Posted by EarthDragon on 22nd August 2015.
Koben are dwarf-like humanoids that live in barren wilderness areas where they seldom come into contact with humans. They live in simple villages, tending small farms in secluded areas. They typically avoid any contact or involvement in the affairs of The Unification or, indeed, anywhere outside their farms. However, rare individuals, driven by wanderlust or inspired by some contact with The Unification, find their way into the world.
Humans look down on Koben, in more ways than one, and stereotype them as being rude, belligerent, boastful and somewhat comical. Koben resent this reputation, but generally do little to disprove it. That aside, they have simple tastes, enjoy community life in their small villages, telling wildly fanciful stories around a fire, simple arts, and collecting treasure. They consider it poor taste to display their wealth and usually carry only a few coins on their person.
Koben stand about 4 feet tall. Their legs and arms are slightly longer in proportion to their bodies than those of a human. They are leaner than dwarves, averaging 120 to 140 pounds. Most are bowlegged. They have big, bright eyes, usually blue, green, or brown. Their ears are small and somewhat pointed. Their noses are round with flaring nostrils, and their lips are wide and full. Thick hair, usually light brown or blonde, covers their arms and legs, and grows in wild tangles from their heads. Most adult males have sparse beards, and even a few women have short whiskers sprouting beneath their chins. Koben look wild and unkempt. They favour simple clothing, such as cotton shirts and trousers, or a short robe tied at the waist with a rope sash. Their clothing is often loose or oversized, and wrinkled but clean. They have an aversion to bright colours, favouring earthen tones. They similarly avoid gaudy jewellery, but often wear colourful stones on leather straps around their necks and sometimes decorate their hair with flowers.
Most other races find koben primitive and inferior, and rarely embrace them as equals. In return, they become insular and don’t interact much with outsiders. They particularly despise the goblinoid races of The Fallen and any related species, reacting to such individuals with suspicion. Most Fallen attacks on koben farms and holdings come from the goblinoid regiments. Members of other races must earn the koben’s trust.
Koben resist hierarchy and authority (and thus try to maintain minimal communication with The Unification), leaning strongly toward chaotic alignments. Most of them hate evil creatures and value life and good. Most of them.
Koben adventurers are usually motivated by the needs of their people. If a koben community faces a problem it does not know how to handle, it typically falls to a single hero – be they volunteer or a candidate chosen by elders – to venture into the outside world to find a solution.