"-1190: Kadrin Redmane has left our hold in search of vengeance upon the swarms of Skaven that have soiled the tunnels of Karak Varn.
-1185: Let it be recorded that we have avenged the deaths of those who fell to the blades of grobi and Skaven at Karak Varn. Kadrin Redmane will forever be recorded in our histories as he who claimed a grudge.
-1136: Woe of days that I must record the murder of Kadrin Redmane. Though over thirty Orcs lay at his feet, thrice that number shall we reap vengeance upon before we could even begin to pay him the honour that he is due."
- —Translated from the Book of Grudges of Clan Kamerad[2b]
Kadrin Redmane was a renowned Dwarf runesmith from Zhufbar that gained fame for leading the expedition that retook Karak Varn from the Skaven during the Goblin Wars. However, this venture was short-lived, attracting the attention of both Orcs and Skaven. Kadrin would ultimately die at the Battle of Black Mound against the Greenskins but would make sure they could not take his prized weapon, the Hammer of Ages, by hurling it into the depths of Black Water. Since then, the hold has remained uninhabited except by Trolls and other monsters, although there have been recent reports of increased Skaven activity in the area. Kadrin is also famed as the founder of the great tradition of the hammerers.[1a][2b][3a][4a][5a][5b][6a]
History[]
Runesmiths do not spend all their years simply working at their benches, although they may spend much of their time doing so. Another duty of a Runesmith is to quest for ancient, lost artefacts taken from the Dwarfs during the Time of Woes. Kadrin Redmane was one such runelord[6a], leading several successful expeditions to retake holds that had fallen in the hands of the enemies of the Dwarfs.
Battle of Gunbad[]
In -1245 IC, Kadrin took part in the expedition that succeeded in recapturing Mount Gunbad, led by Logazor Brightaxe, and became a master craftsman in the forges at the gold mines. In the same year, High King Morgrim Blackbeard decided to pay the mines a visit to bolster morale after years of vicious fighting. As cruel fate would have it, it was that same day that the Night Goblins broke through the mine's walls. The high king was at their mercy, for his small bodyguard were overwhelmed as hundreds of gibbering Greenskins poured into the mines.[1a][2a][3a]
As the last of the high king's bodyguard fell, Kadrin Redmane, seeing the desperate situation, took the hammer that he had been using to work the gold and charged out of the forge to protect his liege. Seeing this brave act, the other smiths followed him. Grabbing their forge hammers, they slowly cleared an escape route out from the mines. As a reward, the high king presented Kadrin with a magnificent rune hammer. This event was reputedly responsible for hammerers becoming bodyguards of Dwarf kings. Gunbad, however, could not be saved, and was taken by the Night Goblins and their Orc reinforcements.[1a][2a][3a][4a]
Expedition to Karak Varn[]
Later on, in -1190 IC, Kadrin led a small expedition from Zhufbar in search of vengeance upon the swarms of Skaven that had soiled the tunnels of Karak Varn for the previous three hundred years. Five years later, his expedition cleared the ruins of Karak Varn, driving the Skaven down into the deepest underhalls. He discovered a rich vein of gromril and petitioned the high king to allow him to resettle the old stronghold.[1a][2b][3a][4a][5a]
Under the official seal of the high king of Karaz-a-Karak, Redmane began to rebuild the hold. Miners and prospectors flocked to Karak Varn and gromril began to flood into the high king's coffers. For nearly fifty years, they dug at the gromril seam, and rich were the mule trains that travelled the shores of Black Water southwards to Karaz-a-Karak. During this time, Kadrin and his followers created several fabulous suits of armour from this ore.[1a][2b][3a][4a][5a][6a][7a]
Battle of Black Mound[]
The summer of -1136 IC was particularly prosperous, and a rich vein of gromril gave up over five years' worth of ore in a single season. By due tradition, one fifth of this ore was due to be sent as tithe to the high king. Not only wishing to personally protect such a precious convoy, but also wishing to see the high king, who was a close friend, Kadrin Redmane himself accompanied the mule train.[6a]
Kadrin was ambushed and killed beside the shore of Black Water at what would be known as Battle of Black Mound. Kadrin slew thirty-six massive Orcs before he sustained a mortal wound and fell. His last act was to throw his rune hammer far out into the Black Water to prevent it falling into the hands of the enemy. Many expeditions have since attempted to recover the weapon.[1a][2b][3a][4a][5b][6a][7a][7a]
Following Kadrin's death, the Dwarfs' hold on Karak Varn became increasingly tenuous. The Battle of Black Mound was to prove more costly than simply the mule train of gromril ore. Dispirited and without the driving personality of Redmane to bolster them, the Dwarfs of Karak Varn began to move out. The final blow came when the Skaven that they had driven forth in their conquest gathered in numbers again and attacked once more from below, slaying the last Dwarfs to stay in Karak Varn. Thus, the gromril mines fell again into the possession of dark, spiteful creatures.[1a][2b][3a][4a][5a][6a]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Armies: Dwarfs (4th Edition)
- 1a: pg. 19
- 2: Warhammer Armies: Dwarfs (6th Edition)
- 3: Warhammer Armies: Dwarfs (7th Edition)
- 3a: pg. 17
- 4: Warhammer Armies: Dwarfs (8th Edition)
- 4a: pg. 20
- 5: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition: Dwarfs - Stone and Steel (RPG)
- 6: White Dwarf 283
- 6a: pp. 12-17
- 7: White Dwarf 314
- 7a: pg. 69