In ancient times the Dwarves had a single great ruler Drolmar Ben Hurgen. Under his leadership the Dwarves of old had ruled much of the Red lands and the Open Plains; driving the Centaurs to the very edges of their borders. Hundreds of fortresses that still exist to this day were erected all over their empire to guard their lands. Bringing much wealth and prosperity to the Dwarven Realm. This all came to bitter end, when his youngest son Broltegar slew his father and laid claim to the throne for himself. A repulsive action that would result in dire consequences for the entire Dwarven empire.
With the greatly feared King Drolmar dead, many of the Dwarven Lords saw this as an opportunity to seize power for themselves; ripping the empire apart as each of the Houses rushed to claim territory for themselves. The ensuing chaos that erupted caught many by surprise, but still the newly crowned King Broltegar could have ended this struggle by bringing his armies to bear, unfortunately as fate would have it Broltegar had been badly wounded from the fight with his father and died several days later; leading to the birth of the Eight Dwarven Domains : Balenkree, Torfiol, Magrib, Weirmar, Farzeed, Riadan, Khordilum, Barenter.
The Great House Balenkree :
It is said that in the veins of all Balenkree's descendants runs the blood of ancient kings of old,or so the High Lord of Balenkree have proclaimed. For generations the House of Balenkree has been at war with the Centaurs, in an effort to reclaim and rebuild the great empire that had been lost in the many civil wars that had followed the fall of King Drolmar. A House rife with constant infighting and political back stabbings, expeditions to the Open Plains are sporadic and badly supported. Known for their cunning, and trickery, The House of Balenkree has always been treated like some kind of ill mannered dog that sits atop a table.
The Great House Torfiol :
The Dwarves of Torfiol are well-renowned across the Dwarven Realm and beyond for having the most accomplished Dwarven Battlesmiths that can not only forge a dozen Wardemons in a single year, but can also forge elemental weapons that can last for years not months. Added to this, the House of Torfiol has the military capacity, equal to that of five of the weaker Houses, making them the second most powerful Domain. This has caused some the Dwarven Houses to believe that the Torfiol has become lax in guarding its territory. A theory that has been tested many times by the other Great Houses without success.
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The Great House Weirmar :
Greatest and most powerful of the eight Dwarven Domains, House Weirmar has been at war with it's neighbors for centuries, expanding it's territory slowly year by year. Because of this never ending war, Weirmar has become home to thousands of Elite Dwarven warriors, who have been armed to the teeth to do battle. Hostile to all the Houses, except for Torfiol, Weirmar is considered to be the most warlike of all the eight domains. Their Obsidian armor is second to none.
House Magrib :
Magrib a small House that has continually depended upon other Houses to protect itself from it's more powerful neighbors has struggled for centuries to hold onto the few lands under their control. A difficult challenge for a House with so few warriors and hundreds of Feral Dwarves on their doorstep.
House Farzeed :
House Farzeed along with Magrib and Barenter have been allies for close to thirty years. Exceptionally skilled warriors, House Farzeed has produced the most proficient warriors to do battle with Crossblades. It is mainly due to this skill, that the minor House has been able to stave off the attentions of the Great houses.
House Riadan :
House Riadan,while still seen as a small House, has the potential to join the three Great Houses. Their military force, while half the size of a Great House is backed by hundreds of Wardemons, Armored Titans and large arsenal of elemental weapons. Making them a threat to any of the Great Houses. Trained to use the Sharp Shield and Crossblade from a young age, their warriors have become a well-disciplined fighting force to rival the Great Houses.
House Khordilum :
Khordilum is another House with the potential to become a Great House. Housing thousands of Dwarven warriors, this House relies solely upon elemental weapons and Obsidian armor to win their battles. And while their domain encompasses a great deal of territory with a massive population, the Dwarven lords have yet to utilize this to great effect upon the battlefield. Instead relying upon numbers to win their battles. Which often results in heavy casualties.
House Barenter :
House Barenter the weakest of all the Houses, with the smallest domain. Is a House that would have died off long ago, if it were not for their trading connections with the surface and their ability to produce immaculate Dwarven weaponry. Their Wardemons are considered to be most lethal.