The Dwarven Civil War

Following an increasing hold on positions of power by the Grey Dwarven clans all throughout Dwarven society in the 800s, the Thrarim clan Thane, Falgrim, declared himself King of All Dwarves in the winter of 902HC. Accompanying Falgrim's coronation came an edict that from that day forward all new Chief-Thane's were required to be of Grey Dwarven descent.
Tensions between the Mountain Dwarf dominated eastern Holds and the Grey Dwarf dominated western holds rose over the next few years and eventually came to a head with the Revolt of Karak Delral in 911HC.
What followed was a 10-year period of ever-increasing hostility until the two factions erupted in open warfare late spring of 921HC.

The Revolt of Karak Delral

The Chief-Thane Election

When the Chief-Thane of Karak Delral, then Baal Durigaed, died in his bed in the closing days of the year 910HC, the Mountain Dwarf ruled hold of Karak Delral chose to ignore King Falgrim's declaration and instead start the traditional process to elect one of the hold's Holdwardens as the new Chief-Thane.
Through what would later be revealed to have been nefarious means, the only Grey Dwarven Holdwarden Olgar Thrarim ensured his own election to Chief-Thane. When his fraudulent actions came to light, the populace of Karak Delral rose up in revolt and saw Olgar clean-shaven and banished as a result and a rebel faction took over the hold's management and leadership.

King Falgrim's Ultimatum

When news of this reached King Falgrim, he issued an ultimatum to the revolt's leadership: they had a month's time to restore proper order and allow Royal officials to take control of the hold or every man, woman, and child left within would be declared a traitor to the crown.
The leading faction within Karak Delral sent the King's messenger back clean-shaven.

The Battle for Karak Delral

King Falgrim, urged on by a more openly vengeful faction within his own clan and unwilling to loose face so soon after his coronation could not let the insult stand. He officially declared all within the hold to be guilty of treason and sent four of his Clan's legions to enact the punishment: death.
The Karak Delral faction did its best to mount a defense of their hold but found no allies willing to openly stand again the might of Clan Thrarim. They were ultimately unable to secure any meaningful victory over the Thrarim legions and were forced to give ground over the course of five bloody battles, until the Dwarven Archmage Kilgard Alvar brought a part of the cavern's roof down onto both factions in a final desperate attempt to allow the populace of Karak Delral time to flee the city.
The battle for Karak Delral is generally considered to have been won by the Thrarim faction as they established control of the hold in the aftermath. However, with the loss of life and flight of most of Karak Delral's population, the victory is decidedly pyrrhic. 

A Decade of Blood

With the first real conflict of the civil war concluded, what followed was a decade of continually increasing tensions and escalating violence. King Thrarim ensured that any sign of rebellion was swiftly, and harshly, put down. However, the increasingly iron grip of Grey Dwarven clans on the daily life in Dwarven society only served to further increase tensions and by 920HC uprisings and minor skirmishes were a daily affair.
Despite the increasing strife, Grey Dwarven influence continues to increase and by early 921HC two-thirds of the Dwarven Holds within the Nadardruim Mountains were nominally under Grey Dwarven control.
The Paladin-King On the 20th of Palesun on the year 921 HC, a young Dwarf named Carlen An Ghleann is crowned King on the steps of the Great Temple to the Forgemother in Karak Azauk. Rumours spread that this new King wields the Forgemother's own Hammer; one of the Splinters of Divinity. Those holds still free from or resisting Grey Dwarven control, as well as those rebelling from within, were quick to rally behind this new figure, who many claim holds Divine Edict.

Conflict Type

War

Start Date

10/05/911HC

Ending Date

Ongoing