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Knockers, also known by several different names including knacker, coblynau, bucca, polterduk, karkorios, rübezahl, or pustecki, are a larger and stronger breed of kobolds, even though they are rarer. They inhabit various adits, grooves, precipices, chasms, dark cavities, burrows, delves, grottos, caverns and rocky heaths. Their existence in the area is always evidence for the presence of wealth hidden in the ground, such as ores, minerals, salt or petroleum. Considered as the malicious rogues and pests, and the real scourge for miners who they tantalize and haunt by knocking the rocks, steal or destroy sidewalks, mining equipment and all possessions, sometimes even attack them but stop at a few bruises. However, miners can get at them by utilizing food and alcohol.[2]
What is a knocker and where do they typically reside?
Knockers, or knuckers, are malevolent water spirits from British folklore, akin to the Flemish nekker. They are a type of kobold, notable for their hairy bodies and large beards. Knockers typically inhabit dark areas such as adits, crevices, chasms, and caverns. Known for causing trouble, they can be placated with offerings like bread, butter, smoked cheese, or alcohol.
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Why are knockers considered a rarer breed of kobolds?
Knockers are a rarer breed of kobolds, known for their larger size and strength. They have hairy bodies and long, tangled beards, unlike typical kobolds. The knockers are also fond of alcoholic drinks and are known by names like knacker and coblynau.
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What makes the knockers larger and stronger than other kobolds?
The knockers are a larger and stronger type of kobold, noted for their greater height and breadth. They are hairier and always have a large, tangled beard, unlike other kobolds.
The Knocker, likewise called a knacker, coblynau, bucca, polterduk, karkorios, rübezahl, or pustecki, is a form of kobold, which, nonetheless, the K. considerably surpasses in magnitude and strength. The K. as a rule also wears a great beard, which kobolds habitually do not. The K. dwells in adits, vertical shafts, spoil heaps, precipices, tenebrous hollows, inside rocks, in diverse grottos, caves and stone wildernesses. Wherever it dwells, natural riches such as metal, ore, carbon, salt or petroleum are surely buried in the earth. Thus, one may often encounter a K. in mines, particularly abandoned ones, although it is also likely to appear in active ones. It is a vicious scourge and pest, a curse and veritable divine retribution for miners and quarrymen, whom the vexatious K. leads astray. By knocking on the rock it beguiles and frightens, obstructs galleries, steals and spoils mining equipment and all kinds of belongings, and is also inclined to strike one on the head [from] a place of concealment. But it may be bribed, to curb its mischief-making, by placing in a dark gallery or shaft some bread and butter, a smoked cheese, or a flitch of smoked gammon; but best of all is a demijohn of alcohol, since the K. is extremely greedy for such.
