Aleithian (Duergar)
Creation and Downfall
The Aleithian were an Awakened dwarven race in the Unknown Lands. They were Awakened by Shokunin Rosoku during the Second Dynasty, along with the Elan and the Pygmaei. They worked with Shokunin Rosoku and the other two Awakened races to tame the God-Mountain, and together they built a settlement on the back of the great beast. The elite among them came to live and offer their power to the God-Mountain, while most others would go to the Imperial Capitol that was being built around Tetsu no Kokoro. At the end of the Second Dynasty, they would team up with the Elan to destroy Shokunin Rosoku and then retreat from the back of the God-Mountain to the safety of Tetsu no Kokoro.
Shortly after the beginning of the Third Dynasty, the Catfolk teamed up with the Aleithian and the Elan to tame the now rampaging God-Mountain. The Aleithian's part was to craft an adamantine statue that would house a soul-trapping psicrystal jadeite. The God-Mountain swallowed the statue and fell under the control of the necromantic Catfolk and the two Awakened races, who ruled and controlled the beast as equals.
Eventually, however, the Aleithians, being the only one of the three groups who were not effectively immortal, began to grow fearful of losing power to the other two. They plotted to overthrow the Elan and necromantic Catfolk. In deep and secret caverns, they learned how to Awaken others, but their process was imperfect, resulting in many horrors and aberrations. Despite that, they were still successful in Awakening a new army (sometimes called the Newly Awakened). They also gained the assistance of the Elder Race in the underdark, and in exchange, Awakened them as well. This would not turn out to be the wisest decision. This began the Great War of Enlightenment, which lasted for 100 years. In the end, the Aleithians lost and were driven underground along with their unawakened cousins, where they were captured and enslaved by the Elder Race that they had Awakened.
Modern Duergar
Little is currently known about modern Duergar to those who live above ground. They look very much like Alexandrian dwarves, but have gray-ish skin. Those who are Awakened still live among them, but it's unknown how many or whether they are still called Aleithian. Psionics appear to be a fairly common or well-known ability.
