Derro

Though derro dwell deep under most of the surface world's cities, very few know of the sadistic creatures' existence. Descended from mysterious fey that once dwelt deep underground, the derro lust for the comforts of the surface, yet the light of the sun causes them to blister, burn, and die. Derro often abduct surface dwellers to perform hideous experiments on them in their never-ending quest to divine what protects those who dwell above from the burning death, yet the intrinsic madness that plagues all derro dooms these experiments to failure every time. In the end, traumatized victims are returned to their homes, memories not quite completely wiped of their ordeal, to live the rest of their lives in vague fear of a nightmare they can't quite recall.

Physical Description: Derro are short, standing between 3 and 3–1/2 feet tall, but are trim and sturdy. They have pasty, bluish-white skin, coarse, wild-looking pale yellow hair, and bulbous white eyes. Males generally have full heads of hair, and though some are bald, they all typically have droopy mustaches which they often braid. Females pull their hair back into braids for mere practicality. Derro attire tends to be plain and dark in color, while their weapons and shields are decorated much like other dwarves, with images of creatures from the Shadow Plane and Darklands intertwined.

Society: Derro society is dominated by fighters and rogues, and ruled by a council of savants, sorcerers of tremendous powers. Their social structure most closely resembles that of a mob–a band of brutal warriors and deadly assassins, under the command of savant leaders, whom they follow fanatically. They often abduct surface dwellers to perform hideous experiments on them in their never-ending quest to divine what protects those who dwell above from the burning death.

Relations: Derro are suspicious of eve