Kobold Livestock Knights -

The answer lies in A Kobold Livestock Knight is a self-replenishing, self-maintaining weapon system. Traditional cattle require protection from wolves; these kobolds are the wolves that protect the herd from larger predators—or from rival lords. By granting a kobold the status of a knight, the master gains a loyal soldier whose entire lifecycle is engineered for combat. The kobold is fed a nutrient-rich diet to grow strong scales, exercised through brutal drills to build muscle (improving the quality of its meat and hide), and allowed to breed selectively to produce more compliant, larger specimens. When the knight inevitably falls in battle—or simply reaches the optimal age for slaughter—its body is returned to the larder. The armor is melted down, the meat is salted, and the next of kin is fitted for a new surcoat. The system is a closed loop of violence and production. There is no waste, only processing.

The transformation from Herder to Knight is a brutal, three-day ritual known as The Saddle-Bonding. kobold livestock knights