Deep Dwarfs
The Deep Dwarfs, or Duergar, and those who choose to live with them, are a pale to grey skinned group living predominantly in the mountains and glaciers south of Mabaha.
Magic is used through tattooing spells on specific body parts. These are functional tattoos that can be used by non-magic users. Magic users also tattoo their spells on their body in complicated hexagonal runes.
Most outsiders encounter with warrior groups. These almost all have a well guarded tattoo lining their spines which they can activate to enlarge
physically they have pale white to grey skin and pink to red eyes well accustomed to the under-dark, and overly sensitive to the daylight. When walking above ground they frequently use smoked goggles to protect their eyes, but limiting peripheral vision.
Most surface villages/cities have low lying buildings with peaked roofs. If there are non-Deep Dwarfs living in that town, they predominantly live in these upper buildings. The Deep Dwarf population will live in the lower levels.
Unknown to almost all outsiders, the Deep Dwarfs maintain a series of roads through the underdark. This allows them to keep almost all their outposts, towns and cities connected despite a seeming lack of roads or over-land commerce. This extends to their island outposts despite having essentially no navy or sea-faring history.
Gracklstugh: The Deep Dwarfs have a rumor of an ancient version of their culture they perceive as dominant. those that follow this belief follow a militant, xenophobic path, and when seen are typically seen raiding primarily non-deep dwarf settlements. However, followers of the Gracklstugh beliefs are fanatical, and if they feel that they can develop a new area of Deep Dwarf superiority, they will.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Duergan (dialect of Dwarfish)
Common
Undercommon
Common Dress code
Muted tones
Art & Architecture
The Deep Dwarfs, idealize functionality over stylized beauty. Compared to their brethren of the Dwarfholds, Deep Dwarfs eschew what they perceive as needless, fussy ornamentation. This leads to a minimalist esthetic in architecture and in crafting.
However, over the centuries since the cataclysm, and their initial isolation in stark mountains and glaciers, they have developed a sense of appreciation for the natural cave formations, barren peaks, and the twist of rivulets of pure glacier melt slowly cutting away ice and rock into massive caverns. This can, at times, be refelected in the use of imperfect but strong materials, highlighting how imperfections are incorporated.
Related Organizations
