The Seven Years War

The Battle Beneath the Mountains

The Great Divide

Under the mountains in the dwarven city of Bal Rogmund, Clan Grimchest lived and worked side by side with the Danûsh Clan; breaking bread together and sharing ale. For centuries though it had been whispered among the dwarven nobles of Bal Rogmund that tensions between the two Clan Masters had been rising. Eventually these rumours were proved to be correct when the two Clan Masters that had once been like brothers began to make separate houses and dining rooms for the Grimchest and Danûsh. During the grand feasts they sat opposite one another at the table, and bickered about who owned what, down to the smallest copper coin.
The century old friends who had been breaking rock with one another shoulder to shoulder would find themselves separated by a large chasm. Literally. The Clan Masters had ordered that the mountain be split in two. None were to mine on the other dwarfs side.

Arms Race and First Contact

42 years after The Great Divide the arms race started. Each clan increased mining operations and forge production. Weapons, armour, bolts, siege defences and equipment was produced in staggering numbers. Training exercises were being conducted on a frequent basis and young dwarves were encouraged to join the guard. The advisers of each Clan Masters pleaded for their respective Master to stand down, to be the bigger dwarf, and to abandon this madness. The petitions and pleads fell on deaf ears.
Oglaf Danûsh, Clan Master of Danûsh, sent a calling to Eirgunn Grimchest, Clan Master of Grimchest, to meet him at The Great Divide. There, both sides faced off with their respective army. This was to be a mockery of diplomacy. Both parties demanded of each other preposterous terms for peace. There was mountains of screaming and shouting, and the air was charged with conflict. All of a sudden an arrow was let loose, and a dwarf tumbled down into The Great Divide. The air stood still. One could hear a pin drop. Then the shouting started again. Orders were given. Attack formations were formed. Battle Bridges were raised. Arrows started to fly. Then the two armies collided.
It was a long and bloody conflict. The first contact lasted for only a couple of hours, but the coming war would last for seven years, giving the conflict its namesake. Both clans had a long time to carve out their side of the mountain, and now those very same tunnels and rooms are soaked with dwarven blood. Seven years of war and death. And no one knew who shot first.

Ongoing Conflict and Aftermath

Disdain started to fester inside every dwarf on both sides of the conflict. Neither of the Clan Masters partook in the fighting directly, but instead sat in the safety of their throne rooms giving out orders, conduct that is not at all fit for a Clan Master. This cowardly way of fighting finally reached its end on the seventh year of the war. Both armies demanded that their Clan Master lead them in to battle, or they'd be forever branded a coward. The Masters had no choice but to accept.
The night before the Last Battle, an order was sent. Paper exchanged hands and deals were struck. As a result poison found its way into Eirgunns tankard of ale. The culprit briskly took her own life, but not after making sure the former Clan Master was dead and cold in his own vomit. No hearing was needed. They all knew who was responsible. Upon forcing down the door to Oglafs throne room they found it to be empty. The yellow-bellied Clan Master had fled the mountain. He was branded clan-less in his absence, and an oath was sworn between the remaining dwarfs to bring him to justice if he was ever to be found.
The war was over. Seven years of deadly conflict had left it's mark on even the toughest dwarf. Killing an enemy in battle is one thing, but killing a friend due to some petty remarks in a dispute that is not even your own is no fate worthy of a dwarf. The settlement of Bal Rogmund was abandoned, it's entrance sealed and the former inhabitants buried. The dwarves marched in different directions. Some with their Clan. Some with their family. Some with their long lost friends. And some, alone.

Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Land

Start Date

463AE

Ending Date

470AE

Conflict Result

Military Stalemate, Eirgunn Grimchest assassinated, Oglaf Danûsh disappeared, Bal Rogmund abandoned and gates sealed

Location

Caer Rogmund

Belligerents

Grimchest Clan

Led by

• Eirgunn Grimchest

Danûsh Clan

Led by

• Oglaf Danûsh

Strength

2,450

3,200

Casualties

1270, including Eirgunn Grimchest

1340

Objectives

Assume control of Bal Rogmund and remove Clan Danûsh.

Assume control of Bal Rogmund and remove Clan Grimchest.