Dwarf (Warhammer)
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- This article is about dwarfs in Warhammer Fantasy. For other uses of the term, see dwarf (disambiguation).
The Dwarfs are a race in Warhammer Fantasy, very much akin to the portrayal of dwarves in many other fantasy worlds, such as The Lord of the Rings and Dungeons & Dragons. Warhammer Dwarfs are highly driven by honour, and never forget a slight.
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[edit] Homeland
Dwarfs are mainly in the mountains of the "Old World" where they have their strongholds. Their empire once ran as a series of holds throughout the mountain ranges joined by tunnels. Since the peak some strongholds have fallen and the tunnelways lost so the strongholds are more isolated. The loss of the holds has been to orcs and other goblins or to the Skaven. There is a reputed "lost" hold in the Southlands and to the north the Dwarfs there in Norsca have become a little less civilised and more separate from the main - the largest hold there is Kraka Drak. Substantial numbers of Dwarfs have settled in the human nations of the Old World; particularly the Empire where their technical skills are appreciated and some serve in the Imperial armies.
There are a number of important and named holds in the Dwarf Kingdoms. Only one dwarf hold Barak Varr is situated on the sea - where the Dwarf fleet is based.
Dwarfs have also settled in the New World of Lustria.
[edit] History
Little is known about early dwarf history but dawi as they were known were probably assisted in their development by the mysterious and enigmatic Old Ones. It is said that the dwarfs were foretold of the great catastrophe that befell the Warhammer world by their patron god, Grungni.
After the catastrophe of the Coming of Chaos, the dwarfs emerged to find their world changed and warped. Mutated Beastmen roamed freely throughout the land, slaying everyone in their path. Warriors of the Chaos Gods slaughtered all in their path and Daemons created nightmare realms, enslaving entire communities.
It was Grungni himself that forged the first weapons and armour, while teaching the dwarfs to do the same. Then after he forged the first magical runes, capturing the wild winds of magic and harnessing their power into them, creating even more potent weapons, axes and hammers, as well as runes that gave runic protection into armor and talismans. He armed the Ancestor God Grimnir with two axes and armor harder than the bones of mountains, and he and his first runesmiths armed the rest of the dwarves to do battle.
Soon after their re-emergence the dwarfs first encountered the High Elves from Ulthuan. The two races had a period of prosperous development but a disastrous war known to the elves as the 'War of the Beard' and to the dwarfs as the 'War of Vengeance' almost completely destroyed the two races. The dwarves now live in isolated strongholds of decreasing population and their once proud empire now lays in tatters.
[edit] The War of the Beard
The War of the Beard was the cataclysmic war that took place between the dwarfs of the Old World and the elves of Ulthuan shortly after the great catastrophe. The war was started by Dark Elves, pretending to be High Elves, attacking dwarf colonies and trading parties. The war received its nickname after High King Gotrek Starbreaker of the dwarfs sent an emissary to Ulthuan, demanding recompenses, doubled, for the losses incurred by the Dwarves. Phoenix King Caledor II returned the dwarf minus his beard several days later. To lose one's beard is the ultimate insult to a dwarf and thus the war was known as War of the Beard to the elves while the dwarfs, not to take such things lightly, call it the War of Vengeance.
[edit] Physical Aspects
Dwarfs are on average a good deal shorter than either men or elves of the Warhammer world making them ideally suited to the tunnels in which they live and work. Their bodies seem purpose built for manual labour, solidly muscled, broad shouldered and large thick fingered hands that belie considerable manual dexterity. Dwarfs are a very long lived race with lifespans that can run into centuries. As a dwarf becomes older so his beard becomes longer and thicker. Since dwarfs have a deep inbuilt respect for age it would be unthinkable for a dwarf to cut off or even trim their beards.
Female dwarfs are very rarely seen outside dwarf realms which has led many people to believe that dwarf males can have babies or that dwarf women have beards. However Gamesworkshop have released several models in the past depicting female dwarves, such and Blood Bowl cheerleaders and Queen Helgar, which is still available from Mail Order. These models, like their male couterparts, are heavily built, armed and armoured; are muscular and grim, but instead of long beards have long hair wound into similar braids, worn beneath the helmet.
[edit] Magic
Magic in its usual forms is distrusted, and even loathed, by a great many of the Dwarfen population. The general consensus is that magic is too erratic and volatile to fool around with, let alone rely on in battle.
However, Dwarfs do place considerable emphasis on embedding magic within certain items e.g. axes, hammers, shields, and armour suits through Runesmithing. Aspiring Runesmiths will spend years and years as an apprentice to a Runelord who will gradually teach them to inscribe items with symbols that have great magical power.
The Anvil of Doom is used by only the most skilled Runelords to wreak devastating destruction upon any foe foolish enough to meet the Dwarfs in battle. Magical stones are placed upon the anvil and runic symbols are hammered into them which results in astonishing elemental power that can be directed against the Dwarfs’ foe.
[edit] Society
Dwarf society is mainly Monarchistic and organised into strongholds each governed by a king. The kings of each stronghold are largely independent but during times of trouble or war it is The High King who takes ultimate charge. The High King can often be seen at the forefront of the battle, fighting on the front line and leading by valiant example. Outside of strongholds dwarves are organised into clans. Clans are like an extensive family group, all sharing common ancestry although mostly not directly related.
