Gotri

Duergar, or gray dwarves, live deep underground, sometimes below the deep dwarves. They rarely venture above ground, finding it painful, except during heavily overcast days or at night. The light does not cause them damage, but it does affect their ability to see clearly.

A typical duergar is 4 feet tall and weighs 120 pounds. Emaciated, they possess pasty skins and white or dull gray beards. Men and women may be bald, and those who are not usually shave their heads.

Most duergar are lawful evil with neutral tendencies. Other dwarves find their ways repulsive. Duergar consider the prophecy of the Return of the King to be a sham and they openly reject it. They have long since given up on humans as well and have actively sided with other races in the Underworld to make war on humans and other dwarves to gain power and wealth, their only vision for success in the world.

They frequently compete with deep dwarves for living space and minerals. Usually the duergar are bested in such struggles. When built, duergar strongholds are exceptionally poor, having been driven into areas rejected by others. In some cases, however, this has been to their advantage and has led them to the discovery of hidden subterranean wealth that they have secretly acquired.

Even though their society is evil, they still retain many of the social structures of hill and mountain dwarves. They are clan based, but their crafts are usually inferior to those of other dwarves.

As a final note, duergar are NOT to be confused with Derro. Derro thought to be a twisted hybrid of deep dwarf and Morwen and are, at heart, vile murderous creations with little rational thought except of their various obsessions and their plans to obtain them. ​

Special Advantages

Infravision , 120 ft.

​Duergar are stealthy. Parties or individuals at least 90 feet ahead of the party gain a surprise bonus. This causes a -2 penalty to the opponent's surprise rolls. If a door or other screen is opened, the bonus is lost. Duergar receive a +2 bonus on their own surprise rolls.

In addition to the standard saving throw bonuses against magical attacks (see Saving Throws), duergar are unaffected by paralysis, illusion and phantasm spells. They are immune to all magical and alchemical poisons. Against natural poisons they gain the standard dwarf saving throw bonus.

In addition they possess the innate magical abilities of Enlarge and Invisibility. They can use each of these powers once per day. A duergar uses the enlarge ability as though he were a wizard twice his own level. A 2nd-level duergar uses enlarge as though he were a 4th-level wizard. He may use it only to affect himself and whatever he is wearing or carrying.​

Special Disadvantages

​Duergar require 20% additional experience points.

Duergar are adversely affected by bright light such as sunlight or a Continual Light spell. They are not affected by the light of torches, lanterns, magic weapons, light (spell) or faerie fire.

Affected by bright light, his enhanced ability to gain surprise is negated. Dexterity is reduced by -2 and hit rolls are made at a -2 penalty.

In situations where a duergar is in darkness but his opponents are in bright light, his Dexterity and surprise advantages are unaffected, but he suffers a -1 penalty to his attack rolls.

Other dwarves distrust duergar and react to them at -3 penalty. This penalty is cumulative with any incurred when choosing a particular kit.

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Also Known As

Gray Dwarves, Duergar

Government Type

Local patriarch

Known Strongholds

​As of present, it is believed that all duergar strongholds have been destroyed and that they are cohabitating with other Deep races.

Known Alliances

​Tedious relations with other Deep races such as the Illithid. ​

Trade Expertise

None ​

Ability Score Adjustments

The initial ability scores are modified by a -2 penalty to Charisma and a +1 bonus to Constitution. The minimum and maximum ability scores are as shown.

Languages Spoken

Duergar, deep dwarf, drow, illithid, kua-toa, troll, troglodyte, ghoul, undercommon, sign language

Racial Enmities

Ogres, trolls, ogre magi, giants, and titans suffer a -4 penalty to attack Duergar. These dwarves do not gain any advantage when fighting orcs, half-orcs, goblins, or hobgoblins. ​

Life Expectancy

400 years ​