The Deep-Isolationists

The Deep-Isolationists are a radical and increasingly powerful sub-faction within the Sub-Terran Accord. They represent the "Old Guard" of kobold society, believing that the surface world is a source of nothing but chaos, greed, and destruction. To them, the "Sun-Dwellers" are a plague that will eventually consume the depths if not kept at a distance.

Philosophy: Their core belief is "The Deep is for the Deep." They view any interaction with the surface—even trade—as a catastrophic security risk. They believe that the kobolds' greatest strength is their invisibility, and that by revealing themselves, they invite their own extinction. They are fiercely devoted to the expansion of the Deep-Strands, but only as a means to further isolate the kobold civilization from the world above.

The Great Collapse: The Isolationists' most extreme members advocate for "The Great Collapse"—a plan to systematically destroy the Aether-pipes and geothermal taps that connect the Deep-Strands to surface cities like Steamfort. They believe that by cutting these ties, they can force the surface civilizations to collapse while the Accord thrives in self-sufficient isolation.

Tactics:

• Silent Sabotage: They often conduct secret missions to weaken surface structures or pollute surface-bound Aether lines.
• Enforcement: They employ elite assassins and saboteurs, like Whisper-Silent, to eliminate those they deem "traitors" to the kobold cause (often targeting the Surface-Traders).
• Propaganda: They use the "Echo-Chambers" of the Deep-Strands to spread fear and distrust of the surface world among the younger generations of kobolds.

Leader: The sub-faction is led by Elder Grimgnaw, a scarred and bitter kobold who claims to have witnessed the destruction of his ancestral warren by a group of surface "adventurers."