Underborn

## The Underborn

The **Underborn**, also known as the **Underminers**, is a Freeguild of the city of Vanderhal. The Freeguild is largely formed of Dispossessed duardin from the Grumborg Clan. They primarily defend miners and underground locations around Vanderhal, largely against grots and some skaven.

## History

### Origins

The Underborn were established early on in Vanderhal's history by the Grumborg Clan due to numerous incursions taking place in the mines and tunnels underneath Vanderhal. The Grumborg, wishing to settle an old debt to the leader of Vanderhal, choose to handle this threat and created a bind oath of service to the city, establishing the freeguild of the Underborn.

### Notable Conflicts

* **The Night of Wails** - Following the Necroquake, large host of Nighthaunts attacked the city and its defenders. During this battle the Underborn were noted for being one of the most effective forces against the nighthaunt, battling hosts of ghostly specters who where pouring out of the caverns
* **The Fourth Battle of Vanderhal** - During the Fourth Battle of Vanderhal, a host of grots dug deep tunnels and carved small pathways into the underground caverns of Vanderhal. The entire Underborn were marshalled and fought long and hard to keep them back, and the freeguild reached its largest size at that point, calling in nearly every available duardin in the city and quickly equiping and drafting them into service.

## Homeland

The Underborn make their home in the Broken Continent, specifically in the city of Vanderhal.

## Equipment

### Relics

* **Lawjudger**: Lawjudger is a cedar great maul carved with a hammer overlapping a book. It prevents all in its presence from breaking any law, and is most often used to enforce regulation among disgruntled miners and rebellious soldiers.
* **Duzh'garab**: This is an iron dagger with a brass hilt engraved with a man walking, said to be an blade forged by aelves of Ulgu. A bit of a taboo weapon, wielding only by the Underborn.
* **Kitakana:** An aelven

## Organization

The Underborn consist of approximately 60 members at any given point, mostly duardin of the Grumborg Clan. They are usually divided into 6 different groups, each division with 10 men. The leader of each group is the eldest member among them, usually a veteran longbeard, and are referred to as "elders" or "veteran leader." Some units are accompanied by an artilleryman in the form of a thunderer, but most members of each unit are standard hammer-wielding soldiers or heavily-armored irondrakes. The Underborn do possess one artillery division made of irondrakes, who are usually only called upon to fight against large swarms of enemies and unleash torrents of fire upon their foes. The head division is led by leader of the Underborn, given the title of "commander" and overseeing both his own 10-man crew of veteran elites and the entire freeguild.

Each unit of 10 is further divided into smaller pairs of 2, with each pair patrolling the various tunnels beneath Vanderhal. These pairs are usually formed of close friends or family-members who are likely to work together well, or in some cases novice soldiers are paired with more experienced Underborn, following their elders command. Most of the time these soldiers wear gromil-protected armor and are able to handle any disturbance, but if threatened with larger enemy forces the entire 10-man unit is called to deal with any infestation.

The Underborn are almost exclusively composed of the duardin of the Grumborg Clan. The Grumborg make their living mining in the same caverns and tunnels the Underborn watch over, and serving in the Underborn has become seen as an extension of the clan's business. Nearly every member of the Grumborg has a relative who serves or has served in the Underborn, which is seen as both a great honor and highly encouraged for younger male duardin. Familial relations play an important part in where soldiers in the Underborn end up and under whose command they follow, and this has led to a certain strengthening of the unity among the Underborn, although on occasion it has led to small feuds between family members spilling over into the organization. As an extension of the clan, the Grumborg are the main supporters of the Underborn, providing the gromil-based weaponry and other duardin built equipment as well as other necessities. The handling of armor and weapon maintainence in particular is overseen by the capable smiths of the Underborn But technically being a freeguild, the Underborn are supplied with some revenue from the Vanderhal government, a small but modest amount which ensures the Underborn are able to remain financially secure.

Other duardin and non-duardin are technically able to join the Underborn, but few do. This is largely because serving for so many years underground is unappealing to most surface-dwellers, and because the leader of the Underborn rarely admits any non-family members into the group. The commander of the Underborn himself has to play a careful game with whom he lets in, due to the conflicting desires of parents & elders and the young duardin of the clan, as well as balancing his roles as an official of Vanderhal and answering to the city's magistrates. The commander of the Underborn has traditionally been the Warden King of the Grumborg Clan, but the most recent leader has broken this tradition.

## Tactics

The Underborn focus on the defense of the underground sewers, mines, and tunnels of Vanderhal, and those who inhabit them. Most of the time, these tunnels are secure and generally unmolested, with the Underborn patrolling in pairs of ironbreakers, who wear heavy gromil armor that covers and protects their entire body that fully protect them from any threat. Small bands of skaven are, however, a frequent problem, as well as wild underground beasts. Occasionally necromantic or Chaos cultists will establish themselves in the sewers or tunnels, and must be rooted out. In addition, the Underborn act as the policing force for the underground, usually overseeing the work of miners.

The main goal of the Underborn, then, is protection and handling of miners, securing underground tunnels, and apprehending underground threats before they emerge. They favor heavy armor and heavy melee weaponry, most used to working in the dark passages and trained to fight in tight corners. Their armor allows for great protection and most rely on large hammers to smash their opponents.

## Notable Characters

* **Commander Gramdrun Skullgrim**: The leader of the Underborn, Gramdrun is known for his grim demeanor and dour personality, and for having travelled far across the Broken Continent. Gramdrun was once a close friend of an aelven mage and swordmaster, and the two fought alongside each other. The death of his friend led him to be more pessimistic and dourer, but he continues to fight on, wielding his fallen friend's magical blade, *Kitakana*, in battle. He is also noted for wearing a distinctive skull helmet.
* Elder Peg: Xorona is a human woman of 48 years. She is 167 cm (5'5") tall and weighs 64 kg (141 lb.). She has blonde hair, white skin, and green eyes. She is brave and passive.
* **Baragir the Wise**: Baragir is an aged and respected member of the Underborn who has served as its oldest member for over a century. He is a capable runelord who oversees the carving of mystic runes into the armor and weapons of the Underborn, and generally cares for the organizations equipment.
* Elder Alaznif Bulinsen: Bulin Zhirrier is a 180 cm (5'10") tall human man. He is 29 years old. Bulin has russet hair, tan skin, and brown eyes. He is honest and eloquent.
* Snorri the Unforged: A mad-eyed duarding with bright red hair and strong arms, Snorri is a wild card among the Underborn. Once a dutiful soldier, he was said to have personally put down a small Chaos cult festering in the city, but was cursed with terrible visions that drove him to madness. He contines to serve, but eschews the use of armor and wields two axes, charging after any percieved threat.
* Sergeant Snomir Goldwinker: Mudli is a gnomish woman of 274 years. She is 66 cm (2'1") tall and weighs 27 kg (60 lb.). She has russet hair, white skin, and blue eyes. She is honest, kind, and plain-spoken.
* Celina Otlend : Celinia is an aging human with dark hair, tan skin, and green eyes, and one of the few humans within the organization. Celina joined the Underborn after her husband, a miner, lost his life, and she has dedicated her life to the Underborn, having served for over two decades now.