The Tunnelsmasher Clan

[Nefarious Aus Shitpost 891]

The Tunnelsmasher Clan

do not use information gained in this thread to metagame.

Please note this is primarily an Australian time-based clan. GMT 6+ to GMT 12+ preffered

 

 

 

History

 

Ancient History:

Unlike many of the clan in existence, the Tunnelsmasher's have no great bloodline or name dating back to Urguan himself. The first of their number was none other then the dwarf known as Bryth Irongut - a hard working dwarf who had known a blade his whole life. Through his cunning, guile and strength, Bryth, who was no mage like his father or brother, worked his way through the ranks of the dwarfen legion. However as anyone, he made enemies and eventually, earned himself a promotion and an unfortunate reassignment to a far-flung mining outpost bordering the sands of the despised nation of Krugmar.

 

An outpost which did not exist save for the occasion where its produce - some of the finest iron in the kingdom - came to be collected, however, Bryth, dutiful dwarf he was never once complained and instead made the most of his position as commander of the outpost guard. Or at least he tried to - for fifty-one seasons following the beginning of the recording of time by the elven reckoning disaster occurred. Even before the snarling of the orc and the war-horns could be heard, a foul stench took to the tunnels of Kal'Tabar and the dwarfs were over taken with a fell mood.

 

When the hordes finally arrived, in far greater number then there was defenders, the dwarfs resisted with much valor - but valor alone does not win battles. One by one, after weeks of siege, each of the dwarfs fell to the invaders, but Bryth, in his infinite cunning, saw a way out - a way to claim a victory even when defeat was unavoidable. He turned his back from the slaughter and instead attacked the very beams which prevented the cavern from collapsing on the underground city. Orc and dwarf alike saw his intent with differing reaction. Many an orc and dwarf resigned to their fate, some attempted to stop Bryth and many dwarfs joined him.

 

Bryth continued to hack through beams and supports until success was his. The sound of snapping and the rumbling of falling rock deafened the ears of all present and the rock and dust slew friend and foe alike without remorse. Even Bryth was struck by falling stone, however he awoke much time later and he begged for the Gods to let him die, however as fate would have it, he was not to die that day, rather he made his way through the collapsed ruins of Kal'Tabar, searching for anyone who survived, ignoring the groaning and wailing of the dying all around him, however he only managed to pull another twelve from that terrible place.

 

From that moment and forward, these thirteen dwarfs were brethren - they owed no allegiance to their bloodlines - bloodlines which had forgotten them and allowed them to be slaughtered. They were not bloodkin, but their kinship was bound in blood. They were of their former clans no longer - now they were Tunnelsmasher. Upon return to Kal'Urguan, the clan prospered. Bryth took the woman Hilda, the garrison's blacksmith and a fellow survivor as a wife and had numerous children, as did his fellows. For a great time the Tunnelsmashers, in spite of their strange beginnings, were accepted and respected.

 

During the Blood Age, many of the number of Bryth's kin died down for a number of reasons and Bryth himself, already advanced in age, was slain without resistance by members of the Ironborn dynasty for sedition and so that the knowledge of his deceased wife, Hilda, who was a trained runesmith was to be handed on to Thorgarn's supporters. Hundreds of other Tunnelsmashers were rounded up for work in slave camps and experimentation with flesh runes. The remainder fled the empire to live in the human lands or to dwell with the mountain dwarf clans which had already been exiled.

 

When the time at last arrived for Kal'Urguan to be retaken from the evil of the Ironborn, many of the survivors, including Bryth's eldest sons, Ralor and Sorkvild joined with the numbers of Ironguts, Frostbeards and Grandaxes to retake the ancestral city. After the decade long siege and thirty year war, the number of Tunnelsmashers had been reduced to a handful and their name faded into obscurity. Ralor, Thane of the Clan, and crippled by an arrow to the hip, gathered the remnants together and declared that the bloodbinding was to be ceased until such time as a stronger and more capable leader was to rise. Ralor then returned to his adobe in Kal'Urguan and hid the clan records, bound with runes forged by his mother, where none would find them.

 

As it came to pass, Ralor was slain in the Great War and his possessions passed unto his eldest son Bael, who recovered the records and his fathers last will and testament. Even though Bael was an unsavoury character, and his father knew it, it was his wish that the remainders of his kin were to be reunited and so Bael gathered together what few contacts he had left and began the attempts at a reunification.

