The Kurilusa, part 6. Khalrithen “The Hollowing of The Dwarven Holds”

Of the Dwarves Who Remained

Though the great army of the dwarves was broken, they still had their holds scattered among the highlands and mountains above the great plain where the elves had long settled.

And though their kin had been shattered upon the fields of the Breaking of Stones, still their pride endured, and their hatred burned hotter than their forges.

Of Men Driven to the Hills

Many humans had by now also come into the hills and mountains, driven there by the elves to escape their rule.

These were tribes that had refused submission, but also slaves and subjects who had fled their elven masters.

Ever devious, the dwarf-kin armed these humans with bronze-forged weapons, carved with runes of dark dwarven might.

All they asked in return was that the human tribes should fight the elves at every turn.

So they did.

Relentlessly they ambushed the forces of the elves wherever they went.

Ceaselessly they raided, only to melt away when the elves sought to pursue.

But dwarf-forged weapons always come at a heavy price,

and much was the blood the human tribes paid.

The Strength of the Elves

By now much time had passed since the arrival of the elves to Tenehu.

Tall had their towers risen, strong their walls, and vast their cities, great in numbers.

Great too in number were their human subjects, for despite the king of kings’ new covenant with the gods,

fewer and fewer elves were born with each passing age.

Still the elves thought themselves secure in their might,

and looked upon their ever-growing human flock as another bountiful resource granted by the land.

Great armies they raised of men girded in bronze,

obedient to their masters and ready for war.

Slowly but steadily they advanced, seizing a hilltop at a time.

But great were their sufferings, both from the elements themselves,

and the ceaseless ambushes they endured.

Yet one by one did the ancient dwarf-holds fall,

and the human tribes retreated, slowly pushed further and further up the mountains.

Of the Siege of Holds

Hard were the dwarven holds to find, harder still were they to break.

Any dwarf that ventured forth would be hunted by the elves as rabbits darting between stones.

Under torment the dwarves were fast at selling out the location of their neighbouring kin,

hoping it would spare their own holds,

but thus one by one were they made known to the elves.

Quickly did the elves learn that to storm a hold yielded little,

no matter how many well-armed men they had.

For their dead would block up the tunnels, forcing no entry,

as none could match the dwarves in skill and knowledge in such fights.

Of Treachery and Suffocation

Instead the elves employed traitors of the dwarf-kin,

easily bought with the luxurious finery of the elves.

For they had never before known the taste of good food nor wine,

nor dressed in comfortable garments of silk.

The dwarves, ever covetous, desired such things,

along with the womenfolk of human-kin,

whom the elves lavished upon them as rewards for their treachery.

With traitors’ help the elven hosts sought out hidden entrances and shafts to the dwarven holds,

and lit constant fires at their openings,

slowly suffocating or forcing out any occupants.

In this way did the elves, over many long years,

break even the most secret and well-hidden of holds.

The Reward of Treachery

The traitors that remained were granted these emptied holds,

along with what captives survived,

to beget new lineages in service of the elves.

For none were their equal in the crafting of metals or in the knowledge of runes,

and such was the generosity of the elves,

that even treachery might be rewarded with dominion,

so long as it served the throne of the king of kings.