Karak Azgal
Karak Azgal is a lost Dwarf hold whose above ground ruins have been reclaimed. [1]
It was once known as Karak Izril or the City of Jewels, then renamed Karag Drakk - Dragons Crag [5a] but is now called Karak Azgal or Hoard Keep [1a][5a]
History
The hold was founded in -4200 IC. [7a]
Two shipwrecked elves, Admiral Aernuis and Sutherai, stumbled into a outpost of the hold whose occupants took pity on them and brought them back to karak Izril where they remained for several decades before gaining an audience with the High King. [6]
In the Time of Legends, Thurgin Ironheart led his throng of 10,000 warriors to Karak Vlak where the High King Snorri Whitebeard had mustered the might of the Dwarfs to fight alongside the Elves of Prince Malekith against the Daemons of Chaos.[3a]
King Aflegard attended a rinkkaz before the War of Vengeance erupted and warned the other kings of the Skaven. [3b]
Following the fall of Karak Eight Peaks the long millennia of comparative peace ended as Orcs, Goblins and Skaven all attacked the wealthy hold. Unable to hold back the hordes, the dwarfs sealed their vaults and hid their treasures behind powerful Runes and retreated, quickly the various attacking warbands sought plunder elsewhere, attacking Karak Drazh in turn.[1a]
The Runes however did not fool the great dragon Graug the Terrible who found the primary vault and the legends of hidden treasure however did attract both human and dwarf treasure hunters and tomb raiders who mainly fed the great beast and added to his hoard. [1a] [5a]
When the hold fell, the Staff of Valaya was created for the guardian of the royal tombs who sealed himself within them. [4a]
Expeditions were commissioned by the Jewelsmith's Guild and finally a dwarf youth by the name of Skalf Dragonslayer killed the dragon with his rune sword. He was forced to grab what he could and flee when the dragon’s death scream alerted the rest of the inhabitants of the fallen hold. [1a][5a]
Above ground, the children of Skalf himself set up a small fortress they named Kazad Migdhal (Gatehouse Fortress) near the Main entrance to the hold. [1a] The vast wealth of the dragons hoard allowed Skalf to build a small city in the ruins, walled and well defended with plenty of room to expand inside, and expand it did - not only dwarfs but adventurers from other races began to flock to the hold in search of treasure. [2a]
A shantytown grew outside the new walls, filled with adventurers, cut throats and all those who could provide services and/or exploit the treasure seekers. The current lord of the hold - Kargun Skalfson only has a relatively few warriors and struggles to expand his control, and so he is forced to welcome adventurers to explore the underground portion and cull the creatures within, paying a toll to him for any treasures recovered. [2a]
Locations
- Skalfs Hold: The primary city that was constructed with the vast wealth of a dragons hoard, it boasts an encircling 20ft wall of stone with two gatehouses, one in the East, the other in the West. The guttered streets are all paved with stone, and the drains run down into natural caverns adapted by engineers to act as sewers. All buildings are created from grey or white stone but few are more than a single story.[2c]
- Great Temple of the Ancestors: A famous architect from Karak Eight Peaks, Rotan Gundorson was commissioned by Skalf to create a mighty temple to honour the Ancestor Gods. it is a stunning creation - an vast round building with eight towers and entrances, whilst stained glass windows tell the full story of the fall of Karak Izril. Completely open within and decorated by beautiful mosaics on the ceiling. The temple is normally open from dusk to dawn and tended by the High Priestess, five other priests and ten initiates. [2c]
- Holdfast: Constructed on the spot that Skalf emerged from the hold having defeated the dragon, it is a strong keep that towers 120ft into the air and on its summit has a further 30ft statue of a golden dragon. Skalf's descendants live in the upper levels whilst the ground floor has council chambers and the headquarters of the Lawbringers. It is surrounded by the other strong mansions of lesser noble families. [2c]
- Temple of Myrmidia: The walls of the temple are covered in shields from across the Old World and a large stone statue of the goddess presides over the practise yard in front of the building. Once a month the Master of the temple holds a contest of honour for the goddess. [2c]
- Temple of Shallya: Usually full of the sick and dying, the temple is blessed with a enclosed courtyard in which is a lovely fountain known as the Tears of Shallya. Lady Hilde has a single priest, a physician and seven initiates to tend to those who come to be healed. [2c]
- Temple of Gorlaz the Golden: It serves as the primary banking centre in the hold. [2c]
- Deadgate
A large and growing collection of ramshackle and temporary structures that huddle below the main city, it has a single cobbled street around which cluster various taverns. [2d]
