domestic chores, they play malicious tricks if insulted or neglected. In some regions, kobolds are known by local names, such as the Galgenmännlein of southern Germany and the Heinzelmännchen of Cologne.

Another type of kobold haunts underground places, such as mines and are described as old men dressed like miners to short, bent creatures with ugly features, including, in some tales, black skin.

A third kind of kobold, the Klabautermann, lives aboard ships and helps sailors, they typically appears as a small, pipe-smoking humanlike figure wearing a yellow nightcap-style sailor's hat and a red or grey jacket.

In modern times, the game Dungeons & Dragons is responsible for re-imagining as craven reptilian humanoids that commonly infest dungeons. There aggressive, inward, yet industrious small creatures. They were noted for their skill at building traps and preparing ambushes, and mining. They were distantly related to dragons and urds and were often found serving as their minions. They make up for their physical ineptitude with a cleverness for trap making.

Applications

• Animal Morphing
• Candle Mimicry
• Dragonborn Physiology (Rarely)
• Fire Mimicry
• Human Disguise
• Invisibility
• Subterranean Adaptation

Variations

• Canine Physiology
• Dragonman Physiology (In most RPGs)
• Excavation Intuition
• Reptilian Physiology (In most RPGs)

Associations

• Fairy Physiology
• Hobgoblin Physiology
• Mythic Physiology
• Spirit Physiology

Known Users

• Mr. Hinzelmann (American Gods)
• Kobolds (By The Book)
  • Zeen
• Kobolds (Dungeons & Dragons)
• Kobolds (Feral)
• King Goldemar (German Mythology/Folklore)
• Heinzelmann (German Mythology/Folklore)
• Hödekin (German Mythology/Folklore)
• Kobolds (Kemono Michi)
• Kobold (Megami Tensei series)
• Nacht Kobold (Megami Tensei series)
• Polt (Monster Musume)
• Kobolds (Sobi Seisaku Kei Chi to De Isekai Wo Jiyu Ni Ikiteikimasu/I Will Live Freely In Another World With Equipment Manufacturing Cheat)
  • Pochi
• Woodlies (The Woodlies/Kein Keks für Kobolde)
  • Nineeyes
  • Firehead
  • Sevenpoints
• Kobolds (World of Warcraft)
• The Oracle (The Order of the Stick)