Dwarven lore ideas and speculation

[Terrorthatflapsinthenight]

What are your personnal ideas, theories and headcanons about the Dwarves of Ironforge, Aerie Peak and Shadowforge on their history, culture, technology, magic and other trivia facts to expand on their already existing but limited lore ?


Mine are these :

- To be able of feeding the dwarves of Ironforge despite the snowy environments of Khaz Modan, the dwarves have built greenhouses built with glass and using some of the heat generated by the lava within the mountain to warm fertible and moist soils so fruits, cerals and vegetables can be cultivated.

- After the Dark Iron dwarves have rejoined their cousins Bronzebeards have started to learn how to build golems made of stone or steel though these golems remain limited, and it took time to convince or persuade Dark Irons to share the secret with Bronzebeard apprentices.

- In order to fight the Forsaken and their Blight during the Fourth War Dark Irons have created poison golems similar to Toxitron, with the special ability of absorbing and assimilating poisons and other toxic substances, even the Blight.

- The current gates of Ironforge are made of mithril and have magical runes inside them making them invulnerable both to physical and magical attacks. As such it's extremely difficult for attackers to get past them, however there are several secret passages and gates making it possible to bypass them. Some of them are known by Moira Thaurissan, the military leaders and by the Hidden Circle, the dwarven equivalent of the SI:7 but only Magni Bronzebeard and his brothers know all of them.

- While the High Elves of Quel'Thalas were for a long time the only people with who the Wildhammer Dwarves had truly friendly relations, the clan also had economical relations and some common fights with the kingdom of Stromgarde against Forest Trolls.

- Wildhammer Dwarves shamans have immense mastery of air elemental magic and use them in battle to create tornados, lightning, air waves or air blades making them particulary dangerous in aerial fights when they are riding their Griffons. Dark Iron shamans specialize of course in fire and magma elemental magic while Bronzebeard shamans focus rather on earth.

- The Hidden Circle has greatly gained in power and dangerosity following the creation of the Council of the Three Hammers with Moira having convinced her uncle and Falstad to give them more power, the inclusion of experienced Dark Iron dwarves rogues in the Hidden Circle and teaching of poisons and techniques used by them to other dwarven rogues.

- Wildhammers have created a friendly bond with the Night Elves since they have rejoined the Alliance, having bonded over their common love and respect for nature, with several Wildhammers having started to learn druidism from the NE. Though there have been some problems at making Griffons and Hypogriffs cohabit together as the two species instinctively view each other as rivals. As such similar to Gilneans, many Wildhammers volunteered to help the Night Elves defend and regain their lands invaded by the Horde.

- There are several projects of new deeprun trams like the one relying Ironforge to Stormwind, the first being of relying Ironforge to Gnomeregan. The others are to rely Ironforge to Aerie Peak and Shadowforge.

- The dwarves have their own calendar that is different from human and elven's ones, with their own holidays and special days, which was formulated by the first king of Ironforge and founder of the Anvilmar dynasty. Though after the Light was adopted by the majority of the dwarves, they came to share some sacred days and holidays with humans. As a show of respect for the Anvilmar family that ruled them, the Wildhammer and Dark Iron kept that calendar.

- Living inside mountains and volcanoes with lava around should be very dangerous, due to the lava and above all of the toix gases and fumes caused by the volcanic activity but dwarves have found a solution to it. In the early days of Ironforge the first wizards of what would become the Dark Iron clan created special magic runes that absord the fumes and gases, protecting the dwarves from being intoxicated. These runes were replicated in Shadowforge and Blackrock Spire by Dark Iron enchanters.

- These runes would inspire dwarven and gnomish mages to create variations of them, with some being able of absorbing radiation to help decontaminate Gnomeregan, while another one was created to absorb and neutralize the plagues made by the Scourge and the Forsaken.

[Shadowferal]

My revision/rewrite of lore has a plethora of ideas, far too much that is, just quick and jots of half-written, half-assed sentences. But among the Alliance, Ironforge is the center of strength rather than Stormwind.

[Orby]

I love WoW's dwarf lore. But Dragon Age Dwarfs are more rich in background. I do want to see more on Dwarf culture being spoken of, especially their politics, their class system, their food diets, their economy, their religions and how they practice it. More history on the construction of Ironforge would be nice to. More on the cultural difference between the three clans, and the Frostborn Dwarfs. Like really get in the nooks of their lore. I love small details like this.

Blizzard tend to focus on a broad brush when it comes to lore, but tend to keep away from the finer parts of their massive worlds.

I see books like their exploring Azeroth and the Chronicle, give us whole books on races. that would be awesome.

[Maljinwo]

They should just release books on each race.
Exploring Orcs
Exploring Dwarves
Exploring Trolls

And so on. Headcanon is fine and all, but it's no substitute for actual lore development.
Hopefully without fucking it up like they did Exploring Kalimdor and Northrend

[KOUNTERPARTS]

My revision/rewrite of lore has a plethora of ideas, far too much that is, just quick and jots of half-written, half-assed sentences. But among the Alliance, Ironforge is the center of strength rather than Stormwind.

You have been posting about this supposed massive lore rewrite for like 6 months now-- any chance you're going to share some of it?

