The Shield-Bearers of Dal-Dur

The military of the Deep Hold is not an army of conquest, but an elite force of defenders. Known as the Shield-Bearers, they are the physical manifestation of the Stone Law.

The Training: The "Trial of the Unmoving"

To become a Shield-Bearer, a dwarf must stand perfectly still in the Hall of Kings for three days and three nights, without food, water, or sleep. They are tested by the "Wind-Callers" who use magic to try and push them off balance. Only those who remain as still as the stone are accepted.

Equipment and Tactics

1. The Bulwark-Shield

Each soldier carries a shield made of layered granite and cold-iron, etched with protection runes. When several Shield-Bearers stand together, their shields can "interlock" magically, creating a literal wall of stone that can withstand even dragon-fire.

2. The Gravity-Axe

A heavy, two-handed weapon designed for tunnel combat. It is weighted with "Lead-Core" inserts, allowing for devastating overhead strikes that can crush even the thickest Lithovore shells.

3. The Tunnel-Runners (Scouts)

While the Shield-Bearers hold the line, the Tunnel-Runners act as the eyes and ears of the army. They wear light leather armor and use "Stone-Scent" oils to navigate the dark by smell alone. They are experts in setting traps and using the environment to collapse tunnels on encroaching enemies.

Notable Units

• The Iron-Gate Guard: Responsible for the main entrance of Dal-Dur. They have not let an unauthorized soul through in 150 years.
• The Ward-Watchers: Stationary guards posted at the Southern Wards. They are trained to spot the earliest signs of Aether-corruption.

Current Deployment

Most of the Shield-Bearers are currently deployed in the "Deep-Rim," the outermost tunnels where the Shadow in the Deep has been reported. General Korg Stoneguard is rumored to be calling for a "General Mobilization," something not seen since the War of Sunder.