When Stormwind sent word of the orcs to the kingdoms of the north, the human kings found their claims difficult to believe. The thought of mysterious green-skinned warriors appearing sounded far fetched and no help was offered. Yet, while the humans failed to understand the true threat, it was we dwarves that knew the truth. Our lands were close enough to Stormwind that some of our warriors saw what the orcs were with their own eyes.
After the War of the Three Hammers, the Wildhammer dwarves traveled away from Grim Batol, and while many of us left Khaz Modan, there were some that instead stayed in the region and settled in Northeron. The Stonefist Clan settled within a valley that led to plains surrounded by mountains in the north, isolated from the rest of Azeroth. The thane and his family ruled their clan from their new stronghold, Stonefist Hold.
It was said that the Stonefist Clan was blessed by the Spirit of Earth and that the first thane was able to harden his fists into stone. I do not know if the first thane was blessed but that the gift he had was true. It passed down to his son and his grandsons. Even before I could hear the call of the elements, I could turn my hand into stone, as could my younger brother, Denolan, who had no connection to the elements and served as the thane of the Stonefist Clan when the Dark Portal first opened.
Even from our valley home, we knew of the orcs. When merchants fleeing north brought word of the orcs, Denolan ordered scouts to investigate. They were able to confirm that the orcs were real and that they sacked Stormwind City. This troubled Denolan and his closest advisors debated on if they should take action against the Orcish Horde.
The Stonefist Clan thrived in isolation and there were many who thought that we could fend for ourselves. Ingor Boldrest, a prominent captain and warrior, petitioned Thane Stonefist to keep his forces within the valley. He was confident that with their natural defenses of the valley, the Stonefist Clan would be able to hold out against any enemy.
However, there were few in our clan who thought that it was our duty to face this new enemy. Lorad, the son of Denolan and my nephew, was the leading voice for his clan to face the Orcish Horde with the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. Lorad had traveled out of the valley that he grew up in and had a different view from the rest of his clan. While the elders of the clan were disappointed seeing how the outside world changed him, Lorad thought that the ties he had to the world made him stronger.
And so, the debates raged on.
"The assembly of Stonefist Hold shall resume the debate over whether the Stonefist Clan should take action against the warriors that have destroyed Stormwind," Druleth Palemantle, an elderly dwarf who served as advisor to Denolan, announced. "Captain Boldrest, you may take the floor."
Lorad remained seated at his spot in the throne room out of respect. Normally, he would be at his father's side, but to ensure that he would be impartial to his debate, Denolan had his son join the petitioners that sat by the stairs leading to the throne. The room was divided with Ingor's isolationist party towards one end of the room and Lorad's few supporters on the other end. Denolan, seated on his throne, remained at the far end of the room between the two factions. He was joined by his wife, Suri, who sat on an equally impressive throne as her husband.
Druleth stepped aside from the center of the circular chamber, allowing for Ingor to take his place. The captain was a muscular dwarf who stood a head taller than most in the Stonefist Clan. He made his position as a warrior known by wearing his armor during these debates, even though he left behind his weapons. His head was shaved with a blue tattoo over his scalp and left part of his face with a short and neatly trimmed black beard falling just below his chin. His right eye was missing, covered with a scar from a blow inflicted by the trolls of the Marshfang Tribe, the ancient enemy of the Stonefist Clan.
It was no secret that Lorad and Ingor didn't get along even before the debates. Ingor held himself to the traditions of the clan, even those that were far outdated. Even though he was a warrior at heart, the captain fell in line with the traditions that the first elders of the Stonefist Clan lined out to keep their distance from the rest of the world. They both knew that the orcs would come but where they differed from was where they would be fought. Lorad wanted to take the fight to them while Ingor was more concerned defending his ancestral home.
With the way the throne room was constructed, anyone could speak and their voice would be carried. Even then, Ingor was quite loud and his voice boomed throughout the argument as he made his plea.
"Thane Stonefist, for centuries your clan has thrived within our home in the valley this hold overlooks. We are a strong folk as is shown through our battles with bands of kobolds, gnolls, and even Marshfang trolls. When I say that we shouldn't fight in this war, it isn't because we are weak. That is far from the truth and I mean not to disrespect you or the warriors that serve under my command."
