“But a small dark figure that none had observed sprang out of the shadows and gave a hoarse shout: Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu! An axe swung and swept back. Two Orcs fell headless. The rest fled.” - Dwarven battle cry
Campaign Features
Dwarven Relics
Reclaim ancient Dwarven relics that rightfully belong to you using diplomacy, espionage or force
Dwarven Rings of Power
Decide the fate of the remaining Dwarves in Ered Luin. Accept Sauron’s gifts and grant control of Ered Luin to the Grimborn clan or refute him and work with the Free Peoples to rid Eriador of his filth.
Every Dwarven lord of Ered Luin has in his service a number of noble retainers who attend to him in times of peace and who accompany him to battle in times of war. These brave warriors are trained with skill to defend their lord, and as such each is equipped with the finest arms and armour available. They go to war clad in a hauberk of fine steel mail that hangs to their knees and wielding a sharpened spear, used to pierce the skulls of their enemies and to keep away even the mightiest of beasts. They are also known for wearing heavy hideous helms with mask-like visors, much like the Dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod did in the First Age. In battle these fearless warriors are typically held back and only committed at the time of greatest need, when they are often instrumental in turning the tide of the battle.
Dwarves have a long memory. Longer than any of the races of Middle-earth. And many of them remember very well the grievous Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and fiery wrath of Glaurung, and the glory of fallen king of Belegost, crushed by the Great Worm. Ever since that day Dwarves of Ered-Luin gather every year to sing an ancient dirge in memory of their great ancestor. Azaghâl's Tomb Protectors are the descendants of the warriors of the past, who carried the body of Azaghâl from the field of battle to his eternal resting place. They keep ward over the magnificent vault built on the highest peak of the Blue Mountains. To perform this duty they equip themselves with a powerful two-handed axe, which requires great strength to wield, while they are clad in both mail and plate armour for protection. They also wear a heavy steel helm which covers their face like a mask, thus clearly showing their pride to hail from the Ered Luin; the Blue Mountains. Their fury is unmatched on the battlefield, as they sweep through the ranks of the enemy, leaving no survivor. Many goblins and even dragons have fallen from their hands, in eternal service to the great king of Belegost.
Although the dwarves are some of the deadliest melee warriors on Middle-earth, they usually have few truly skilled ranged troops. The Broadbeam Marksmen, traditionally of the dwarves of the Broadbeam clan, are an exception to this. Guarding the aboveground entrances to the dwarven holds of the Blue Mountains, these dwarves are well trained in the use of the finest crossbows that Ered Luin can provide. The dwarf answer to a human ranger, these capable marksmen can fire bolts over great distances and strike the enemy down from afar with little risk to themselves. Their blue-coloured clothes and garments clearly show from which mountain range they come and where their allegiance lies.
Although the dwarves are some of the deadliest melee warriors on Middle-earth, they usually have few truly skilled ranged troops. The Broadbeam Marksmen, traditionally of the dwarves of the Broadbeam clan, are an exception to this. Guarding the aboveground entrances to the dwarven holds of the Blue Mountains, these dwarves are well trained in the use of the finest crossbows that Ered Luin can provide. The dwarf answer to a human ranger, these capable marksmen can fire bolts over great distances and strike the enemy down from afar with little risk to themselves. Their blue-coloured clothes and garments clearly show from which mountain range they come and where their allegiance lies.
While a dwarven Clanlord does not often grace the battlefield, when he does it is a most grand affair. Flanked on all sides by the most veteran and battle-hardened dwarves who bear the royal sigil and arms, Gor and his bodyguard carve through the battlefield like a glistening glacier carves out the valley behind it. An unstoppable force only halted by an unmoveable object, these dwarves cut and cleave their way through anything that stands in their way. There is no question of their duty, no question of their ability. The oath they swore will be taken to the grave and any who would doubt this for a second should think twice before attempting to bear down on this force or their leader.
Unlike many of his clanfolk who much prefer the comfort of a warm hall and a belly full of mead, Gráin has had an incurable curiosity for the outside world. Whether inspired by the great journeys and exploits of his ancestor Thorin or just a simple longing hidden deep in his heart, he has walked and trodden many a path in Eriador and beyond. In this desire, he is not alone. Over the many years, he has assembled a great company of like minded dwarves who accompany him on his travels. He has seen the rolling hills of Annúminas, the great towers of Emyn Beraid and even laid eyes on the edges of the frozen wastes of Forodwaith. Do not be mistaken however, for Eriador still remains a desolate and dangerous place and as such, Gráin and his companions equip themselves with fine armour and sturdy crossbows to keep even the darkest of creatures at bay.
