Daergar Clan
The Daergar (Deepest) are one of the Clans of Dwarves who live in the underground kingdom of Thorbardin. They are closely related to the Theiwar clan and are considered “Dark Dwarves”, some clans even refer to them as “Dewar” due to inter-marriages between them. Their numbers are plentiful, and are fiercely consumed with hate for the other clans. They were banished to the deepest parts of Thorbardin after being accused of conspiring against the Hylar. The Daergar have long been miners by trade, skilled at finding and mining precious ores, be it iron, gold or silver. They really didn’t mind being banished deep underground because that was where the best ore could be found.
Daergar have little interest in the affairs of other races. They hate Neidar and have no particular affection for Humans, Elves, or Kender.
Habitat and Society
Daergar are the counterparts of the Theiwar in much the same way the Daewar are the counterpart of the Hylar. They are the brawn behind the Theiwar brains. However, they are not allies: the Daergar are even more murderous than their Theiwar cousins, and much more prone to physical violence rather than cunning to resolve any given situation. Daergar have established impressive strongholds in the caverns beneath the Kharolis Mountains. Outposts are also rumored to exist elsewhere on the continent. Daergar cities are dark and gloomy. Windowless prison modules and a huge arena where prisoners engage in bloody combat for the amusement of the citizens dominate a typical Daergar city.
Among the most revered members of the Daergar society are the bonemasters. Bonemasters are elder Daergar who attend to the bone pits located on the village perimeters, designing weapons, tools, and armor made from the bones. Bonemasters also have the ability to animate bones, creating living skeletons to do the bonemaster's bidding. A bonemaster can animate humanoid and animal skeletons alike; a number of skeletons equal to the bonemaster's level can be animated at the same time. The animated skeletons cannot be of any class; they choose their successors, to whom they teach the bone-animating ability.
Structure
Thanes
To become Thane of the Daergar a dwarf must enter the arena and face seven opponents in succession, successfully defeating them. If the dwarf fails then whoever beat him must face seven more dwarves for the right to rule. Often times changes in leadership take months before a new Thane wins. Past Thanes of the Daergar:
- Vog Ironface (? 2149 PC - 2128 PC ?) was the first known Thane of the Daergar. He ruled for many years wisely over his people before stepping down from his position.
- Crag Shade-eye (? 2111 PC - 2109 PC ?) was Thane during the Kal-Thax Mandate. He agreed to follow Derkin Lawgiver as the first High King. His total years of rule are unknown, but it was for these three years at least.
- Rance Coalmount (? 348 AC ? - 353 AC) Thane during the War of the Lance. He was defeated by Cathal in the Battle of the Red Wing.
History
The Daergar are also one of the original clans of Kal-Thax. One of their earliest known thanes was Vog Ironface, who ruled at the time of the Hylar's arrival. After the Hylar's arrival the Daergar played several important roles in the Wizards War and the wars against the Empire of Ergoth.
When the mines were shut down following the Cataclysm, they were hit the hardest. Their city became ruled by thugs and gangs. The city slowly sunk into squalor and the inhabitants turning to any means to get by, most often dishonest. They blame the Hylar for closing the mines and joined forces with the Theiwar to try to again overthrow the Hylar.
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