[font="Palatino Linotype"][font="Tahoma"]The first story in the history and mythology of my Dwarven hold Karak Thorinkin. It begins with the Orc Invasion of Karaz-a-Karak in Imperial Year -335. Ill post a range of these over the coming weeks. For the full story visit http://karakthorinkin.blogspot.com or http://stumpyheaven.blogspot.com[/font]

Origins of the Thorinkin[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"]
It was the invasion of the lands of Karaz-a-Karak by Orc Warlord Ugrok Beardburner and his horde that laid the seeds for the foundation of Karak Thorinkin in millennia past. The Orc horde destroyed numerous Dwarven settlements on its march north, countless mines were overwhelmed and many, too many, Dwarfs were killed. The High King himself, Logan Proudbeard, was captured by the Orcs and suffered great humiliation. Driven into a fury by the seizure of their High King, the Dwarves, led by Gorazin Silverhorn, finally drove the Orcs away from their capital. Over the next year remnants of the Orc horde continued to rampage over the surrounding land until they are eventually defeated at the Battle of Black Water.

Many of the refugees from the settlements, mines and small holds destroyed by Ugrok's Orcs find sanctuary in Karaz-a-Karak and other Dwarf strongholds. Among those refugees were the survivors of the settlement of Dru Grimthorn a thriving mining town located near the hold of Karak Eight Peaks. Unlike many of their neighbors the Dwarves of Dru Grimthorn had been able to see off the initial Orc assaults on their homes. But their valiant defense could not last long. As more and more Orcs moved north even the high mountains and strong walls of Dru Grimthorn could not save the settlement from destruction.

In the final months of the year -335 the walls were finally breached and the settlement overrun by the Orcs. It was at this point, when all hope seemed lost that the fabled Thorin Metalturner rallied the few survivors and broke out of the surrounded settlement. Waving his mighty hammer - Hornthang - Thorin led a small band of survivors on a desperate fighting retreat deep into the Worlds Edge Mountains. Days of terror and courage followed, and then weeks as Thorin led the survivors south toward his kin’s hold of Karak-Azul, hoping that it had not yet fallen to the Orc hordes.

The Legend of Thorin Metalturner
Fighting bands of Orcs, Goblins and even Giants the entire length of their journey the band of survivors lost many more of their kin before the walls of Karak Azul were reached. By that time Thorin Metalturners deeds had taken on the aura of legend. Time and time again he rallied the few surviving warriors to fight off bands of Orcs and Goblins, his strength never seemed to fade and in every battle Hornthang spilled more and more Orc blood. Luck seemed to ever be with him, Orc blades and arrows could not touch him, and his armor after weeks of battle remained untouched. But it could not last...

... in the dawn light at the end of the year -335, some 4 months after the retreat from Dru Grimthorn, the remaining survivors looked down on the walls of Karak Azul - a Karak Azul that still proudly flew the banners of the Dwarfs. Already scouts from the hold had reported their approach and as the survivors wept silently at the sight of their destination free from Orcs groups of Warriors marched from the gates of the hold toward them. Walking, limping and even many cases dragging themselves and their kin down the mountain slopes the survivors drew closer and closer to Karak Azul's main gates and safety... It was then, as they neared their final destination that the Orcs struck...

The bridge of Karak Azul
Shadowing the survivors over the final last week had been a band of orcs and goblins led by the Giant Ozgod Bonecrusher. Intelligent and cunning Ozgod had known that the survivors would be at their most vulnerable here near the gates of Karak Azul, thinking themselves safe their guard would drop, and it did. As the long line of survivors stretched out toward Karak Azul's gates and as the holds warriors closed on the leading survivors Ozgod's forces hit the rear and centre of the column on two sides. Taken completely by surprise scores of the Dwarves were cut down while the others, exhausted beyond belief, simply fled for the safety of the hold and the approaching warriors.