"If the orcs truly wish to fight, then they shall come to us! If they wish to slaughter our people, then they will have to cross through the valley that leads to our homes. They will be limited in how many of their warriors can march at a time and they will fight for each inch of ground toward Stonefist Hold. My men are more than ready to meet them in the valley with support from our gryphons and I know that we will emerge victorious!"
"I know that there are some warriors who would like to meet the orcs in battle for the sake of honor. Still, I have to think of the men under my command. Dying for honor alone isn't something that we should seek. The other nations of the world will not care if we fight their war. So, instead of fighting for a lost cause, we shall fight for ourselves, for our families, and for our homes!"
Applause echoed throughout the chamber from Ingor's supporters. Although the warrior preferred to be out on the field with axes in hand than in a hall relying on his words, he knew how to argue his point. Lorad had to admit that he was quite reasonable. The kingdoms hadn't yet made a move against the orcs and even the dwarves had yet to send out a call for action. It was tempting to bide their time and wait for the orcs to come to them. However, there was no telling when the orcs would do so, and there were a few flaws in Ingor's argument. The Stonefist Clan needed to meet the enemy sooner than later.
"Thank you, Captain Boldrest," Denolan said and bowed his head. "Once again, you leave me with much to think about."
"Would the valley and gryphons be enough to hold out?" Suri asked.
"Aye," Ingor nodded confidently. "My men are already digging trenches and conducting drills. Our scouts also report that these orcs don't have anything to counter our aerial forces. Even if the reports of their numbers are true, our tactical superiority will see us to victory."
Denolan motioned to Druleth, who stepped forward. "Captain Boldrest, you may take a seat. Lorad, son of Denolan, may take the floor."
Lorad watched Ingor return to his seat before he stood up and slowly stepped to the center of the room. All eyes were on him. Even though he was heir to his father, Lorad didn't enjoy these debates. Even Ingor, who preferred action over words, proved to be better when it came to forming his arguments. Lorad had hoped that someone else would step up to argue his point, but when it came time, he could only rely on himself to convince his father.
Although Lorad was close to his father, he had no clue what was going on in his mind. Denolan was a leader who led by words and action, but recently, he remained silent and confined to his throne. The regal robes he wore showed a fit build and his blond hair, which passed down to his son, had hints of gray. He was far more impressive in his armor but he wore it only when it came time for battle. The thane had kept which side of the debate he supported close to his heart.
With all eyes on him, Lorad took a deep breath, and made his case.
"You know who I am. I have no intention of taking advantage of my lineage to gain support. Rather, I would like to share my experiences instead to show why I think we should fight."
"I've seen what the rest of the world is capable of. The fortresses the Bronzebeard Clan has are capable of outlasting any siege. To the north, the human kingdoms pride themselves on what their people can do. You'll find that the knights of Lordaeron are unmatched on their horses, that the mages of Dalaran wield great power, and that there are no finer troll slayers than the warriors of Stromgarde. Even our cousins of the Wildhammer Clan that made their homes in the Arathi Highlands are reputed to be the greatest gryphon riders of the land."
"Our people thrive but what do people know of us? They know very little. They do not know that our warriors compare to the humans, that we can fly just as well as any dwarf, and that our farseer wields powerful magic as well that differs from the arcane arts. This is our chance to show to the world who we are."
"I speak not only of ideals. Our scouts report that the orcs outnumber our clan's standing forces and even our most skilled warriors using the defenses of the valley can last so long against sheer numbers. We must not give the orcs time to ready themselves for another war. Together, with the armies of the north, can we drive the orcs back to where they came from."
"To stay and defend our home would see us protected only for some time. To take the fight to the orcs would see that our home is safe for generations to come!"
Lorad felt relieved to hear the applause from his side and even a few from Ingor's faction. He looked up at the throne, and although his father kept a stoic expression, he could see his mother smile proudly at her son. Lorad returned the smile and hoped that his words would be enough to convince Denolan to have the Stonefist Clan take a stand.
"Why should we rush to war?" Ingor asked, standing up. "The rest of the kingdoms have done nothing while Stormwind burns."
