Clans Subfaction

Dwarven society is structured around the cornerstones of family, clan, tribe and local earth-spirits. Clan-folk carve out

farmsteads upon the heath-land fells and coastal islands, in forest clearings and mountain valleys. Deep within the wilderness

they dwell in small, rural settlements called steadings – self-sufficient, fortified farming-communities comprising several

extended families. Each steading honors its allied earth-spirits which are bound by ancient pacts and may be called upon for aid.

one aspect all kingdoms hold in common is the traditional militia they maintain known as the Fjell Warriors. Every Dwarven male is required to train weekly with the time-honored battleaxe and be ready to take his place in the Fjell Warriors shield-wall. Armed with weapons of steel in a world of bronze,

Nordgaard’s forces can outlast and outfight many a foe.

Warsmith

Background

Warsmith is the title given to the master blacksmith of every clan, each one a craftsmen and fighter of great renown. The brush and canvas of this warrior-artist are his hammer and anvil, and unlike the famed Rhundras, the Warsmith does not employ runes – rather he is an expert in metals and forging techniques. Warsmiths work the celestial metal of the gods, called orichalcum, and they are guardians of the secret formula of Nordgaard Steel – a combination of wrought iron with iron ore, mixed with charcoal and glass which is sealed and heated together in a furnace.

Once every century the Warsmiths select apprentices from among accomplished village blacksmiths, and these master-smiths then undergo a century of further gruelling training before becoming Warsmiths themselves. In order to understand weapons and armor properly, the apprentice must also be an accomplished warrior. In times of war, the Warsmith joins the leaders of his clan in battle for he is a warrior of great prowess. Indeed, the Warsmith must continue to perfect his fighting abilities to improve his skills in forging the tools of war.

Game Role

The Warsmith is the first Clans warlord and is the natural choice for a Clans-focussed warband. Like most starterbox warlords he is a bit of a generalist, being able to fight quite well and having a few buffing options for his troops. If you buy him lots of great items, then he becomes a seriously formidable fighter, even though he will almost always be the one being charged.

In terms of his fighting capabilities, he has MEL 8 and POW7, but he gets an additional bonus of +! On melee attacks due to his knowledge of enemy armor. So that’s already pretty impressive. He can also slam his hammer into the ground, causing a magical earth quake, knocking down all models in a 4” line. He also has a tactic called Shatter which affects armor or weapons of the enemy causing a debuff of -2 ARM or -2 POW.

On the support side, his subfaction warband members need not test for orders from the Warsmith, and two of these are very useful. Firstly Embolden increases MOV by +1 for charges and Grindstone adds +1 to POW of MEL or MIS attacks.

Like most Dwarves, his main deficiency is speed, but he has a base DEF of 13 and ARM 8, which can be improved with items that increase DEF, ARM and reduce damage received. Additionally, he has 17 life points, so he can survive well against all models except melee warlords and some elite units (for example Sons if War and Cromlech Guard).

Despite all the above, the Warsmith is still very good value for points at only 40 points.

Fjell Warriors

Background

During Ice-Season Noordgaard is prone to annual sea-borne invasion over the ice-sheets as well as constant raiding by Troglodytes, Banebrood, and other enemies. Local monsters and natural beasts of the wilderness also pose a constant threat, so every village must maintain a militia to survive. These consist primarily of Fjell Warriors, and during times of war, they make up the bulk of Nordgaard’s army.

Many of Nordgaard’s enemies have underestimated these militias and died because of it, for despite their mediocre fighting skills Fjell Warriors are well equipped with helmets and chainmail of steel and their powerful muscles wield heavy axes.

With axe and shield in hand these doughty warriors storm down the mountainsides like an avalanche, falling upon the enemies surrounding their highland realms.