 

Recent History:

Attempts at reunification began in Asulon, with Bael and his cousin Eorlund inhabiting Kal'Karik together and seeking their kinsman. The destruction of Kal'Karik by a rouge drake delayed this for nearly half a century until the construction of Mount Ire by the false Paragon Kjell Ireheart. Here, Bael and Eorlund once again attempted to rebuild the clan, however, following disaster, the Tunnelsmasher clan was forced to relocate to Kal'Dwain with their Irongut kinsman, where despite the disappearance of Eorlund, the clan entered a new era of prosperity with several new beardlings and the return of one of Bael's sons.

 

Eventually, the dwarves returned to Kal'Karik and the Tunnelsmasher clan was granted an entire district to inhabit and despite the great boon and the return of Eorlund, many of the clans number faded away to the point when Karik, alongside the rest of Asulon, fell, the clan had not yet even completed the construction of the place. During the long voyage, the Tunnelsmasher clan faded away entirely - Bael retreating from public face alongside his son and all the others going underground too.

 

The arrival in Asulon saw a time of great upheaval. Bael was made archbishop and the position of the clan made safe, until the discovery of the 'Grand Alchemical Dust' which allowed the transformation of common stone into any substance imaginable, made the clan unimaginably wealthy. As the dust ran out however he Tunnelsmashers departed Anthos in attempt to locate more of it, they vanished again entirely.

 

Upon return from the voyage, Bael quickly assumed a new role in dwarven society - swiftly, he became the Pick of Yemekar; incharge of the entire kingdoms material supply. In-dispersed with growing tensions between mountain and cave dwarves, Bael and several other dwarves of Thunderblade, Irongut, Ironbeard and Starbreaker lineage resolved to build a secret place of which cave dwarves could retreat if it came to civil war, however, the primary instigator of the unrest, Gorum Frostbeard, perished long before this could be completed and the place, known as Khaz'Rhadav was abandoned.

 

Shortly afterwards, the Grand King Thorin Grandaxe died on pilgrimage and Bael took advantage of this to attempt to repair the fractured dwarven economy without the need to pass through the king. Soon afterwards, another dwarf took the throne by the name Dizzy Irongrinder, a member of the untrustworthy group, the Arcane Delvers. In spite of having sworn a Yemekarian Oath, dictating that breaker of said oath was to be killed and soul damned for eternity upon breaking of said oath, Dizzy stripped Bael of all titles and handed him an absurd fine, ontop of seizing all his assets, all for crimes which did not occur.

 

Despite a general outrage of the Dwarven populace, Dizzy "The Delver King" did not relent and continued in his oathbreaking, prompting the Tunnelsmasher clan to leave Kal'Azgoth and settle primarily in Renatus. Ironically, it was the near breaking of the clan that resulted in a huge population boom - many outraged dwarves, some of even the false kings line, abandoned the kingdom too and were bloodbound into the clan.

 

The Tunnelsmashers prospered for a time, settling in Renatus (later Oren) under Carrion rule, with Bael serving as Steward of Abresi under Chancellor Tuvya I Carrion. Due to unknown circumstances, Bael went on pilgrimage to the shrine of Yemekar, high above the abandoned city of Kal'Azgoth, and disappeared; presumed dead. During this time the line of Skalliege Tunnelsmasher broke off and made on their own. The remainder of the clan went underground until their leader would return

 

Modern History:

 

to be added

 

 

---

 

Culture

 

The Clan has a strong religious tradition, adhering to a ultra-traditionalist sect of the dwarven faiths, which shuns paragon worship (seeing paragons only as dwarves of note and exemplar conduct), maintains a different list of paragons to those commonly accepted and considers followers of the deities Wyvurn and Dormaar as little more then heathens, while it considers the Ireheart clan, with their worship of the false paragon Kjell as a God as plainly heretical.

 

As something as a particularity amongst the dwarfen peoples, the Tunnelsmashers are known to show a preference for swords and knives over axes and polearms, the exact reason for this behaviour is unknown, but the axe is treated as a tool amongst Tunnelsmasher dwarfs rather then a weapon. In combat, Tunnelsmashers are known for not only defeating their enemies, but also humiliating them. They have no qualms beating the already defeated and marking them with forced tattoos baring dwarven religious symbols on their faces and hands. Dead opponents are decapitated and their heads used as decorations in the homes of clans-dwarfs.

 

In the private life, Tunnelsmasher's make little distinction between each other, a brother is as much family as a cousin. Loyalty to the clan is primary concern - if a member of the clan is picked on by someone outside of the clan, others in the area will rush to their defence and often engage in 'bullying' behaviour on foes. Clothing wise, Tunnelsmashers, as a result of spending much time with mountain dwarfs, tend to wear heavy, hardy and warm clothing, often in the form of robes, overcoats and jackets. Smoking is a common recreational activity.