Dwarves do not shun hard work, they worship it. Aulë taught all Dwarves the value of labour and toil and they readily march to work every morning. Many a great deed is done in the mines and work camps of the dwarven city-states and the camaraderie of the labourers is second-to-none. When the horns of war sound, these dwarves work harder and faster to ensure the survival of their race and when the call to arms goes up, they answer. Whilst not fully armed or armoured, the labourers of the Dwarves are perhaps the strongest militia force in Middle-earth! Their brute force and assorted, though often improvised, weaponry allow them to hack through armour with ease and it is a foolish General who writes them off as 'simple workers'.
This unit consists mostly of the less experienced and younger Dwarves, who have not yet seen many battles. They are however brave and motivated warriors, willing to fight for their lords and dedicated to protect their chief cities and mines in the Ered Luin. Even though they are not the most skilled soldiers available to the Longbeards armies, they are still a force to be reckoned with; for as with all Dwarves, they have excellent morale, ensuring that they will only retreat from battle when all hope of victory is gone. Armed with an one-handed sword - a weapon both useful and deadly, especially when handled by the skilful hands of the Dwarves - and a round wooden shield of average quality, while wearing an iron helmet and mail armour covering their entire body, these Dwarves form the backbone of the armies of the Blue Mountains. Their blue-coloured clothes and garments clearly show from which mountain range they come and where their allegiance lies.
These pikes are the very embodiment of the stubbornness of the Dwarves, and whilst not forming the finest soldiers of the Ered Luin they are nevertheless very dependable and in the eyes of the Dwarves and that is worth more than any other battlefield trait. As Ered Luin is unused to war, these soldiers use pikes fashioned from whatever wood they can find to great effect against enemy armies and are mostly comprised of levies of unskilled dwarves, who are willing to lay down their lives for their beloved mountain range. Their blue-coloured clothes and garments clearly show from which mountain range they come and where their allegiance lies.
For many years, Ered Luin has not had to deal with full scale warfare; at most they have had to defend against troublesome bands of orcs. Now that Middle-earth moves to a great war, the dwarves of Ered Luin have taken up the crossbow, as it requires minimal training and thus can be used effectively even by those inexperienced in warfare. Sharp iron bolts, forged with a mastery in metalworking possessed only by the Dwarves, are fired with lethal accuracy to the enemy. Companies of Scouts from the Blue Mountains, lightly armoured and equipped with crossbows and bolts, are typically used for scouting and for weakening the enemy ranks, before the unmatched Dwarven infantry charges into battle.
The Firebeard Warriors originate from the Dwarven clan known as the Firebeards. Like many dwarves they are stubborn and ill tempered these traits are only amplified in this group as the Firebeard Clan is known for taking these traits to unhealthy extremes. They scorn the heavy armour of their kinsmen in favour of the mobility and speed afforded them by the best Dwarven mail they can produce. They couple this light armour (by Dwarven standards) with a twin weapon set, two ominous war hammers that they swing with a vengeance to smite their foes. Alone among the melee forces of Ered Luin, stands the Firebeards as the only soldiers equipped to pierce the armour of their foes.
There is no greater honour for a dwarf of the Firebeard clan than to lead the vanguard. These dwarves have long abandoned any notions of self-preservation or cowardice and the bodyguard of their Clanlord Nar is no different. They are not just Firebeards who long for battle but ones that have proven themselves in battle and survived to tell the tales of their great victories. Wielding special two-handed axes, crafted by the famed Firebeard smith Flofir, not even the finest armour of the dwarves could withstand a brutal swing. Small in number but deadly in action, Nar and his bodyguard should not be underestimated.
The Firebeard Warriors originate from the Dwarven clan known as the Firebeards. Like many dwarves they are stubborn and ill tempered these traits are only amplified in this group as the Firebeard Clan is known for taking these traits to unhealthy extremes. They scorn the heavy armour of their kinsmen in favour of the mobility and speed afforded them by the best Dwarven mail they can produce. They couple this light armour (by Dwarven standards) with a twin weapon set, two ominous war hammers that they swing with a vengeance to smite their foes. Alone among the melee forces of Ered Luin, stands the Firebeards as the only soldiers equipped to pierce the armour of their foes.
