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(Added changes based on talk page notes from MtoF. Also edited society section to properly match OotA)
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{{Cleanup|2=10/3/19|3=The information presented here seems to contradict that in Mordenkeinen's Tome of Foes, someone please update this page to include the latest lore.}}
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{{Creature
  
{{Creature
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| image = [[Image:Derro - Brom.jpg|200px|A derro]]
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| image = <tabber>
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5e = [[File:Derro-5e.jpeg|250px]]|-|
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| caption = ''A derro''
  
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3e = [[File:Derro - Brom.jpg|200px]]|-|
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| name = Derro
  
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2e = [[File:Monstrous Manual 2e - Derro and Duergar - p96.png|250px]]|-|
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| alignment = {{alignment grid|off|off|off|off|off|off|off|off|on}}<br />Usually chaotic evil (3.5 Edition)
  
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1e = [[File:Derro-1e.jpg|250px]]|-|
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| location = [[Underdark]]
  
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</tabber>
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| type = Small [[Monstrous humanoid|Monstrous Humanoid]] (3.5 Edition)
  
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| caption2 = Various depictions of derro.
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| subtype =
 
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| challenge = 3
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| name = Derro
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| size5e = Small
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| source = [http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/resources/systems/pennpaper/dnd35/soveliorsage/monstersDtoDe.html#derro d20 System Reference Document v3.5]<br />([http://www.webcitation.org/65pfuMn3b WebCite Archive])
  
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| type5e = [[Humanoid]]
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| first = ''[[Wikipedia:The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth|The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth]]''
  
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| subtype5e = [[Derro]]
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| alignment5e = [[Chaotic evil]]
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| challenge5e = {{Frac|1|4}}
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| refs5e = <ref name="OotA-p224">{{Cite book/Out of the Abyss|224}}</ref><ref name="MToF-pp158-159">{{Cite book/Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes|158-159}}</ref>
  ⚫
| size4e =
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| origin4e =
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| type4e =
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| subtype4e =
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| alignment4e =
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| refs4e =
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| size3e = Small
  ⚫
| type3e = [[Monstrous humanoid]]
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| subtype3e =
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| alignment3e = Usually [[chaotic evil]]
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| challenge3e = 3
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| refs3e = <ref name="MMv.3.5-p49">{{Cite book/Monster Manual 3.5|49}}</ref>
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| size2e = Small
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| alignment2e = [[Chaotic evil]]
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| refs2e = <ref name="MM-96">{{Cite book/Monstrous Manual|96}}</ref>
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| size1e =
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| alignment1e =
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| refs1e =
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| patron deity = [[Diirinka]]<ref name="F&P-p221">{{Cite book/Faiths and Pantheons|221}}</ref>
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| vision = [[Darkvision]]<ref name="OotA-p224" />
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| lifespan =
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| location = [[Underdark]]
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| language = [[Dwarvish]], [[Undercommon]]<ref name="OotA-p224" />
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| subraces =
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| climate =
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| terrain = Underground<ref name="MMv.3.5-p49" />
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| height =
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| length =
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| wingspan =
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| weight =
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| skincolor = Pale blue-white<ref name="MMv.3.5-p49" />
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| haircolor = White<ref name="MMv.3.5-p49" />
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| feathers =
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| eyecolor = White, no iris or pupil
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| distinctions =
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| first = [[Wikipedia:The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth|''The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth'']]
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| based =
 
}}
  
}}
  ⚫
'''Derro''' ({{Pronounce|DER|o|refs=<ref name="D93-APG-p26">{{Cite dragon/93/Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd|26}}</ref>}}) were a species of [[monstrous humanoids]] that inhabited the [[Underdark]].
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{{quote|''A small, stocky dwarflike creature in studded leather armor titters and mumbles to himself. His skin is a pale blue-white color, and his bulbous white eyes have no irises or pupils. His hair is coarse and white, and a long mustache droops past his chin.''}}
  
⚫
'''Derro''' were a species of [[monstrous humanoids]] that inhabited the [[Underdark]].
  
