Fortress Unbreakable
Durumbar stands as the mightiest military power in the realm, its reputation forged through millennia of warfare, siege, and steadfast defense. The dwarven military philosophy is simple yet profound: every hold is a fortress, every dwarf a potential warrior, and every tunnel a defensible position.
The kingdom maintains a standing army of forty thousand soldiers, supplemented by reserves of twice that number. This military might is not the product of conquest, but of necessity—the mines run deep, and the deep runs dark with dangers both known and forgotten.
The Philosophy of Defense in Depth
Layered Defenses
Every hold is constructed as a fortress with multiple defensive layers. Intruders must penetrate portcullis gates, navigate kill zones, and survive ambush positions at every major passage.
Universal Training
From age five, every dwarf receives basic combat instruction. Citizens become auxiliary militia. This means an invader doesn't face soldiers—they face an entire civilization in arms.
Combined Arms
Durumbar deploys heavy infantry, light scouts, siege engineers, and magical constructs in coordinated formations. No single unit dominates—strength lies in diversity and tactical flexibility.
The Six Great Military Orders
Iron Vanguard
Elite heavy infantry clad in mithral plate, wielding battle axes and tower shields. The backbone of Durumbar's offensive capability.
Strength: Unbreakable formation tactics
Training: 12+ years of rigorous combat training
Tunnel Runners
Swift scout units specialized in underground combat. Masters of the deep passages with crossbows and short axes.
Strength: Speed and tunnel knowledge
Training: 8+ years, emphasizing agility and stealth
Siege Engineers
Operators of massive ballista and catapult crews. Expert sappers and demolitions specialists.
Strength: Siege weaponry and structural knowledge
Training: 15+ years mastering mechanics and destruction
Forge Guard
The King's personal guard, comprised of Durumbar's finest warriors. Wielders of enchanted weapons and artifacts.
Strength: Legendary skill and magical equipment
Training: Lifetime of selection and refinement
Mountain Rangers
Surface patrol units that watch the mountain passes and guard above-ground settlements.
Strength: Environmental mastery and cavalry tactics
Training: 10+ years of mountain and surface warfare
Stone Sentinels
Automated construct defenders—golems and mechanical guardians powered by dwarven runecraft and ancient magic.
Strength: Tireless, immune to fatigue and morale
Training: Created and maintained by Runelords
Shieldpoint Military Academy
Under General Tharik Ironshield
Shieldpoint fortress, perched on the eastern ridge of the Durumbar caldera, has never fallen to siege. General Tharik Ironshield, now aged 312 years, has commanded the academy for nearly two centuries. His strategic brilliance and unwavering defense have made Shieldpoint legendary.
The academy teaches thirteen distinct warfare disciplines: heavy formation tactics, tunnel combat, siege engineering, assassin's countermeasures, golem-binding, runic empowerment, cavalry charges (for surface operations), crossbow mastery, siege defense, mountain survival, diplomatic negotiation, and the lost art of dragon-slaying.
Graduates of Shieldpoint become commissioned officers or specialized unit leaders. The final trial—surviving a solo descent into the Obsidian Depths and returning with proof of confronting the creatures below—ensures only the worthiest earn their rank.
Why Shieldpoint Never Falls
- •Elevated Position: Built high on the ridge, commanding approach routes
- •Ancient Defenses: Fortified during the First Age with dwarven engineering at its peak
- •Internal Resources: Self-sufficient for years with deep wells, mushroom farms, and provisions
- •Garrison of Heroes: Always staffed with elite warriors and battle-tested commanders
Shieldpoint Military Academy — The fortress that never fell
Fortification Architecture
Dwarven fortress design represents the pinnacle of military engineering. Every corridor, chamber, and passage is designed to maximize defensive advantage and minimize attackers' options. Kill zones, overlapping fields of fire, and strategic collapse points transform holds into three-dimensional killing grounds.
Multiple Portcullises
Layered iron gates that can be sealed independently
Murder Holes
Hidden openings above corridors for raining fire on invaders
Oil Channels
Ancient mechanisms to flood hallways with scalding oil
Collapsible Tunnels
Strategic sections rigged to collapse, sealing passages
Flood Mechanisms
Water diversion systems to drown intruders or extinguish fire
The Deep Seal
Ultimate defense: collapse tunnels to seal the hold entirely from the Underdark
The Deep Seal: Ultimate Defense
When all else fails, when the enemy pours through every gate and overwhelms every position, Durumbar has one final defense: the Deep Seal. Ancient runecasters inscribed the command sequences into the deepest tunnel supports generations ago. A single word of power, spoken by the High King, triggers a catastrophic collapse of structural supports throughout the lower levels. Entire tunnels crumble, sealing the hold from the Underdark below. It is a victory bought with destruction and loss, but it guarantees the enemy does not emerge victorious. This ultimate defense has never been invoked.
Weapons & Armor of Legend
Dwarven Steel
Rarity: Common
Superior quality, never dulls
Mithral Armor
Rarity: Uncommon
Light yet incredibly strong, resists erosion
Adamantine Weapons
Rarity: Legendary
Cuts through nearly any material
Siege Crossbows
Rarity: Uncommon
Heavy, crew-served, devastating range
Thunder Hammers
Rarity: Rare
Enchanted to create shockwaves on impact
Runed Armor
Rarity: Rare
Inscribed with protective runes, ancient magic
Runic Enchantments
The finest dwarven weapons bear runes inscribed by Runelords—ancient mages who command the fundamental forces of magic. Each rune is a work of art and a spell unto itself. A single Runelord might spend a decade crafting a legendary blade. The runes shimmer faintly in darkness and glow brilliantly when power courses through them.
Thunder Hammers, perhaps the most iconic Durumabar weapon, are engraved with storm runes. When swung with force, they release a burst of magical energy that creates a shockwave audible for miles. A Thunder Hammer in the hands of a trained warrior can topple walls or shatter formations.
Current Threats & Challenges
Deep Tunnel Incursions
Goblin and orc tribes breach from the lower tunnels with increasing frequency. Some claim they flee from something deeper, something more terrible than any creature Durumbar has faced.
Dragon Threats
Surface settlements face occasional dragon incursions. Durumbar maintains anti-dragon strike forces, but a coordinated assault from the air remains a strategic vulnerability.
Underdark Entities
Mining deep has awakened things that should have remained sleeping. Strange creatures, undead things, and horrors of unknown origin breach mining operations with alarming frequency.
Political Threats
Rival surface kingdoms eye Durumbar's wealth with jealousy. Espionage, trade disputes, and border skirmishes test military diplomacy as much as martial strength.
The Depths Unknown
Every miner knows the ancient warning: dig too deep, awaken too much. Durumbar's greatest threat may come not from outside, but from the darkness their own picks have disturbed.