Tragar
Tragar are an isolated population of Deepeath Dwarves, a bipedal sentient race both bulkier and shorter than most living sentients. A portion of their population are born psionic; this combined with a harsh, worker-slave culture makes the Tragar one of two races in the undergrond considered by the Davrin to be too dangerous to enslave in large numbers. The only race able to enslave Tragar are the Ornilleth.
General Appearance
Tragar are also called the Grey Dwarves for their lighter skin tone compared to the Dark Elves. The young all grow white or grey fuzzy hair on their head, but virtually all males become bald when their beards begin to grow at adolescence. Females keep their head fuzz and do not grow beards, though a psionic female will usually become entirely bald.
Psionic or not, Tragar eyes have no irises, but all-white sclera, giving them a blank stare similar to the Ornilleth. They possess natural Dark Sight and can accurately perceive their tunnels and caverns with no light at all, though generally they see less distance than the magic-enhanced Dark Elves. They are as sensitive to sudden flares of light as all Deepearth races, but they are accustomed to the light of fire from torches and forges.
Grey Dwarves are the strongest breed of Dwarf in the Deepearth, favoring physical strength regardless of gender or age; a stunted Tragar child rarely reaches adulthood, and an elder weakened by age, disease, or badly healed injuries does not last long in their stronghold.
Culture and Heritage
Tragar are isolationists most interested in controlling their own people and territory. They are not distance travelers or purposeless explorers; they are known as grudging traders. Even scouts sent to find deposits of certain minerals and ores are unfriendly to encounter. They do not invite visitors or ambassadors into their Stronghold, and occasional spies caught or skirmish prisoners dragged in have never left to tell tales of the life inside. Nearly all weapons or armor created, all inventions or discoveries made, all food produced is only for them, with very little given in trade or tribute to any other race.
The proximity of the Tragar Stronghold to Sivaraus is the only reason the Grey Dwarves are the most frequent source of territory and resource desputes with the Davrin of the Great Cavern. Because of their universal physical strength and the natural-born psionic talent in approximately a quarter of their population, the Tragar are one of the most dangerous opponents to meet unprepared in the tunnels. Their general lack of interest in conquest outside their own race, however, makes them far less dangerous to the goals of the Valsharess Herself than the Ornilleth and their Elder Minds by comparison.
Magic
Tragar are not known to practice any magic at all, and even scorn its use in tools which could be given to the mundane worker to lighten their workload. The easy way is the path to weakness, and magic is the reason Elves are so thin and small yet so dangerous.
The psionic talent is treated the same as the gift of a strong body; the stronger will overcome the weaker, and mind-control of as many workers or mates as a psionic Tragar can make bend and bow is a talent which must be used to its fullest to be considered strong and not weak.
Stories persist that the Tragar were created by the Ornilleth as experiments who grew too unruly and stubborn to be kept in a conclave, and were released into the Deepearth to discover the only psionically sensitive gem known: the blue saphgar. Occasionally, an Elder Mind will send mind flayers to gather it, like a thief harvesting honey from a beehive.
Deepearth, the Stronghold nearest to Sivaraus
Appearance
Grey-skinned Dwarf, bald or white-cropped hair, white blank eyes
Lifespan
Up to 200 years but rarely considered "old."