Homebrew Derro Species Details

The derro are degenerate Underdark humanoids that resemble small dwarves. Cruel and insane, they take delight in tormenting others — even their own kind.

Derro have blue-gray skin and straight hair that is white or yellow in color. Their uniformly pale white eyes lack both irises and pupils.

Unnatural Origin. 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.

Born to Madness. 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.

Life of Attrition. 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.”

Second-Class Citizens. 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 Traits

Trait introduction

Ability Score Increase

Your Charisma is increased by 2 and one other of your choice.

Superior Darkvision

Your darkvision has a radius of 120 feet.

Sunlight Sensitivity

You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.

Magic Resistance

You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Insanity

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.