History of the Nidavellir Warclan: (as compiled by Ebenthorin Nayswards)
War of the giants
In the ages before time, when the Gods and Giants battled each other, the Gods created realms surrounding their supreme lands from the assaults of the Giants. On of these realms, Nidavellir was given to Thor, the god of creation and might. Thor shaped the realm with his mighty hammer. He made vast mountain ranges and tunnels to make the land safe and defendable. He then blew into the mountain, and the hot embers of his breath brought life out of the stones. The race of dwarves, proud, strong, and like their father, excellent workers of metal and stone. The dwarves became well organized and equipped themselves with their finest creations of weapons. For hundreds of years the dwarves of Nidavellir fought valiantly to hold the Giants back.
Sealing of the gates of Nidavellir
The craftsmanship of the dwarves was unmatchable by any other creature or even god, except that of Thor himself. Seeing this, Loki, the god of trickery and mischeviousness was jellious. He wanted the treasures of the dwarves for himself. Loki went to the dwarves many times, speaking highly of them, how they are the best defenders of the Gods in all the realms. That they surely have the power to destroy the Giants at will. He filled the dwarves ears with praise and their mouths with ale. And soon, their hearts were full of pride. Soon the giants came again, and the dwarves went to battle again, but this time, feeling the pride and arrogance that Loki had filled them with. They did not just repel the giants. They leapt down from the massive walls of Nidavellir and chased after the Giants, pushing the back from the realm. But the Giants saw the mistake at once, and Nidigar, one of the smartest and most dangerous giants, ran from the battle, he circled the dwarven front and moved for the gates of Nidavellir. Loki too took this chance to make for the dwarven hordes. Luckily, a small number of dwarves remained in the realm of Nidavellir, having seen through Lokis lies and the Giants retreat. At the site of Loki and Nidigar running to the realm, they had no choice. They sealed the gates of Nidavellir, so that no one, no God, no Giant, not even a Dwarf could pass back into the realm. And so it has been forever since.
Destruction of the giants
The dwarfs, infuriated with their mistake, exiled from their homeland, sought revenge. Loki had fled back to the lands of the Gods, where the dwarves could not follow him. So the set out after the giants. For 300 years they did exactly what Loki had told them they could do. They hunted down and destroyed every giant they could find, until there was only a handful left.
Foundation of Fardakin
After the destruction of the giants, the dwarves were scattered across the known realms. Some returned to Nidavellir to watch over the gates from the outside, but never to be able to see their homelands again. Others traveled on, seeking a new home. And a good number formed Fardakin. It was called Under Mountain in the common tongues. It was one of the greatest dwarven holds to ever be formed outside of the walls of Nidavellir. Its tunnels and mines traveling miles and miles under the ground. The great halls could seat all of the dwarven legions and any allies that may come to feast. Mighty forges were created deep in the mountain, that were heated by the core of the earth itself. It was truly a place of splendor.
Settlement of the dwarves in Midgard
The second largest group of dwarves traveled to Midgard. The realm of the Norseman. The cool climate and rocky terrain was the closest the Dwarves could find to that of their homelands. Many new creatures lived here. Men, Kobolds who had left their own realm, and Trolls had begun appearing.
War of Trolls (Midgard)
The war of Trolls was a bloody war that raged over all of Midgard. With the Trolls appearing shortly after the destruction of so many Giants, and their huge size and slow wit. Many dwarves believed them to be the children of the giants sent to plague the Dwarves. And so war once again, raged on. For 140 years, Man and Kobold stood by watching as the Dwarves and Trolls slaughtered each other. Finally the men and Kobolds of Midgard became involved, but they attacked both sides. Forcing the dwarves and trolls to stop their war. A treaty was signed, and the hostility seized. It took many generations, but the trolls and dwarves eventually came to terms with one another.