The Gabilgathol Guard are one of the most feared and notorious units that the Dwarves of the Ered Luin can muster. These troops are armed with a sturdy shield and a sharp steel sword, crafted by the master smiths personally for each warrior; their quality is above that of almost any mortal weapon. The warriors that form the ranks of the Gabilgathol Guard are trained to fight and hold their ground till death, and they do so with considerable efficiency; countless Goblin skulls have already been crushed under their by their devastating blows from their blades. Carrying a round iron shield and a steel helmet, the Guard are famous for their silver-steel armour, forged with the finest gems and jewels of the earth - a clear sign of their nobility within the Dwarven society. As such they cannot live with the shame of running from the battlefield, so they always march into battle fearless, chanting with deep voices, and they will never flee from danger as long as there is even the smallest chance of victory.
With the growing power of the Grimborn clan and their burgeoning hold over Ered Luin, it was decided to outfit a unit of their finest warriors to ensure that the will of the Grimborn be done, both domestically and on the fields of Middle-earth. These Reavers are famed for their black armour and fierce weaponry. More than that however, the Grimborn hold hatred in their hearts and are not easily swayed from a course once they set their mind to it. Their name will soon be known throughout Middle-earth and only time will tell if they are held as saviours or scourges.
Grindfârn, now in complete control of the remaining dwarves of the Blue Mountains, has assembled his most capable and loyal followers to his side. With the ancient vaults opened and the most sacred and precious gems of our people cast into armour for him and his sycophants, they are ready to unleash their so called "revenge" upon Eriador and it's people. Wielding huge two handed swords, cast from fine Dwarven steel deep in the depths of Thorin's Halls, they can cut through a hobbit like a hot knife through butter. They are the harbingers of the new Dwarven age and they must be stopped no matter the cost.
With the growing power of the Grimborn clan and their burgeoning hold over Ered Luin, it was decided to outfit a unit of their finest warriors to ensure that the will of the Grimborn be done, both domestically and on the fields of Middle-earth. These Reavers are famed for their black armour and fierce weaponry. More than that however, the Grimborn hold hatred in their hearts and are not easily swayed from a course once they set their mind to it. Their name will soon be known throughout Middle-earth and only time will tell if they are held as saviours or scourges.
Like their kin in the ranks of the Scouts, these dwarves wield crossbows in battle against the enemy. However, unlike the hastily made wooden crossbows the Scouts wield, these warriors have the privilege of carrying crossbows reinforced with metal that allows them to fire bolts with greater strength than the Scouts. They are also more skilled as many of the warriors in these ranks have training with the use of the crossbows, unlike the levy of Scouts who are taught to use the weapon when they are recruited. Their blue-coloured clothes and garments clearly show from which mountain range they come and where their allegiance lies.
Ever since the time of Thorin II Oakenshield, Dwarves of Durin's kind dwell in the Ered Luin, after years of wandering in Dunland and Eriador. During the reign of Thorin mines were built, the alliances with the Firebeards and Broadbeams were renewed, and the Longbeards at Thorin's Halls grew ever more numerous. To prepare his people for upcoming wars, Thorin formed the unit of the Dwarven Pikes. These Naugrim belong to the very elite of the warriors that the Halls of Thorin can muster, wielding a long and powerful pike; a weapon that combines the defence of a dwarf with the thrust of a spear. While the pike is an excellent weapon for keeping mounted forces at bay, it does not guarantee victory in close combat, and for that reason these Dwarves are equipped with an auxiliary axe on their backs. Furthermore they are protected by both mail and scale armour, and they can rely upon their sturdy helmets for additional safety.
Longbeards, or Durin's Folk are the wisest and most farseeing of the seven kindreds. Although traditionally not known for their skill in archery, it is still an art that is practiced in small circles of Dwarves, especially amongst the Longbeards. The crossbow is surely easier to use for the average Dwarf but these Longbeards are far beyond average. They are wise and formiddable and arm themselves with the finest gear and the sturdiest shields. They are highly immobile due to their short stature and heavy equipment but can very easily hold down a position and pepper the enemy with volleys of arrows while they do so.
This unit consists mostly of the more experienced and elder Dwarves, who have seen many battles. They are very brave and motivated warriors, willing to fight for their lords and dedicated to protect their chief cities and mines in the Ered Luin. They are a deadly force to be reckoned with; for as with all Dwarves, they have excellent morale, ensuring that they will only retreat from battle when all hope of victory is gone. Armed with a sharp spear -a weapon both useful and deadly, especially when handled by the skilful hands of the Dwarves- and a round wooden shield of good quality, they will bring swift death to their foes. They wear finely crafted armour and form the basis of the medium tier troops from the Blue Mountains. Their blue-coloured clothes and garments clearly show from which mountain range they come and where their allegiance lies.
