Kurgan Ironbeard

High King Kurgan Ironbeard.

Kurgan Ironbeard was the High King of the Dwarfs and ruler of Karaz-a-Karak during the time of Sigmar.

Kurgan made treaties of friendship and trade with the Unberogens which helped them to grow in strength and prosperity, uniting the tribes of man under their leadership.

History

He was travelling through the forest to the Grey Mountains in IC -15, when he was captured by a party of marauding Greenskins led by Vagraz Head-Stomper but was rescued by the young prince Sigmar to whom he gifted the warhammer Ghal Maraz in thanks. ^[1a][2a]

He attended the funeral of King Björn where he told the story of how the dead kings son, Sigmar had saved him. ^[2a]

At the Battle of Black Fire Pass, Kurgan led the Dwarf forces alongside the united twelve tribes of men under Sigmar's command against a massive army of Greenskins. ^[2a] Following their victory, Kurgan asked Alaric the Mad to make the finest blades forged by dwarf craft for the allied kings. ^[2b]

He ordered that Runelords whose home holds had been destroyed work together to create the Banner of Lost Holds which displays emblems of Karak Drazh, Karak Ungor, Karak Varn and a dozen lesser holds that have been lost to the enemies of the Dawi. ^[3]

Quotes

I gave Sigmar this hammer for a reason. True enough, it is a weapon, a mighty weapon to be sure, but it is so much more than that. Ghal-maraz is a symbol of unity, a symbol of what can be achieved through unity. A hammer is force and dominance, has the power to create as well destroy. A hammer can crush and kill, but it can shape metal, build homes and mend that which is broken. See this mighty gift for what is, a weapon and a symbol of all that can be. Men of the lands west of the mountains, heed Sigmar's words, for he speaks with the wisdom of the ancients ~ Kurgan at the funeral of King Björn.[2a]

Sources

• 1: Inferno Magazine Issue 2
  • 1a: Birth of a Legend short story, pg. 18-28
• 2: Legend of Sigmar (anthology): Heldenhammer (novel)
  • 2a: Thirteen: A gathering of Kings, pg. 192-198
  • 2b: Twenty-Three: Birth of an Empire, pg. 327
• 3: Warhammer Armies: Dwarfs (8th Edition), Ancestral Heirlooms, pg. 57

• Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), ^{Needs Citation}