 

Clan Relics

 

The Book of Records

 

​Possibly the most enigmatic item owned by the clan, the book of records is an ancient item, created in the year following the foundation of the clan. Several hundred pages of vellum, all written in ancient dwarfen runic script (although quite a large number of pages remain blank) and encased in fine dwarfen steel, the likes of which can no longer be replicated. Each of the steel covers carries a large master rune of flame, which reacts violently to people who attempt to move or access to book without Tunnelsmasher blood. The books pages are filled with genealogies, family trees and journal entries from a number of clans-dwarfs ranging from Bryth to Bael. It is currently stored in a secret location in Anthos.

 

Azgoth Verdigrumm

 

"The Treasure Defender" - Bryth's longsword, a gift from his father Heron prior to leaving for Kal'Tabar. The blade is made from the finest and most expensive dwarfen steel and enlaid with runes of unknown meaning, which have long since run out of energy. The Azgoth Verdigrumm was carried by Bryth through the siege of Kal'Tabar, was later handed down to Ralor who hid the blade from the Ironborn Dynasty and carried it during the siege of Kal'Urugan and finally passed onto Bael who continues to wield it on occasion.

 

The Terror Stone

 

A small gem that was found beneath Mount Terror in Anthos by Bael. It is noticeable for having drawn Bael to it by projecting voices into his head and it glows off a faint inner light. The stone was set into an amulet by its finder and the amulet itself was handed off to Adarl for safekeeping. With the death of Adarl Tunnelsmasher, the Terror Stone has been lost.

 

---

 

Appearance

 

As a result of being created from thirteen different lineages, the Tunnelsmasher's have the least uniform appearance of any of the dwarfen clans. While primarily descended from cave dwarf stock, much contact with the mountain dwarfs due to the atrocities occurring during the Blood Age, many (if not all) of the clan carries some mountain dwarf blood.

 

Brown or black hair is the norm, although red hair is not unheard of. The hair goes progressively lighter as the dwarf ages, ending usually at an ashy grey or off-white. Skin is typically grey, pale or very lightly tanned, however those descended from pure cave dwarf blood are very possibly translucent. Beards are grown and well-kept. As a result of Irongut influence, beard braiding and adding jewellery to ones facial hair is quite common place too. Tunnelsmasher's are typically taller then the average cave dwarf, although shorter then the typical mountain dwarf. They stand of average build, not as broad or bulky as a mountain dwarf, but far more agile.

 

---

 

Coming of Age

 

The Trial of Faith

 

When the time comes for a beardling to come of age or when a non-clan member is to be adopted, their first task to prove themselves is to, with the company of an elder, travel to a secret location and worship at the aforementioned altar, at the same time as choosing their patron. Once the altar is built, the dwarf is to offer a suitable sacrifice to their patron, which will be burnt until it is all gone. The fire is used to melt a small nugget of gold into a coin. The coin is a symbol of full membership into the clan.

 

The Trial of the Book

 

Once the trial of faith is complete, the elder, along with the Book of Records takes the beardling or adoptee to a secluded location within the kingdom, where the beardling is cut their own hand open with an implement of their choice and collect the fallen blood. The blood is then divided into two portions, one half which is kept for a later date and the other half is mixed with Lapis Lazuli to form an ink which is then used to mark the name of the beardling in the book.

 

---

 

Clan Members

since reformation

 

Clan Thane

 

Bael, son of Ralor [bipolar_Juice]

 

Clan Elders

 

Dorn, joined with the blood [yimmya]

Belegar, of unknown relation [mono_poly]

 

Clan Members

 

Theryn, joined with the blood [Whoba] [Grandaxe]

Odarc, of unknown relation [cycy67]

Floi, of unknown relation [ztb_00]

Har'vok, of unknown relation [graphic18]

 

 

Clan Deceased

 

Argon, joined with the blood [sambotronic2712]

Adarl, son of Bael [Ja_mes_K]

 

Clan Missing

 

Gimrik, joined with the blood [racingbrother]

Bryk, son of Sorkvild [zevandir]

Hidar, joined with the blood [DwarfGuy45187]

Carth, son of Ralor [italian_assassin]

Idius, son of Bael [taito999]

Kairn, son of Bael [connman]

Kienherst, son of Sorkvild [spiritoftheram]

Kevo, son of Ralor [Xiryks]

Eorlund, son of Sorkvild [spitfyre7kira]

Gigolo, son of Bael [_snowshovel]

 

Clan Banished

 

 

