Durniks

Durniks are a fictional subterranean humanoid race that appears in fantasy literature, games, and other media. They are typically depicted as hardy, short-statured miners who live in caverns, tunnels, and subterranean cities. In most portrayals, they stand about 1.2 to 1.4 meters tall, with stocky builds, thick hands, and keen eyes adapted to low light. Their skin tones range from ash-gray to earth-brown, often with a leathery texture suited to dust and damp.

Society and economy: Durnik society is usually organized around clans and craft guilds, with mining and metalworking as central occupations. Tools, traps, and machines—often powered by water, wind, or human effort—are common in their workshops. Apprenticeship and lineage traditions are emphasized, and elders or masters commonly supervise ore extraction, water management, and smithing.

Language and culture: They speak a language known as Durnik (or Durnic), described as consonant-rich with a rich vocabulary for minerals, geology, and smithing. Inscriptions in runes or sigils are widespread in their caves and settlements.

History and relations: Legends recount their emergence from underground refuges during ancient upheavals. Real-world histories within fantasy settings commonly recount cave-ins, clan rivalries, and interactions with surface peoples—ranging from guarded trade relationships to territorial disputes. Some stories present Durniks as reclusive guardians of mineral wealth; others present them as pragmatic allies to surface civilizations.

In fiction and games: The Durniks appear as a staple subterranean faction, with portrayals varying widely by author and game system.