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| - In the wake of the natural disasters that rent their mountain realm twenty years after the end of the War of Vengeance, the Dwarfs were left vulnerable to the predations of new foes. The many invasions that followed began a disjointed series of battles that the Dwarfs call the Goblin Wars, for Goblins were the most numerous of the enemies arrayed against them, although in truth, there were also Orcs, the verminous rat-men known as Skaven, Trolls, Ogres and the vile followers of Chaos.
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| abstract
| - In the wake of the natural disasters that rent their mountain realm twenty years after the end of the War of Vengeance, the Dwarfs were left vulnerable to the predations of new foes. The many invasions that followed began a disjointed series of battles that the Dwarfs call the Goblin Wars, for Goblins were the most numerous of the enemies arrayed against them, although in truth, there were also Orcs, the verminous rat-men known as Skaven, Trolls, Ogres and the vile followers of Chaos. The attacks began before the last of the aftershocks had finished. Enemies infiltrated through unguarded tunnels, overwhelmed outposts with surprise attacks and swept out of darksome valley forests in numbers untold. Previously, the mountain fortresses of the Dwarfs had proven impervious, regardless of an invader’s numbers, but that was no longer the case. Defensive walls had been toppled and lower levels hopelessly compromised by innumerable pits and gaping chasms. Routes into the mountain kingdom now lay unguarded, as the former bastions carved into the rock face were but piles of broken stones. Rune-covered gates that could withstand the titanic blows of a Giant now hung off their hinges or lay split in twain. Upon scenting weakness, armies hungry for plunder appeared like wolves at the door. In these troubled times, even if a beleaguered hold managed to get a messenger past their attackers, it mattered not, for no help was forthcoming - war had come to all parts of the World's Edge Mountains. A new era descended upon the Karaz Ankor, threatening its very existence. Contact between strongholds was lost, and far-flung mine works and outposts were truly on their own. The Dwarf realm was reduced to isolated islands, each surrounded by a sea of foes. This harsh new reality changed the nature of the Dwarf realm forever. Across the Karaz Ankor, the attacks were so numerous that the meticulous record-keeping of the Dwarfs could not keep up. Columns of smoke rose high above snow-covered peaks, each marking the destruction of a small settlement or mine. Desperate refugees, escaping from lost holds and shattered mines, attempted to cross through winding mountain passes. Further tragedies befell the Dwarfs on the road, for all byways were full of peril - hunting packs of wolf-riding Goblins, mobs of hungry Trolls and all manner of beasts were drawn to the scent of blood. Dwarfs that attempted to traverse those passages of the Underway that had not collapsed found them, too, full of deadly foes. Whole sections were now being fought over by Night Goblins and Skaven, although both races set aside their quarrels at any sight of Dwarfen prey. During these dark times, the desecration of sacred burial tombs, and the complete eradication of ancient clans, sent many Dwarfs mad with rage and shame. Warriors dedicated to the Slayer Cult, previously somewhat rare, became an all too common sight in the remaining holds.
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![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)