- Barrow Hill Cemetery: The old burial pit where corpses were merely flung away is now covered by a temple to Morr. There are 4 Initiates serving the community and the sole Priest, Rufus Grunenwald. [2d]
- The Pit of Blood: A 10ft deep and 50ft wide fighting pit with seating for 300. [2d]
- The Wall of Heroes: A 5ft high and 40ft long wall of grey stone bears the names of those who have not returned from exploring the underground sections of the Hold, as long as they pay the 2 Gold Crown fee.[2d]
Notable
- Honoured Dead (all Dwarfs)
- Alfegard: King of the hold during the War of Vengeance. [3b]
- Skalf Dragonslayer: In his youth he slew Graug the terrible with his gromril rune sword. [1a]
- Golengil Drongdorson: A Rune smith famed for the creation of many rune weapons including the The Wrath of Grungni. [2f]
- Faragund the Bold: First king of Karak Azgal, had eight chidlren. [2f]
- Belgrina Fargunsdotr: Only Queen of the hold, she ruled well for seventy five years, respected for her prowess in battle. [2f]
- Nori Fimdorson: Known as "The Bear" he defeated Glamag an Ogre king and prevented his army attacking the hold. [2f]
- Thurgin Ironheart: Thane of the Hold during the Time of Legends. [3a]
- Dwalik Kragninson: Held a mountain pass single handed against an Orc tribe , saving the son of Dwarf Thane. [2f]
- Rorgrim: The only King of his bloodline, he was slain by the dragon Graauth. [2f]
- Kargun Skalfson: King of the revived hold in IC 2510. [1a]
- Athranbor Thorikson: High Thane and Supreme Commander of the Ironbreakers, he and his warriors fought and drove away the horde of Garbash the Slayer. [2f]
- Zargona Zarkisdotr: The daughter of a weapon smith, she saved a hundred children by leading a successful charge against a Rat Ogre. [2f]
- Current
- Dwarf
- Rorantok Damirson: A quiet member of the Small Council and a renowned Runesmith who brought his clan here from Karaz-a-Karak. [2c]
- Thorgrim Dragonslayer: Lord of the Hold. [2c]
- Dronglik Durgarson: Member of the Small Council, Head of incredibly rich Durgarson Clan, descendants of one of Skalf's companions. [2c]
- Korag Foragonson: Member of the Small Council and Guild Master of the Stonecutter's Guild. [2c]
- Balikina Furlisdotr: High Priestess of the Great Temple of the Ancestors. [2c]
- Grondella Harkansdotr: She runs the pre-eminent supply shop in Skalf's Hold and was born and raised in the hold. [2c]
- Thane Furagrum Kazorson: Commander of the Lawbringers.[2b]
- Furtin Nogunson: Member of the Small Council and the head of the Norgunson Clan who have a large mine beyond the city walls. [2c]
- Molatok Nokinson: Guild Master of the Mining Guild. [2c]
- Captain Kragdin Rorganson: Nobleman and commander of 200 soldiers stationed at the hold
- Zarador Svenginson: Guild Master of the Jewelsmith's Guild. [2c]
- Faralina Voragorsdotr: Member of the Small Council and Head of the matriarchal Voragorsdotr Clan who have a large gem mine a mile from the city. [2c]
- Human
- Hildegard Grunwald: Pristess of Shallya, 'Lady' Hilde is in charge of the Temple to her Goddess. [2c]
- Rufus Grunenwald: Priestess of Morr, Master of the temple in the Deadgate area. [2d]
- Gaetano Rivera: A short tempered Tilean former mercenary is the master of the temple of Myrmidia. [2c]
- Dwarf
- Creatures of the World Below:
Various creatures have made a home in the darkness of the ruined hold, some are rare or even unique to this location. [2e]
- Cave Spider: Twice the size of the regular Giant Spider, these arachnids are also far more intelligent. [2e]
- Chameleon Snake: As their name suggest they can shift colour to match their surroundings, appear to be indigenous to Karak Azgal. [2e]
- Goblins
- Land Wyvern: A wingless breed of these monsters brought to the area by Orcs. [2e]
- Monstrous Squig [2e]
- Orcs
- Rock Worm: Huge (over 15ft long) worms that travel the depths of the hold in search of prey. [2e]
- Skaven
- Undead
Organisations
- Brotherhood of the Forked Beard: Dwarfs who oppose outsiders entering the hold. [2e]
- Lawgivers: respected Longbeards who patrol both Skalf's Hold and Deadgate in full plate armour, their primary duty is ensure that all taxes are paid according to the law, making sure that both entrance and exit to the underhold is regulated. [1a]
| 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 |
Notes
- In Stone and Steel, Skalf kills the sleeping dragon whilst in the Karak Azgal sourcebook he fights an epic battle with it and decapitates it.
Sources
- 1: Dwarfs: Stone and Steel by Alfred Nuňez. Jr and Hogshead Publishing
- 2: Karak Azgal (book) by Black Industries
- 3: The Great Betrayal (Novel)
- 4: White Dwarf 314 (UK)
- 4a: Secrets of the Runes, pg. 68
- 5: White Dwarf 152 (UK)
- 5aThe Dwarf Realms, pg. 58
- 6: The Sundering (anthology) (Time of Legends edition): Malekith (Novel) by Gav Thorpe: Five: The High King, pg. 72-73
- 7: Dwarf Players Guide
- 7a: Dwarf Timeline, pg. 16
