Min version i WeaveSong. har döpt om dem till Duergar for att särskilja dem från dvärgar/Dwarves, men egentligen är det samma sak. Om Tolkien-dvärgar skall finnas i mitt universum så får de vara en helt egen sak.
The Duergar are a silicon-based lifeform that evolved deep beneath in regions where earth, fire, and darkness converge. Unlike surface life, which is carbon-based and dependent on light and water, the Duergar emerged in high-pressure, high-temperature environments where silicate molecules self-assembled, catalyzed by volcanic gases and molten minerals. Their internal energy is generated by the oxidation of silane (SiH₄) in oxygen-rich pockets underground, a process that produces energy and silica as waste.
Duergar are around 140 cm tall, incredibly strong, dense, and resilient. Their bodies are mineral-based, with layered crystalline structures instead of soft tissue. Their skin is dark, in hues of scorched gray and metal grey. Their eyes are adapted for absolute darkness. Sunlight weakens them and disrupts their internal energy balance. They do not age in the conventional sense and remain functionally immortal unless destroyed by force or powerful magic.
They live in vast, secretive cities in the underworld, carved by their own hands. Duergar do not reproduce biologically; new individuals are crafted through long ritual processes involving stone, metal, heat, and runes. They are cunning, deeply egoistic, and primarily malevolent, valuing strength, gold, and craft above all else. Their society is built around hierarchies of forge-lords, rune-smiths, and spirit-binders.
Duergar can not cast spells like other races. Instead, they carve magic directly into stone and metal. Their runes channel power, trap spirits, and animate constructs. They are capable of infusing a form of "life" into forged creations, binding elemental spirits of fire or earth—or darker forces—into weapons, armor, or autonomous constructs like the Ironbound. Many of these creations are cursed, corrupted, or intended for domination rather than cooperation.
Duergar view the surface world with contempt. To them, light is a weakening pollutant, emotion is a distraction, and life should be forged, not born. They care only for mastery, permanence, and the deep order of stone. Their existence is not defined by cycles of growth and decay but by will, craftsmanship, and enduring fire.