[edit] Slayers
A notable aspect to Dwarf culture is the Slayer Oath. A Dwarf who has suffered a great shame, loss, or humiliation will dye his hair and beard orange, and cut it into a mohawk using pig grease to stick it in place. Before taking up his axe, they will get a blue tattoo on his face and over certain parts of his body. He will then go out into the world, seeking out an honourable death in combat, and in doing so undo his dishonor. Those who continue to survive their repeated attempts to get themselves killed (a Dwarf is psychologically incapable of either suicide or fighting to lose) become fearsome warriors. One of the most (or least, depending on your point of view) successful Slayers of all time is Gotrek Gurnisson, a Slayer made famous by the books written about him by his longtime companion Felix Jaeger. Because of the way they constantly seek death by the hands of a fearsome monster, natural selection takes place and you can be sure that even the weakest Slayer you ever meet will be stronger than even the mightiest "normal" dwarf.
Within the game Slayers level of ability is noted by what they are trying to die in battle against - moving up through the progression Slayer, Trollslayer, Dragon Slayer etc. In certain editions of the WFB game all Slayers of different levels formed a single unit albeit that the fighting capabilities of the various elements varied
[edit] Chaos Dwarfs
In ancient times, some Dwarfs moved far to the east over the mountains, and were caught by the onslaughts of Chaos. Dwarfs are very resistant to the forces of Chaos, but these changed over time, becoming the evil natured Chaos Dwarfs. In many ways they are the antithesis of the Dwarfs that remained. Where Dwarfs shun most magic except for Runic magic (which is unique to them) Chaos Dwarfs have embraced it; where Dwarfs worship their Ancestor Gods, Chaos Dwarfs worship "Hashut, Father of Darkness". Dwarfs abhor slavery and hate the "greenskin" races (Goblins, Orcs and the like) but the Chaos Dwarfs rely on slaves and are allied with or are overlords of many greenskin tribes, most of them Hobgoblins.
[edit] Belief and mythology
Dwarfs venerate their ancestors and their deities are the "Ancestor Gods" which are are said to have been formed from the very stone of the world itself. There are three main ones: Valaya, Grungni, and Grimnir.
- Valaya is the patron of Runesmiths. It is said she is sleeping deep within the mountains until a time when she is needed again.
- Grimnir was a great warrior with two rune axes. He helped the High Elves defeat Chaos at the northern Chaos Gates and it is assumed he died there. Of his weapons, one axe is now held by Thorgrim Grudgebearer and the other axe is said to be wielded by the Trollslayer Gotrek Gurnisson.
[edit] Named dwarf characters
- Gotrek Gurnisson is a slayer and travels the world with his human companion.
First Edition Characters: Sigurd Strongarm, Sigrat Blackbrow, Sigrun Slenderhank, Skeggi Brokenback, Saugron Brittlebone and Thorgrim Branedimm. Thorgrim wields the magical warhammer Foebane. They are the characters in the scenario The Ziggurat of Doom (situated in Dwarfstrangle).
- Perhaps the most famous of all dwarfs is Josef Bugman. Bugman was a master dwarf brewer who was world renowned for his famous beers, known as Bugman's XXXXXX. However one night, returning from a trading trip in the Empire, he found his brewery ablaze, attacked by a raiding party of Goblins. Since then Bugman and his rangers have travelled the old world fighting with the Goblins and Orcs. Some believe that he has long since passed from this world, others say he still walks the land with his hardened rangers.
- The current High King of the Dwarves is Thorgrim Grudgebearer who carries the Great Book of Grudges and has sworn to make sure all of them are avenged.
[edit] Famous Regiments
Valayrian Guard
The Valayrian Guard were first created at the Dwarven Hold of Raven's Peak. The peak held one of the most venerated shrines of Valaya. When the hold was besieged by Night Goblins from Karak Ungor volunteers were asked to enter the shrine and hold it at all costs. These warriors were given ancient suits of gilded gromril armour. However their most distinctive equipment was a large square tower shield. The shield was used in the shrine entrance to prevent the horde of goblins overwhelming the defenders. The shields could lock together forming a solid wall that the Goblins would not be able to easily break. The Hold was relieved eventually by a force from Kislev. The remaining Guard were formed into a permanent regiment. Their story carried from Hold to Hold and soon similar regiments were formed throughout the Dwarves Kingdoms.
[edit] Dwarven Technology
The dwarfs are by far Warhammer's most technologically advanced race, and are regarded as consummate engineers. Where other races use wooden ships to travel overseas, the dwarfs use ironclad dreadnoughts and nautilius, the Warhammer equivalent of early battleships and submarines. They have also pioneered the development of black powder and steam technology such as cannons, handguns and Gyrocopters (helicopters). They have shared some of this technology with Humans, but still consider the work of the 'Manlings' to be shoddy in comparison to good dwarven work.
[edit] References
Warhammer Army Book: Dwarfs; Rick Priestley Nigel Stillman; Games Workshop; 1993; ISBN 1 872372 66 X
[edit] See also
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| Major Games: | Warhammer Fantasy Battle, Warmaster, Mordheim, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Man O' War, Warhammer Ancient Battles |
| Nations and races: | Bretonnia, Chaos, Chaos Dwarfs, Dark Elves, Dogs of War, Dwarfs, The Empire, High Elves, Kislev, Lizardmen, Ogres, Orcs & Goblins, Skaven, Undead (Tomb Kings & Vampire Counts), Wood Elves |
| Places: | The Old World, Araby, Cathay, Lustria, Ulthuan, Southlands, Naggaroth, Dark Lands, Albion, |
| People: | List of major characters |
| More: | List of creatures in Warhammer Fantasy, Warhammer Fantasy deities, Lores of Magic |
