The Explorer's Guild has established a Stance with the Watcher's tribe. "First Landing should establish better relations with the kobolds and assist them with any problems they have." Sukemoru Uzuto From now on, and until an unresolved Crisis or a New Issue arises, adventurers cannot willfully harm relations with the kobold tribe or refuse to aid its members. |
The Watchers' Tribe kobolds inhabit much of the central plains and surrounding environs of the Watchers' Island. They claim stewardship of their Watchers' Holy Lands of the northern plains and desert on behalf of their patron and object of worship, the dragon Rydess. Though individuals and small enclaves that exist throughout much of the island, the primary hub remains the Watchers' Tribe Village located a day's travel from First Landing.
The tribe's members are uniformly of a blue-scaled coloring, affecting the lightning aspect of Rydess. The tribe appears to have adopted an informal caste system over many generations, where their dragon priesthood guides the actions and policy of other roles present within the tribe. Zealotry and fanatical worship of Rydess remains their primary motivation, and the Explorers' Guild has determined three central tenets that guide their actions to that effect.
A) They exist to serve a lineage of blue dragons, of which Rydess is the most recent descendant.
B) Their service chiefly consists of exploiting the land's precious resources to offer as regular tribute to satisfy their patron's draconic greed.
C) The title of 'watcher' suggests their true role upon the island, They carry out the will of their forebearers to guard their ancestral lands against a subversive 'taint' known to spread amongst outsiders. The kobolds insist that scaled ones such as themselves are immune to the corruption.
Beyond their divinely-ordained responsibilities, they exist much as other kobolds do—in (often large) extended communities, subsisting from and developing the land, mining the peaks for precious metals and gems, respecting their societal heirarchies and doing their best not to be maimed or killed by misfortune or misadventure.
GUILD RELATIONS
The Explorers' Guild entered the New World and founded First Landing upon a settlement of kobolds built in the shadow of The Portal. Relations between the two entities began with bloodshed, ending in detante. Adventurers have been the Guild's face for positive interactions with the Watcher Tribe, and have been influential in securing passage in to the kobolds' holy lands without further conflict.
In light of a number of positive developments, the Watchers' Tribe (again) allows First Landing adventurers to move within the borders of their lands unmolested.
CURRENT ASSESSMENT
The Watchers' Tribe is reasserting its influence over their ancestrsl lands and gathering their strength under the newly-ratified Mother Imikh. Though the kobolds remain disadvantaged by their misfortunes of the prior years, they remain determined to fulfill their duties to Rydess.
Two adversaries have emerged to challenge them: the resurgent Serpentfolk Serpentfolk, and the mysterious growths that are overtaking hidden paths within the desert.
NOTABLE DEVELOPMENTS
The venerable Father Lightning, leader of the Watvhers' Tribe, has been murdered! The unknown culprit has fled, and the Explorers' Guild bears the blame for this crisis.
A malaise had been afflicting Watcher kobolds, causing suffering, degeneration, and eventually death in its victims. Unable to effectively treat the disease, a faction within the tribe calling themselves 'rage doctors' have promoted unrest and forced the exile of those found to be afflicted (Watcher Exiles' Village). The source of this disease was ultimately discovered and contained by the diligent efforts of several adventurers, and the practice of exile within the tribe cessated.
Diplomatic overtures to the Watchers' Tribe have remained a priority for the Order of the Lily, and negotiations were undertaken with the provisional leaders of the tribe in order to regain permission for peaceful travel through kobold lands. As of now, such permissions have been granted.
In the wake of Father Lightning's sudden death, the tribe was left without the guidance and leadership of an individual who had carefully kept the ambitions of many would-be troublemakers in check. Without him, the tribe had fallen afoul of indecision and bickering between rival factions. Guild adventurers escorted Priestess Imikh while on their way to visit the dragon Rydess, allowing her to secure the knowledge and endorsement necessary for her to lead the Watchers' Tribe.
PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS
Mother Mother Imikh
High Priest Cyrano
Other kobolds of interest:
Priestess T'horra
Aunt Rovi - appeared in Undying Wolves and Wrestling Guide; a mostly-blind and sassy rune-etcher of the Tribe. Tarka is sheepish around her, and she is his aunt.