Orc War (Fardakin)
At the same time as the War of Trolls in Midgard, Fardakin came under assault. The last of the giants had indeed created offspring. The bore onto the world Orc and Goblins, not nearly as strong as the giants, they made up for their lackings in pure numbers. They bread incredibly fast and created armies of hundreds of thousands. These armies marched on Fardakin. For a hundred years the dwarves fought, each day and night they destroyed orcs and goblins, but there were always more. Any fallen from the armies would be replaced by new warriors the very next day. Where as the dwarves, long lived, and extremely stout could fight for ages, their numbers were beginning to thin. The high theurges saw that this war could not be won. They called to Moraddin (Thor by our current tongue) to aid them in their battle. And Moraddin did reply. He told the dwarves to go deep into Fardakin, and that night when the armies of Orcs and Goblins came, he would ensure their safety. The knowledge of what happened that night has been lost for ages, as only 1 dwarf has ever emerged from Fardakin since.
Disappearance of Fardakin
No word ever escaped Fardakin for ages to come. Some thought it had fallen. Others thought it had been sealed like the gates of Nidavellir. Many dwarves went in search of the Fardakin dwarves, of the few who have returned said they found nothing except the signs of an ancient battle on a large grass plane covered in a dense fog where the mountain of Fardakin had been.
Age of peace
For 1000 years, peace reigned. The dwarves of Midgard had signed the peace treaty with the trolls, the ale flowed from grate barrels, and the smithies spent their time making nails and hinges instead of hammers and shields. Generations passed, and the history of dwarves was passed from father to son in stories told by the forge side.
Age of darkness
The peace was brought to an end with the coming of darkness. Families in Haggerfel began searching franticly for lost children. The Vale of Mularn was always thought of as a beautiful and peaceful place. But nobody could imagine the horrors that it would see. On the north side of Lake Mularn there was a ranger house called Svasvudes, where hunters would come and gather after their days in the forest tracking and killing wild game. But one night, in the middle of a torrential storm. The house was attacked. No known beast could have done what was done. Only one young Kobold hunter escaped. He made it to Jordheim, where he told the herald of great beasts, taller then trolls, with swords that could cleave as easily through the walls of Jordheim as through the hide of a doe. Many laughed and believed him to have been drinking a bit too much. But the next morning, a group of brave men, dwarves, and trolls, ventured out with the young kobold to the ranger house. But it was not there. All that remained was the crumbled burnt ruins of the house. Bodies strewn across the bawn. This brave group followed the tracks of the creature that had done this. They lead into a crevice in the mountainside just to the south. The group went into the crevice, following a flickering light, and found a place so disturbing, that is was named Darkness Falls. Inside this vast dungeon were creatures and daemons of the worst type. But something that would change the world far more then any daemon could ever imagine was in there. An Elf. Some say that there was an attempt at communication with that first elf, but in the end it broke down to a fight. And then came more men, but not the Norse of Midgard. These men were dressed in plaid with armour that was made of plates, not the rings and chains that make up our armour. And again the fight grew. Each side was believing the other to blame for opening this horrid place.
War of the Realm of Men
And so began the war of the Realms of Man. Midgard, Hibernia, Albion, three realms like Nidavellir that the gods had charged with protecting them from the Giants. But with out the giants to fight, the realms became restless, and after a 1000 years of peace, the only thing that can follow is 1000 years of war. And so the 3 realms do constant battle with one another. After finding the wholes to Darkness Falls, each realm set powerful spirits to keep any but those of the realm from coming out. Then the frontiers were explored. If you were to travel far enough, you could reach the realm of your enemy. Great fortresses and guard towers were built, the small ranger house was rebuilt as a great a mighty fortress known as Svasvude Faste. The walls of Jordheim were raised out of mighty stone and great towers were made for its protection. And the war rages on.
Foundation of the Nidavellir Warclan
Dwarves, finding themselves back in the heat of battle with everyone else, united. A strong band of legendary dwarfs formed the Nidavellir Warclan. Together the dwarves fought tirelessly, patrolling the frontier and destroying all intruders from Albion and Hibernia. They rebirthed their heritage of craftsmanship, once again creating treasured weapons and armour, and with them they charged into battle. Whether it was crushing the plate armour of the Albion knights, or cleaving through the leather that the elves prance about in. The battle rages on, and all they ask of their new recruits is,