Dwarfen Holds

Glorious Karaz Ankor, how grand and vast you once were, and how your glory has faded under the grinding assault of your hated foes. The dwarfen realm of Karaz Ankor stretched along the World’s Edge Mountains initially; however, due to intense pressure and losses incurred at the hands of the greenskins and skaven, the dwarfs migrated further west seeking a new start. Many of the ancient holds that were founded by the first ancestors have fallen after thousands of years of prosperity. Alas, as the winds gradually wear down the mountains, so too is time wearing down the dwarfen realm. Below is the map etched into the heart of the High King, a map of holds fallen and lost, and those that still fight on. Yet, this map is not even complete, for there are other holds both fallen and standing that exist beyond the edges of this map.

Dwarfen Holds ~ Karaz-a-Karak

“The Everpeak will never fall so long as a single dwarf draws breath within its ancient halls. Woe unto any foe who dares challenge this hold, for it is said that in its hour of need the Ancestor Gods will return to protect the hold that was most dear to their heart. Not only shall Karaz Ankor never fall so long as Karaz-a-Karak stands, but it shall rise again.”

~ Thorgund Ulleksson, Thane of the Ulleksson Clan of Karaz-a-Karak

Karaz-a-Karak may not be the oldest dwarfen hold founded by the Ancestor Gods, but it was elevated to the status of first among equals on the eve of their departure. It bears the greatest link to the Ancestor Gods, the Throne of Power, from which the High King not only rules, but also recites his litany of grudges from the Dammaz Kron. It is atop this throne that Thorgrim Grudgebearer has declared the Age of Reckoning, a time for Karaz Ankor to march forth and avenge the grudges of the past.

Dwarfen Holds ~ Zhufbar

“Listen to that beautiful rhythmic beating. That is the beating of the industrial heart of Zhufbar. Night and day the hammers rise and fall in perfect timing. Only the dawi could master the force of nature for our needs. Zhufbar may be smaller than other holds, but automation makes us equally, if not more, productive on the industrial scale. That is something to be proud of.”

~ Sigrid Ironforge, Daughter of King Morgrim Ironforge of Zhufbar

Zhufbar is the center of innovation and industrial work for Karaz Ankor. Through clever dwarfen engineering, the dwarfs have harnessed the power of the waterfall around which the hold is built. This power is used to operate mechanical hammers and bellows in the massive forges of the hold, forges which create many of Karaz Ankor’s siege weapons.

Dwarfen Holds ~ Karak Azgaraz

“Thick is the Book of Grudges of Karak Azgaraz. Many are the wrongs that have been done to our kin and ancestors. We shall know no rest until every grudge is stricken from those pages. Sadly, it is the ghosts of the past and the anger they build in us that keeps the hearts of Karak Azgaraz fiery and young.”

~ Gargrim Thuringarsson, Son of King Thuringar Orc-Hewer of Karak Azgaraz

Karak Azgaraz is the oldest surviving hold in the Grey Mountains, which has only given it more time to acquire a list of grudges so long that none of its kings can hope to avenge them all. Located among one of the key passes of the Grey Mountains between Bretonnia and the Empire, Karak Azgaraz has both profited from the trade and suffered from the invasions that flows through this pass.

Dwarfen Holds ~ Karak Norn

“Never trust anything that burns to easily. Wood… gone before you can smoke your pipe. Coal, now coal will last you a good while, that you can trust. That cursed forest to the west, it too can burn. I’d wager my axe that the elgi inside it burn too. Clan Grintzagaz has lost its home once, and we wont lose it again.”

~ Iregar Brokksson, Son of King Brokk Ironpick of Karak Norn

Karak Norn is the largest of the current dwarfen holds in the Grey Mountains, and as such it acts as a regional leader for the Grey Dwarfs, as they are called. The Grey Mountains are among the poorest mountain chains in the Old World, poorer even than distant Norsca. The dwarfs here are a stubborn lot clinging to hope in a brighter future, a hope that is unlikely to come.