 

 

---

 

Clan Holdings & Diplomacy

 

The Kingdom of Urguan: Indifferent

Irongut: Bloodkin

Starbreaker: Mixed

Ireheart: Disliked

Grandaxe: Neutral

Goldhand: Neutral

Frostbeard: Neutral

Doomforge: Neutral

Irongrinder: Hostile

Skalliege: Bloodkin

 

Imperium Tertius: Indifferent

Aesterwald: Disliked

Principality of Raev: Friendly

 

Other Factions

Enclave of Haelun'or: Disliked

Teutonic Order: Hostile

 

The Rexdom

Gorkil: Neutral

Lur: Friendly

Ugluk: Neutral

Braduk: Neutral

 

Clan Territory:

 

Aegis: City of Kal'Tabar (destroyed by orc invasion)

Asulon: Clan Hall in Kal'Dwain (destroyed by drake)

Asulon: District in Karik (destroyed by Lysistrata villagers)

Kalos: Clan Hall in Kal'Kadrin (destroyed by Volcano)

Anthos: Clan Storehouse in the Anthos Wilds (lost in Anthos)

Anthos: Village of Khaz'Rhadav (lost in Anthos)

Athera: Village of Khaz'Umthosnazkarumm (abandoned)

 

---

 

Application

Currently looking for more beardlings!

 

[[ MC Name: ]]

[[ OOC Reason for joining: ]]

[[ Have you read the OOC stuff (below): ]]

[[ Your Skype Name: (optional) ]]

Yer Name:

Yer Age:

Yer Gender:

Yer Relation to teh Clan:

Yer (brief) History:

 

Out of Character Stuff below:

Just a few things I need to make clear:

• I'm all about having fun, so have fun.

Bael is king.

[ToenailTickler 290]

((I want to join, but I never played a dwarf before. And I don't know what my relationship to the clan would be.... Anyone want a distant cousin? Just kidding, but if you need a son or something that needs playing I'll do it I guess.

EDIT: Plus I need a skin))

[Bangi 104]

((Hmm.. I like this new stuff you put in. PM me if we ever gots a dwarf tournament to try and kick ass in..))

[Nefarious Aus Shitpost 891]

[[ I'm not sure how behind you are, but I was banned indefinitely alongside several other dwarves a few weeks back. ]]

[Bangi 104]

[[ I'm not sure how behind you are, but I was banned indefinitely alongside several other dwarves a few weeks back. ]]

D:

[Nefarious Aus Shitpost 891]

The Tunnelsmasher Clan is once again open.

[Kickstarted and Running 965]

[[ MC Name: Italian_Assassin]]

[[ OOC Reason for joining: blackmail ]]

[[ Have you read the OOC stuff (below): yes ]]

[[ Your Skype Name: (optional) ]]

Yer Name: Carth

Yer Age: I 'unno

Yer Gender: Th' one wif th' third leg

Yer Relation to teh Clan: Lost brother t' Bael

Yer (brief) History: I was born wiffout 'air an as I grew up there wasn't nae sign a beard so me fadder 'id me. After 'e passed I was los' an' a bit 'elpless and then I grew me beard.

[Nefarious Aus Shitpost 891]

[[ MC Name: Italian_Assassin]]

[[ OOC Reason for joining: blackmail ]]

[[ Have you read the OOC stuff (below): yes ]]

[[ Your Skype Name: (optional) ]]

Yer Name: Carth

Yer Age: I 'unno

Yer Gender: Th' one wif th' third leg

Yer Relation to teh Clan: Lost brother t' Bael

Yer (brief) History: I was born wiffout 'air an as I grew up there wasn't nae sign a beard so me fadder 'id me. After 'e passed I was los' an' a bit 'elpless and then I grew me beard.

 

[[ By far one of the best applications I've ever read, definately an 11/10, welcome aboard! ]]

[Haelonavious Varunthaar 12]

[[ MC Name: Taito999 ]]

[[ OOC Reason for joining: I wanted to play as a Dwarf and was invited to this clan]]

[[ Have you read the OOC stuff (below): Yep I love to have fun! ]]

[[ Your Skype Name: Taito999 ]]

Yer Name: Idius Tunnelsmasher

Yer Age:114

Yer Gender: Male

Yer Relation to teh Clan: I am the son of Bael.

Yer (brief) History: Bael raised Idius like any other Dwarf should be. From a young Bearding he was always trouble. He pestered the workers in the mines and the elders who attempted to work whilst he ran about. Much like his brothers Adarl and Kairn he went through the normal coming of age ritual. 

