The derro are a fictional species of monstrous humanoids in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They were first devised for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons First Edition Monster Manual II. Derro appear in both the Forgotten Realms and Greyhawk campaign settings.
Physical description
Derro appear to be degenerate dwarves. Their rough skin is white with bluish undertones and spotted with short tufts of coarse hair. Their hair is straight and tends to be tan or pale yellow. Their eyes are most disturbing, lacking visible pupils.
Society
Derro are widespread and are likely to be found in small bands throughout the Underdark. Derro warrens exist in many drow and duergar cities, and independent derro strongholds lie in the deepest reaches of the Underdark. Derro scouts and marauders search the areas near and around their settlements for victims to enslave and torment.
The derro are a strange and sadistic race; furthermore, they are clever, stealthy, and murderously insane. It is very common for a derro to devote his or her self to some strange quest, such as collecting only certain types of gemstones for a magical device or slaying as many members of a particular race as possible. Other derro are assigned specific missions by powerful derro savants. These mission-driven derro might join a company of comrades to fulfill their irrational goals.
The two known gods of the derro are Diirinka and Diinkarazan.
History
In the World of Greyhawk, derro are thought to be the result of breeding a race of slaves from dwarven stock by the Suel Imperium. In other worlds, the origins of the derro are imagined by some players to be a result of genetic breeding performed by mind flayers on members of an entire dwarven clan; in the Forgotten Realms setting, this clan is named as the clan of Delzoun.
Possible Creative Origins
It is possible that derro were derived from Richard Sharpe Shaver's Deros.
Other usages
Derro is also an Australian slang term for a homeless person, roughly equivalent to the American usage of bum; it is a diminutive form of the word derelict.
References
- Boyd, Eric L. Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark (TSR, 1999).
- Cordell, Bruce R; Gwendolyn FM Kestrel; and Jeff Quick. Underdark (Wizards of the Coast, 2003).
- Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II (TSR, 1983).
- Gygax, Gary. Sea of Death (New Infinities, 1987).
- Miller, Steve. The Doomgrinder (TSR, 1998).
- Moore, Roger E. "Legacies of the Suel Imperium]," Dragon Magazine #241 (TSR, 1997).
- Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1994).
External links
- Information on derro and duergar at Planet AD&D.com
- "Illuminating the Night Below: The Derro City" by David Ross, 29 February 2000 – 13 August 2002
