Battle of the East Gate
| Previous | Battle of the Jaws |
 | |
| Conflict | Waaagh! Skarsnik |
| Date | 2498 IC[3a][4a] |
| Location | Karak Eight Peaks |
| Outcome | Dwarf retreat Goblin victory |
| | |
| Dwarfs | Orcs & Goblins |
| | |
| Duregar & Belegar | Skarsnik |
| | |
| unknown | Huge force |
| | |
| Half of Duregars dwarfs slain[3b] | Numerous[3b] |
The Battle of the East Gate was a battle fought between the Dwarfs who were attempting to reclaim Karak Eight Peaks and the Orcs & Goblins under Night Goblin Warboss Skarsnik. [1a]
History
The descedants of Lunn, last king of Eight Peaks gathered under Lord Belegar and had reoccupied an old citadel on the surface which he hoped to use as a base to reclaim the whole hold. Although they managed to recover some treasures and made their new home almost impregnable, they could not extend their control into the depths where the greenskins and Skaven warred with each other as well as the Dwarfs. [1a]
In an attempt to break the deadlock, Belegar had requested further aid from his kinsmen in Karaz-a-Karak and his oldest relative, Lord Duregar raised an army, marching to Karak Eight Peaks. As they progressed, they had defeated a greenskin army at the Battle of the Jaws in Mad Dog Pass. [1a][3b]
Battle
The Dwarfs marched on through Death Pass towards the once great fortress of the East Gate of the hold, now little more than a pile of stone. A watchtower remained usable and this was held by Night Goblins and as the Dwarfs moved on, they were attacked by the greenskins, with many fanatics unleashed against them, most of which were killed by crossbow bolts. [1a][3b]
They drove the initial defenders away but soon more and more goblins arrived and arrows began to rain down from the watchtower, killing both Goblins and Dwarfs. Half the Dawi army was destroyed but the goblins seemd to be endless as Lord Duregar led his remaining troops to the top of a tomb and prepared to make his last stand. [1a][3b]
Suddenly there was a huge explosion and King Belegar charged through the shattered gateway to their aid, having destroyed the Night Goblin rearguard. The two Dawi forces met as they crushed the greenskins between them and then began to move back towards the gateway. However stones began to rain down from Rock lobbers as the Orcs and Goblins reformed, killing many Dwarfs as they retreated to the citadel. [1b][3b]
Outcome
The Dwarfs lost many good warriors, but the reinforcements made up for the fallen. Beregars citadel was secure to continue searching lost treasures, but still could not fight Skarsnik for the ownership of the ruined Karak. The battle was recorded into Dwarf annals as a great and heroic adventure against owerwhelming odds. [5a]
Order of Battle
Dwarfs
- Lord Duregar, Dwarf General [1c][5a]
- Hurgar the Black, Runesmith [1c][5a]
- Dwarf Champion with Army Battle Standard [5a]
- Dragon Slayer [1c][5a]
- King Belegar. [1c]
Orcs & Goblins
- Skarsnik [1d][2a][5a]
- West Force[5a]
- Orc Big Boss[5a]
- Orc Shaman Champion[5a]
- North Force[5a]
- South Force[5a]
- East Force[5a]
Sources
- 1: White Dwarf 163 (UK)
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Orcs & Goblins (4th Edition)
- 2a: Waaagh Skarsnik, pg. 12-13
- 3: Warhammer Armies: Orcs & Goblins (7th Edition)
- 4: Warhammer Armies: Orcs & Goblins (8th Edition)
- 4a: Orcs & Goblins Timeline, pg. 28-29
- 5: Warhammer Armies: Dwarfs (4th Edition)
- 5a: Battle of the East Gate, pg. 44-54