[Nefarious Aus Shitpost 891]

[[ MC Name: Taito999 ]]

[[ OOC Reason for joining: I wanted to play as a Dwarf and was invited to this clan]]

[[ Have you read the OOC stuff (below): Yep I love to have fun! ]]

[[ Your Skype Name: Taito999 ]]

Yer Name: Idius Tunnelsmasher

Yer Age:114

Yer Gender: Male

Yer Relation to teh Clan: I am the son of Bael.

Yer (brief) History: Bael raised Idius like any other Dwarf should be. From a young Bearding he was always trouble. He pestered the workers in the mines and the elders who attempted to work whilst he ran about. Much like his brothers Adarl and Kairn he went through the normal coming of age ritual. 

 

Bael is pleased his sons are returning to him. "Welcume 'ome lad!"

[someguy45187 29]

[[ MC Name: DwarfGuy45187]]

[[ OOC Reason for joining: ]I was invited to join the clan in roleplay.]

[[ Have you read the OOC stuff (below): Yes, fun is pretty good.]]

[[ Your Skype Name: (optional) N/A]]

Yer Name: Hidar 

Yer Age: A numbar

Yer Gender: Mayle

Yer Relation to teh Clan: Joined through blood ritual.

Yer (brief) History: Ah wuz furzt born in dah Thunderfizt clan. Den Ah lurned dat Duergarz brudder wuz a traitorous bastard du dah dorfen peepl. Afder dat I levt dah Thunderfiztz n saw Bael. Den Ah became a Tunnelsmasher.

[Nefarious Aus Shitpost 891]

[[ MC Name: DwarfGuy45187]]

[[ OOC Reason for joining: ]I was invited to join the clan in roleplay.]

[[ Have you read the OOC stuff (below): Yes, fun is pretty good.]]

[[ Your Skype Name: (optional) N/A]]

Yer Name: Hidar 

Yer Age: A numbar

Yer Gender: Mayle

Yer Relation to teh Clan: Joined through blood ritual.

Yer (brief) History: Ah wuz furzt born in dah Thunderfizt clan. Den Ah lurned dat Duergarz brudder wuz a traitorous bastard du dah dorfen peepl. Afder dat I levt dah Thunderfiztz n saw Bael. Den Ah became a Tunnelsmasher.

 

"Tah'va alredeh done wun 'alf de initiation, suh welcome Hidar!"

[Sky 0]

Kevo raises his mug of fresh ale, breathing deeply and chugging the entire mug.

 

"Tunnelsmashers!" 

[John (Zevandir) 80]

[[ MC Name: ]] Zevandir
[[ OOC Reason for joining: ]] Cuz Bael is king and Greg is half an hour's drive from me.

[[ Have you read the OOC stuff (below): ]] The application details? Not yet, only just started answering them.
[[ Your Skype Name: (optional) ]] Cid_the_sloth
Yer Name: Bryk
Yer Age: IF BRYK LAY ONE BRICK EVERY YEAR, BRYK LAY NOT MANY BRICKS CUZ BRYK LAZY. BUT BRYK MEBBE IF NOT GET TOO LAZY LAY TWO HUNNERD FIDDY FREE BRICKS.
Yer Gender: Two widdle bricks, one long brick.
Yer Relation to teh Clan: Bryk son of Sorkvild
Yer (brief) History: Bryk is STRONK LIKE BRICK!

BRYK IS STRONK LIKE BRICK. BRYK FAVRITE COLOUR IS FYABRICK.

[Nefarious Aus Shitpost 891]

[[ MC Name: ]] Zevandir

[[ OOC Reason for joining: ]] Cuz Bael is king and Greg is half an hour's drive from me.

[[ Have you read the OOC stuff (below): ]] The application details? Not yet, only just started answering them.

[[ Your Skype Name: (optional) ]] Cid_the_sloth

Yer Name: Bryk

Yer Age: IF BRYK LAY ONE BRICK EVERY YEAR, BRYK LAY NOT MANY BRICKS CUZ BRYK LAZY. BUT BRYK MEBBE IF NOT GET TOO LAZY LAY TWO HUNNERD FIDDY FREE BRICKS.

Yer Gender: Two widdle bricks, one long brick.

Yer Relation to teh Clan: Bryk son of Sorkvild

Yer (brief) History: Bryk is STRONK LIKE BRICK!

BRYK IS STRONK LIKE BRICK. BRYK FAVRITE COLOUR IS FYABRICK.

 

Bael hates family reunions because Bryk makes everyone eat Bricks, but he, with tears flowing down his eyes, adds the name to the clan ledger.