Only a small group of Dru Grimthorns surviving warriors stood their ground, and at their head was Thorin Metalturner his armor still unscathed and his mighty hammer Hornthang shining bright in the morning light. Bravely these few warriors established a rearguard defending their kin as they fled toward Karak Azul's gates. Some luck was with them this day as the road to the hold led over a deep ravine passable only by a single bridge. As the remaining Dwarves of Dru Grimthorn struggled across the bridge Thorin as his small band of warriors stood firm as Orc after Orc smashed against them.

Their bravery could not be matched that day as somehow they held the Orcs back long enough for the refugees to cross the bridge and reach the safety of the warriors of Karak Azul on the other side. Those same warriors would have marched to the bridge to fight the Orcs but Thorins voice rang clear across the ravine - "Save my people we will hold here. Save them". Weeping at the bravery of Thorin and his small band the warriors of Karak Azul and the refugees, the majority women and children, hurried to the gates of the hold.

Ozgod Bonecrushers challenge and Thorins fall
Behind the refugees the battle was turning against Thorins small group. Scores of Orc and Goblins lay dead at the foot of the bridge, but now as the last of refugees entered the gates of Karak Azul only Thorin and a single warrior remained. Looking back from the walls atop Karak Azul the surviving refugees could only watch in despair as the Orcs and Goblins fell back to allow Ozgod Bonecrusher himself to step forward. Eager to protect his Lord the remaining warrior rushed forward to challenge Ozgod only to be crushed beneath his club and thrown into the ravine. Thorin was now alone...

... the battle between Thorin and Ozgod lasted long and was as brutal as it was magnificent. Only now near the end did Thorins armor give way. On the walls of Karak Azul the surviving refugees could only watch as Thorin and Ozgod traded blow after blow. Time and again Thorin was smashed to the ground, his armor dented and his limbs broken. But time and again he regained his feet and struck back at Ozgod. Finally, with the last of his strength Thorin's mighty hammer struck Ozgod a fatal blow. The mighty Giant dropped to his knees a look of disbelief on his brutal face before falling dead at Thorins feet. Seeing their leader killed the remaining Orcs fled...

... Turning Thorin stumbled and fell to his knees. Pushing himself up with the aid of Hornthang the survivors in Karak Azul saw him take one long look at its walls before collapsing to the ground. Thorin was dead, but his people were safe.

New beginnings: Karak Azul -335 to -265
70 years had now passed since the arrival of the survivors of Dru Grimthorn at Karak Azul and the death of Thorin Metalturner. In that 70 years the survivors had grown in number and made new homes for themselves among the Dwarves of Karak Azul. Among those survivors Thorin was still honored. After the flight of the Orcs his body was buried near where he fell so his spirit could continue to guard the bridge that he died to defend, his mighty hammer was buried with him. Over the years his tomb became a shrine and a place of pilgramage for the survivors of Dru Grimthorn, who know called themselves 'The Thorinkin' or 'Thorins Kin'. While Karak Azul made them welcome the Thorinkin were not content. News of the defeat of the Orc army at the battle of Black Water had reached them not long after they had reached the hold, and many now longed to return to their old home. In the Imperial year -285 the Thorinkin announced their decision to leave Karak Azul and return to their homes at Dru Grimthorn, or perhaps form their own hold in a new place far from the lands whose memory held such sadness for them.

The King of Karak Azul was gracious and granted the Thorinkin many gifts to enable them to build and defend their new hold. The brave retreat of the refugees to Karak Azul and the legend of Thorin Metalturner were held in high esteem at Karak Azul. Thorinskin had work hard in their new home and their skills and efforts had advanced the holds power and standing in the Worlds Edge Mountains. It took 20 years for the Thorinkin to prepare themselves for their journey, 20 years before they were ready to leave and start a new. Finally in the Imperial Year -265 they left. A top the walls of Karak Azul the King and his people watched with some sadness as the Thorinkin marched from the hold their long caravan moving west and northwest toward the memory of home.

