As said in the previous article, the history of the Alliance is the history of all its races, and this article will be dedicated to dwarves, an ancient and courageous race. Dwarves are descendants of the earthen, who were titan-forged beings that succumbed to the curse of flesh created by the Old God Yogg-Saron, becoming the mortal race we know now.
During the years dwarves have fought alongside the other races against common enemies, but they also have had conflicts among themselves. To better explain the history of the dwarves I interviewed Stromdil Flaskmane, whos father fought in the War of the Three Hammers, which is one of the biggest events in dwarven history.
Gaedryel Ravenbreath:
Could you explain why and how the War of the Three Hammers started?
Stromdil Flaskmane:
United under one king, his honorable Modimus Anvilmar, the mountain was split between three housing clans - that would be of course, the Bronzebeard Clan, the Wildhammer Clan, and the Dark Iron Clan. With such united power, how could it be that those forces would end up relenting against one another? Well - A monarchy is foremost a business.
A thriving one is never brought about by mere chance, but those with the instinct to rise in it when comes the right time to strike. Strike relentlessly and with haste! It is often believed that the war had broken out of chaos upon the passing of the High King, but that would be in all meanings delusional. No, the clans sharing the mountain home were already preparing, establishing themselves rulers to each of their own part of the city. Either it was below the cave depths of the city, or posted around the snowy forests, each had already determined themselves allied for the sake of convenience... at least for the time being, as they dabbled in their own plans for Ironforge's future.
In the end, the Bronzebeards, who had the biggest standing army, banished the other two clans from the mountain. But history does not end here. The Wildhammer clan started its kingdom in Grim Batol. But the Dark Iron clan wanted to get revenge and they tried to conquer Ironforge and Grim Batol. Thaurissan, leader of the Dark Iron, attacked Ironforge, but the Bronzebeards won once more, meanwhile Modgud, Thaurissan’s sorceress wife, was launching another attack over Grim Batol. She used her powers to strike fear into the enemies’ hearts and shadows obeyed her command, eventually, she laid siege to the fortress itself, but Khardros, leader of the Wildhammers, ended up slaying her. With that and seeing the fury of the Wildhammer clan, the Dark Irons tried to retreat, only to face the forces coming from Ironforge to aid Grim Batol.
The combined armies of the Wildhammers and Bronzebeards went south, seeking to destroy the Dark Irons. In a desperate move, Thaurissan tried to summon a minion to ensure his victory, but instead he freed Ragnaros the Firelord, the lord of fire elementals that was banished by the Titans. Ragnaros shattered the Redridge Mountains and created a volcano in Blackrock Spire, a Dark Iron fortress. Thaurissan was killed and his remaining forces were enslaved by Ragnaros.
Seeing the destruction, the Wildhammers and Bronzebeards turned back towards their kingdoms, but due to Modgud’s death there was an evil stain in the fortress at Grim Batol. The Bronzebeards offered a place in the borders of Ironforge, but the Wildhammers finally stablished in the Hinterlands, founding Aerie Peak, where they grew closer to nature and bonded with the gryphons of the area.
Article continues after the ad.
Having the opportunity to talk with someone whos father fought there I used the chance to ask more about his reasons to join the fight and how it was.
Stromdil Flaskmane:
Why did I join the fight, you ask me? Well, the most I'd contributed was being a reminder of our tolerance and compassion, only a piglet within my mammy's belly at the time. The war was brutal, and for good reason that the victors would evidently hold to quill to scribble the rest of our dwarven history. Just to have stirred up things is as great a reward itself for some, but those with command knew that power is only a means to get what you want, after all - All who lead, I would wager, knew very well that those who held control would wield that quill for a very long time, until the next troublemakers arise from the depths to claim it.
Gaedryel Ravenbreath:
Any memory, good or bad, from it that specially impacted you?
Stromdil Flaskmane:
They say that the sounds of a harp will sooth the child into rest as its mother carries it, until its labour - Oh, it was so many years since that I could hardly recall. Only a lick of what I'd tasted, can I recite... Unfortunately, it was what it was, that my lullabies were the clashes of thorium axes, and the echo of shields belting through the walls of the ramparts. Before I'd been born, you might say I had been moulded and readied for what sounds would follow me throughout the rest of my warrior days.
Going back to the history and to better understand dwarves, I asked Stromdil about his own opinion about what events are more important in their history.
Stromdil Flaskmane:
A subject that all dwarves hold dear to their heart is our ancestry. As archaeological findings have shown us, we held a predominant position as the earthen guardians of Azeroth. Unfortunately, the protectors of stone and mountain were just as susceptible to corruption, the curse of flesh moulding our ancestry into the mindless troggs we see today. After some time though, The Keepers had sought to create the mighty earthen of the realms once again, only for us to slink away into our hidey-holes are The Sundering had occurred. It is believed that what had crawled out of Ulduar thousands of years later were the dwarves that we see today.
Why do I recite this as the most relevant piece of history for our kin? Our humble beginnings. We did not emerge as earthen anymore, but as dwarves, pursuing our destiny despite what had faltered us. We reclaimed our place in this world, as our own.
When it comes to why the dwarves joined the Alliance it is very important to notice there are different clans of dwarves, with different reasons. Talking about our neighbours from Ironforge this is Flaskmane’s explanation:
Stromdil Flaskmane:
With aid of the Wildhammer Clan, allied alongside the Grand Alliance during the Second War, when the orcs had invaded Khaz Modan and sought to siege Ironforge itself, the Bronzebeard Clan had joined their allies of Lordaeron as a result, and combined their might, simply put.
As you can see dwarves and their history are rich, complex and ancient, and they are mighty allies that will fight bravely to defend their land and Azeroth itself.