Lo’khosh are a type of dwarf, not so commonly known as the Lo’menni, but with a reputation much bigger and uglier than any liked to think. Unlike the elves, dwarves are not as splintered, there being only two sub-races of dwarf, plus the half-dwarf, compared to five sub-races of elf, plus the half-elf. In spite of this, there is no great unification among dwarves and the sub-race divisions are predominantly along the line of “focused and largely indifferent to anything beyond my personal obsession” versus “evil, yeah, you heard it, evil”. The elves, by comparison, at least have some semblance of cultural diversity among their groupings.

The Lo’khosh, or dark dwarves, are grim folk, who lead lives of never-ending toil in great underground foundry-cities. The typical lo’khosh realm is every bit as powerful, cruel, and wealthy as a great city of the Mored. Lo’khosh cities exist only for the manufacture of wealth through unending labour. Lo’khosh are the pre-eminent smiths and traders of the Underdark, and lo’khosh caravans travel vast distances deep beneath the surface. Lo’khosh are sullen, insular, and tireless workers. They tend to be better neighbours than Mored, but they are always eager to acquire new slaves to supply their labour needs. The lo’khosh don’t waste slaves in the sort of cruel spectacles other evil races enjoy – they simply work their captives to death.

   Personality

Lo’khosh have few good points aside from courage and determination. They are avaricious, short-tempered, sullen, violent, and ungrateful. Lo’khosh nurse grudges for a lifetime, and never stop counting the slights (real or imagined) they’ve received. They believe that might makes right, and they have no pity for those who are too weak to defend their property or themselves. On the positive side, lo’khosh believe in minding their own business (so long as other folks don’t have anything they want) and working hard to excel at their chosen crafts. No obstacle daunts a lo’khosh who has settled on a goal. Lo’khosh may not have much loyalty to anyone other than themselves, but they never leave a job half done.

   Physical Description

Lo’khosh stand 4 to 4-½ feet tall, but are lean and hard compared to other dwarves. Their skin is a dull grey, and their eyes are black and cold. Male lo’khosh don’t have hair above their ears, but they often boast short, wiry beards of iron-grey or black. Most females are likewise bald, but some have short-cropped hair of dull black.

   Relations

Lo’khosh are universally disliked by all other societies, and even have trouble getting along with each other. They are churlish and hateful, and they have nothing to do with folk of other races unless they stand to gain something by it. Lo’khosh can’t stand Mored (dark elves), sensing condescension and mockery behind the elves’ courtesy. Lo’khosh absolutely loathe other kinds of dwarves because, according to legend, thousands of years ago the rest of dwarvenkind abandoned the lo’khosh to thraldom and misery under cruel masters.

   Alignment

Lo’khosh are generally evil, placing little value on the lives and property of others. They are consumed by envy for those better off than they, and have not a trace of pity for those not as fortunate. A fair number of lo’khosh simply want nothing more than to be left alone, and so they lean toward hardhearted neutrality. Few dark dwarves are good-aligned, but they do exist.

   Lo'Khosh Racial Traits

• +2 Constitution, -4 Charisma: Lo’khosh are hardy, but sullen and mean-spirited.
• Medium: As Medium creatures, lo’khosh have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• Lo’khosh base land speed is 20 feet. However, grey dwarves can move at this speed even when wearing medium or heavy armour or when carrying a medium or heavy load (unlike other creatures whose speed is reduced in such situations).
• Darkvision out to 120 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and lo’khosh can function just fine with no light at all.
• Immunity to paralysis, phantasms and poison.
• +2 racial bonus on saves against spells and spell-like effects. Lo’khosh have an innate resistance to magic spells.
• Stability: Lo’khosh are exceptionally stable on their feet. A lo’khosh receives a +4 bonus on ability checks made to resist being bull rushed or tripped when standing on the ground (but not when climbing, flying, riding or otherwise not standing firmly on the ground).
• Stonecutting: This ability grants a lo’khosh a +2 racial bonus on Search checks to notice unusual stonework, such as sliding walls, stonework traps, new construction (even when built to match the old), unsafe stone surfaces, shaky stone ceilings, and the like. Something that isn’t stone but that is disguised as stone also counts as unusual stonework. A grey dwarf who merely comes within 10 feet of unusual stonework can make a Search check as if he were actively searching, and a lo’khosh can use the Search skill to find stonework traps as a rogue can. A lo’khosh can also intuit depth, sensing his approximate depth underground as naturally as a human can sense which way is up. Lo’khosh have a sixth sense about stonework, an innate ability that they get plenty of opportunity to practice and hone in their underground homes.
• Psi-like abilities: 1/day – expansion, invisibility. These abilities affect only the lo’khosh and whatever he carries. Manifester level is equal to Hit Dice (minimum 3rd).
• Naturally psionic: Lo’khosh gain 3 bonus power points at 1st level. This benefit does not grant them the ability to manifest powers unless they gain that ability through another source, such as levels in a psionic class.
• +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against orcs (including half-orcs) and goblinoids (including goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears).
• +4 dodge bonus to Armour Class against creatures of the giant type (such as ogres, trolls, and hill giants).
• Light Sensitivity (Ex): Lo’khosh are dazzled in sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.
• Lo’khosh have a +4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks and a +1 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks. They have a +2 racial bonus on Appraise and Craft checks that are related to stone or metal.
• Level Adjustment: +0.