Kobold

Kobolds in Aethervale are far from the primitive scavengers found in other worlds; they are the masterminds of the highly advanced Sub-Terran Accord. Deep beneath the surface, they have constructed sprawling, intricate underground cities connected by miles of complex deep-strands. These subterranean highways facilitate the movement of goods, information, and their incredibly advanced Aether-technology, which often rivals or even surpasses the mechanical wonders of Steamfort.

Their society is deeply religious, centered around the worship of Kurtulmak the World-Shaper. The kobolds believe that by engineering complex machinery and reshaping the earth, they are honoring their creator deity. This divine mandate drives their relentless innovation, blending arcane rituals with mechanical engineering to create wonders such as deep-boring drills, mechanized exosuits, and intricate clockwork defenses that protect their realms from subterranean horrors.

However, the Sub-Terran Accord is not monolithic. The society is currently experiencing friction between two major factions. The Surface-Traders advocate for engaging with the world above, exchanging their advanced technology and rare minerals for surface goods and magical knowledge. Opposing them are the Deep-Isolationists, who believe that the surface world is chaotic and dangerous, arguing that the Accord should seal their tunnels and focus entirely on expanding their subterranean empire free from the taint of the squabbling surface races.