Thane Baldûr stood silent viewing the scene before him, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield. The acrid smell of smoke and blood filled the air, mingling with the earthy scent of the mountain. The clash of steel and the roars of the wounded had finally faded, replaced by the jubilant shouts of victory. The dwarven clan of Stoneforge, battle-worn and bloodied, stood tall among the fallen, their hammers and axes raised in triumph.
Baldûr’s eyes fell on the lifeless form of Scalecommander Sarkareth, the once formidable dracthyr who had sought to overthrow the Dragon Aspects and seize their power. His golden scales, now dulled and stained with blood, shimmered faintly in the dim light of the halls of Abberus. Sarkareth’s rebellion had threatened not just the dragonflights but all who lived under the shadow of the mountains.
With a deep breath, Baldûr joined his kin. The Stoneforge dwarves, as tough and unyielding as the mountains they called home, turned to their Thane with expressions of hard-earned pride. Among them was Gorwan, his second-in-command, whose hammer still dripped with the blood of the dracthyr.
“Gorwan,” Baldûr called out, his voice a rumble like distant thunder. “Report.”
Gorwan stepped forward, his face split by a wide grin beneath his braided beard. “Thane Baldûr, th’battle is won. Sarkareth lies dead, an’his forces scattered tae the winds. Oor casualties are heavy, but oor spirit remains unbroken.”
Baldûr nodded, clasping Gorwan’s forearm in a gesture of camaraderie. “Well fought, me brudder. Ye all done yer ancestors proud!”
He turned to address his clan, his voice carrying over the great hall. “Stoneforge! Today, we 'ave struck a blow against tyranny an darkness. Sarkareth sought tae claim the power of the Dragon Aspects, tae bend the world tae his will. But he underestimated the strength an’resolve o the dwarven heart!”
A cheer erupted from the gathered dwarves, their voices echoing off the distant walls. Baldûr raised his large hammer, its head gleaming in the light. “Oor ancestors watch over yer all 'tis day, their spirits lifted by oor victory. We 'ave shown the world again that the Stoneforge clan is a force tae be reckoned with, a bastion of courage and might!”
Last night Stoneforge downed the last two bosses in Abberus HC, with pure iron will, dwarven might and BIG Hammers we prevailed. Happy to see that at the end of season 4 we are still active and doing great deeds for dwarven kind!
//Baldûr