In Defense of Reikland

In Starbreakers own words:


“So one o’ me friends back in Kadrin Valley, good ol’ chap, 'e sends me all over tha place collectin’ things for ‘im an’ what not. So ‘e asks me to gyro it ova’ to Reikland to help out the humans. Humans are interestin’ creatures o’ habit.” Starbreaker grabs a drink and chugs down a large amount of ale and as he begins to talk again, droplets of ale splash out of his mouth. “I’m quite fond of ‘em really, or I was... but originaly twas this fondness that I choose to help ‘em out. I came to fight against, what they call, the “taint of chaos” that plagues their lands. Now we all know very well that the powers of chaos are notin’ to scoff at. In fac’, I know first hand what dose monstaz can do. Clearin’ out the mines of Eight Peaks is no simple task. But I ain’t gonna get inta that long story. I’m sure you know all ‘bout it anyway.”


Starbreaker bows his head and pauses for a moment as if remembering a terrible time in his life.“At least not at this moment,” he faintly mumbles. The dread on his face is quickly whipped away as he continues his story.

“Yet those humans don’t trust no ones! At least not other humans, an’ I guess they got good reason for et. The corruption in that place is unbelievable. For instance, I talked to his one lady, she was way up high on this observatory deck. You’ve seen ‘er, anyway, think her name was Greta. An’ she comes to me an’ asks if I’d run a bit o’ an errand for ‘er – go out an ‘elp some Lord Gramburg wid his peasant revolt. So I do, and when I get back, she tells me that this lord that I just helped out is” he speaks in a mystical voice, “tainted by chaos.”He continues on as normal, “So I run back talk to ‘im again an’ he says she’s got that SHE’s got the taint o’ chaos. So I think I’m done ‘elpin out these noble people, an’ have a chat wid the local militia.”

His hands start to shake with excitement as he stands up to tell his next part, “Well they say the lady AND the lord got” he uses his mystical voice, this time very sarcastically saying, “the taint of chaos!”

Starbreaker bursts into a fuss and starts yelling with all the excitement in the world, “What is wrong wid ‘em! I know chaos, don’t see no chaos in ‘em at all! Juss 'cause ya don't like someone don't mean they got the taint of chaos! These humans are crazy. What kinda empire they runnin' o're there? Well that does it, I’m done. Feel a lot better, thanks little guy.”

A Dwarf has to practice his story telling somewhere.

Mt. Gunbad Chapter 1

Tales of Mount Gunbad have been heard from the depths of the dwarven caves to the highest points of Altdorf. A large connection of caverns filled with unimaginable demons, giant squigs, and thousands of highly trained (if there is such a thing) goblins. Our story begins with the great Starbreaker and a glorious idea.

After a few pints of bugmans finest, Starbreaker pondered what might lie in the depths of Mount Gunbad. He had traveled through the Badlands, over came trolls and goblins in Black Fire Pass, and had even made his way through the winter passes of Kadrin Valley to where he currently sat on a stool in the Hungry Troll pub.

“Far too few green skins have died on this day - there is debt to be settled,” Starbreaker mumbled to him self and anyone willing to listen. “Gunbad, I’ve heard there’er many o’ goblins lurkin’ in those twisted caverns.”


Many times had he heard that name throughout his travel towards the great Dwarven city. It was in this moment of recollection that sparked an interest in him to explore this lost world. So he set out to, back through the black fire pass and into the Badlands, where Mount Gunbad toil. Of course he was alone, for what dwarf would travel in a pack if not due to fear. No, there was no fear here, only confidence (perhaps too much confidence). Upon entering the cavern Starbreaker grunted and growled, in an attempt to not only boast his own strength to whatever may be lurking in the dark, but also to invigorate his senses. After a steady glance around the area, he was faced with three paths. Without hesitation he stormed off to his right, towards a decrepit old bridge. The stench of goblin was thick in the air and with less than a foot onto the first plank he could see the goblins festering in the distance. He stepped closer, more cautious than before now and fully aware of his surroundings. At the other end of the bridge now stood two goblins, they were not there but moments ago. Unsure of how the goblins arrived, he charged into battle. His great axe of Kadrin lifted high into the air was swiftly brought down upon his first foe. The goblin seemed unphased by the blow. Starbreaker swung again, this time hitting the goblin hard and cutting him deep. A few more swings, yet once again, had little effect to the goblin. At this point his life bar was at about 50% and he’d just noticed a goblin shaman around the corner healing his primary target. With a quick jolt (for a dwarf that is) he rushed the Shaman and immobilized him. Only moments later the shaman burst to his feet with another round of heals. Starbreaker knew he was doomed, but running in fear is not the path of an Ironbreaker. It is caves that he originally trained to be part of this elite class. Starting out in the lower ranks by wandering the caves, tunnel after tunnel, fending off any goblin scouts encountered on the way. But this was no goblin scout that he faced. These goblins obviously knew what they were doing, and they had seen visitors of his stature before, noting the dead dwarven skeletons lying in the dirt a head of him.


The night goblin’s bright red eyes grew as he made his final blow, bashing in Starbreakers head and knocking him completely unconscious. His lifeless Dwarven body clanged as his platemail splashed into the damp floor below. After kicking him a few times, the two goblins examined his eyes and gave a good yank on his beard before returning to their patrol. As the goblins left Starbreaker for dead a rune priest from the camp at the cave entrance revived him and escorted him to the camp. After a few hours of rest Starbreaker was ready to go at it again. This time with an axe and shield in hand - for the great weapon seemed to provide little defense – he set forth. Before he had another chance to charge into battle he was confronted with some old friends, Bashstone of Averheim and Apacalipsio Truman made their way into the cave. Now with a rune priest and a witch hunter by his side, Starbreaker felt that any task could be done. Nothing quite filled the young dwarfs ego like a few well placed heals from Bashstone.


The three of them set off again, this time into the left wing of the caves. With only a few hundred feet into the cave, more friends arrived. Halomander, an Elven arch mage, and a warrior priest of whose name he could not even begin to pronounce. With the party of five in full function the group made their way, cutting down giant squig after plague maggots and even some nasty trolls lurked in the depths of Gunbad. After only an hour or two of dungeoneering it seemed that the party had only grazed the surface of this seemingly never ending labyrinth of vile creatures.