Born to Madness

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 were eventually freed. 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 Names

Names are thrust upon derro children haphazardly and with no clear general customs. Derro who worship an ancestor god might give their children a variation on the exalted figure’s name or title, or a child might grow almost to maturity before any adult bothers to call them by the same jumble of sounds twice.

Male Names: Akrath, Byrgryg, Cyzyk, Durvin, Folvig, Gaargrth, Haaskrin, Korzh, Lormaq, Perk’rasz, Quirth, Qvaalak, Saasqar, Vorqaar

Female Names: Aazha, Bylir, Dal’lyn, Erkytl, Grunhaas, Gvarla, Hylala, Mzish, Thryka, Tonlix, Veraka, Vilya, Wulfada, Xanka

Derro Traits

Your derro character gains the following characteristics.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Age. Derro reach maturity by the age of 15 and very lucky or cunning derro can reach ages close to 150.

Alignment. The fact that all derro are at least somewhat less than sane means derro are almost always chaotic and are often evil.

Size. Derro are between 3 and 4 feet tall with proportionally long limbs and digits. Your size is small.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Superior Darkvision. Accustomed to life underground, 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.

Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and 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.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Dwarvish and Undercommon.

Out of Sight. You have proficiency in the Stealth skill.

Out of Mind. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened. You will also roll for a minor madness on the Derro madness chart.

Illithid's Gift. You have advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic.

Illithid's Tool. You have proficiency with tinker's tools.