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Derro (pronounced: /ˈdɛrDER-o[8]; sing & pl[4][5]) were a species of humanoids that inhabited the Underdark.[2]

Description[]

Derro appeared to resemble small dwarves. They had blue-gray skin, and their hair was often white, yellow,[2] or pale tan in color.[6] They lacked both irises and pupils, showing uniformly pale eyes. Most derro looked haggard and wore shabby clothing, appearing pitiable to unsuspecting victims.[2]

Biology[]

The eyes of these creatures were capable of seeing in total darkness[1] as well as the ultraviolet spectrum out to a range of 120 feet (37 meters). They often suffered nausea while in sunlight.[6]

Their bodies were typically quite dexterous.[6]

Combat[]

Derro were typically known to wield repeating light crossbows with poison-laced arrows, hooked fauchards, daggers, spears, and aklys.[6]

Rumors & Legends[]

Legend had it that the derro originally lived on the surface of Faerûn.[9] But they opened portals to the Far Realm, which offended the World Serpent, who cast the derro into the Underdark.[10][11]

There were other conflicting legends of how the derro came to be. The duergar believed that the derro were another dwarf clan that was long held by mind flayers, which resulted in the madness that afflicted them. The derro themselves all told oft-changing variations of the myth of their god; all versions shared a common focus on his stealing of magic from a great evil to help the derro survive through their ideals of deceit and cruelty.[12]

Outside of their origins, there were a few rumors that claimed they ate human flesh.[6]

Society[]

The derro were a strange and sadistic race. While clever and stealthy, they were also murderously insane. It was very common for derro to devote themselves to some strange quest, such as collecting only certain types of gemstones or slaying as many members of a particular race as possible. Some derro were assigned specific missions by powerful derro savants, with the possibility that they might even join a company of comrades to fulfill some irrational goal.[13]

Derro bands survived the challenges of the Underdark only thanks to their intense paranoia and the sorcerous powers of their leaders.[12]

Homelands[]

Derro were widespread, likely to be found in and throughout the Underdark.[2] Some had colonies beneath the Savage North.[14] There were also derro warrens within duergar cities, like Gracklstugh, but such derro were treated as a disrespected underclass.[15]

Beyond Toril, derro could be found on a number of worlds due to magical travel, including Oerth. The world of Krynn was one not known to have any true instances of derro on it, though one of Krynn's endemic dwarven subraces was noted as being rather similar.[14]

Religion[]

Most derro revered the god Diirinka, but very few became actual clerics.[16] Instead, Diirinka's blessing was considered manifest in the sorcery of their many savants.[12]

Notable Derro[]

  • Buppido, a cunning and insane killer who believed himself to be the incarnation of the derro god Diinkarazan.[17]
  • Droki, a courier who worked for the Grey Ghost thieves' guild in Gracklstugh.[18]

Appendix[]

Background[]

The derro may be inspired by the Deros, a race of insane malevolent dwarves living deep within a hollow Earth in the writings of Richard Sharp Shaver, published in science-fiction magazines in the 1940s.

Appearances[]

Further Reading[]

External Links[]

Eberron logo Derro article at the Eberron Wiki, a wiki for the Eberron campaign setting.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee, Richard Whitters (September 1, 2015). Out of the Abyss. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 224. ISBN 978-0-7869-6581-6.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (May 29, 2018). Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 158–159. ISBN 978-0786966240.
  3. Mike Mearls, Greg Bilsland and Robert J. Schwalb (June 15, 2010). Monster Manual 3 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 49–51. ISBN 0786954902.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 49. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 96. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 42. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
  7. Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 221. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
  8. Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 26.
  9. Tim Pratt (March 2012). Venom in Her Veins (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), loc. 2983. ISBN 0786959843.
  10. Tim Pratt (March 2012). Venom in Her Veins (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), loc. 3216. ISBN 0786959843.
  11. Mike Mearls, Greg Bilsland and Robert J. Schwalb (June 15, 2010). Monster Manual 3 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 48. ISBN 0786954902.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (May 29, 2018). Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 158. ISBN 978-0786966240.
  13. Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Roger E. Moore (November 1997). “Legacies of the Suel Imperium”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #241 (TSR, Inc.), p. 41.
  15. Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee, Richard Whitters (September 1, 2015). Out of the Abyss. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 56. ISBN 978-0-7869-6581-6.
  16. Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 49. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  17. Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee, Richard Whitters (September 1, 2015). Out of the Abyss. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 6. ISBN 978-0-7869-6581-6.
  18. Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee, Richard Whitters (September 1, 2015). Out of the Abyss. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 61. ISBN 978-0-7869-6581-6.

Connections[]

Arctic dwarfChultan dwarfDesert dwarfGold dwarfShield dwarfUrdunnir dwarfWild dwarf
Related Races
Athasian dwarf (Mul)AzerDerroDuergarDurzagonD'tarigKorobokuruMaeluthYsgardian dwarf
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