Dwarf Hammerers

Hammerers form the personal bodyguard of a dwarven king, chosen by the king himself. They are individuals from various units and perhaps even clans who have proven themselves in countless battles, demonstrating not only great strength and deadly fighting skills, but also unwavering loyalty and a bold and courageous nature. They are moulded into a powerful shock unit, a force capable of shattering enemy formations the way a heavy warhammer shatters slate.

The Hammerers are not only an impressive fighting unit, but are also often used as the personal bodyguards of a Thane or Lord. Duty to a liege lord is something sacred for Dwarves. An individual bound by oath to his lord will fight all the harder, and for the leader of the crowd a Hammerer will gladly give his life rather than face the dishonour of failure. A king surrounded by his Hammerers is the fortress at the centre of the crowd: fierce and unyielding, a living embodiment of the indomitable dwarven spirit. Of course, loyalty goes both ways, and it is a lord's duty to properly equip these hand-picked units and seal the oath between them.

The symbol of the bond between a lord and his Hammerers is the weapons they carry. Each is given a heavy but perfectly balanced great hammer, often made of gromril. Equipped with heavy, well-polished dwarven armour, Hammerers charge into battle with their great weapons. They swing their hammers in sweeping arcs and strike their foes with such force that only enchanted or hell-forged armour can withstand the force of their blows. With a crack and crunch, the whirling hammerheads hurl up bloody debris, while shattered shields, splintered armour and even heads or limbs are flung into the air by the sheer force of the impact. Dwarven battle lines have been known to cheer at the sight of great hammers rising and falling around their king's banner, emitting a rhythmic noise not unlike the deep booming industrial sounds of the huge drop hammers in the greater dwarven forges.