Krag Bryn's location near the High Elven colony of Tol Eldroth before the War of the Beard.
Krag Bryn, which means "Gleaming Mountain" in Khazalid, was a Dwarf settlement in the Old World where a conflict erupted between Dwarfs and High Elven colonists of the Old World settled at Tol Eldroth that would be a prelude to the wider violence between the Elder Races in the War of the Beard that soon followed.[1a]
History[]
Origins[]
Many centuries before the High Elves landed on the shores of the Old World, the Dwarf adventurer Bronn the Bold and his clan had migrated along the mountain tracks until they reached the peaks overlooking the coastal plain. Bronn's prospectors discovered the gems and gold locked within the mountains and so Bronn and his expedition established a mining settlement. This new colony soon attracted miners, merchants and settlers from other Dwarf clans and grew rapidly into a mighty stronghold which was ruled over by Bronn and his descendants. The stronghold became known as Krag Bryn, which means "Gleaming Mountain" in the Dwarf tongue of Khazalid.[1a]
Coming of Thrund[]
Hearing of the wealth of Krag Bryn, the Dwarf Lord Thrund the Angry gathered a great throng of Dwarf adventurers, outcasts and restless clans eager for new lands to claim. Thrund held a long-standing ancestral grudge against Bronn, the exact nature of which had long become obscure. Whatever its origin, the grudge itself was still remembered by all of his clan. Thrund resolved to find Krag Bryn and seize its throne for himself.[1a]
In the mighty battle that followed, Thrund was defeated by Bronn and mortally wounded. Before he gasped his last, he made his heirs swear an oath to uphold the grudge, which was now drenched with fresh clan blood. True to their pledge, but lacking the force to take Krag Bryn, these "Thrundlings" built their own stronghold, overlooking the only pass through the mountains and so barring the trade route from the rest of the Karaz Ankor to Krag Bryn. They named this fortress Kazad Thrund in honour of their illustrious ancestor. From here they levied a tax on all merchants travelling through the pass. It was for this reason that the pass soon became known far and wide as Grudge Pass.[1a]
Last of the Bronnlings[]
The centuries passed. When Lord Eldroth's High Elven kindred landed on the coastal plain below the towering peaks, the rivalry between the Bronnlings and the Thrundlings was already old. Endless feuds had taken their toll on the Bronnlings and only one Dwarf of the true lineage of Bronn remained. Elven emissaries sent to the court of Krag Bryn were astonished to be welcomed by a Dwarf queen! She was Helgar, the last living descendant of Bronn the Bold.[1a]
The coming of the Elves was an unexpected boon for Krag Bryn. A new trade route to the fabulous Elf empire of the west in Ulthuan was suddenly opened up to them. The miners could forget the treacherous pass of Kazad Thrund. Now they could sell gold, silver and gems to the Elves, who paid much more than canny Dwarfs, and without so much hard bargaining besides.[1a]
Queen Helgar immediately made a trading pact with the Elves and her popularity with the Dwarfs of Krag Bryn soared. In truth, she badly needed such prestige, since there were none of her own clan left to support her claim to the throne, yet kinsfolk of Thrund were already numerous among the miners. Furthermore, few Dwarfs liked being told what to do by a beardless queen -- even if she could drink ale like a Troll Slayer and her lineage was as long as her (very long) plaits.[1a]
Wrath of Drong[]
Meanwhile, in Kazad Thrund, power was in the sturdy hands of Drong the Hard, of the bloodline of Thrund. He looked upon the arrival of the High Elves of Tol Eldroth with outrage and disgust. As the treasures of Krag Bryn were loaded onto sleek Elven ships bound for destinations unknown, trade through the pass of Kazad Thrund dwindled to virtually nothing. Drong was becoming poor and his clan was growing angry. The grudge was written down and the axes were sharpened. Drong sought to exploit this growing discontent to raise his fortunes. To this end, he cunningly invented a spurious ancestral claim to the throne of Krag Bryn.[1a]
He claimed that his ancestor Thrund had been the rightful lord of Krag Bryn. He had been ousted in a coup and slain most treacherously, rather than in a fair and honourable fight. Drong's words circulated at a time when distrust of the Elves was spreading throughout the Dwarf realms. The false rumour had the desired effect and soon Dwarf adventurers with axes to grind flocked to Kazad Thrund.[1a]
Drong Prepares for War[]
Soon Drong felt that the time was right to challenge Helgar's claim to her throne, with force if necessary. His following was strong, hers was weak. As for her allies, the Elves, what match would they be for good honest Dwarfs! So reckoned Drong, as he made his war-plans. He sent his kinsmen into the mining outposts of Krag Bryn to stir up discontent.[1a]
Thus began the Tale of the Grudge of Drong, as it is known in the Dwarf sagas. This war between Elf and Dwarf colonies was savage in its ferocity, and was a foretaste of what was to come in the long and terrible War of the Beard which broke out soon after.[1a]