Dwarves (Warcraft)
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Dwarves are one of the races in the Warcraft Universe — a fictional universe devised by Blizzard Entertainment, where a number of games and books are set. As a species, the majority of them live in Ironforge, in Khaz Modan.
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[edit] Background
The dwarves are in general, a stalwart and resilient race. They are hearty men and merry women from a bustling civilization in lands that few others would care to occupy. Their home city of Ironforge is one of the only dwarven keeps still in the Eastern Kingdoms. The dwarves range in height from 3.5 to 5 feet tall, and their frames are best described as short and stout. By nature, dwarves are a very resilient people as evidenced by both their tough skin and resistance to several poisons and sicknesses. They are generally stout and fearless in battle and friendship, and are usually up to some good ale in a cozy tavern after a hard day's work.
For countless generations the dwarves have been renowned for their unmatched skill in the workings of metal and stone. The dwarves are the world's masters of the forge for their jewelry, armor, and weapons are beautifully and skillfully made. Many of the world's greatest treasures are dwarven craft. Their very homes are a tribute to their skill with working stone as they are carved from the living rock of the mountains more often than not.
The dwarves are also commonly associated with their cousins, the gnomes. It is not known if or when the gnomish race branched off of the dwarven race, but the gnomes and dwarves have been stalwart allies beyond the reckoning of memory. The dwarves, living in the high mountains, ultimately befriended many of the mountains' creatures. Where the humans, in far lower altitudes, ride horses into battle, the dwarves prefer to ride upon the thick-furred mountain rams, whose knowledge of the rocky terrains surpasses even that of the dwarves themselves. Also native to the windswept peaks are the mighty gryphons, whose proud nature has spelled the end for many a hapless traveller. The dwarves, however have managed miraculously to tame many of the gryphons and ride them both as a means of speedy transport and a mount for aerial battle.
[edit] Dwarven history
In the ancient times, after the Titans departed Azeroth, their children, known as the Earthen, continued to shape and guard the deep recesses of the world. The Earthen were largely unconcerned with the affairs of the surface-dwelling races and longed only to plumb the dark depths of the earth. Upon the implosion of the Well of Eternity, the Earthen sealed themselves away in their halls of stone: Uldaman, Uldum, and Ulduar.
Though it is unclear what awakened them, the Earthen sealed within Uldaman eventually arose from their self-imposed slumber. These Earthen found that they had changed significantly during their hibernation. Their rocky hides had softened and become smooth skin and their powers over stone and earth had waned. They had become mortal creatures.
Calling themselves Dwarves, they left the halls of Uldaman and ventured out into the waking world. Still lulled by the safety and wonders of the deep places, they founded a vast kingdom under the highest mountain in the land. They named their land Khaz Modan, or "Mountain of Khaz", in honor of the Titan shaper, Khaz'goroth. Constructing an altar for their Titan father, the dwarves crafted a mighty forge within the heart of the mountain. Thus, the city that grew around the forge would be called Ironforge ever after.
The dwarves, fascinated with shaping gems and stone, set out to mine the surrounding mountains for riches and precious minerals. Content with their labors under the world, the dwarves remained isolated from the affairs of their surface-dwelling neighbors.
[edit] The War of the Three Hammers
Though this account of the dwarves' origin is mostly unknown by the general public, this is what is known of their doings in known history. The dwarves of Ironforge Mountain lived in peace for many long centuries. However, their society grew too large within the confines of their mountain cities. Though the mighty High King, Modimus Anvilmar, ruled over all dwarves with justice and wisdom, three powerful factions had arisen amongst the dwarven society.
The Bronzebeard clan, ruled by Thane Madoran Bronzebeard, held close ties to the High King and stood as the traditional defenders of Ironforge Mountain. The Wildhammer clan, ruled by Thane Khardros Wildhammer, inhabited the foothills and crags around the base of the mountain and sought to gain more control within the city. The third faction, the Dark Iron clan, was ruled by the Sorcerer-Thane Thaurissan. The Dark Irons hid within the deepest shadows under the mountain and plotted against both their Bronzebeard and the Wildhammer cousins.
For a time the three factions kept a tenuous peace, but tensions erupted when High King Anvilmar died from old age. The three ruling clans went to war for control of Ironforge itself. The Dwarven civil war raged under the earth for many years. Eventually the Bronzebeards, who had the largest standing army, banished the Dark Irons and Wildhammers from under the mountain.
The Wildhammer clan left Ironforge and traveled to the north and founded their new home in the mountain of Grim Batol in the region known as the Wetlands. There, the Wildhammers entered into an age of peace and prosperity. The Dark Irons under Thaurissan, however, did not fare so well. Enraged and embittered by their defeat, the Dark Irons vowed revenge as they moved south into the beautiful Redridge mountains where Thaurissan founded a city that bore his own name. After many years of brooding, Thaurissan and his sorceress wife, Modgud launched a two-pronged attack against Ironforge and Grim Batol.