   
  +
==Description==
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==Physical description==
  
  +
Derro appeared to resemble small dwarves. They had blue-gray skin, and their hair was often white or yellow in color. They lacked both irises and pupils, showing uniformly pale eyes. Most derro looked haggard and wore shabby clothing, appearing pitiable to unsuspecting victims.<ref name="MToF-pp158-159" />
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Derro appeared to be some degenerate hybrid of [[dwarves]] and [[humans]]. Their rough skin was white with blue undertones and had sporadic tufts of coarse tan or pale blond hair. The eyes of the derro lacked any visible pupils.{{fact}}
  
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Derro were degenerate and evil creatures of the underground, created from dwarf and human stock by some nameless deity of darkness and madness. Incredibly cruel and murderously insane, they enjoyed taking slaves and torturing surface dwellers (especially humans) to death.{{fact}}
  
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Derro were afflicted by a form of racial madness, which most often manifested as delusions of grandeur coupled with an overpowering urge to inflict torment on other creatures. Derro were capable of holding their murderous impulses in check for short periods of time in order to cooperate with creatures of other races, but such arrangements rarely lasted more than a few weeks. Of course, no derro was capable of recognizing that he was out of his mind.{{fact}}
  
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==Combat==
  
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Derro were stealthy and bloodthirsty. They liked to carefully arrange cruel traps and deadly ambushes, and struck savagely from hiding. They delighted in taking captives who could be tortured to death later, and favored traps and poisons that disabled without killing.{{fact}}
  
   
 
==Ecology==
  
==Ecology==
 
===Society===
  
===Society===
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Derro were widespread and were likely to be found in small bands throughout the Underdark. Derro warrens existed in many [[drow]] and [[duergar]] cities; independent derro strongholds lay in the deepest reaches of the Underdark. Derro scouts and marauders searched the areas around their settlements for victims to enslave and torment.{{fact}}
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Derro were widespread and were likely to be found in small bands throughout the Underdark. Derro warrens existed in many [[drow]] and [[duergar]] cities, but they were almost always treated as a disrespected underclass. <ref>Christopher Perkins, Adam
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Lee, Richard Whitters (September 1, 2015). ''Out of the Abyss''. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6581-6.</ref>
   
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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.{{fact}}
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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.{{fact}} It should be noted that derro, despite their insanity, still retain the natural knack for inventiveness shown in dwarves. An example of this is the repeater crossbow, which the derro may have invented.{{Fact}}
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Derro bands survive the challenges of the Underdark only due to their intense paranoia and the sorcerous powers of their leaders. <ref name=":0">Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (May 29, 2018). ''Mordenkainen's
  +
Tome of Foes''. Edited by Kim
  +
Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 1–256. ISBN 978-0786966240.</ref>
   
 
===Religion===
  
===Religion===
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Most derro revered the god [[Diirinka]], but very few became actual clerics.{{fact}}
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Most derro revered the god [[Diirinka]], but very few became actual clerics.{{fact}} Instead Diirinka's blessing is considered manifest in the sorcery of their many savants.<ref name=":0" />
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===Derro characters===
  
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Most derro revered Diirinka, a chaotic deity of magic and cruelty. Very few derro were clerics, but those who followed this path could choose two of the following domains: Chaos, Destruction, Evil, or Trickery.{{fact}}
  
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:The leaders of the derro were spellcasters called savants, whom other derro followed fanatically. Derro savants were at least 5th level sorcerers; they had one to three Knowledge skills (usually arcana and other esoteric fields). A savant was accompanied by two lower-level students. Savants used their spells to confuse and frustrate rather than kill, preferring to make slaves of defeated foes.{{fact}}
  
   
 
==Origins==
  
==Origins==
 
Legend has it that the derro originally lived on the surface of Faerûn.<ref name="VV-p2983">{{Cite digital book/Venom in Her Veins/Kindle|2983}}</ref> They opened portals to the [[Far Realm]] which offended the [[World Serpent]] who cast the derro into the Underdark.<ref name="VV-p3216">{{Cite digital book/Venom in Her Veins/Kindle|3216}}</ref>
  
Legend has it that the derro originally lived on the surface of Faerûn.<ref name="VV-p2983">{{Cite digital book/Venom in Her Veins/Kindle|2983}}</ref> They opened portals to the [[Far Realm]] which offended the [[World Serpent]] who cast the derro into the Underdark.<ref name="VV-p3216">{{Cite digital book/Venom in Her Veins/Kindle|3216}}</ref>
   
