Duergar (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
, the duergar, or gray dwarves are a cruel and evil subrace of dwarves
.
, 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), reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1983). A psionic duergar variant was first presented in The Complete Psionics Handbook
(1991). The duergar was presented as a player character race in The Complete Book of Dwarves
(1991) and Player's Option: Skills & Powers
(1995).
The duergar appeared in third edition Dungeons & Dragons in the Monster Manual (2000), 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. The duergar was further detailed in Dragon
#325 (November 2004).
The duergar appeared in the fourth edition in Monster Manual 2 (2009).
, a vast web of interconnecting tunnels and caverns.
identify Duergar as naturally psionic, with a racial bonus to power points. Psi-like abilities include invisibility and expansion.
, 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.
campaign setting
, where they dwell in the Underdark in cities such as Gracklstugh.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
, the duergar, or gray dwarves are a cruel and evil subrace of dwarves
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
.
Publication history
The duergar are named after the dvergar of Norse mythologyNorse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
, who were the builders of Gleipnir
Gleipnir
In Norse mythology, Gleipnir is the binding that holds the mighty wolf Fenrisulfr . The Gods had attempted to bind Fenrir twice before with huge chains of metal, but Fenrir was able to break free both times. Therefore, they commissioned the dwarves to forge a chain that was impossible to break...
. The Duergar (folklore)
Duergar (Folklore)
The Simonside Dwarfs also known as Brownmen, Bogles and Duergar are a race of ugly dwarfs, particularly associated with the Simonside Hills of Northumberland, in northern England...
are also Northumbrian dwarves associated with the Simonside Hills
Simonside Hills
The Simonside Hills are a hill range in Northumberland, England near the town of Rothbury. Most of the hills are around to high and are popular spots for hikers in the area...
.
The duergar first appeared in the first edition in the original Monster Manual II (1983). The duergar appeared as a player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
race in the original Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana
Unearthed Arcana is the title shared by two hardback books published for different editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1985).
The duergar appeared in the second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1983). A psionic duergar variant was first presented in The Complete Psionics Handbook
The Complete Psionics Handbook
The Complete Psionics Handbook is a supplemental rulebook for the 2nd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1991 by TSR Inc. It contains a variety of information useful to playing psionic characters in the game....
(1991). The duergar was presented as a player character race in The Complete Book of Dwarves
The Complete Book of Dwarves
The Complete Book of Dwarves is a supplemental rulebook for the 2nd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1991 by TSR Inc. It contains a variety of information useful to playing dwarf characters in the game, including information on strongholds, dwarven subraces,...
(1991) and Player's Option: Skills & Powers
Player's Option: Skills & Powers
Player's Option: Skills & Powers is a supplemental sourcebook to the core rules of the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. This 192-page book was published by TSR, Inc. in 1995. The book was designed by Douglas Niles and Dale Donovan...
(1995).
The duergar appeared in third edition Dungeons & Dragons in the Monster Manual (2000), 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. The duergar was further detailed in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#325 (November 2004).
The duergar appeared in the fourth edition in Monster Manual 2 (2009).
Environment
Duergar typically make their homes in the UnderdarkUnderdark
The Underdark is a fictional setting which has appeared in Dungeons & Dragons role-playing campaigns and Dungeons & Dragons-based fiction books, including the Legend of Drizzt series by R. A. Salvatore...
, 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. An individual might alternatively have red hair as well. Duergar usually dress in drab clothing that matches the color of stone.Psionics
The core Expanded Psionics Handbook and the open System Reference DocumentSystem Reference Document
The System Reference Document, or SRD, is a set of reference role playing game mechanics licensed under the Open Game License by Wizards of the Coast and based upon their Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. The SRD forms the basis of WotC's various d20 System role-playing games, including the...
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 LaduguerLaduguer
In many campaign settings for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, Laduguer is the evil deity of the duergar, the Underdark-dwelling cousins of dwarves. He is a strict and unforgiving god. His holy symbol is a shield with a broken crossbow bolt motif.-Creative origins:Laduguer was...
, 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
Illithid
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, illithids are monstrous humanoid aberrations with psionic powers. In a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous Underdark...
rule thousands of years ago.
Settings and sources
Duergar have the ability to become invisible in the Forgotten RealmsForgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, where they dwell in the Underdark in cities such as Gracklstugh.