Shroud Races

So many duergar, drow and deep gnomes have lived in the Empire for generations, born and raised here, speaking east-common, following our beliefs... and yet they remain casteless, without the ancestral and necessary bindings that form the foundations of our society. How can we permit this to continue? Let them follow the Principle of Assimilation, as the goliaths have done. This farce has gone on long enough. Councillor Ki, in a speech to the Empress' council. His motion was dismissed.

The Shroudlands is polar continent far to the north which has been locked in three-way war for more than a millennia between its different races. The shroud races that live in the Empire are either refugees or descendants of refugees, and are considered Casteless even if their family has been living on the Continent for hundreds of years. All shroud races are biologically designed to be nocturnal and to avoid sunlight, spending polar winters above ground and polar summers below it. Their colouring reflects this, as do their large eyes.
Many Shroud-race citizens keep some measure of ancestral beliefs, since their Casteless status makes them immune to heresy laws. Most can also still speak Shroudcommon.

Deep Gnomes

Deep gnomes are slightly smaller than western gnomes, between 2.5-3.5 feet tall, with skin ranging in tones of white, grey, black and purple. When they grow hair (many are bald) it is short and usually either dark in tone, or completely colourless.

Drow

Drow are shroud-elves. They are usually slender and tall, with pointed ears and no facial hair. Their skin is in shades of grey, black or purple. They have pale or dark eyes and hair.

Drow Characters

Uki 

Duergar

Duergar are a subrace of dwarves. They are short and powerfully-built, with skin in tones of white, grey, black and purple, and hair in almost any shade. Both men and women grow beards, although fashion in the Empire leads most duergar to shave.

Shroud Names

Shroudland names come from Shroudcommon. Shroud races do not typically have surnames.
Female Examples: Ahnah, Arnak, Kallik, Kirima, Nanouk, Tanara, Uki, Yuka
Male Examples: Inuksuk, Kuma, Nukatok, Panuk, Silla, Tonrak, Yosko
Neuter Examples: Adlar, Anji, Ikiya, Pana, Kimmik, Tulutok, Yokimo