Deeplings

**Deeplings** are a race of short, bipedal dwarvenkin that reside deep underground. They are a predatorial race, surviving off of raids on dwarven settlements underground. Deeplings are said to guard the entrances to the underworld, and some dwarves see them as a necessary evil in keeping the larger beasts of the deep from emerging.

## Origins

Deeplings are a race of dwarvenkin that never reached the overworld. They remained deep underground, developing entirely unique traits that make them apex predators in their environment. Over the centuries, they have developed to tolerate dim light, though it has been shown that exposure to the sun can be deadly for a deepling.

## Characteristics

### Height and Weight

Deeplings are short, standing between 3'2" and 3'6" in height and weighing roughly 100 pounds. Due to the lack of abundant food sources deep underground in most of subterranean Tareal, deeplings are underdeveloped by dwarvenkin standards. They rely on their superiority in dimly lit regions to ambush and capture dwarves to drag away and consume rather than strength.

### Physical Appearance

Deeplings are pale, hairless humanoids. They vaguely resemble gnomes or halflings, and have small, beady black eyes. Their ears are large and thin, able to move to catch sounds. Their noses are short and relatively flat, vaguely similar to a bat's. They have rough skin, and are usually bony and sinewy in build, with some having more well defined muscles. Their teeth are sharp and pointed, perfect for tearing through leather and thicker skin. Deeplings typically have a hunched posture and move on all fours.

### Lifespan

It is not clear how long deeplings live, but it is most likely similar to dwarves or gnomes, only quicker due to their harsh environment. This means deeplings would likely reach maturity around 12 years old and live on average 100 years.

### Diet

Deeplings are carnivorous predators, their main source of food being dwarves who reside nearer to the surface. Other food sources are bugs, reptiles, and mammals that may live underground. Deeplings may also survive on vegetation and fungi that grow deep underground as a supplement to their carnivorous diet. In times of great desperation, deeplings are assumed to be cannibalistic.

## Behaviors

Deeplings have been known to use tools and occasionally magic, and display sentience and intelligence. They seem to have their own unique language and societal structure, living in small communities.

In the presence of light, deeplings will withdraw or act aggressively to extinguish the light if it is bright enough as their eyes can be especially sensitive. Deeplings are thought to be able to still "see" with their eyes closed, using barks and ear piercing screeches to echo-locate prey and obstacles.

As the world population grew and societies expanded, deeplings began to emerge from deep underground in times of desparation to hunt overworld creatures during moonless nights, making their presence known among the common races. These attacks are swift and quiet, and for non-nocturnal creatures this has been a frightening reality. In practice, deeplings are more likely to target livestock and docile creatures as opposed to humanoids and developed creatures to to the risk in open combat in a disadvantageous environment.