Underling

The Underlings are a species of small humanoids native to the world of the Nine Realms.

Biology
Underlings are humanoids around two to three feet tall.

History
Years ago a underling known as Baliol was convinced to go on a journey by Ablard of the Grey Order with the Borrigan and Balthazar, cousins of the Kingdoms of Brass and Bronze to steal from the horde of the Firedrake Tiamat. The four ran afoul of the creature but since Baliol's scent was unfamiliar to her the underling was able to sneak towards her hear and shatter it.

After the adventure Baliol returned to the Boroughs, though he secretly kept a shard of the Firedrake's heart.

The underlings were one of the few races that managed to escape the attention of the Thorn when they conquered the Nine Realms, but the survivors of the races of man soon came to the Borough to seek refuge. Keeping up with tradition, the underlings welcomed them with hospitality, food and shelter. The underlings turned none away, but soon what followed the displaced were marauders and the invaders sowing blood and death. The refugees that the underlings took in soon became beasts and turned upon their hosts. The underlings were forced to kill their guests. Since they the underlings led by Baliol had to adapt to a more harsher world, no longer possessing a naïve look on the world and trusting of strangers they became cold and isolationist. Baliol having been corrupted by the Firedrake shard was convinced by the remnant to sacrifice it souls. In exchange the shard would use its magic to create a glamour around the Boroughs masking their location from outsiders. The underlings agreed and used any stray travelers that wandered into their valley, killing them to feed the shard and the magic, disposing of the bodies in charnel houses.

The Wizard Ablard would bring his new companions Princess Yarrow and Crixus to the Boroughs to seek shelter. The Boroughs seemingly unspoiled state did not bother Ablard attributing to the unchanging nature of the inhabitants. However he proved to be wrong when Baliol drugged him and Yarrow and Crixus having found the bodies of butcher men and women in a locked shed. The three were captured and the underlings stated their intentions to use the three to fuel the shard. Baliol was about to sacrifice is old friend Ablard, as he was blamed for no being in the Boroughs when they needed him most. However Crixus cajoled the underling to kill him instead which Baliol was more that willing to comply due to his racial prejudices against orks. To his shock the shard was broken by Crixus's power of the Ebora.

Despite what the underlings committed and were about to do, Ablard demanded no retribution, as the underlings were now defenseless. Instead the wizard used his magic to create a ward around the Boroughs which would last a year. Baliol tried to apologize as he only wanted to protect his people, only to earn him a cold response from his wizard friend.

Culture
Originally a peaceful race of farmers that dwell in an area of the Nine Realms known as the Boroughs, composed of many underground burrows made under the hills. They were a shy unobtrusive race that preferred their hearths, homes and good tilled earth. Since they made very little impact on the world most of the races of the Nine Realms pay no attention to them. Underlings love their comforts and food and were know to dine at a drop of the hat and were a very trusting and hospital folk, welcoming all and having no need for locked doors.