BRITISH DUERGAR (GRAY DWARF) The gray dwarves are an evil and bitter race, but retain the superior skill and workmanship of the dwarf kingdom. They are skillful and expert workmen in gold, silver, copper, iron and all metals. They have found a niche for themselves in the Underdark, creating armor and weapons to trade with the warring races of that realm. Duergar on the whole are evil, but some turn their backs on their fellows and seek a different life. For some, this means abandoning the evil gods of the duergar and embracing the traditional pantheon, while for others it is a more practical betrayal, usually involving stealing from other gray dwarves. When discovered, an outcast is typically stripped of his possessions, tattooed on the face and arms to mark him as a criminal and cast out under penalty of death. To return is to die.

FAIRY CLIPART BRITISH FAERIES DWARVES HOME

This grim fate drives most outcasts to the surface, where they struggle to survive in an unwelcoming world. The surface dwarves hate the duergar because they turned to evil, and no other surface race holds much love for the gray dwarves.

Most of the gray dwarves met by surface dwellers are tattooed exiles, although a small number were lucky or smart enough to leave before being discovered. 

The Duergar are described as being of low stature, with short legs and long arms, reaching down almost to the ground when they stand erect. They are much thinner than other dwarves, with severe facial expressions, gray hair and gray skin.

Many dwarf historians believe, in true actuality, there is no such race as Duergar. The term "Duerg" (plural "Duergar") is the general term of reference for the dwarfish race (as a whole).

Variants: Dwerg, Dvarg, Zwerg (German).

I dwell the earth beneath,
I possess, under my stone, my seat.

Alvis-Mal