Dark Dwarves

"Go no further!" the gravelly voice calls out from around the bend of the dungeon corridor. "You are not welcome." it continues in the oddly accented dwarvish.

Nimble pauses and looks back at his friends. "I guess we lost the element of surprise." he whispers.

"We really don't want to piss them off." Allianora warns. 

"You really don't" the voice calls from the dark in common.

"We need passage through these halls" Rathgar calls out. "We have no quarrel with you." He waves at Allianora and nods at her scowling. "We are happy to pay a toll"

The silence stretched on... 

"What do you offer?"

"4 fire opals, each as big as my thumb"

"Really?" Nimble hissed.

"We need to get... to where we're going, and this is the fastest way." Feris reminded him softly. 

Dark Dwarves

Armor Class: 2
Hit Dice: 3* (M)
Move: 60' (20')
Attacks: 1 weapon
Damage: 1d8+1
Number Appearing: 1d6 (5d8)
Save As: D3
Morale: 10
Treasure Type: (Q+S) G
Intelligence: 10
Alignment: Lawful
XP Value: 50

Monster Type: Demihuman (Uncommon)

Unlike their more common cousins, the dark dwarves haven't seen the light of the sun in generations. They are lead by religious fanatics worshiping the burning fires of the forge. Their dark god has granted them the ability to grow in size once per day after being injured. They grow to twice their normal size, doubling their movement speed and damage for up to 10 rounds. Their forge priests can trigger this ability on the dark dwarves around them (within 15') causing each of them 1d4 points of damage in the process, as a standard action. 

Dark Dwarven arms and armor are as finely crafted as any masterwork dwarven craft, but no surface dwarf will willingly claim and use them for the association with their dark god.  The heart of their compounds is the forges which are always in use. Their love of precious metals and gems exceeds even that of their cousins. 

Any group of 5+ dark dwarves will include 1 Dark Dwarf Forge Priest (count as clerics level 1d4+3). They can prepare Heat Metal, Produce Fire, and Resist Fire as a first level spells. Cure Light Wounds and Resist Cold count as second level spells.