On the Origin of Kobolds and their relationship wit the Forgotten Folk

[Porkolt]

On the Origin of Kobolds and their relationship with the Forgotten Folk
As recorded by Nido Gusher of the Golden Alliance

Throughout the ages, kobolds and gnomes have sought to vanquish the other race. This blood feud has caused the death of many gnomes and kobolds alike.
 
The following story will explain how the kobolds were created, and why the feud is entirely their fault.
 
In the beginning, when Garl walked the planes, there was a dragonspawn named Kurtulmak. Kurtulmak was a spawn of the Dragon Queen, Tiamat. His egg was hatched in an effort of the Dragon Queen to protect her lair from an army of invading thieves, looking to steal part of her ill-gotten hoard.
 
Though Kurtulmak succeeded in defending his mother, the success caused him to become vain and arrogant. A notable result of these circumstances was the following plan.
 
Kurtulmak wished to become an established force in the world. He would invite several of the notable evil entities of the planes to share in a grand feast at his cavern home. To impress them, he would tell them of his exploits in the defense of the Dragon Queen. He would then gain their respect and envy. To complete his plot, he would then rig the structure of his dining hall to collapse on their heads to humble them.
 
The day of the feast came. Amongst those present in Kurtulmak's hall was the archdevil Asmodeus, who was reputedly extremely bored with Kurtulmak's tale.
 
Garl Glittergold, the creator of the Gnomes, meanwhile, had learned of Kurtulmak's plan. Though it stemmed from poor taste, he thought the jest itself was very good. To make sure it would succeed, he tested Kurtulmak's switch, collapsing the cavern while Kurtulmak was still in it!
 
All of Kurtulmak's furious guests soon left the proceedings, what shred of respect they might have had for him collapsing as quickly as his hall. All, except one. Left alone with the seething Kurtulmak was the archdevil Asmodeus.
 
The archdevil made him a proposal. Kurtulmak could choose between two options: either he could have Asmodeus restore the splendor of his hall, and be left alone in it, or be given the power to create his own race, and take revenge upon Garl.
 
Eager to reclaim his lost prestige, rather than show a semblance of humility and take a good jest in kind, Kurtulmak chose for the latter option.
 
Thus, the kobolds were created, for only one purpose: the extermination of the gnomish race. Kurtulmak, in his vanity, has condemned his own race to be our eternal enemy. It is natural that all gnomes take effort to wipe any kobold they encounter off the face of the world, for their only purpose is our death.
 
Rest assured in the fact, however, that, should the kobolds ever achieve victory over the gnomes, it will be an empty victory, a hollow one. It will leave their lives empty and meaningless. This is why they cannot win - to win is to undo the meaning of their very existence. Indeed, the best way to defeat a kobold is by making that clear, for it will nullify their purpose just as much.