Game Role

Fjell Warriors typically fight in a shield-wall formation where each warrior locks his shield together to provide a consistent barrier. This tactic is especially useful for Dwarves because they lack mobility. Excellent armour, natural toughness and high morale provide the Fjell Warriors with tremendous staying power; and charges that would sweep away the militias of other races are rudely blunted upon the steel fortitude of a regiment of Fjell Warriors. Once the enemy has charged and become stuck upon the anvil of the shield-wall, the hammer comes crashing down in the form of Fjellgangrs and Chainslayers etc.

Fjell Warriors are a relatively cheap unit, costing only 10 points each, so they can be used to build a horde-style warband or a single unit can form a solid piece of a mixed sub-faction warband. Almost any Nordgaard warband can benefit from a unit of Fjell Warriors.

Brewer of Odrorir

Background

Feasting and guzzling down quality alcohol in the smoky mead hall of the Jarl is an honorable pastime in Nordgaard; no wonder then that brewers hold positions of respect in Dwarven society. Brewers of Odrorir prize the revered Tomes of Thalon – ancient secret recipes and brewing processes which are in fact encoded magical formulas and rituals enacted over a period of months or years.

Jarls and heroes often hire Brewers of Odrorir to accompany their troops, and during times of conflict they support their clan and king, taking to the battlefield and dispensing enchanted brews to the troops to enhance their fighting skills and resilience. Brewers take as much of their treasured produce with them as they can carry in barrels and bottles tied to their backs.

Game Role

The Brewer is primarily a buffing character who has three magical brews he can dispense to friends.

Guarding Draft gives +1 DEF, Hardneck Mead gives a 5+ protection roll vs mortal wounds, and Strongarm Ale gives +1 to MEL and POW.

One key aspect to keep in mind is that his brews are not tactics, so they can be applied to models in addition to any tactics they may have active. This enables some pretty serious buffing combinations

Besides this, he is also a useful scenarios character. He is by no means a melee character, but he can get by with MEL6, DEF12 and ARM7, as well as 13 life points.

The Brewer is a useful model for any and all Nordgaard warbands, but especially indispensable for elite warbands with high-point models.

Fjellgangr

Background

Gangr are the stunted descendents of the Jotuns, afflicted by a curse which halved their stature with each successive generation, until today, when the current population stands but five meters tall. Ever since Surtus bequeathed to Haldan and Thorgan (the founding gods of Nordgaard) the secret of the runes, they have been close allies of the Dwarves and Skannfyrd.

Fjellgangr are the smallest of all the giants and those who interact most with the “little races”.

A few score individuals live within the borders of Nordgaard, making their homes among the mountains and misty hills which cover that land. Gangr also stride the Tundra plains as mammoth herders.

In battle, a Fjellgangr is a fearsome spectacle, thrashing around with a club the size of a small tree. A single mighty strike can turn an enemy into crimson smear on the ground, and their kicks knock victims dozens of meters, not to mention shattering every bone in their bodies. Fjellgangr spurn armor, preferring to rely on their thick, stony skin. In demeanor, Fjellgangr are remarkably cautious, preferring to consider all possibilities before acting, but they are generally jovial and enjoy a good barrel of ale with a leg of mammoth.

Game Role

Fjellgangrs have two potential modes of operation.

The first is as lawn-movers, wiping out cheap troops with their attacks which target all models within 2 inches with a POW3 attack. With a little buffing, they can be effective against most regular troops.

The second mode of operation is hammer. With a POW8 attack at range 2, he can potentially make 3 such attacks per round. This should take care of those pesky heavy infantry.

As an added bonus, he can kick models away, knocking them down.

The great thing about the Fjellgangr is his durability. DEF13 is above average for giant models, and although his ARM is only 5, all damage is reduced by D6 due to his thick skin. Effectively he has a random ARM of 6-11. Besides that, he has 21 lifepoints and is a perfect candidate for all the defensive buffs that Nordgaard warlords and characters have.

The Fjellgangr is very versatile and makes a perfect hammer to go with your Dwarven anvil. Or he works well in an offensive Skannfyrd warband.