Derro (PC)

The derro are degenerate Underdark humanoids that resemble small dwarves. They take delight in tormenting others — even their own kind. Derro have bluegray skin and straight hair that is white or yellow in color. Their uniformly pale white eyes lack both irises and pupils.

Derro believe they were created by their god, Diirinka, but they are actually the result of cruel experiments on dwarves by mind flayers. Like duergar, the derro were a slave race to the mind flayers but eventually freed themselves.

The process of their creation rendered the derro irrevocably insane. They cooperate with each other only out of necessity and when riled up by a charismatic leader.

Derro can live to be one hundred and fifty years old, but they mature and breed quickly. When their elders deem that their numbers are becoming unmanageable, the derro declare war on some other race and surge forth in a reckless horde, fighting until their population dwindles to a tolerable size. These ghastly purges weed out the weak among the derro and are referred to as "Uniting Wars."

Derro create no settlements of their own. Instead they form small, isolated enclaves in non—derro settlements throughout the Underdark where they are treated as vermin or slaves. Their own cutthroat politics prevent the derro from mounting any effective resistance against such exploitation.

Derro Names

Male Names: Arikom, Baenn, Bharik, Bupido, Dodrak, Droki, Krigran, Migrim, Quindal, Ranis, Sadek, Thoregg, Y.

Famel Names: Ankra, Biza, Durimol, Gwistra, Matta, Mirdis, Narri, Luuva, Stalja, Visine, Zanndryn.

Derro Traits

Your derro character has an assortment of inborn abilities.

ABILITY SCORE ADJUSTMENTS. Your Dexterity increases by 2. Your Wisdom decreases by 2.

AGE. Derro are mature at the age of 10 and live about 150 years.

ALIGNMENT. Derro are usually chaotic evil, but derro PCs usually fight agaist their heritage, though most are often chaotic.

SIZE. Derro are usually between 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall. Your size is small.

SPEED. Your walking speed is 30 ft.

LANGUAGES. You can speak Common, Dwarvish, and Undercommon.

MAGIC RESISTANCE. You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical attacks.

STEALTHY. You gain proficiency in the Dexterity (stealth) skill.

SUPERIOR DARKVISION. You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

INSANITY. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened, but you must roll or select one of the Indefinite Madnesses (a cure lasts only 1d10 days) instead of a Background Flaw:

SUNLIGHT SENSITIVITY. While in sunllght, you have disadvantage an attack rolls as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

DERRO ARMAMENT. You have proficiency with leather armor and two special derro weapons:

A Hooked Short Spear, which is a martial melee weapon that deals 1d4 piercing damage, weighs 2 pounds, and has the light weapon property. It doesn't possess the thrown or versatile weapon properties of a normal spear. In addition to damage on a hit with this weapon, the wielder can as a bonus action attempt to trip the target, in which case the target must succeed on a Strength saving throw or fall prone. The DC is 8 + the wielder’s Strength modifier + the wielder's proficiency bonus.
A Light Repeating Crossbow fitted with a cartridge that can hold up to six crossbow bolts. This weapon is similar to a light crossbow except that it has half the range (40/160 feet) and doesn't have the loading property. It automatically reloads after firing until it runs out of ammunition. Reloading the cartridge takes an action.

DERRO PC created by Elon Tusk 2017, some adapted from http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Derro_(4e_Race) & MonsterEnvy