DUERGAR3

The pursuit of wealth is still the overriding goal of almost all duergar, and
so duergar society is structured around this as well. Although almost all of
the great mines of ancient days have run dry, many lesser mines which Clan
Ranidon once disdained are now being cleared and restored to use by the
duergar. But since these mines are relatively poor, and they dare not delve
into the Elder Earth once more, the duergar have become determined to grow
wealthy from another path. Trade. Despite being distrusted and disliked by
almost every kingdom, on the surface or elsewhere, the duergar clans have one
of the largest trading empires in the world and connections with almost every
major city, as their skilled artisans and miners can offer products from the
Underdark which no other race, not even the drow, can provide.
 
Although the duergar can be treacherous and backstabbing, unlike the drow
there is surprisingly little backstabbing amongst the duergar themselves, at
least within their own clans, although each clan might seek to undermine
others so as to gain their wealth for themselves. This is generally considered
to be due to the eons-old historical sense of kinship which all dwarves feel
for members of their own clans, as well as the group solidarity amongst
duergar which was necessary in order for them to survive the torment of the
illithid.
 
Relationships with Other Races:
The duergar have a mortal hatred for the illithid. All dwarves hold deep
grudges, but the grudge which the duergar bear for the illithid is deep and
eternally unabiding. Duergar may temporarily put up with or even ally with
the illithid if they have something to gain from it, but it is virtually
unthinkable for a duergar to 'befriend' one of the cursed mind-flayers which
wreaked so much misery amongst their people. Illithid, on the other hand,
don't particularly care about the duergar; as with almost all other living
creatures, illithid view the duergar as not even worth holding in contempt.
 
The duergar possess a love-hate relationship with the drow. They had many
skirmishes in the past, almost all of which went badly for the duergar, until
they signed an unequal peace treaty that persists to this very day. By now,
the duergar may be strong enough to nullify the treaty, but their aims and
drow aims often coincide; in addition, Xymerria is a huge market for duergar
goods and services, even if the drow often cheat on their contracts. It
is not unknown for duergar and drow to form long-lasting, even permanent
partnerships, but a duergar will never, ever, truly trust the drow. Drow, on
the other hand, see duergar as occasionally useful allies and servants, but
inferiors. Then again, drow view most races in that way.
The duergar also bear a grudge against the surface dwarves, for not coming
to their rescue when they burrowed into the Elder Earth. Surface dwarves feel
duergar are fools for breaching the Elder Codex; the duergar consider surface
dwarves cowards and traitors for not assisting them in their time of need.
This resentment is similar to the hatred between elves and drow, although not
nearly as profound. The duergar, after all, are still 'deep dwarves', and
their relationship with surface dwarves is much akin to that of two estranged
brothers; they may rail, rant, and genuinely hate each other, but in the end,
will still acknowledge that they are of the same family.
 
In more recent times, they formed an alliance of convenience with the minotaurs
when the former leader of the minotaur Herd, Mahn-Tor, led a powerful force to
invade Maelbrim. The duergar made out very well from this venture; they looted
many treasures from Maelbrim, were paid handsomely for their support by Mahn-
Tor, then were paid even more handsomely by his son, Mahn-Zaar, to abandon
Mahn-Tor at the critical point in the war. This has gained the duergar the
relative friendship of Mahn-Zaar and the minotaurs, but no small amount of
hostility from the locals of Maelbrim.
 
All other races view the treacherous duergar with suspicion, however, the
wealth which they bring to their trading partners makes them generally accepted
on the surface, unlike the drow.
 
Duergar can be the following classes:
Warrior, Berserker, Thief, Blademaster and Cleric.