 |
The History Of The Realm
|
|
|
|
|
|
Defeat & Exile
DEFEAT & EXILE
Almost as if on cue, when hostilities ceased between the dwarves of Tankard and their renewed Kenku allies, an old enemy struck again from below while the dwarves were disorganized and weakened from fighting the Kenku. Dark Dwarves.
Sneaking up from the lowest tunnels, the dark dwarves struck at the heart of the dwarves of Tankard while many of the dwarven forces were still on the surface. In an ambush much like the one centuries before by Bronlor Hammerfall, the dark dwarves managed to collapse a section of tunnels on King Daragor Hammerfall and his advisors, throwing the dwarves into further disarray.
While they fought with great determination to keep their mines, the dwarves of Tankard begrudgingly lost ground to the dark dwarves, who were using very undwarven-like tactics and relied upon the aid of great magic to achieve their goals. Suffering heavy casualties against the overwhelming odds, the dwarves were able to discern that their dark kin had formed an alliance with the Barony of Servosa.
While Servosa focused on Northgate, the dark dwarves along with their new allies, consisting of Astral and Natural Spellcasters from a few of the most powerful Royal Houses of Servosa, focused on Tankard. While the armies of Northgate struggled to hold the battle lines, adventurers were able to aid the dwarves from time to time, though it was obvious that the dwarves would fall within a few months.
In a final attempt to aid the dwarves, a few forces of Northgate were able to penetrate the Servosan prison catacombs and rescue an elder of the dark dwarven clans, believed by some to be one of their lost Kings imprisoned years ago while dealing with Servosa. In return for his freedom, the elder of the dark dwarves exerted his control to sever the alliance between the Barony of Servosa and his people under one condition: the dark dwarves remained in control of Tankard.
Obviously, the dwarves of Tankard were outraged at such a proposal, but also did they realize their fate should they continue to struggle alone. Under the mutual neutrality of the Emerald House factions from Tankard, Northgate, and the dark dwarven clans, a temporary treaty was inked until the end of the Barony War.
The dwarves would agree to leave the mines and halls of Tankard, while the dark dwarves would break their alliance with Servosa, as well as construct tunnels connecting caverns below the surface for Northgate forces to move quickly and without notice to strike at Servosan army camps.
Gathering as much as they could transport, lest it fall into the hands of their dark brethren, the dwarves left Tankard in exile, travelling deeper into the Hammerfall Mountains, residing under the protection of outlying villages and citadels of their kin to the east.
Restless in Peace...
Return To The Chronicles of Hadran
|
|
|
|
|
|
