The Second Goblyn War

Military action

The terrible war that launched a new age in the wanderers' saga: the Age of the Dirge.

The cold tongue tribe was the worst of any of the northern goblyn tribes. Led by Maggock Dwarzumu, they annihilated or assimilated all who stood in their path. The Limp Pinky tribe was no more. The Frostbiters and Chitterteeth tribes knelt to this new overlord. But Maggock the Dwarf Shaver had not come all this way to kill his own kind...nay, his hatred was far greater for the dwarrow of The Heath.   Without warning, the goblyns assaulted the henges closest to the Broken Peaks, striking hard at Clan Marbrick's heart. The Lead Clan of Smithburn turned its attention to the massive horde ravaging their borders. King Thorolf sent his armies to stop the tide of hobgoblyns. For weeks on end, the war at the border raged, before Thorolf finally realized how dire the situation was. He sent emissaries to Vesca. The three true counties each responded, but only County Leer agreed to help.   Wayland II, the new king of County Leer, immediately led his armies west to The Heath. He planned on gaining the trust of the dwarrow, using them as helpful allies in the wars against Gornoth and perhaps even Ramator. But when he arrived at the capitol of Thorhelm, he realized this race was far more than just an ally. He became close friends with King Thorolf, and the two exchanged gifts to represent their goodwill. Soon though, it came down to the reason they were all there. The goblyn hordes were attacking the great stronghold of Vik. They would not last long without help. Wayland and Thorolf led their armies to meet the great threat. They were able to save the city, learning from each other's tactics and adapting mid-battle.   The two armies fought in many more battles, thwarting the goblyns at every turn. Then the tides were turned again. Maggock Dwarzumu and his great horde had arrived. The united armies of Leer and The Heath rode out to meet him. The battle was long and fierce, but Wayland was soon badly wounded, and the Leerans began to waver. The dwarves kept fighting until the goblyns fled back to their master. The battle was covered in bodies...friends and allies. The Leerans searched the field for their king, finding him at last, alive beyond hope. The battered humans carried their king off the field, and were forced to return to Leer to aid their king. His arm had been hewn off in battle, and even if he recovered, he would never be able to fight again.   The dwarrow continued to fight the goblins, but soon Thorolf gave the order to return to the capitol. Clan Marbrick became a fallen legend, for its people were butchered where they lived. The songs sang of glory and honor quickly changed into dirges, and the children that played among the hills were now buried under them. Darkness and fire was all the dwarrow knew now.   The goblyns attacked Clan Smithburn next, razing their henges and slaying their townsfolk and warriors alike. They were heading straight for Thorhelm. Thorolf sent Wayland one last gift, as thanks for all his aid. He then gathered his armies and marched across The Heath in a grim procession. They were never heard from again, even in their own lands. The disappearance of the king and his men left the dwarrow leaderless...but most figured it wouldn't change their fate anyway. The great hold of Thorhelm was sured up, every able man standing at the gates and watching for their doom. Over the hills they swarmed, getting closer and closer in the distance. Finally, the catapults opened fire, blasting holes where the goblyns ran. The crossbowmen loosed their bolts, but in another moment the goblyns were already raising their ladders. It was in that moment that a horn sounded in the east. Wayland had arrived.   The king of County Leer rose up his silver fist. Thorhelm's last gift was great indeed. In place of his missing arm, he had a mechanical prosthetic, with a grip like a vice and arcane runes allowing for untold abilities. Wayland and his great army descended upon the goblyn hordes, who turned to fight the Leerans instead. But as the Leerans pushed in, the gates of Dwarrowdeep opened up, and Delling Ironfaith, a great dwarf lord and commander, led his best men out of the hold. They lifted up their spears and charged the goblyns. The battle lasted for several hours, the two armies reunited, wedging the goblyns between a hammer and anvil. Maggock was slain by the Leerans, and the goblyns began to flee. Most of them were slain before they could leave The Heath.   The Second Goblyn War was over, but instead of rejoicing, the dwarrow scholars began to state that they were no longer in the Years of the Plow. These were the Years of the Dirge. Clan Marbrick would never recover, so the remaining dwarrow clans did their best to shelter them. Vengeance and grief reigned over the minds of the dwarrow men. Everybody had lost at least one family member or friend. Some had lost all of them. The though kept repeating in the minds of the common folk. Was it worth it? The terrors they had seen...the losses they had suffered...would it be best to return to Dwarrowdeep and forsake their oaths? Would it be best to leave honor for the dead and survival for the living?   Delling Ironfaith was crowned king, and in these years of sorrow, the weight of rule is heavy indeed.