In the Hall of the Dwarves
The great Dwarven hall of Karaz-a-Karak was alive this night. The heads of most of the Dwarf clans had assembled to discuss what to do about the Orcs that had been gathering to the south. Tension was high, as they had been waiting for hours for King Kazador to arrive and had been arguing the whole time.
"Why should we send an army to aid the Humans? Where will they be if the Orcs come to OUR walls?" bellowed Thoran, a particularly old and proud Dwarf.
"If the humans so succeed at slowing the Orcs at the Black Fire pass who’s to say they won’t move to Zufbar or Karak Kadrin after that?" retorted Balarin another Dwarven Thane.
"Let them come! Our walls will not fall!" said Thoran.
It had been like this all night. The debate over whether or not aid should be sent to the Humans was a point of much contention. No one was sure where the Orcs would attack first. If they came to Karaz-a-Karak they would be defeated, that much the Dwarves agreed on. But could the humans prevail without their help and if they failed, would it matter at all?
"If the Orcs make it through Black Fire pass they will meet up with more of their kind on the way to Zufbar should they choose that route. We should stop them now while we can. Their numbers are all ready too many to count," said a Balarin.
"A Thousand Orc or a million Orc, it’s all the same to me. I will commit my trust in stone and steel before I rely on the Humans to protect our walls!" yelled Thoran, who was now quite red in the face.
And so the debate continued. Barrel after barrel of ale was drunk and no headway was made until Darin, a Dwarf who was regarded by many as an upstart, presented a very controversial idea. He was one of the few who supported the use of the more bizarre creations from the engineer’s guild and had a penchant for deploying gyrocopters alongside cannons.
"I propose that we deploy Barag-Grong," said Darin standing on his chair in order to gain attention.
The Hall was immediately filled with the cries of anger and disbelief. Several of the Dwarves began laughing thinking that the old Dwarf was making a joke.
"Barag-Grong?" questioned Thoran, "why in the earth would we want to bring out that!"
Balarin was confused. He was young for a Dwarf, but had taken over as head of his family when his father, the Great Balaroth, had died fighting Skaven on a mining expedition.
"What is Barag-Grong?" asked the young Dwarf.
"Of course you wouldn’t know," snickered Thoran, "How could a beardling like you ever know about Barag-Grong?"
Balarin jumped off his chair in a rage at that slight, but before he could protest Darin spoke.
"Barag-Grong is an anvil designed by a great runesmith.."
"You mean a crack-pot of a Runesmith!" interrupted Thoran.
"A GREAT runesmith," continued Darin, "who used it to influence weather. When struck in the correct manner it will bring the forces of wind, rain, and lightning!"
"But what good would that be?" asked Balarin.
"Yes tell us," added Thoran in his most condescending voice.
"If we use Balag-Grong, my dear old friend, it will help us whether the Orcs come to Karaz-a-Karak or not. If we deploy it between here and the BlackFire Pass we can use it to not only weaken their numbers with lightning and wind, but to slow them down allowing us to decipher their movements. If it is decided they will come to us first then we can use this extra time to mount defenses that no Orc would survive. If they head for the Pass we can use that time to assist the Humans in their attack, for they would surely aid us if we were in need."
This hall was filled with dwarf mumbling. Some nodded in approval while other folded their arms and mumbled about aiding the humans at all.
"Why should we think the humans would aid us? They are too busy fighting amongst themselves to aid anyone!" growled Thoran.
This created quite uproar. Some agreed but others did not. There was much yelling and table pounding. Just then the hall doors burst open and a chorus of trumpets blared. Kazor himself stood in the doorway.
"Thoran is right!" said the Dwarf King. ‘The Humans would not aid us. Where were they when our cities were overrun with Orcs and Skaven? Where were they when our treasures were stolen and our ancestor killed? No, the humans would not come to our aid, but we will come to theirs. I fear there is more to these Orcs than we assume. Therefore Balag-Grong will be deployed and you Darin, will be in charge of its safe keeping. Prepare the cannons we go to war!"
And just as abruptly as he came in, Kazador left. The Hall was silent. Slowly each Dwarf finished his drink, got up from his place at the table and left the room. The decision was made and none questioned it. Tomorrow preparations for war were to be made and Barag-Grong would be woken from its long slumber deep within the stronghold.