can someone tell me about kobalds?

Answer 1

Kobolds are spirits of German folklore. The name comes from the German word kobalt or kobold meaning "evil spirit", and is often translated in English as goblin.

The most common version, Heinzelmännchen, is similar to Robin Goodfellow and brownies: as household elves of ambivalent nature, they sometimes perform domestic chores, but play malicious tricks if not appeased (Hinzelmann is a particular example).

Kobold is often used in German to translate the word 'Leprechaun', a type of Irish fairy goblin.

Another type of kobold, more similar to the gnome, haunts mines and other underground places. The name of the element cobalt comes from kobold, after the poisonous and troublesome nature of the typical arsenical ores of this metal (cobaltite and smaltite) which polluted other mined elements (compare nickel).

Answer 2

Kobold
by Micha F. Lindemans
In German (Teutonic) folklore, kobolds are spirits who dwell in mines and who like to torment humans. They are tricksters and not inherently evil. Like Robin Goodfellow, they may either help or harass humans, for unknown reasons. In the 16th and the 17th century, they were usually depicted on paintings as little devils with a conical hat, pointy shoes, a hairy tail, and bald feet instead of hands. In the class of fairy-like beings, they are considered to be the most dangerous and most ugly. Some sources suggest that kobolds are related to the Brownies