'Kobolds are a type of draconic creature that exhibits rather exaggerated sexual dimorphism. The males are generally small, about the size of goblins, while the females can be larger than humans on occasion. Most females are extremely strong and favour the use of strength-based weaponry like bronze axes and hammers, while most males usually use short spears to compensate for their shorter reach. The exception are shamans - in general, each tribe has one shaman, though there are times in between generations when two are active at once. All kobold shamans are female, but while still freakishly strong, they can also use magic on top of that. While most kobolds are earth-attributed, there have been fire shamans observed to exist on occasion, so Adventurers on a subjugation request are generally advised to ensure they have some means of dealing with sudden immolation. The kobolds' affinity with earth and fire magic enables them to manufacture bronze weaponry of their own, though they have not been known to be able to refine iron yet.

They're one of the largest threats to humanity when in massed numbers, as they have a penchant for performing heart sacrifices, and they like to use the hearts of larger humanoids like humans, elves and dwarves for it, though they have also been observed to sacrifice goblin hearts on occasion. This requirement for hearts for their religious practices gives them the need to invade human territory, and unlike the goblins that kill males and capture females for breeding purposes, kobolds sacrifice other humanoids of all genders. When people are known to have been captured or surrounded by kobolds, the timeframe for rescue is relatively short before they can be assumed dead with very high accuracy.

On extremely rare occasions, their sacrifices to their dragon gods succeeds in attracting their attention, and results in the appearance of mature dragons in their territory. For this cause, when sufficient kobolds are known to have gathered in a single location, it is usually imperative that they be wiped out before they succeed in their summoning efforts, for while a four-man party of iron or steel plate Adventurers is generally enough to deal with one tribe of kobolds, a single dragon requires the resources of some of the best Adventurers in the country to subjugate, often not without losses.' (Gwyn)

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'I know they said we should try to use magic and weaponry at the same time to get used to it, but this is starting to get ridiculous.' (Silas)

Indeed, there was a mist coming from a particular spot, where a certain sword-user was using a sword so cold the moisture in the air was starting to condense around her, creating mini-rainbows where the sunlight shone through it.

'Noble blood has its privileges, it seems.'

'Must be nice to be born with magic affinity like that.' (Silas)

'At least you have some.'

'I heard. You're the one that had near zero response to everything right?' (Silas)

'Yup. I'm still trying to cool this blade a bit to harden it, but it's not going well.'

'I'm on the earth side, so just thrusting a spear in midair doesn't use it at all. Maybe when we finally get straw dummies to stab I can see if it makes any difference at all.' (Silas)

'Why are you using a spear anyway? Aren't strength types more suited to axes and the like?'

'It keeps me further away from my target. Affinity be damned, I'm not dying early to an accident if I can help it. (Silas)

'Rachel.' (Elaina)

'Yes?'

'Your spear is too long for you. At this rate you're using less of its length than you can if it was shortened. Give it here.' (Elaina)

'I'm not falling for that.'

'Then hold onto it if you must, but pass me the haft.' (Elaina)

She ties a short wire of sorts around it, pulls, and a cylindrical section of the haft falls off.

'What kind of material cuts straight through wood like that?'

'Steel wire, coated with quartz dust. Normally better used for clean decapitations, but there's no better tool for this task either.' (Elaina)

'Err, did you say decapitations?' (Silas)

'Enemies without throats can't scream.' (Elaina)

It does seem to balance better now, but... it's shorter...

'Reach is important, but if you can't aim the end properly because you're too short, it's meaningless. Continue with your drills.' (Elaina)