Duergars

Duergars are grey-skinned dwarves that live in the Underdark. They are equal in stature and physically similar to other dwarves, duergars have black eyes and bald heads, with the males growing long, unkempt, grey beards. Duergars like all dwarves are resistant to poison and magic and can not cast spells as the other races do, they like dwarves need to use runes to cast spells. Duergar are exceptionally adapted to darkness and can see in the dark even better than other dwarves, the same features that let them thrive in the underdark have made their eyes extremely sensitive to direct sunlight making them almost blind while not in the shadows. Duergars have natural powers they can enlarge themselves for a short doubling in all dimensions, and weight is increased eight times, duergars can also become invisible for about an hour each day. Duergars speak a different dialect than surface dwarves but the differences are minimal and is extensively the same language.

Army

Dueragar armies are similar to their surface kin a solid core of heavily armored elite professional infantry supported by poorly equipped slaves and a substantial artillery force, they have no cavalry and no areial force. Duergars frequently engage in small wars and minor skirmishes with other duergars and drows and frequently conduct night raids on surface settlements to collect slaves. Duergars have never been in a major war so have only theoretical knowledge of logistic and prolonged warfare.

Government

Every duergar city government is slightly different, cities are usually governed by a council of distinguished citizens.

Economy

Duergar economy is based on slave labor. Farms, where slaves cultivate various types of underdark plants and fungi and raise domesticated deep rothe, a bovine species similar but slightly smaller than the rothes found in the dwarven kingdom, produce almost all the food of duergar society. Mines are another industry where slaves are largely used, mining all kinds of minerals, metals, and gemstones, which are sold to other races, duergars having no need for decorative rocks. A large number of citizens work as artisans, masons, smiths, engineers, and other trades considered too complicated for slaves. Duergar merchants trade with other duergars, surface dwarves, drow, and sometimes humans although this is rare. Major exports include gemstones and precious metals, as well as slaves, weapons, and armor. Duergar economy needs no major imports, the only thing a duergar merchant would buy from other races are quality slaves.

Naming Traditions

Family names

Duergars have no clan or family names some use their profession as a surname. Examples are: Grimgi (warrior), Okri (craftsman or artisan), Rhunokri (runesmith).

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

Duregars are fiercely utilitarian this is reflected in every single aspect of their culture and society. Duregars use money and see money as a reflection of good done to their society, since anyone can freely choose to separate themselves from their money in exchange for goods and services any reasonable individual would only pay a price it sees as advantageous. Meaning every time someone spends money he gains something as an individual, thus being beneficial to their society. For these reasons, duergars love to hoard money. A duregar would spend money only to buy something essential or useful to their ends, usually making more money. Duergars have no concept of family, but they do choose their mates carefully, a good mate means a good offspring and that is good for duergar society. Duergars are raised communally by professional educators. Duergars use ample amounts of slave labourers, they enslave any race, even duergars that are not fit to work in duergar society. Slaves that prove extremmaly useful may be freed and integrated into duergar society, but that is extremely rare mostly because duergar are very prideful and belive in the superiority of the duergar race.

Shared customary codes and values

Duergars are fiercely utilitarians, they have no love for beauty or excess. Their place in their society is measured by what they do and nothing else, they do not care for family or nobility, the only form of hierarchy in their society is merit.

Art & Architecture

Their architecture is purely functional, small rectangular houses made of stone are stacked on top of each other to maximize spatial efficiency. This kind of housing means that duergars spend most of their time outside their home and need only the minimum individual space for sleeping. Other processes such as eating, work, study, physical education, cultural life Etc. Take place in spacious common public spaces. Children are raised and educated outside of the home in special school districts. This architectural philosophy gives freedom to parents to contribute more to the society.

Foods & Cuisine

Duregar food is bland and rich in calories and nutrients, they mainly eat desiccated bars made from multiple different ingredients smashed into a paste and left to dry. No self-respecting duergar would drink alcohol seeing it as useless and damaging to their society.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Duergars burn their deceased, for no particular reason other than is convenient.