Derro (5e)

 5th edition (2014) Varied 
OotA, MToF, MotM

Derro Overview    

Derro slink through the subterranean realms, seeking places that are safe from the perils of the Underdark. Equal parts fearful and vicious, bands of these dwarf-kin prey on those weaker than themselves, while giving simpering obeisance to any creatures they deem more powerful.

 Forgotten Realms Wiki   

Derro appeared to resemble small dwarves. They had blue-gray skin, and their hair was often white, yellow, or pale tan 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.

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

Origins

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

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.

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

 3.5e lore  [[SRD:{{{1}}}|{{{1}}}]] 

Derro are afflicted by a form of racial madness, which most often manifests as delusions of grandeur coupled with an overpowering urge to inflict torment on other creatures. Derro are 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 last more than a few weeks. Of course, no derro is capable of recognizing that he is out of his mind.

Found in Adventures

• Out of the Abyss
• Quests from the Infinite Staircase
• When a Star Falls

List of Derro

(5 official and unofficial Derro)

Name	Type	Subtype	Size	HP	CR (XP)	Alignment	Habitat	Source
Derro Common	Humanoid	Dwarf, Derro	Small	13	1/4 (50)	Chaotic Evil	Mountain, Underdark	Varied, OotA, MToF, MotM
Derro Overview	Overview	Humanoid, Dwarf, Derro					Undardark, Underground	OotA, MToF, MotM
Derro Apprentice	Aberration	Dwarf, Derro	Small	22	1 (200)	Chaotic Evil	Mountain, Underdark	Quests from the Infinite Staircase
Derro Raider	Aberration	Dwarf, Derro	Small	16	1/4 (50)	Chaotic Evil	Mountain, Underdark	Quests from the Infinite Staircase
Derro Savant	Humanoid	Derro, Dwarf	Small	36	3 (700)	Chaotic Evil	Underdark	OotA, MToF, MotM, Varied

Sources and Notes

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Varied License Content