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<nowiki> </nowiki>There are other conflicting legends of how the derro came to be. The duergar believe that the derro are another dwarf clan that was held long by mind flayers, which resulted in the madness that afflicts them. The derro themselves all tell oft-changing variations of the myth of Diirinka; all versions share a common focus on Diirinka's stealing magic from a great evil to help the derro survive through their ideals of deceipt and cruelty.<ref name=":0" />
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==References==
  
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{{refs}}
  
   
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===Sources===
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==Notable derro==
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* [[Buppido]], a cunning and insane killer who believed to be the incarnation of the derro god [[Diinkarazan]].<ref name=OotA-p6">{{Cite book/Out of the Abyss|6}}</ref>
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* {{Cite book/Monster Manual|49}}
  
   
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==Appendix==
⚫
{{Dwarves}}
  
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===Appearances===
  +
;Adventures:
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* ''[[Out of the Abyss]]''
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* ''[[Dungeon magazine 20|The Ship Of Night]]''
   
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;Novels:
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{{Wikipedia|Derro (Dungeons & Dragons)}}
  
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* ''[[Realms of the Underdark]]'': "[[Realms of the Underdark#The_Fires_of_Narbondel|The Fires of Narbondel]]"
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* ''[[Condemnation]]'' <small>(Mentioned only)</small>
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* ''[[Storm of the Dead]]''
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* ''[[Venom in Her Veins]]''
   
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;Video games:
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* ''[[Sword Coast Legends]]''
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* ''[[Menzoberranzan_(game)|Menzoberranzan]]''
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  +
===Further Reading===
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* {{Cite dragon/281/By Any Other Name|46-49}}
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  +
===External Links===
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* {{EW}}
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  ⚫
===References===
  ⚫
{{refs}}
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===Connections===
  ⚫
{{Dwarves}}
 
[[de:Derro]]
  
[[de:Derro]]
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[[Category:Monstrous humanoids]]
  

Revision as of 00:40, 14 November 2019

Broom icon
 This article requires cleanup. Reason: The information presented here seems to contradict that in Mordenkeinen's Tome of Foes, someone please update this page to include the latest lore.
Please discuss this issue on the talk page and improve it if you can. This article has been tagged since 10/3/19.


Derro (pronounced: /ˈdɛroʊ/ DER-o[6]) were a species of monstrous humanoids that inhabited the Underdark.

Description

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

Ecology

Society

Derro were widespread and were likely to be found in small bands throughout the Underdark. Derro warrens existed in many drow and duergar cities, but they were almost always treated as a disrespected underclass. [7]

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.[citation needed] It should be noted that derro, despite their insanity, still retain the natural knack for inventiveness shown in dwarves. An example of this is the repeater crossbow, which the derro may have invented.[citation needed]

Derro bands survive the challenges of the Underdark only due to their intense paranoia and the sorcerous powers of their leaders. [8]

Religion

Most derro revered the god Diirinka, but very few became actual clerics.[citation needed] Instead Diirinka's blessing is considered manifest in the sorcery of their many savants.[8]

Origins

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

There are other conflicting legends of how the derro came to be. The duergar believe that the derro are another dwarf clan that was held long by mind flayers, which resulted in the madness that afflicts them. The derro themselves all tell oft-changing variations of the myth of Diirinka; all versions share a common focus on Diirinka's stealing magic from a great evil to help the derro survive through their ideals of deceipt and cruelty.[8]

Notable derro

Appendix

Appearances

Adventures
Novels
Video games

Further Reading

External Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 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 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. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 49. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  4. ↑ Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 96. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 26.
  7. ↑ Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee, Richard Whitters (September 1, 2015). Out of the Abyss. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-6581-6.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (May 29, 2018). Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 1–256. ISBN 978-0786966240.
  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. ↑ 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.

Connections

Dwarves
Arctic dwarf • Chultan dwarf • Desert dwarf • Gold dwarf • Shield dwarf • Urdunnir dwarf • Wild dwarf
Related Races
Athasian dwarf (Mul) • Azer • Derro • Duergar • Durzagon • D'tarig • Korobokuru • Maeluth • Ysgardian dwarf
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