Hammerer
Dwarf Hammerers form a personal bodyguard of a Dwarf King, chosen by the ruler himself. In some ways, their role is close to Knights in other cultures. [4a][9]
Contents
Overview
Hammerers are individuals from different units, and perhaps even clans, who have proven themselves in uncountable battles, showing not just great strength and deadly martial prowess, but also steadfast loyalty and a bold and courageous nature. They are formed into a hard-hitting shock unit, a force capable of breaking enemy formations the way a heavy warhammer crushes shale. As the most elite warriors, Hammerers enjoy a high status within their hold. [4a][9]
In addition to being a formidable fighting unit, the Hammerers are often used as personal bodyguard of a Lord or a Thane. When not personally shielding their Thane or king, they are tasked with guarding key elements, such as the throne room or front gate. Duty to a liege is a sacred thing to Dwarfs. An individual bound by oath to his Lord will fight all the harder, and for the leader of the throng, a Hammerer will gladly give his life rather than face the dishonour of failure. A king surrounded by his Hammerers is the keep in the centre of the throng: grim and unyielding, a living personification of the indomitable Dwarf spirit. Of course, the allegiance goes both ways, and it is a Lord’s duty to properly equip these hand-picked units and to seal the oath between them.[4a][9]
The symbol of the bond between a Lord and his Hammerers is the weapons they carry. Each is given a heavy, but perfectly balanced, great hammer, which is often made of Gromril. Outfitted in heavy, well-polished Dwarf mail, Hammerers wade into combat wielding their great weapons. They swing their hammers in sweeping arcs, hitting their enemies with such vigour that only enchanted or hell-forged armour can withstand the force of their blows. With a cracking and crumping, the whirling hammerheads send up gory debris, as splintered shields, cracked bits of armour and even heads or limbs are thrown into the air by the sheer force of the impact. Dwarf battle lines have been known to cheer at the sight of the great hammers rising and falling around their king’s banner, beating out a rhythmic noise that is not unlike the deep-booming industrial sounds made by the vast drop hammers found in the larger Dwarf forges.[4a][9]
Additionally Dwarf leaders have used their Hammerers as travelling troubleshooters, sending them to solve difficult issues with their great hammers. More delicate issues are better left to others. [9]
Veteran Hammerers can be promoted to become Shieldbearers. [9]
History
It has been claimed that Hammerers were first appointed as royal bodyguards to High King Morgrim Blackbeard in -1245 IC and that Kadrin Redmane was the first Hammerer. Kadrin was a master craftsman when the king was visiting a gold mine in Gunbad to bolster the morale of the workers following numerous Goblin raids when a horde of Night Goblins attacked. He reacted first as the warriors guarding the king were overwhelmed, and he charged the invaders, swiftly joined by many other smiths in the forge saving the king who later rewarded him with a Rune Hammer and since that day Hammerers have guarded Dwarf kings. [2a][6a][9]
Notable
Larger strongholds will have many regiments of Hammerers, and these often become known by the name of what or whom they guard, such as the Peak Gate Guard of Karak Norn or the Drakebeard Guard, the Hammerers assigned to guard Thane Ull Hammerhand of the Clan Drakebeard in Karak Kadrin.[4a]
The most elite of all Hammerers are the Everguard, the bodyguards of the High King whose service dates back to the time of Snorri Whitebeard himself. [8][Note1]
Weapons and Equipment
- 3rd Edition: Double Handed Weapon, Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour, Shield. May have Musician, Standard Bearer. May have a Magic Instrument, may have a Magic Standard. [5a]
- 6th Edition: Great Weapon, Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour. May have Shield. May have Gate Keeper, Musician, Standard Bearer. May have a Runic Standard. [5a]
- 8th Edition: Great Weapon, Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour. May have Shield. May have Keeper of the Gate who may have Rune Weapon, Musician, Standard Bearer. May have a Runic Standard. [4a]
- W:TOW: Great Weapon, Gromril Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour. May have Shield. May have Royal Champion who may have Dwarf Runes, Musician, Standard Bearer. May have a Runic Standard. [7]
Gallery
A Hammerer (3rd edition)
A Hammerer (5th edition)
A Hammerer
Hammerers in Total War Warhammer II
Hammerer
Hammerer
Hammerers
Miniatures
Hammerer (3rd edition)
A Hammerer (5th edition)
Hammerers (8th edition plastics)
Hammerer Command
Conflicting Sources
- Note1: Given that the first Hammerer was Kadrin Redmane in -1245 IC, the Everguard existing since the first Dwarf High King seems to be an error or the unit became a dedicated Hammerer unit only later. Alternatively the Redmane story is false, as all of the sources[2a][6a][9] attach some sort of uncertainity to it.
Sources
- 1 Warhammer Armies: Dwarfs (4th Edition)
- 1a pg. 85
- 2 Warhammer Armies: Dwarfs (6th Edition)
- 4 Warhammer Armies: Dwarfs (8th Edition)
- 4a Dwarf Army List, pg. 92
- 5 Warhammer Armies (3rd Edition)
- 5a Dwarf Army List, pg. 105
- 6: Grudgelore
- 6a: Hammerers, pg. 71
- 7: Forces of Fantasy (TOW), Hammerers, pg. 23
- 8: Warhammer: Thanquol, Dwarf Throng of Karaz-a-Karak, pg. 222
- 9: Dwarf Players Guide: Hammerer, pg 68
