Dwürden of the Dark

The Dwürden Nar live in the deepest tunnels and caverns of the Underearth. The photophobic Nar never willingly venture into the sun-touched surface lands. Their world exists in total darkness, except for the deepest magma flows and the spark of steel on steel.

Physiology

Those rare explorers that have seen Nar corpses exposed to torch-light reported frail Dwürden frames with angular features, pale skin, and tangled hoary beards. Strangest of their features are their saucer white eyes, unbroken by iris or pupil. In the Visìktim Eríbim, the Nar are described as:

“…a starved specimen of Dwürden hauled from the bowels of the Underearth with taut and sallow skin, and teeth and nails that glistened with an unnatural ebon hue. The explorers that produced the cadaver claimed that its flesh had once shone like ivory, but their torch-lit observations must be weighed carefully, for they subsisted on fungi and cave-worms for untold weeks before emerging themselves not a little Unhinged by the harrowing experience. Another curious observation of the Nar’s body was that despite its long journey and the inevitable hardships inherent with such travel, the body appeared perfect, as if only a moment has passed since its final breath. No sign or scent of decay clung to its lifeless form as if its chest might rise with breath and heartbeat again with each and any moment that passed.”

Few Nar grow taller than four feet in height and fewer develop muscles more than the tight but powerful sinews which hold their skeletons together. By standards more appropriate for denizens of the plentiful surface, the Nar appear skeletal and even frightening with their lidless eyes and black fingernails and teeth. Only the Dwürden Mor recognize the Nar as the allies that they are against the Darkness and the fallen Skral.

The Dwürden Nar have two senses that allow them to thrive in the dark Underearth. The first sense is Dark Vision, a sight that is shared by their adversaries. The second sense is Od-sight, a magically perceptive sense that makes the Nar very difficult to surprise. The Od-sight picks up on the smallest cues of movement, changes in the air, smell, and temperature. With this sense, the Nar can tell how large a room is, how many people are in the room, and how close the nearest people are. While Dark Vision may not reveal a blended Skral, but Od-sight may alert that one is near. All standard light-sources create a blinding environment for the Nar.

Psychology

The Nar feel blind without their Od-sight and do not voluntarily leave areas where there are ambient Od magics.

Culture

Most Nar societies are draconian. Every member of the Clan is an efficient piece of the whole. Freedoms are not sought or given. The Dwürden Nar keep corrals of slaves which include Dwürden Nar that have not lived up to the Code, but are usually comprised of members of other races. Slaves are a useful commodity in the Nar culture, though most are short-lived. Slave life is short and unforgiving in the Underearth.

Language

Nearly all Nar can speak a dialect of Ornwürd.

Magic

Unlike most Dwürden sub-races, the Nar are fully competent Weavers of magic, at least as good as their Yrūn counterparts. Many of the realms where the Dwürden Nar live radiate strongly with magic and a power called Od (rf. Radiation CAMp435). Od is a transformative force that corrupts and degrades all which comes into contact with it. Less hardy creatures than Dwürden can be killed by its power, while the Dwürden Nar seem to be enhanced by it. Odnar are those Dwürden that have been changed by the power of Od. Odnar commonly have extra limbs, or body parts and are always frightening to behold. Depending on the Clan, Odnar may be viewed with disgust or respected. It is this same magic that provides all Nar with the Od-sight.

Dwürden Nar magicians are capable of mastering nearly all arts accessible to their Yrūn counterparts. Nar magicians typically study those arts or domains specific to their Clan.

Characters

Dwürden Nar are appropriate player characters.

Template

The basic template for Dwürden Nar characters is 59 CPs. This template includes:

Advantages

• Dexterity +1 (BASp14) 20
• Acute Senses: Hearing +2 (BASp35) 4
• Acute Senses: Touch +2 (BASp35) 4
• Damage Resistance: Tough Skin +1 (BASp47) 3
• Dark Vision — (BASp47) 25
• Extended Lifespan +2 (BASp53) 4
• Longevity — (BASp66) 2
• Radiation Tolerance (Od) /50 (BASp79) 25
• Scanning Sense: Para-Radar (Od-Sight) — (BASp81) 36¹
• Talent (Dwürden Nar)^† — (BASp89) 5

^† BASp89 Talent (Dwürden Nar): Includes the skills: Area Knowledge (Specific Region) (BASp176), Climbing (BASp183), Gesture (BASp198), Hiking (BASp200), Professional Skill (BASp215) or Smith (BASp221), and Survival (Underearth) (BASp224)
¹ BASp81 Scanning Sense: Para-Radar; 40 pts (Base Cost) -10% (Only in Od) = 36 pts

Total = 128 CPs

Disadvantages

• Basic Move -1 (BASp17) -5
• Size Modifier -1 (BASp19) -0
• Appearance: Ugly — (BASp21) -8
• Callous — (BASp125) -5
• Intolerance (Dwürden Skral) — (BASp140) -5
• Intolerance (Drûl Neylfèrahl) — (BASp140) -5
• Night Blindness (Day) — (BASp144) -10
• Phobia (Light) — (BASp148) -15
• Vulnerability: Rare (Light)¹ x3 (BASp161) -15
• Quirk: Habits or Expressions (Do not shave beards) — (BASp164) -1

¹ BASp161 Vulnerability: Rare (Light); This applies to light and light ray attacks

Total = -69 CPs

Options

A selection from the following template options are appropriate.

Advantages

• Absolute Direction — (BASp34) 5
• Arm ST +2 (BASp40) 10
• Claim to Hospitality (Dwürden Nar) — (BASp41) 5
• Damage Resistance: Tough Skin^† +2 (BASp46) 6
• Danger Sense — (BASp47) 15
• Hard to Kill +1 (BASp58) 2
• Higher Purpose — (BASp59) 5
• Magery 0+ (BASp66) 5
• Protected Sense (Dark Vision) — (BASp78) 5
• Resistant: Very Common (Poison) +2 (BASp81) 15
• Sensitive Touch — (BASp83) 10
• Silence +3 (BASp85) 15
• Perks: Sanitized Metabolism — (BASp101) 1

^† Trait is reserved for elder Dwürden Nar

Disadvantages

• Skinny — (BASp18) -5
• Addiction (Urg Grüm) — (BASp122) -15¹
• Code of Honor: Profession — (BASp127) -5
• Duty (Favor of Gur-Undrü)^† — (BASp133) -12²
• Greed — (BASp137) -15
• Semi-Upright — (BASp153) -5

^† Trait is reserved for elder Dwürden Nar
¹ BASp122 Addiction (Urg Grüm); -10 pts (Expensive) -10 (Incapacitating) +5 (Legal) = -15 pts
² BASp133 Duty (Favor of Gur-Undrü); -2 (Quite Rarely) -5 (Extremely Hazardous) -5 (Involuntary) = -12 pts