Jagged Crown War

They say dwarves hold grudges forever and never forget a slight. Until I met Thrangor I thought it was just something you said. But he really did have a special kind of hatred for goblins. The way he would talk about them invading the lost dwarven cities you would think it had happened just yesterday and not several hundred years ago.

— from "Memories of a Caravan Guard" by Clais Hiltprandt

The Conflict

Prelude

A decade before the start of the war the Skulltaker Clan of goblinoids broke through to a long forgotten goblinoid city while mining. In the city they found many relics from past eras, including the artifact known as the Jagged Crown. Using the power of the Crown the hobgoblin leader of the Skulltakers, Vryvirt, conquered the surrounding goblinoid tribes. The goblinoids then spent several years, guided by Vryvirt and the whisperings of the Crown, training and preparing for the war.

Deployment

The goblinoid clans struck at several points at once. The three largest groups assaulted the capital of Magh Doruhl directly from three separate paths. Other groups were deployed strategically to prevent reinforcements from other cities or outposts from coming to assist. Two smaller groups were also sent to assault outposts in the True Silver Mountains to prevent the dwarves living there from lending immediate assistance.

Dwarven forces were deployed throughout their various holdings, with the largest group defending the capital. The goblinoids struck during the beginning of the Year's End celebrations and the dwarves were not prepared for such a large assault.

The Engagement

The attack quickly turned in to a protracted siege as the dwarves dug in. The goblinoids forces tasked with delaying reinforcements collapsed several of the main tunnels and established their own defensive positions in the rest, effectively isolating Magh Doruhl. Several times during the siege, the dwarves attempted to break through the siege but they were rebuffed each time. During the last attempted breakout the goblinoids were ready and struck back, turning the breakout into an all-out assault on the capitol. After three months the siege ended with the goblinoids capturing Magh Doruhl.

Several pockets of resistance persisted for another month, but they were small enough that the goblinoids could now turn their attention to the other cities. Already exhausted from trying to come to the aid of the capitol the dwarven forces were quickly broken and the remaining dwarven holdings were captured. Small groups of dwarven warriors set up camps in various parts of the caves and tunnels under the mountain to keep harassing the invaders, but their numbers were too few and eventually thy all either fled or were killed by patrolling goblinoids.

Outcome

The dwarves that fled the goblinoid hordes were mainly children, their mothers, and old warriors who volunteered to escort them, while every other able-bodied dwarf fought in the war. They sought refuge in the human cities surrounding the mountains. When it became clear that Magh Doruhl would fall, several groups of the most skilled craftsmen, who had until then been using their skills to assist in the war, where sent with a number of priceless artifacts and an elite escort to try and escape the city and meet up with those who had fled before. Most made it out and could tell their kin about the defeat.

Aftermath

Unable to return to their homes in the mountains the displaced dwarves settled in the cities where they had been granted refuge. Over time thriving dwarven communities were established in these cities, but the dwarves never forget what happened or the home that was lost.

Historical Significance

Legacy

Over the centuries several attempts to retake the lost cities and outposts have been made by smaller groups of dwarves, but their strength has never been enough. The goblinoids are too well entrenched and most dwarves consider it wiser to stay in their adopted cities instead of risking their lives for a lost dream.

Conflict Type

War

Start Date

2nd day of Year's End 429 AtB

Ending Date

17th day of Planting 430 AtB

Conflict Result

The united goblinoid clans drove the dwarves from their cities and outposts in the Flaming Mountains.

Belligerents

Dwarves of the Flaming Mountains

United goblinoid clans

Strength

4500 dwarven warriors
280 dwarven scouts
90 dwarven mages
145 dwarven priests

3000 goblin warriors
1000 goblin scouts
300 goblin cavalry
240 goblin priests
1400 hobgoblin warriors
200 hobgoblin warcasters
160 hobgoblin shadow monks
400 bugbears

Casualties

4300 dwarven warriors
190 dwarven scouts
85 dwarven mages
130 dwarven priests

2500 goblin warriors
850 goblin scouts
140 goblin cavalry
65 goblin priests
600 hobgoblin warriors
60 hobgoblin warcasters
115 hobgoblin shadow monks
70 bugbears

Objectives

Defend the dwarven holdings

Invade the dwarven lands