Free Dwarf Lands

The Free Dwarf Lands are a coalition of smaller dwarf city-states aligned with the Golloch Empire in Kings of War. They share an army list with the Golloch Empire when it comes to crunch

Background

The dwarfs of Mantica are said to have been created from the tears of the goddess of the underworld. It is said that she couldn't bear the thought that she would live forever without children of her own. As her tears fell on the stones of the underworld, they animated these rocks and begat the dwarven race. The dwarves are said to reflect this creation in character; they are as strong and enduring as stone and as passionate as the goddess who created them.

Like the other races, the dwarfs lived in unity until the God War. With the outbreak of that war, dwarven kind split into three major camps. The Abyssal Dwarfs in the northern lands of Tragar aligned with the Wicked Ones. The southern dwarfs of Abercarr remained unified, but did not align openly with the Shining Ones. Between the two lay the Free Dwarf Lands, a collection of independent dwarven city-states.

While the dwarfs of Abercarr fled underground, the free dwarfs remained on the surface. Unfortunately for these dwarfs their territory was located between Tragar, the Low Sea of Suan, and the High Sea of Bari. This left them surrounded by either water or the Abyssal Dwarfs. Their former allies lay across this small sea, but were now no longer offering aid. This led to their lands being under constant siege by their vile cousins, orcs, and the undead.

In recent years these lands have come under siege by the necromancer Mhorgoth the Faceless. Mhorgoth's forces have decimated many of the free states, killing noble and commoner alike. On the heels of this ongoing siege, the dwarfs of Abercarr returned to the surface, now calling themselves the Golloch Empire. Golloch the Conqueror has offered aid to his beleaguered kin, but at the price of swearing fealty to him. Though reluctant to do so, many of the free dwarf cities have been forced to do so in order to survive.

Notable Free Dwarfs

Herneas the Hunter

The named dwarven ranger character in the army list. Herneas is said to embody what it is to be a ranger: unmatched in battle and a master of stealth and ambush. Rangers tend to be distrusted by other dwarfs since they willingly explore the surface world, often alone, and do not mind associating with other races. Herneas has his own personal retinue of rangers that you can field on the table as well if you take him.

Sveri Egilax

The slayer berserker king of Cwl Gen in the Halpi Mountains between Tragar and Abercarr. His small kingdom is an ally of the Golloch Empire, and as such he and his forces appear in their army list. Despises the Abyss and his Abyssal Dwarf cousins. Rides into battle atop his badger mount Helbrokk.

Thorrick Rockfist

A first edition character. He was the leader of the Free Dwarf Lands, the force represented in the original two player starter set. For two hundred years his people were under siege by the necromancer Mhorgoth the Faceless. At the Battle of Ironhold Bridge he faced Mhorgoth himself in personal combat. Thorrick put up a brave fight, but was eventually disarmed by the necromancer. With a laugh on his lips, Mhorgoth cast a spell hurling Thorrick from the bridge and into the lava flow below. With his death, the Dwarf Free Lands were forced to align themselves with the Golloch Empire.

On the Tabletop

Tactics can be found here: Kings of War/Tactics/Dwarfs

Dwarfs are good at shooting and good at defense. They have high nerve and good war machines, but they are very slow and do not have good access to spells other than Surge.