Both dwarven kingdoms nearly fell in the assault, but Ironforge was saved when Bronzebeard achieved decisive victory against Thaurissan's forces. Grim Batol did not fare so well under the assault of Modgud's forces. It seemed the battle was going in the Wildhammers' favor when Modgud invoked her dark and fearful powers and eventually succeeded in breaching the gate. During the epic battle, Khardros himself slew the witch-queen. Leaderless, the remaining Dark Iron forces retreated only to be caught between the advancing armies of Ironforge and the pursuing armies of Grim Batol. These remaining dwarves were utterly destroyed.
The forces of Ironforge and Grim Batol then joined forces, turning southward, intent upon destroying Thaurissan at his home fortress in the Redridge Mountains. They had not gone far when Thaurissan's fury resulted in a spell of cataclysmic proportions. Seeking to summon a supernatural minion that would ensure his victory, Thaurissan called upon the ancient powers sleeping beneath the world. To his shock, and ultimately his doom, the creature that emerged was more terrible than any nightmare he could have imagined.
Ragnaros the Firelord, immortal lord of all fire elementals, was freed by Thaurissan's call. Ragnaros' apocalyptic rebirth into Azeroth shattered the Redridge Mountains and created a raging volcano at the center of the devastation. The volcano, known as Blackrock Spire, was bordered by the Searing Gorge to the north and the Burning Steppes to the south. Though Thaurissan was killed by the forces he had unleashed, his surviving brethren were ultimately enslaved by Ragnaros and his elementals. They remain within the Spire to this day. Witnessing the horrific devastation and the fires spreading across the southern mountains, King Madoran and King Khardros halted their armies and hastily turned back towards their kingdoms, unwilling to face the awesome wrath of Ragnaros.
The dwarven armies returned to their respective cities. Ironforge was ultimately rebuilt to its original glory, but the Wildhammers found Grim Batol to be uninhabitable due to a dark taint left by the passing of Modgud. Though Madoran Bronzebeard offered them an eternal home within Ironforge, the Wildhammers chose to go their own way and travelled north to the lands of Lordaeron eventually settling in the lush forests of the Hinterlands. There, the Wildhammers crafted the mighty city of Aerie Peak where they grew close to nature, even befriending the mighty gryphons.
Wishing to keep the bonds between the two kingdoms strong, architects were sent from Ironforge, and they created the massive twin bridges known as the Thandol Span, which connects Lordaeron and Khaz Modan. The two kingdoms retained close ties for some years, but the Wildhammers were much changed by the horrors they witnessed at Grim Batol. They took to living above ground on the slopes of Aerie Peak, instead of carving a vast kingdom within the mountain. The ideological differences between the two remaining dwarven clans eventually led to their parting of ways.
[edit] The Second War
Following the First War between the Orcs and humans, the people of Stormwind retreated to Lordaeron. As a second wave of orcs poured through the Dark Portal, the dwarves of Ironforge and the Wildhammers of Aerie Peak pledged their troops and services to the Alliance. Their gryphon riders proved invaluable in the ensuing battles.
Conscripting both the ogres and forest trolls into their fold, the Orcish Horde moved first to conquer the lands of Khaz Modan and the southern lands of Lordaeron. They effortlessly decimated all opposition. They were only barred from total conquest by the gates of Ironforge. Try as they might, the orcs were ultimately unable to breach the ancient doors. As things were looking grim for the Alliance, the Horde began to splinter from within due to the treachery of the warlock Gul'dan. Seeing the weakness, the commanders of the Alliance moved in for the kill. At the final battle on the slopes of Blackrock Mountain, the mighty armies of the savage Horde were finally defeated in a terrible and bloody rout.
When the war ended, many of the members of the Alliance seceded, but the Dwarves of Ironforge pledged an eternal debt of honor to them for liberating Khaz Modan from the Horde's control.
[edit] The Third War
This debt was answered when the undead plague swept across Lordaeron. The dwarves of Ironforge once again sent their fighters to the aid of their allies. It was not enough, however, and Lordaeron was utterly destroyed by the evil designs of the Lich King. With the defeat of their friends, the Dwarves retreated back to their homes and waited to see what the future would bring.
[edit] Recent times
Recently, the dwarves unearthed a series of ruins that held secrets to their ancient heritage. Driven to discover the truth about his people's fabled origins, the great King Magni Bronzebeard ordered that the Dwarves shift their industry from mining to archaeology. Dwarven digsites can be spotted across the lands of Azeroth as dwarven explorers sift through the rubble for clues.
The Dark Iron dwarves have begun expanding throughout Khaz Modan. It is expected that they have done this at the behest of their lord, Ragnaros. While the soldiers of the dwarven armies fight in distant lands for the Grand Alliance, the Dark Irons have managed to acquire several footholds throughout the land. Obviously, much of the land surrounding Blackrock Spire belongs to them. In the Badlands to the east, the Dark Irons have entrenched themselves in the ancient city of Uldaman. The Dark Iron holdings reach as far to the north as Dun Modr in the Wetlands.
Meanwhile, to the north at Aerie Peak, the Wildhammer clan keeps mostly to itself, housing travellers as they pass through.
[edit] External links
- Dwarves, World of Warcraft Game Guide
- Dwarf at WoWWiki, a World of Warcraft wiki
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