Dwarf hold
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Dwarfen civilization revolves around the inhabitation of well-protected fortress settlements known as Holds (Karak in Khazalid) which are centered in a system of halls, chambers, and defensive barriers within the interior of a mountain. Within these holds, the Dwarfs are able to successfully mine potentially vast amounts of rare and precious metals and gems held deep in the world's crust, with relatively low risk of theft. The holds also allow the Dwarfs to protect the veins and deposits they have laid claim to using their own defensive tunnel and trap systems.[2]
Contents
Overview
Each of the Holds is ruled by a single Dwarf King who owes fealty to the High King of the Dwarfs, the Lord of Karaz-A-Karak (currently, Thorgrim Grudgebearer), and is obligated by sacred and utterly inviolable Oaths to answer the High King's muster of the entirety of Dwarfen civilization of Karak Ankor, should it be deemed necessary (as was called for during the Storm of Chaos).
Many Holds have fallen to Skaven and Greenskins since the end of the Golden Age of the Dwarfs, and some to fouler things still. Yet many of the mightiest holds that have ever existed still stand strong, prosper in trade with allied nations, and some even manage to eke out a stable population net growth - contrary to the idea that the Dwarfs are a doomed race in the manner of the High Elves.
Additionally, new holds are often founded or reclaimed by expeditions of fortune-seekers led by a noble whose Clan can make a claim of rulership to an abandoned hold - providing they can survive the inevitable war with the malicious squatter races that invade such places [3] (Skaven, Orcs, and Goblins are the most hated of all the enemies of the Dwarfs for precisely this reason).
The most freshly built (in relative terms - mere centuries old) of the newest generation of holds are generally little more than stout surface redoubts which are built over major ore veins - settlements that are generally abandoned before becoming true Dwarf Holds for economic reasons. Some of these new holds such as Karak Hirn and Karak Badul, however, manage to find spots to found on within strong natural defensive terrain that rests on top of huge gem and rare metal deposits - allowing these new holds to attract wandering Dwarf Clans to help populate it, materiel for crafting and trade, and especially the benefit of drawing younger, less conservative Dwarfs to operate the local Engineer's Guild - a phenomenon that has seen the introduction and eventual acceptance of war machines such as the Organ Gun, Flamecannon, Gyrocopter, and Firedrake gun despite the grumbling of Longbeards across the Kingdoms. Alternatively, the best Runesmiths, shieldcrafters, armsmiths, and other fine Dwarf artisans are universally acknowledged to be products of the ancient, "old" holds from before the end of the Golden Age.
Anatomy of a Hold
Dwarfs and the Surface
Though the Dwarfs live much of their lives beneath the earth's surface, and the greater part of a hold's realm is beneath the surface of mountains and rock, Dwarfs do not fear the surface. Indeed as much as one-third of a king's domain may be above ground and far afield from his royal chambers at the heart of a fortified mountain city [1].
Surface structures include not only gates and gatehouses into the hold proper, but also a network of other delvings that may only be connected to the interior of the mountain by overground routes. These incorporate "all manner of mines, lookout towers, goat-herding stations, trading posts, breweries, farms, gyrocopter landing stages, and Ranger outposts."[1]
The most obvious outwardly visible indications of a Dwarf hold are the bastions and skybridges that crisscross the upper reaches of mountains which the Hold is built into. Bridges, towers, turrets, and walls are patrolled at all times of the night and day by the stalwart warriors of the city. Warnings are sent from one edge of the realm to the other by using bonfire signals, and troops or artillery can be swiftly and invisibly redeployed from one outpost or way station to another via reinforced trenches or tunnels.[9a]
Beneath the Earth
Within the hold proper exist a series of descending levels called "deeps". These deeps are usually linked by long stairways, subterranean tunnels, and shafts - lit up to a surprisingly bright degree either by large braziers, or by cunningly crafted luminary shafts filled with reflective angles and reaching up from a deep to a discrete air intake point on the mountain surface. [2][3] The walls of the deeps themselves are expertly crafted and adored with Dwarfen mosaics and runic insignia.
