Dwarves: Duergar/Gray

The Duergar are the true perfectionists. They are always ready to destroy their creation and start over if it isn't perfect in their eyes, thus many weapons, armor, structures, and similar of the duergar are of the masterwork quality, nearly magical in their perfection. Their work surpasses even the long-living elves but they lack subtlety and empathy, thus their artwork isn't up to par. They are a very brooding race, building great strongholds in the mountains or underground, believing themselves to be the true dwarven race. Their dark skin and white hair may make them look similar to Drow or Svirfneblin but they assured that it isn't due to the Undertethys and a side effect of powerful magic from long ago.
When the first dwarf gods came during the Second Age, Godswar, the dwarves, who were on the side of the Titans during the First Age, The Titan War, fearing for their lives used magic to escape. Their Volcano heritage was lost as they split into the Azer (Ember Dwarves) and Duergar (Ash Dwarves). The Azer escaped to the planes, while the Duergar into the Undertethys. There they would build their first fortresses and nations, until a bloody civil war broke out as The Dwarven Cleasing happened. Vowing vengeance one day, the duergar bid their time in the Undertethys for many millennia. While some skirmishes happened in the Second Age, most of them stopped when the Third Age, Kingdoms dawned as most of the duergar lost access to the surface world for a long time. It wasn't until the War of the Underworld that the duergars returned. Allied with monsters, the Drow and Svirfneblin of the underworld, they attacked the surface. Their main goal was the Dawi Way and the fortresses of their kindred. They slaughtered untold thousands. Their greatest victory was the Ashen Mountains, where they took ancient fortresses of the Volcano Dwarves from the hands of the Jadeite Empire. In the end, they lost the war and returned underground. They still wage war against the surface dwellers and those that are on the surface, over time, adapted to the sun. Even after the Fourth Age, The Calamity, where the Duergar worked with the Iconian Empire, the duergar are a force to be reckoned with and many centuries later, still hold their fortresses strong.

On Tethys

Most of the nations and city-states of the Duergar are underground. They war with other races as much as with each other. On the surface, their major nation is the Osor-ibruk, which still stands strong in defiance to other surface dwellers. Very few races trade with them on the surface but it is due to fear, not due to some untrustworthiness as the Duergar are honorable folk and will not betray their word. Some say they might keep to their word more so than other dwarves. They do not keep relationships with their kindred, either Mountain or Hill variety, even the Azer, as they despise them. For them, they are betrayers of the highest order. Not only they betrayed the Titans, they also betrayed their brothers and sisters. Many of the duergar worship the Titans instead of the gods. However, there is one exception and it is the nation of Osor-ibruk, as many generations have passed, they started worship of the Ashen Axe and were the only duergar nation that rejected working with the Icons. This, of course, made them enemies to other duergar. Some people hope that this is a step towards peace and maybe in the Fifth Age, Current Age there might be a peace made between the surface dwarves and the surface duergar.

First World

In the First World, the Duergar were cursed dwarves who betrayed ancient oaths to the humans and when their high king killed the leader of humanity.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Dwarves: Volcano

Genetic Descendants

• Dwarves: Mountain

Dwarf (Duergar)

Ability Score Increase Con +2; Str +1

Size Medium

Speed 25 ft.

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Age. Dwarves mature at the same rate as humans, but they're considered young until they reach the age of 50. On average, they live about 350 years.
Alignment. Most dwarves are lawful, believing firmly in the benefits of a well-ordered society. They tend toward good as well, with a strong sense of fair play and a belief that everyone deserves to share in the benefits of a just order.
Size. Dwarves stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and average about 150 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor.
Darkvision. Accustomed to life underground, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Duergar Resilience. You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage. You also have advantage on saving throws against illusions and against being charmed or paralyzed.
Dwarven Combat Training. You have proficiency with the battleaxe, handaxe, light hammer, and warhammer.
Tool Proficiency. You gain proficiency with the artisan's tools of your choice: Smith's tools, brewer's supplies, or mason's tools.
Stonecunning. Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin of stonework, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.
Duergar Magic. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Enlarge/Reduce spell on yourself once with this trait, using only the spell's enlarge option. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Invisibility spell on yourself once with this trait. You don't need material components for either spell, and you can't cast them while you're in direct sunlight, although sunlight has no effect on them once cast. You regain the ability to cast these spells with this trait when you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Dwarvish, and Undercommon.