Dwarfgate Wars

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The Dwarfgate Wars, also known as Dwarven Wars^[1] is a fictional war in the Dragonlance settings.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The Dwarfgate Wars was fought between the Hill Dwarves and the Mountain Dwarves living in Thorbardin. The war took place over two centuries before the War of the Lance.

It is notable in that several Heroes of the Lance participated in these events through a form of time travel: General Pheragus (Caramon Majere), Fistandantilus (Raistlin Majere), Tasslehoff Burrfoot, and Denubis (Crysania).

1 Causes
2 Development
- 2.1 Intent
3 Aftermath
4 References
- 4.1 Further reading
5 External links

[edit] Causes

The Cataclysm ended in 1 AC, and its aftershocks some decades later; but its effect upon the geography and climate of Abanasinia was permanent. Over three decades the disasters had driven the native Neidar hill-dwarves and Plainsmen to the brink of famine. Many joined bandit gangs, of which one of the more effective was led by the half-ogre Steeltoe.

At first the dwarves of Thorbardin offered a measure of support. But this policy divided the dwarves: the Neidar under Reghar Fireforge were vocal for continuing it, while the Daergar and Hylar increasingly calculated that they would not have enough resources to maintain both the refugees and themselves. (The Daewar and Klar were undecided and the Aghar uninvolved.) In 39 AC, the Thanes finally voted to seal the gates of Thorbardin.

General Pheragas, who led a band of Knights of Solamnia (disgraced after the Cataclysm), defeated Steeltoe in single combat and brought discipline to the bandits. Reghar took note of this and opened negotiations with the nascent army, as did approximately half the region's Klar dwarves (Dwarven Kingdoms of Krynn). The Plainsmen, led by Darknight, were next to join. Fistandantilus, a 1000-year-old wizard, also offered to aid these forces in forcing their entry into the citadel. The anti-Thorbardin forces then declared themselves a united "Army of Fistandantilus".

[edit] Development

The progress of the Dwarfgate Wars is largely an archaeological question outside Thorbardin. The devastation delivered a near total destruction of literary records outside the citadel, the elves in nearby Qualinost did not involve themselves, and as a result of the war Thorbardin's archives became inaccessible to those outside the mountains.

The Army of Fistandantilus first faced the problem of gaining support among other men and dwarves outside Thorbardin. Gaining that support proved violent, hinting that many men and dwarves (and all elves) initially preferred not to join Fistandantilus in his scheme. These civil conflicts were diffuse enough that Krynn historians refer to them as the plural "Dwarfgate Wars" rather than one singular "War".

In one such conflict, dwarves loyal to Thorbardin holed up in a region immune from standard magic, the Vale of Waykeep. Fistandantilus as his first direct intervention launched three "elemental" spells against this valley, of which the first two took effect. (c.f. The Gates of Thorbardin.)

Fistandantilus also made a secret treaty with Argat, the Thane of the Daewar: promising firstly gold for Argat; and secondly the head of his own General, Pheragas, which the Daewar collectively could present to the Hylar clan after the conflict to gain the Hylars' forgiveness. Argat then let the fortress of Pax Tharkas open as agreed. Fistandantilus was able to take it. (c.f. War of the Twins.)

The mountain dwarf hero Kharas led a team of assassins against Fistandantilus personally, but his comrades foiled the plot.

Soon after Fistandantilus had defeated all dissenters outside Thorbardin, the Army of Fistandantilus moved to in the Plains of Dergoth. King Duncan and his sons, with Prince Grallen leading the Hylar dwarves, marched into Dergoth to meet it. During the battle, Argat of the Daewar turned on Pheragus, both leaders were killed, and the Plainsmen fled; but the dwarves fought each other long enough to buy Fistandantilus the time to enter the fortress of Zhaman.

What happened in Zhaman is debated, but all agree that Fistandantilus unleashed a number of great spells of the like of that which he had cast at Waykeep. These annihilated all the combatants, laid waste to the Plains of Dergoth, and transformed Zhaman into Skullcap.

It was later ascertained that Fistandantilus was aided by a certain cleric of Paladine called Denubis, who had been a true cleric prior to the Cataclysm. It is unclear whether Denubis had retained his powers in 39 AC, but he retained enough arcane lore to aid Fistandantilus in his attempt to open a portal to the Abyss.

[edit] Intent

Both Raistlin and Fistandantilus wanted to reach to Portal to the Abyss in order to challenge the Dark Queen for godhood. The main difference between the two was that Fistandantilus failed, where Raistlin succeeded.

[edit] Aftermath

Thorbardin itself was spared, and there were fewer mouths to feed among the dwarves and men outside it; by this irony, both sides achieved their aims in the conflict.

After the conflagration, Kharas disappeared with the Hammer of Honor, which was subsequently renamed the Hammer of Kharas. Xak Tsaroth, already heavily damaged by the Cataclysm, was finally abandoned at this time and became a ruin. Reghar's sons settled at Hillhome.

[edit] References

^ Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman [November 1999]. “Volume 2, book 1, chapter 1, White-winged ships. Hope lies across the Plains of Dust.”, The Annotated Chronicles, 1st edition, Wizards of the Coast, 494. ISBN 0-7869-1870-5. Retrieved on 2006-07-01.