[Terrorthatflapsinthenight]

- At the end of Moira's short rule over Ironforge there were two actions going against her and the Dark Irons: a group of senators and other nobles and members of the Hidden Circle were plotting to capture her and assassinate her Dark Iron lieutnants under the pretext of being hexed by the Dark Irons, and have the Senate of Ironforge re-vote an ancient dwarven law barring dwarven women from inheriting the throne to disherit her and make Muradin the new king. Meanwhile outside Ironforge a good portion of Khaz Modan army refused to kneel to what they believed as a pawn or traitor for associating herself with the Dark Irons and called Muradin back from Northrend to lead them into retaking Ironforge. Muradin, who was absent and amnesiac while his niece has gone to Shadowforge and become Thaurissan's wife, was at first hesitant to go after Moira but the reports over her being "charmed" by Thaurissan and of the tyranny inflicted on Ironforge relucdantly convinced him to take action and to prepare to retake IF from the Dark Irons by force, planning to use secret passages only he and his brothers knew to have his best rogues infiltrate the city and open the gate for the army. Varian's intervention with the SI/7 and Anduin's speech prevented both from happening.

- The Wildhammers were very relucdant to rejoin the kingdom of Ironforge and accept the Council of the Three Hammers, though the devastation of the Cataclysm, the incursions of the Forsaken in the Hinterlands and the need for economic and military support from Ironforge that was needed as a result played a part in them accepting. However the main factor for them accepting the deal was the promise of a better representation in Ironforge's government and above all a marriage betrothal between Falstad Wildhammer's daughter and Dagran Thaurissan, with the two children being set to marry when they come of age.

- The return of the Wildhammer and the Dark Irons prompted some big changes and many dilemnas and tensions over the Senate of Ironforge. The Bronzebeards wanted to keep the majority of the seats due to them being the most numerous of the clan and having kept living in Ironforge, while the other clans wanted each to have as many senators as the Bronzebeards. In the end a compromise was found with 40% of the seats belonging to the Bronzebeards, while the Wildhammers and Dark Irons would own 30% each, though no one was truly satisfied with it. Political and bureaucratic tensions remain strong with many Dark Iron and Wildhammers feeling that the Bronzebeards have too much power in the administration, economy and miltary.

- Ironforge artisans are very famous and talented, with Bronzebeard jewerly being famous all over the Eastern Kingdoms with even Blood Elven, Forsaken and Goblins' richs and influential figures seeking to dwarven jewels and other works of art. Since the joining of the Dark Irons, Shadowforge has begun to export its own works of arts and minor magic items that are sought by the powerful and wealthy of the world.

- With the joining of the Dark Irons, they have also began to export dark iron, gold, copper, diamonds and other minerals found in their volcanic homeland, as well volcanic rocks of beautiful or interesting shape or that have uses for cleaning the skin, and powders for the skins. Several roads and trade routes have already started to be established between the Burning Steppes and Blackrock Mountain with Stormwind, passing by the Redridge Mountains whose economic power and importance have increased as a result. In exchange the Dark Irons get wines, foods that are richer and more tasty that the ones they could obtain in their territories, and lumber that they lack.

- Many dwarves have a strong distrust and dislike for Goblins, and they are fewer and more cautious into trading and working with Goblins than most humans. The fact that dwarves (at least Bronzebeard and Dark Iron) are quite greedy themselves and protective of the ressources in their territories, of their technological and scientific level being higher than most races' and their proximity with Gnomes play a role in that. The Wildhammers in particular loathe the Goblins' disrespect for nature and the ecological damage they cause.

- Wildhammers generally do appreciate Gnomes, but many of them are uneasy with Gnomes' technology and their apparent lack of care for nature,though they do acknowlege and respect their intelligence and tenacity.

[Maljinwo]

You have been posting about this supposed massive lore rewrite for like 6 months now-- any chance you're going to share some of it?

Well. You see...

There are A LOT of half ideas half written that are not ready for the public

[Shadowferal]

Well. You see... There are A LOT of half ideas half written that are not ready for the public

I'm not a Blizz writer that's for certain.


Races need to be fully filled out; historical figures, current leadership, politics, culture, timelines, notable events...and add the cross referencing of allied/enemy/independent races, it gets a bit complicated.

My bit for having Ironforge be the greater power of the Alliance rather than Stormwind will be reflective of the power of other dwarven clans.

[Terrorthatflapsinthenight]

Dwarves are generally not as good and numerous in sailing as humans, and Ironforge navy is smaller but they make up for it with their ships being more powerful and advanced in terms of technology with Ironforge fleet having steam-powered ships, icebreakers and armored dreadnaughts entirely covered in metal, and several submarines given to them by gnomes.

[Skytotem]

Dwarves are generally not as good and numerous in sailing as humans, and Ironforge navy is smaller but they make up for it with their ships being more powerful and advanced in terms of technology with Ironforge fleet having steam-powered ships, icebreakers and armored dreadnaughts entirely covered in metal, and several submarines given to them by gnomes.

We really should have at least one joint Dwarf/Gnome dock on the cliffs of Dun Morough, with a bunch of elevators and tunnels and things connected to Gnomer and Ironforge.

[Terrorthatflapsinthenight]

We really should have at least one joint Dwarf/Gnome dock on the cliffs of Dun Morough, with a bunch of elevators and tunnels and things connected to Gnomer and Ironforge.

It also is absurd that there isn't a subterran train or tram between Ironforge and Gnomeregan, as a predecessor to the Deeprun Tram.

- - - Updated - - -

With their natural aptitudes, experience and knowledge of minin and stoneworking, and their possession and use of explosives Bronzebeard and Dark Iron Dwarves are the best at saping enemy buildings and fortifications, which they often use in coordination with their artillery.

The addition of Dark Iron Mole machines has only made them even more effective.