Forgekeeper

Clan Forgekeeper are a dwarfen clan that hailed from Karak Izril, but the fall of the hold (and subsequently the renaming to Karak Azgal) forced them into exile in Karaz-a-Karak. Snorri and Brandr are both Altrommi (Full-Beards, Full Adults) of Clan Forgekeeper.

The Thane of the clan is Rorek Brighthammer, Snorri and Brandr's grandfather.

Clan Forgekeeper mostly concerns itself with the ancient art of Runesmithing.

## The Fall of Karak Izril and Exile

Before it's fall Clan Forgekeeper were a prominent clan in Karak Izril with a suitably deep hold on level six of the Karak. Few practical records have survived of the clan, it's goods, or it's members. What records there were have either been carried away by the clan in their final retreat, lost in the assault, or remain in the clan's former hold.

After the Cataclysm hit Karak Izril Greenskins attacked from above whilst Skaven attacked from below, the Karak was lost gradually from the upper and lower levels in towards the centre, the last levels to fall were levels 6-8 where clan Forgekeeper (and no doubt some other, lesser clans) held out for the longest. Eventually even these floors fell but it is likely that this, or the tunnels leading up from here would be the site of any last battles between Clan Forgekeeper and the interlopers. This is also a likely spot for the majority of Clan Forgekeeper's treasures from their Karak Izril heyday.

Following the fall of Karak Izril a dragon made it's lair in the ruins of Karak Izril, choosing one of the caverns opened up by the tectonic activity of the Cataclysm. Here the dragon built it's hoard, ever expanding it with treasures and loot plundered from the surrounding lands and what tunnels and caverns it could reach with in Karak Izril. It is possible that, whilst scouring the mountain, the dragon could have found some of the treasures of Clan Forgekeeper. During the legendary battle between Skalf and the dragon parts (or possibly all?) of the dragon's lair collapsed burying large parts of the hoard. This unfortunate turn of events for Skalf may well prove fortuitous for the recently arrived scions of Clan Forgekeeper as the collapse may well have preserved elements of Clan Forgekeeper's that would otherwise have been added to the wealth of Skalf and his descendants.

It is said that Clan Forgekeeper will one day make their glorious return to Karak Izril and take up their rightful place as Kings of the Hold.

'By right of blood and bone; / by right of pick and stone, / the Keepers shall return to the Forge.' - Line 69,495 of *The Great and Honourable Death of Runelord Stormbeard, being the Final Part of a Dwarfplay on the Tragedy of the Fall of Karak Izril Two Millenia Ago*, by Brungud Quillfinger.

## Ancestor Gods

Clan Forgekeeper trace their ancestry to the Keepers of the First Forge.

The Keepers of the First Forge were those children of Thungni who kept his forge lit and aided him in his amazing creations of runic magic, as well as created amazing creations themselves. Thungni's forge was not technically the first forge ever, for Thungni's father, Grungni, had many before him. However, this was the first forge that Thungni lit after he returned from his journey deep into the earth to the place he called Ankor Byrn, the Glittering Realm - the place from which he brought the secrets of Runic Magic.

## List of Clan Forgekeeper Members

* Snorri Morgrimson
* Brandr Sigurdson
* Rorek Brighthammer
* Sigurd, Brandr's Father
* Morgrim, Snorri's Father
* Runelord Stormbeard
* Strorak
* Brungud Quillfinger
* Dari Svensson