Duergar (Dungeons & Dragons)

Duergar

Characteristics
Alignment	Lawful Evil

In Dungeons & Dragons fantasy, the duergar, or gray dwarves are a cruel and evil subrace of dwarves.

Publication history

The duergar are named after the dvergar of Norse mythology, who were the builders of Gleipnir. The Duergar (folklore) are also Northumbrian dwarves associated with the Simonside Hills. The duergar first appeared in the first edition in the original Monster Manual II (1983). The duergar appeared as a player character race in the original Unearthed Arcana (1985).

The duergar appeared in the second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989),^[1] reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1983). A psionic duergar variant was first presented in The Complete Psionics Handbook (1991).^[2] The duergar was presented as a player character race in The Complete Book of Dwarves (1991) and Player's Option: Skills & Powers (1995).^[3]

The duergar appeared in third edition Dungeons & Dragons in the Monster Manual (2000),^[4] and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003). A psionic duergar variant appeared in the Expanded Psionics Handbook (2004), which also detailed the duergar as a player character race.^[5] The duergar was further detailed in Dragon #325 (November 2004).^[6]

The duergar appeared in the fourth edition in Monster Manual 2 (2009).

Ecology

Environment

Duergar typically make their homes in the Underdark, a vast web of interconnecting tunnels and caverns.

Typical physical characteristics

The duergar are very similar in appearance to surface dwarves, but have distinct pale gray skin, very fair hair, and bright eyes^{[citation needed]}. An individual might alternatively have red hair as well.^[7] Duergar usually dress in drab clothing that matches the color of stone.

Alignment

Duergar are usually hard-hearted lawful evil.

Psionics

The core Expanded Psionics Handbook and the open System Reference Document identify Duergar as naturally psionic, with a racial bonus to power points. Psi-like abilities include invisibility and expansion.

Society

The duergar alternate between working in concert with the drow and being at odds with them, as the drow believe themselves superior even to the duergar. Duergar are stoic and hard-working, toiling under the gaze of Laduguer, their strict and unforgiving deity. They have a deep-seated grudge against other dwarven races due to their exile from their midst and legends stating that the rest of dwarvenkind abandoned the duergar to Illithid rule thousands of years ago.

Settings and sources

Duergar have the ability to become invisible in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, where they dwell in the Underdark in cities such as Gracklstugh.

References

1. ^ Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (TSR, 1989)
2. ^ Winter, Steve. The Complete Psionics Handbook (TSR, 1991)
3. ^ Niles, Douglas and Dale Donovan. Player's Option: Skills & Powers (TSR, 1995)
4. ^ Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)
5. ^ Cordell, Bruce. Expanded Psionics Handbook (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)
6. ^ Scott, Amber. "Ecology of the Duergar." Dragon #325 (Paizo Publishing, 2004)
7. ^ See The Halfling's Gem by R. A. Salvatore, in which the character Bruenor Battlehammer, a surface dwarf with red hair, is able to impersonate a duergar simply by using ash from a fireplace to grey out his skin.