He was once a leader in his tribe. His clan was mostly wiped out by lizardman thugs in a territory dispute that also involved Elven and Human settlements. Many kobold were killed, several clansmen headed for the sanctuary of other similar tribes in distant lands; and a few were never heard from again (the assumption is they were taken as slaves). Uxig, as he was called, luckily escaped the attack as he was away at the time, having been sent by an elder shaman to gather a rare herb. Following the decimation, he saw the honorable actions several humanoid adventure groups against that common enemy -- the lizardmen. He cautiously offered his assistance in subsequent retributive attacks and as a shaman and healer, he was a welcomed member (although somewhat distrusted at first) of most adventuring groups that he journeyed with. His loyalty has, however, been proven time and again and many adventurers tend to come to his defense and seek his council. Around those he doesn't know, his instinct is still of caution and furtivness. As for the barking, he keeps that to a minimum during the day, and as for nighttime, well, he claims that it is often drowned out by Dwarven snoring.