Kobold

Kobolds seem as though they would be one of the more numberous races in the Unified Republic, but due to their cultural hatred of anybody or anything with more power than themselves, their numbers stay small. The Republic generally views them as risky, taking in Kobold tribes for a few months or years before, invariably, the tribe ends up doing something that causes it to get banned or exterminated. They are small, roughly 3 foot tall, bipedal, dragonlike creatures. Some kobolds revere dragons while others view them as their innately superior cousins, and thus a threat.

All kobolds though chafe under the control of anybody more powerful, though they will submit if there is no way to win a fight. Despite this, the kobolds are always scheming, trying to find a way to gain the upper hand and subjugate the larger, more intelligent or more powerful races. They tend to favor the worship of lawful evil deities, though the occasional dragon cult certainly is not terribly uncommon.

Most kobolds are innately pessimistic, worrying more about the abilites they don't have as opposed to the ones they do. Many kobolds are naturally skilled with mechanics, usually using this ability to make traps to take out members of other races safely.

Occasionally though a kobold comes along who managed to become more accepting of himself, not viewing the world as a place who has wronged him to such a degree. These kobolds have the potential to achieve excellence, though very rarely do they naturally occur in kobold society due to the general culture of self-victimization. With each kobold tribe that joins the Republic, a handful of them end up staying behind when their tribes are forced out, having come to enjoy the ability to go head to head with other races.

These kobold are highly competetive, often learning how to do things from other races. Their ambition is that of a man who thought he was paralyzed and suddenly reallized not only could he walk but he has the potential to be a marathon runner. They learn their combat from halfling and dwarven warriors. They pick up the mage arts with great focus. Many turn to something more natural, becoming rogues, trapsmiths or even tinkerers of great skill. Many of these end up taking a neutral or good alignment, some even deviating from the pack mentality of their lawful alignment. Most however see their discovery of their potential as something to bring back to other kobolds, to pull them from their deep caves where they cling to their hatreds, into a world where they could do anything. Despite this, many kobolds, clad in shining armor, carrying trophies from powerful kills, are turned away as traitors as opposed to valued as heroes. But these hopeful individuals always bring back with them one or two more kobolds looking to see what they could do.