Empire of Khorvad

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Around the year 1200, in the lands known as Aegis dwarven history finds itself missing a gargantuan amount of lore. This age has come to be known as the "Blood age", and for rather a good reason. It was Urguan's youngest son, Velkan of the clan Ironborn, most loved of his children, resembling his father with his physical appearance, stone coloured skin, and pearl blue eyes. When Urguan left his people, the Kingdom was left leaderless, and bound for uncontrollable chaos, it was then the Ironborn usurped the empty throne, claiming his purity as justification for the power grab. He is known as a relatively just dwed, ruling his empire fairly, and pushing major militarial and technological reforms.

The Ironborn Emperors

Oldest born of Velkan, was a dwed named Thorngarn. During Velkan's reign the boarders of his father's kingdom saw great expansion, the dwarven economy was on the rise, it's military strong, technology seeing often improvements, and the people content. However this rising power attracted the attention of not only surrounding nations, but of the Primordials themselves, most specifically the dark lord Khorvad, enemy of The Brathmordakin. This ever-so malevolent creature twisted the feeble mind of Velkan, abusing his capabilities to influence his decisions later in life. In return for their sanity, Velkan received Khorvadic magics. However before the influence brought unto Velkan by the dark lord caused harm to his people, the old king perished, leaving Thorngarn to take the throne.

The new King Thorgarn took a seat upon the throne, favoured of the dark lord. After mercilessly slaughtering his siblings to ensure his rise to power was undisturbed, his reign saw it's official begin, and an age of rule by an iron fist began. Several changes were made to society as a whole, and specifically the political structure, reworking it so that all holders of high position were of Ironborn blood, and loyal to the King. Urguan's Kingdom saw a name change to highlight it's new era, becoming known as the Empire of Khorvad. During this time, Thorngarn ordered those below him to begin to find and destroy all evidence of the Kingdom before him, of Urguan and the history of that age's culture, and happenings in an effort to ensure nothing would be known of it but his own power, of his own Kingdom, and his own history.

Enlisting the assistance of experienced runesmiths, oblivious to the mad king's intentions were ordered to round up and execute all elders of the Kingdom, and educated folk on the histories and writings of old. His reasoning? Heresy. Yet not all bought into his claims, and his apparent just actions, for the Frostbeard and Grandaxe clans seceded from the Empire, fleeing into the surrounding land, moving into recluse. Following this betrayal, the mad king was thrown into a rage, demanding the death of every mountain and forest dwed, leading to the disappearance of the Treebeard clan as well.

As the mad king ordered the further destruction of all literature kept within their hall, the once-loyal runesmiths left him as well, leaving in a huff of disagreement of such actions. After seeing many of those once-loyal to him fleeing, he warned that any more who attempted to make their way out would be flayed without regard to their health, or age. The use of flesh runes for torture by the mad king eventually made it's way to the public sphere, causing Thorgarn to receive an extreme deal of hatred. The rebellious Grandaxes and Frostbeards were eventually joined by the Treebeard and Irongut clans. The Irehearts however, bound by a blood oath chose to stay, the Goldhands and Starbreakers remained out of fear.

The Coalition of Four

Formed by the Grandaxe, Frostbeard, Treebeard and Irongut clans, this coalition stood as a diplomatic and military force against the Empire of Khorvad. They first attempted to reason with the Ironborns, sending Dwain Irongut as the chosen ambassador to meet with the King and council for attempted diplomacy. However upon his arrival, he found himself restrained, and his bodyguard was executed on sight. Dwain was taken to the deepest depths of the city's dungeons, and tortured brutally. His limps were sewn to a hog, and sent loose for the rebels to see. After such actions, the Ireheart clan broke it's blood oath, claiming Thorgarn a kinslayer, and left the Empire. Shortly after the Ireheart's betrayal, the remaining two clans: Starbreaker and Goldhand fled, joining the Coalition, and forming what has become known as the Remnant of Urguan.

The Great Collapse

The Remnant of Urguan and her forces were led by a dwed known as Simppa, fearlessly leading his forces against the legions of the Ironborn. After numerous brutal and bloody battles, Simppa's forces found themselves before the Empire's capital. They moved, swiftly charging through the gates. Within the city a massive battle filled with carnage of the highest degree ensued, ending only after a great deal had met their demise on both sides. Simppa himself beheaded the mad king, and banished the Ironborn clan.

Credit to: Arockstar and Ziko for providing additional lore information.