The topmost deep is called the Upper Deep, and generally consists of entrance halls, barracks, a royal audience/council chamber, and guard rooms. In the Lower (or Middle) Deeps are the hold's great hall, guild halls, distilleries, kitchens, pantries, feasting halls, and drinking lodges located. Further down the depth of the mountain, more prestigious halls and chambers are located (Royal Clan Halls, Gold/Jewelsmithing shops, libraries, counting rooms, foundries, workshops, powder rooms, etc. [9a]
The lowest deeps, sometimes miles beneath the ground hold safe the tombs of the ancestors, the Hall of Remembering which houses the Book of Grudges and the Hall of Deeds which records the victories of the Hold. This area also is home to the Temples to the Ancestor Gods. [9a]
The Underdeep is where current or formerly active mining operations take place. In older holds (particularly those connected to the once-famous Underway linking all the greatest of the ancient Dwarf cities), the Underdeep is a dangerous and abandoned place where Skaven and Goblins are known to lurk, and where the Ironbreakers and Firedrakes are forced to fight their bloody wars to defend their home from the greed and hate of lesser creatures.[4]
List of Dwarf Holds
Dwarf-held Holds
- Barak Varr great seaport of the Dwarfs
- Grimhold, located in the Vaults[5]
- Karaz-a-Karak, the cultural and spiritual centre of the Dwarfs
- Karak Angazbar, a hold in the Black Mountains [6b]
- Karak Angkul. [8]
- Karak Azgal, lost to the Orcs, later reclaimed
- Karak Azgaraz, a powerful hold in the Grey Mountains [7a]
- Karak Azul, the southernmost hold
- Karak Bhufdar, located in the Vaults[5]
- Karak Eight Peaks, recently reclaimed and tenuously held
- Karak Eksfilaz, a Dwarf hold in the Vaults [6b]
- Karak Gantuk, a small hold in the Black Mountains. [6b]
- Karak Grom, a Dwarf hold in the Vaults. [6b]
- Karak Hirn, located in the Black Mountains[6b]
- Karak Izor, located in The Vaults[6b]
- Karak Kadrin the Slayer Keep [6b]
- Karak Kaferkammaz, a hold in the Vaults [6b]
- Karak Norn, located in the Grey Mountains
- Karak Ziflin, a small hold in the Grey Mountains [6b]
- Karak Zorn, legendary hold located in the southern Worlds Edge Mountains deep within the Southlands. [6]
- Zhufbar, located near Black Water lake
Norse Dwarf Holds
- Kraka Dorden: Second largest of the Norse Dwarf holds. [6a]
- Kraka Drak: The largest of the northern holds and seat of Thorgard Cromson, Great King of the Norse Dwarves. [6a]
- Kraka Ornsmotek: Most northern hold. [6a]
- Kraka Ravnsvake: Lies at the far end of the Draksfjord. [6a]
Chaos Dwarf-held Holds
- Black Fortress
- The Daemon's Stump
- Gash Kadrak
- The Gates of Zharr
- The Tower of Gorgoth
- Uzkulak
- Zharr-Naggrund, the capital city of the Chaos Dwarf empire in the Plain of Zharr.
Lost Holds
- Kadar-Gravning, A smaller hold in the Vaults. [11a]
- Karak Azorn: Abandoned hold in the Mountains of Mourn. [10a]
- Karak Dum was lost to the Chaos Wastes
- Karak Krakaten: Abandoned hold in the Mountains of Mourn. [10a]
- Karak Vlag Abandoned hold in the Mountains of Mourn, [10a] was lost under mysterious circumstances
- Karak Varn overlooks Black Water, its mines are rich in Gromril
- Red Eye Mountain, now a stronghold and fortress of Night Goblins, was once Karak Ungor
- Black Crag, now an Orc fortress, was once Karak Drazh
- Ekrund, located in the Dragonback Mountains, lost to the Orcs
- Mount Silverspear lost to the Orcs
- Silver Pinnacle or Karaz Bryn was lost to the vampires of Neferata
Legendary Holds
- Karak Zorn, the southern-most Hold, known of only in legend
Notes
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- Older publications use Carak instead of Karak.
Sources
- 1: Needs Citation
- 2: Needs Citation
- 3: Needs Citation
- 4: Grudgelore: A History of Grudges and the Great Realm of the Dwarfs by Nick Kyme and Gav Thorpe, pgs. 16-17
- 5: Warhammer: Nagash, pg. 52
- 6: Dwarfs: Stone and Steel by Alfred Nuňez. Jr and Hogshead Publishing
- 7: WFRP Starter Set (4th Edition)
- 8: Warhammer Chronicles: Thanquol and Boneripper (anthology): Thanquol's Doom (Novel)
- 9: Book of Grudges (WFRP)
- 9a: Chapter Two: The Everlasting Realm, pg. 9-
- 10: Tamurkhan: The Throne of Chaos
- 10a: Map, pg. 29
- 11: Doomstones: Dwarf Wars
- 11a: The Halls of Kadar-Gravning, pg. 14
| The Dwarf realms | |
| Karaz-a-Karak - Karak Kadrin - Zhufbar - Karak Azar - Karak Azgal - Karak Azul- Karak Hirn - Karak Angazbar - Karak Gantuk - Karak Izor - Karak Norn - Karak Ziflin - Karak Eight Peaks - Barak Varr - Karak Zorn - Karak Eksfilaz - Karak Kaferkammaz - Karak Grom - Karak Azgaraz - Karak Angkul | |
| Norse Dwarf holds | Kraka Dorden - Kraka Drak - Kraka Ornsmotek - Kraka Ravnsvake |
| Lost holds | Kadar-Gravning - Karag Dron - Karak Azorn - Karaz Bryn - Kazad Thrund - Karak Drazh - Karak Dum - Karak Khazarak - Karak Krum - Karak Ungor - Karak Varn - Karak Vlag - Karak Vrag - Karak Zanda - Ekrund - Mount Silverspear - Karaz Ghumzul |
