---
races:
- name: Duergar
common_name: Gray Dwarves
appearance:
build: Stout, muscular, typical dwarf build
skin: Dull gray
hair: Darker gray or black
facial_hair:
males: Long, unkempt beards
females: Bald
head: Both males and females are bald.
eyes: Sickly pale
distinguishing_features:
- Psionic abilities (invisibility and enlargement)
location:
type: Subterranean
description: Confined to the deepest parts of the Underdark, no regional variations.
naming_conventions:
characteristics: Harsh, guttural
structure:
- Personal name (single word, reflects a trait)
- Clan name (long, complex, signifies history)
reflection: Reflects a blend of individualism and rigid clan structure.
history:
- Once a clan of mountain dwarves, they were enslaved by Mind Flayers.
- Subjected to cruel magical and psionic experiments, which transformed them physically and mentally.
- Defined by their hatred of all other races, particularly dwarves.
- Their society is a twisted reflection of their former captors, focusing on cruelty and psionic dominance.
culture_and_religion:
culture:
- Militaristic, slave-holding caste system where power is everything.
- Masters of mining and metallurgy, using enslaved races for labor.
- Deeply paranoid and distrustful, even among themselves.
- Masters of stealth and subterfuge.
religion:
- Revere a pantheon of evil gods.
- A powerful demon lord is their chief deity.
- Grim and somber, with a focus on sacrifice, torture, and domination.
- name: Gully Dwarf
appearance:
build: Short, stout, similar to other dwarves
features: Disproportionate and crudely formed
hair_and_beards: Matted
skin: Unwashed
clothing: Filthy rags held together with twine
hygiene: Live in filthy conditions and smell foul.
location:
type: Varied
description: Universally considered a degenerate race; no notable regional variations.
naming_conventions:
characteristics: Simple and unrefined.
basis: A single sound, a simple word, or a basic emotion.
method: Assigned based on the first thing a gully dwarf says, or a sound they make.
examples: Bupu, Mung, Sludge, Toof
history:
- Believed to be descendants of the original dwarven people.
- Thought to be either cursed or devolved due to an unknown magical or biological phenomenon.
- More civilized dwarves see them as an embarrassment.
- Survived in the margins of society for centuries, often in abandoned tunnels and ruins.
- Their history is one of a long, slow decline.
culture_and_religion:
culture:
- A twisted and simplistic version of more advanced societies.
- Primitive understanding of everything.
- A crude hierarchy where the strongest or loudest rule.
- Lack any real skills in construction or crafting.
- Dwellings are crude tunnels or piles of garbage.
- Are scavengers and cowards.
religion:
- Revere "great" things, which can be anything from a rusty can to a giant beast.
- A chaotic and incoherent mix of fear and simple reverence.
- name: Hill Dwarf
appearance:
build: Sturdy, robust, stocky, and dense
height: Not as tall as mountain dwarves
skin: Lighter shade of tan or pale brown
hair_and_beards: Reddish-brown to dark brown or black.
grooming: Males take great pride in braiding and oiling their beards.
location_preference: More often found on the surface.
clothing: Reflects a more pastoral or agrarian lifestyle.
naming_conventions:
characteristics: Short and guttural.
structure:
- Personal name (simple, single word)
- Clan name (long, complex, signifies history)
reflection: Reflects a blend of individualism and rigid clan structure.
history:
- Descendants of the original dwarven people.
- History of great kingdoms built in the hills and plains.
- Master miners, artisans, and builders, also known for brewing and agriculture.
- Have a deep sense of community and respect for elders and ancestors.
- Known for their love of gold and jewels.
culture_and_religion:
culture:
- Patriarchal, clan-based system where honor and tradition are paramount.
- Deeply traditional and isolationist.
- Society is built on a rigid caste system with specific roles.
religion:
- Revere a pantheon of gods.
- A powerful god of forging and creation is their chief deity.
- A solemn and serious affair with a focus on ritual, tradition, and ancestor worship.
- name: Mountain Dwarf
appearance:
build: Sturdy, muscular, broad, and heavy
height: 4 to 5 feet tall
weight: Disproportionate to their height
skin: Ruddy brown or deep tan
eyes: Brown or a dark shade of blue
hair: Both males and females have long, thick hair that they often braid.
facial_hair: Males are known for their long, bushy beards.
naming_conventions:
characteristics: Short and guttural.
structure:
- Personal name (simple, single word)
- Clan name (long, complex, signifies history)
reflection: Reflects a blend of individualism and rigid clan structure.
history:
- Descendants of the original dwarven people.
- History of great kingdoms built deep within the mountains.
- Master miners, artisans, and builders, known for great feats of engineering.
- Deeply traditional and isolationist people.
- History is filled with great wars and rivalries with other races, particularly giants and goblinoids.
culture_and_religion:
culture:
- Patriarchal, clan-based system where honor and tradition are paramount.
- Strong sense of community and deep respect for elders and ancestors.
- Known for their love of gold and jewels.
- Society is built on a rigid caste system with specific roles.
religion:
- Revere a pantheon of gods.
- A powerful god of forging and creation is their chief deity.
- A solemn and serious affair with a focus on ritual, tradition, and ancestor worship.