The coal-skinned dwarves of the
Underworld.
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History
The name Duergar comes from the first name of the
Dwarven general who's king informed him of the closing of the tunnels to the surface in the face of a rapidly ascending, particularily massive horde of
Umbral Insectoids. that would overwhelming their forces in the Underworld. The king had no hope of pushing back this horde in time before it breached the surface and chose to abandon his kin to save those above. In pure defiance and hatred, the general led his men and women into victory against the threat.
Years later, in the midst of conflict with other threats, the king in the
Dwarven Mountains above was notified of survivors having dug their way back up. Delighted by the oppertunity to reestablish contact with an army to add to his ranks, he descended personally to witness the military forces he initially thought dead, and he was horrified by what he found. Duergar and his army had survived the horde and starvation by eating the dark insects and developing insectoid-like senses and the ability to grow to great size. When he and his escort was brought to Duergar, the king, disgusted but oppertunistic, gave the general the "honor" of serving him once again. Mad with rage but cool in demeanor, the new king of the underworld's dwarves tore the head of his former ruler off of his shoulders and had the escort slaughtered.
Ever since, the Duergar and the
Dwarves have been mortal enemies, and they have made a name for themselves as a civilization that engages in slavery of other races and one that protects the surface from the encroaching hordes of
Umbral Insectoids, having become unparalleled experts in fighting them due to their experience and the ability to track the hordes due to their new physiologies.
Artificiology
Due to the power of the new Duergar civilization to repel the insect hordes and their home in the Underworld, the closer proximity to, and the denser pockets of, the many mineral veins that dot the underground landscape were now up for grabs. This constant surplus of material, and the constant conflicts, boosted the capabilities of their artificers into many new inventions, such as artifice spider legs, more secure tunnel bracing systems, insect-themed warforged, and more.