"And do you think they will continue to do so now that they are next?" Lorad questioned. "They will ride to battle and we must be ready to join them when the time comes."
"Order!" Druleth called out before the argument could continue. "Both of your cases have been made. Thane Stonefist, what do you say?"
Denolan slowly stood up from his throne, motioning for both Lorad and Ingor to sit. With his head bowed, Lorad returned to his seat. He had fallen for Ingor's bait and may have lost some merit of his argument.
"Although you are both warriors, I see your passion through your words," Denolan said. "This argument isn't some minor debate between feuding parties and it is more severe than that of a typical Marshfang raid. You fight for what shall define the future of our people."
"This is the fourth time you both have presented your case before me, and each time, I see the logic and reasoning behind your points. It should be of no surprise that I have much to process."
"I shall continue to discuss your arguments with Suri and Druleth in private. However, we shall not have another assembly. Instead, I intend to wait for my brother to return from his meditation to see what the elements have to say. Until then, Druleth will conclude this assembly."
Druleth's voice was drowned out by the protests of both sides over Denolan's decision. Some of the guards had to intervene to remove those too loud (including Ingor) while the thane made his way down the stairs and into a hallway. Lorad understood why his father's decision was unpopular. Denolan's brother, the farseer of the Stonefist Clan, was considered to be a wise and reasonable dwarf. However, his meditations to the elements took time and he insisted on no distractions for clear communication.
The farseer's current meditation session had lasted for three days and there was no telling when it would end.
Lorad stood up, hoping to push his way through to meet with his father and try to change his mind. Before he could make it to the hall, he felt someone grab onto his arm and pull him aside. Lorad turned to look into the blue eyes of his mother. She wasn't angry or disappointed at him but shook her head when he turned to look where his father went.
"I must ask that you leave your father alone for now," Suri requested. "He has much to think about."
"We're running out of time to think," Lorad argued. "The orcs will come, and once they do, they'll make his decision for him. How can he wait for word from his brother?"
Suri sighed. "The responsibility of a thane weighs heavily on him. It is as he said, this choice will determine the standing of our clan, and no matter what he decides on, some of his people will perish. You argue about what is best for the world when he has to think about what is best for his people."
Lorad slowly nodded. "I see."
"Do not fear," Suri placed her hand on Lorad's shoulder. "You continue to make us proud. You have much to learn before you'll be ready, but one day, I am sure you will make a great thane."
Although Lorad knew his mother told the truth, he had his own doubts. His words had yet to convince Ingor to join his side and his father remained neutral on the subject. Denolan had led the Stonefist Clan for decades and the dwarves thrived more than ever in peace after he defeated the last chieftain of the Marshfang tribe.
Still, there was more to being thane than fighting battles. Lorad wasn't sure if he had what it took to make the hard decisions. Would he truly believe the best choice would be to fight if he didn't have the responsibility of being a thane on his shoulder.
Lorad and Suri walked out of the hall, leaving Denolan to think for himself and decide what to do regarding the farseer's meditation.
Lorad bided his time waiting for the next assembly. Even though he argued for a proactive stance in war, he volunteered his time assisting Ingor with the defenses of the valley. If he were to lose the debate, he at least wanted to be sure that his clan would survive the coming battle.
In time, Lorad would show the world what he could do on behalf of his clan. His destiny would take him away from his home at Stonefist Hold. I saw what fate held for my nephew through my meditation, even though I never told my brother.
What visions the elements gave me I've kept to myself. When I finally told Denolan what the Stonefist Clan needed to do, I offered no details over what I saw. Even though it is tempting to share it now, there are some secrets that shouldn't be revealed so easily.
A/N: And we're back with Lion's Vengeance. I'm over a pretty nasty cold so I hope to get back to writing consistently again, even if it might take a little bit of time to get back into the habit.
For those of you who've read my previous works and realize that something's different, I have finally decided to not write out a dwarf's accent. This is done for many different reasons but the biggest one being that I think this makes the story more readable. I don't think I'll go back to previous works to change it (although that is still something I consider) but will make this the new precedent moving forward.
Until next time.
