Karaz Ankor
| Main Leaders | High King[2b] Thorgrim Grudgebearer |
| Secondary Leaders | Dwarf Kings |
| Capital | Karaz-a-Karak[2b] |
| Major Races | Dwarf[2b] |
| Demonyms | Dwarf[2b] Dwarfen[2b] |
| Languages | Khazalid |
| Status | In decline[2b] |
| Type | Hereditary Monarchy |
| State Religions | Ancestor Gods[2b] |
| Location | Worlds Edge Mountains[2b], Old World |
| Lands Ruled | Mountains Underway (formerly) |
| Constituents | Dwarf holds |
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The Karaz Ankor or the Everlasting Realm is the ancient kingdom of the Dwarfs. [1a][2b]
Created beneath the World's Edge Mountains, the Karaz Ankor was a construction of unmatched glory linking the Dwarf Holds across the breadth and length of the mountains. [1a]
History
It is said that the first Dwarf Hold - Karak Zorn was created under the guidance of Ancestor Gods Grungni and Valaya and grew to be a mighty bastion-city. So when Grungni commanded them to leave, it was met with confusion and shock. [1b]
The Dwarfs marched north along the World's Edge Mountains, reaching the Black Gulf and spread out to found new Karak's including Karaz-a-Karak in -4523 IC.[1c] The locations of these new holds were supposedly being chosen by the Ancestor Gods although some pioneers headed further north and east to create new homes. [1b]
Prospering under the guidance of the gods, the Dwarfs were warned of a coming disaster and sealed their holds as the Coming of Chaos erupted from the polar Warp Gates. Many years xlater the gates were opened to reveal a world full of horrors. Many Holds and clans had been lost and worse - the Ancestor Gods had disappeared. [1b] [2a] [2b]
Grimnir had led the Dwarf Warriors in clearing the lands of the creatures of Chaos and they would meet the Elves who joined them in fighting against their mutual enemy. Then he had marched north to challenge the Dark Gods. [1b] [2b]
Golden Age
The Dwarfs were eager to rebuild after the wars against Chaos. The holds grew and prospered once more and the Undgrim Ankor, the Great Underway was created to link the holds of the Karaz Ankor. As the Elves expanded from their coastal enclaves, trade grew with the Dawi who built roads to connect their holds to their partners. Art exchanges also flourished between the two races. [1b] [2b]
The Great Betrayal
This would all come to end in -2005 IC when Witch King Malekith sent assassins and raiding parties to attack the Dwarfs in the guise of Elves from Ulthuan. High King Gotrek Starbreaker sent an embassy to the court of the Phoenix King to demand an explanation and rightful compensation but only received a fresh insult when the Elves shaved their ambassadors and sent them home empty handed. Thus began the War of Vengeance which would only end with the final siege of Tor Alessi in -1560 IC and Gotrek slaying Caledor II in single combat, taking his crown as final recompense and then returning home. [1b] [2a]
Time of Woes
Without warning, all the volcanoes of the World's Edge suddenly erupted in -1500 IC, shattering settlements and burying the entrances to holds. Earthquakes followed and together with fire, lava and poisonous gas spewed out by the volcanoes, huge numbers of Dwarfs perished - entire clans ceasing to exist. [1b][2a]
The weakened holds were then assaulted by armies of Greenskins and Skaven with Karak Ungor being the first to fall. The entire Karaz Ankor was on the edge of destruction but the Dawi held fast, fighting with determination and savagery to preserve their homes. [1b]
As the war became a bloody stalemate, the Dawi sought a new ally - teaching the manlings basic skills and trading with them - food for weapons and tools. Some of the Dwarfs sought a new home in the western mountains, leaving the Karaz Ankor to found holds such as Karak Hirn, Karak Izor and Karak Norn. The High King declared a grudge against the coward clans and they replied in kind. [1b] [2b]
The Empire of Man
When Kurgan Ironbeard was rescued by Sigmar Heldenhammer of the Unberogens in -15 IC a true alliance was forged between the new Empire and the Karaz Ankor. Over the next millennia, Dawi even moved to live amongst the humans, building for them and teaching them true craftsmanship. The Dwarfs now sought to reclaim their lands and lost holds with such heroes as Dorin Heldour and Katlin Kandoom making their name. [1b] [2a] [2b]
Some humans however began to resent the apparently patronising ways of the Dawi and two infamous Emperor's Ludwig the Fat and Boris Goldgather levied unfair taxes on the Dwarfs of the Empire. Still the Dwarfs stood by their old ally. [1b]
When the Empire was nearly destroyed in 1111 IC, the Dwarfs sealed their holds against the plagues and armies of the Skaven. When the opened once more, they found the ratmen had been driven back but civil war now gripped the Empire which the Dawi gazed upon with disappointment and disbelief. [1b]
Although they did not interfere in their internal struggle, the Dawi sought to protect them from threats with only two exceptions - the unstoppable Waaagh! of Gorbad Ironclaw in 1707 IC and the first of the Vampire Wars. [1b]
Although they had seen the war against the Elector Count Vlad von Carstein as a internal matter, Konrad von Carstein attacked settlements loyal to Zhufbar which led to war culminating in the Battle of Grim Moor. They marched alongside the living against Mannfred von Carstein until their victory at the Battle of Hel Fenn in 2145 IC. [1b]
The Great War Against Chaos
In 2302 IC, the forces of Chaos waxed powerfully and Everchosen Asavar Kul invaded Kislev and High King Balun Alriksson sent his son and an army to defend Kislev city whilst he continued the war against the greenskins. At the Battle at the Gates of Kislev, the Dawi, wizards trained by Teclis and the humans of the Empire and Kislev united to defeat the enemy. [1b]
Grom
In 2410 IC, when Goblin Warlord Grom the Paunch led a massive Waagh! through Black Fire Pass, Bragarik the king of Karak Angazhar attempted to stop him but was defeated, asking the High King for aid. As he gathered his army, Thorgrim invoked the pact with the Empire, but Dieter IV refused as he was dealing with an rebellion. The Emperor and his kin were entered into the Book of Grudges and the Dawi retreated to their holds to let Grom rampage the surface as he willed. [1b]
Writs of Passage
Those who wished to travel through the Karaz Ankor need a writ of passage - a rune-enchanted document that must ne presented on demand.[1d]
- Copper writs allow a traveller to visit the town outside a hold and travel along the road. [1d]
- Silver writs grant the bearer permission to enter the hold - if they have a good reason. [1d]
- Gold writs allow the bearer - high nobility, an ambassador or a Dwarf Friend to travel where they wish and allows access to high officials and even the king. [1d]
Forging such a document and being caught results in expulsion and branding whilst creating a gold forgery results in death.[1d]
Quotes
| Fool. Karaz Ankor is the foundation stone on which the whole world rests secure, the wall against which all dangers break, no matter what those Elves claim. It may be cracked in places, broken in others, but still it stands defiant. And if you value your lands and lives, manling, you‘ll pray on your scrawny knees to your Ancestors that never ends. |
Sources