Dwarves are currently missing in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, but a detail in the trailers indicates that their evil cousins will be on hand. In the world of Dungeons & Dragons, the dwarf is one of the original eight races from the D&D ruleset and an important part of the tabletop game's lore. Dwarves are prominent in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, as well as books and video games set in its universe.
For Honor Among Thieves, Paramount is dividing deep into the D&D mythos by utilizing all sorts of monsters, locations, and of course, the various character races available to players. Three of them - the human, the tiefling, and the half-elf - will be represented by the party of adventurers featured in the upcoming movie. As for the other races (dwarves included), they could be incorporated into in the story through the characters they'll meet on their journey, but have yet to be spotted in the marketing for Honor Among Thieves. But while dwarves remain unconfirmed for the movie, hints in the trailer provide evidence for a specific kind of dwarf - the duergar - making an appearance.
The Duergar In Dungeons & Dragons Explained
Character races like the elves and the dwarves have their own distinct subraces, which dwell in different parts of the Dungeons & Dragons world. These subraces have certain physical characteristics and abilities that distinguish them from the parent race. One of the dwarven subraces in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting is the duergar. Recognized by their bald heads, gray skin, and white hair, duergar - also known as gray dwarves - live in a place called the Underdark. The Underdark is a massive, underground cavern bustling with life. In addition to hosting a long list of monsters, the Underdark is home to several different intelligent races, complete with their own settlements and cities.
Most of these civilizations are rather nefarious in nature, and the duergar are no exception. Possessing cynical mindsets, the duergar are generally suspicious and hateful of everyone around them, thus making reasoning with them extremely difficult. Divided up into clans found all over the Underdark, these dwarves value strength above all else, and view emotions as weaknesses. This worldview drives the duergar to do whatever it takes to succeed in their society, even if it means taking innocent lives and killing anyone who gets in their way.
Honor Among Thieves' Red Dragon Makes The Duergar Likely
While there is no confirmation that the duergar will have a presence in Honor Among Thieves, the movie already has a strong link to one of their clans. The fat, red dragon in the trailers has been identified as Themberchaud, an existing D&D monster. Themberchaud's primary role in the Dungeons & Dragons universe relates to his alliance with the Keepers of the Flame. The Keepers of the Flame are one of the many duergar clans living in the Underdark. Consisting largely of clerics, the Keepers of the Flame have a mutually beneficial arrangement with Themberchaud, who acts as a guardian for their headquarters in the Underdark while also using his fire breath to forge their weapons. In exchange, the duergar supply him with food and treasure.
Based on the shared history between the Keepers of the Flame and Themberchaud, it makes sense that if one is in Honor Among Thieves, the other will be around as well. After all, they both live in the same place. Unless Honor Among Thieves writes the duergar out of Themberchaud's backstory, the party shouldn't be able to reach the red dragon without getting past his evil dwarven allies first.
The Duergar Can Explain Honor Among Thieves' Underdark Mystery
The inclusion of the duergar could answer a major question going into Honor Among Thieves. The underground city in the first Dungeons & Dragons trailer, combined with Themerchaud's role, make it abudantly clear that the main characters will venture into the Underdark. What's not clear, though, is why they'd go to such a place. The movie's villains, the Red Wizards of Thay, certainly don't live in the Underdark. What might explain the trip would be a reveal that the main characters (or the villains) require a duergar weapon or artifact before their goal can be completed.
The duergar own a number of magical items, so it would make sense if they have something the heroes need to stop the Red Wizards. And, of course, getting their hands on it would force a fight with Themberchaud in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Themberchaud serving as obstacle toward stealing a duergar weapon could be the very reason why they're fighting him in the trailers.