The Long March: Karak Azul to Karak Thorinkin: Imperial Year -265 to -250
The trek northward took the Thorinkin back through the Worlds Edge Mountains and to the ruins of Dru Grimthorn. Afte 70 years nothing remained of what had once been their home and none of the Thorinkin wished to remain there. Among their number were Dwarves of Karak Azul married into the Thorinkin during their short time there. They told of lands to the West near those of the humans that would be welcoming. With no thought of returning to Karak Azul and only the burning desire to rebuild their lives and honor still further the memory of Thorin Metalturner the Thorinkin marched on. For 15 years they marched through the mountains, across the badlands, then via ship from Barak Var to the coast of the Border Princes region. From their the Thorinkin marched northward toward the human empires. Many Dwarf settlements they passed on the way, and many a hold that would have welcomed them with open arms. But at none did they stray.

Only at one point did they stop a Mountain they named Karag Gloin, there a small group stayed and formed the mining settlement of Dulgwidor that would soon serve the new hold of the Thorinkin. Onward they marched until at last in a small valley, bounded by tall mountains and fresh water they stopped. To this day none know why this place called to them, some legends say that Thorin Metalturner himself lead them to it, others that the spirit of Griminar spoke to them. Whatever the reason, that small valley became their new home. Amid its deep fresh steams, forested hills, the Thorinkin found caves and rich mineral deposits. Using all their skills they began to delve deep and true into the mountains, and built the first homes in what would be called the Dwarven hold of 'Karak Thorinkin' the Fortress of the kin of Thorin.

Ballad of Thorin Metalturner
There are many sagas about Thorin Metalturner and the fall of Dru Grimthorn. This particular rendition was written by an unknown Loremaster in the year 525 and is the oldest of those recorded dating back some 2100 years. It tells the story of the flight of the Thorinkin from their ancestral home of Dru Grimthorn in Imperial Year -335, the bravery of the people during that flight and the final stand of Thorin and the Warriors of Dru Grimthorn on the bridge into Karak Azul.

The saga itself is not complete and the version below contains only the smallest part of what was once a tale that could, in the narrative tradition of the Thorinkin, take hours and sometimes days to recite. It however is the most widely known and recited among the people of Karak Thorinkin, and this shorter version is taught to all Beardlings by their parents. While the ballad loses much of its power and resonance when translated into the human tounge it is still highly regarded.

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[font="Palatino Linotype"][font="Arial Narrow"] [font="Palatino Linotype"] Fled from blood and fire[/font][/font]
[/font] [font="Palatino Linotype"] Paths marked with those lost[/font]

[font="Palatino Linotype"] Lives emptied through despair and sorrow
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Harried ever, fight and flee
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Giant, greenskin, wolf and spider
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Fire, arrow, spear, sword, axes blunt
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Beardlings honored youth aged but not yet grown
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Bravery, deeds of song and story
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Lost among shadows drowned in tears
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] The people marched, ahead a bright horizon
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Distant kin of the Hammer mighty
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Its wielder undaunted, eyes bright, arm strong
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] But bones weary, the peoples weight upon heavy shoulders
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Horizon reached through blood and sacrifice
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Few remain less than those lost
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Beardlings and grumblers alike as steel from Grimnirs forge
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Beacons lit by the Hammers kin
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Banners unfurled herald salvation
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Resolve fades to joyful flight care swept aside
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Bridge to safety a trap now sprung
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Bonecrusher Giant, Greenskin horde fall upon the weary
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Hammer mighty resolute and tall gathers about him warriors few
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Those remaining whose armour bright and axes sharp
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Stand astride the bridge resolute unmoving
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Behind them the people flee all order lost
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Bravery uncounted, numbers unmatched dark horde held
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Warriors fall and Hammer stands alone
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Bonecrusher challenges club raised high People now safe behind kindred’s walls
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] The Hammer answers and Hornthang draws blood
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Endless it seems battle wages between Hammer and Club, Giant and Thane
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Limbs broken, armour rendered a fatal blow Hornthang scores
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] At his feet a Giant falls and a dark host flees
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Hammer now raised by arms too weary, bloodied armour and beard
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Eyes last glimpse upon kindred’s walls a people safe
[/font][font="Palatino Linotype"] Through blood and fire the Hammer has led them but now is no more[/font]

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The history and deeds of the Thorinkin do not end here they extend for nearly 3000 years and are detailed in the holds archives at http://karakthorinkin.blogspot.com
More to be posted here soon...

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