Dwarfen Holds ~ Karak Zilfin

“All the other dawi look upon Karak Zilfin with pride and mockery, for we are a small hold of modest wealth. We however know the taste of hardship and loss, something we never wish upon our kin. The wealth and grandeur our ancestors had was lost, and we don’t need the gloating of others to remind us of that. The scars of our past are deep in Karak Zilfin’s collective memory.”

~ Orek Roreksson, Son of King Rorek Granitehand of Karak Zilfin

Karak Zilfin is the southern-most of the Grey Holds, sitting above the dangerous Montdidier Pass between the Empire and Athel Loren, beyond which is Bretonnia. The dwarfs of Karak Zilfin are a hardened lot, shaped by their past and present circumstances. Only they could carve out an existence in the shadow of the Vaults and cradle of Athel Loren.

Dwarfen Holds ~ Karak Izor

“We dwarfs west of the World’s Edge Mountains have suffered more than the High King can know. We have lost our homes, our kin, and some even their honor. Now we fight to rebuild that which was lost, and no one will stand in our way. If the High King does not understand our plight, he should step aside an let Karak Izor lead.”

~Mundri Grimbrow, Son of King Kazran Grimbrow of Karak Izor

Karak Izor is the largest and wealthiest hold in the Vaults, and among the oldest. However, the founding of the hold triggered the exile of the western holds from Karaz Ankor and therefore its very founding ushered in a time of darkness for the western holds. Karak Izor did not dwell in darkness however, for it rose to meet the challenge and has become akin to the Throne of Power for the holds of the Vaults, and the Irana and Apuccini Mountains.

Dwarfen Holds ~ Karak Kaferkammaz

“What an irony it is that my ancestors founded Karak Kaferkammaz. It had been the folly of humans and their desire to pierce the clouds that brought doom upon my ancestors. In their flight from accursed rain from darkened clouds they returned to the mountains, the refuge of the dwarfs. Now it is we who live among the clouds pondering the role the Ancestor Gods played in our tragedy.”

~ Yundrin Skalfsson, Son of King Skalf Redbeard of Karak Kaferkammaz

Karak Kaferkammaz is the smallest dwarfen hold in the Vaults, built into one of the highest peaks of the mountains making it the highest hold in the Vaults, and perhaps in all of Karaz Ankor. The hold is most known for the dark past that led to its founding, and the somewhat ironic location the dwarfs selected for their new home.

Dwarfen Holds ~ Karak Eksfilaz

“If ever there was a clan to jump out of the pan and into the fire, that would be ours. Tragedy struck driving us away from our ancestral home in Ekrund, and it seems that tragedy had a sense of humor when it followed us to the Vaults. Well we won’t lose this home, every last dwarf will die fighting for Karak Eksfilaz because we’re done running!”

~ Thundrin Hergarsson, Son of King Hergar Steelclad of Karak Eksfilaz

The dwarfs of Karak Eksfilaz have been fighting an uphill battle of survival for the past four millennia. The hold of Karak Eksfilaz stands today as the westernmost hold of Karaz Ankor, though given its position it looks to Karak Izor rather than Karaz-a-Karak for aid. Given the location of the hold, the dwarfs of Karak Eksfilaz must be as skilled in fighting with their words as with their axes.

Dwarfen Holds ~ Karag-Dar

“What a glorious stand it was! If Karaz Ankor had but a hundred dwarfs today that had the mettle of the defenders of Karag-Dar then we’d never lose another hold. Those lads had bones of iron and hearts of stone. Showed the elgi the price of an inch… a river of blood! How I wish that I could have been there, how I wish for the story of Karag-Dar to never vanish.”

~ Borik Vanarsson, Copperbeard Ranger of the Vaults and Descendant of Karag-Dar

Karag-Dar was a mighty dwarfen fortress built in the Vaults to safeguard trade relations between the dwarfs and the elves during the Golden Age, though it also had another secret purpose which the elves sought to discover during the War of Vengeance, and at a great price. Today the mountainside fortress is a goblin-infested ruin whose secret has been gleaned by the humans who dwell in its shadow.