Dispossessed
 | |
| Grand alliance | Order |
| Associated factions | Cities of Sigmar |
| Main grouping | Clan |
| Races | Duardin |
Dispossessed are the remnants of once proud Duardin civilizations that flourished in the Age of Myth but were brought low in the apocalyptic era known as the Age of Chaos. Those who survived fled to safety, many making their way the safety of the God-King's domains in Azyr. When the Age of Sigmar dawned upon the Mortal Realms, the Dispossessed were among those who returned to the lower Mortal Realms to reclaim what was lost and build anew. It is by their hand that many of the God-King's sturdiest edifices and fortifications are raised and when battle calls they fearlessly march to war clad in shining gromril armour.[1][2][4a][5a][7a]
Contents
History
Age of Myth
During the Age of Myth many Duardin civilizations, the Khazalid Empire being among the most renowned, rose across the Mortal Realms, often built inside vast mountain ranges and subterranean caverns. Such civilizations counted themselves as worshippers of the Smith-God Grungni. In time they mastered a variety of crafts such as blacksmithing and masonry, constructing magnificent underground holds glittering with gems, gold and impervious gromril.[4a]
Age of Chaos
During the Age of Chaos the armies of Chaos overran many of the Duardin civilizations, forcing many Warden Kings to lead their still proud but battered people into exile in Sigmar's realm, others fled to the nascent sky-ports of the Kharadron, and still others survived in new lands, often with aid from allies. In time many of these survivors began calling themselves the Dispossessed in memory of their fallen holds and maintained the practices of smithcraft and rune-shaping that had long been the source of their power so that Sigmar's vision of re-conquering the realms can be achieved. Like their ancestors, they created mighty kingdoms beneath the Realm of Azyr.[1][4a][13]
Age of Sigmar
When Sigmar finally reopened the gates, the Dispossessed of Azyr came forth with his Stormcast and other warriors not only to fight but also to build. Whenever the Stormcast conquered a Realmgate the Lords-Castellant would man it while the Dispossessed and the Ironweld build fortified towns, which would later grow into free cities, making sure the new cities have firm foundations. Their role in the Cities of Sigmar is not limited to construction and when an enemy fortress resists massed assaults or an infestation of skaven or grots is found beneath the earth, it is the Dispossessed who are called upon.[1][3a][4a]
Society
Culture
Despite what some might believe, the Dispossessed are as culturally diverse as their human peers, as they too once had civilizations scattered across every corner of the Mortal Realms. Some, such as the Grunndrak Clan, hold to the traditions and values of the Khazalid Empire of old, while many others have cultures all their own, such as the death-revering Gazul-Zagaz.[5a] As such the wants and ideals of these diasporic people are as varied as they are. There are some who are content to remain in their newly carved out kingdoms in the Realm of Azyr, others seek to restore old nations lost in the Age of Chaos, still others migrate to the Cities of Sigmar and play pivotal roles in their creation, others may seek to recover relics of their ancestors. These and countless other goals drive the myriad cultures of the Dispossessed.[1][2][4a][5a]
Regardless of the cultural differences, they have developed, most clans carry on ancient methods of smithcraft and rune-shaping that have long been one of the greatest sources of power among their people.[3a]
Labour Clans
The Labour-Clans of the Dispossessed are well-known throughout Sigmar's Empire. These industrious clans of builders and architects have long played vital roles within the Cities of Sigmar. It is they, along with the engineers of the Ironweld Arsenal, that built most of the Free Cities. Whenever a new Realmgate is secured, it is these sturdy labourers who are called forth to aid in constructing new settlements around the vital gateways.[5b][5c] Members of the Labour-Clans will often take on the task of determining the best layout for the new city's defences and how best to make these plans a reality. Members of these clans often work with, and act as advisors to, those Lord-Ordinators and Lord-Castellants assigned to lead the construction of the Stormkeeps.[3a][6a]
These Labour Clans contract themselves out as work-gangs, labourers, engineers, and architects to employers throughout Sigmar's Empire. Some will settle in one Free City or another, taking whatever jobs are available to them in the city proper or its holdings, while others are known to make a livelihood contracting themselves out to crusades and reclamation efforts. Some Labour Clans even specialize in particular professions, which can lead to occurrences where an entire clan might work as porters.[10a][14a][15a]
Language
Many of the languages spoken by the Dispossessed are variations of Khazalid, a language group descended from Old Khazalid, and come in many forms and dialects. When not employing their ancestral tongues these Duardin will often use the Celestial Tongues of Azyr.[11a][11b][11c][12a]Deep-cant is a derivative language of Khazalid that is used by some Dispossessed Clans to mark their tunnels.[11c]
Warfare
The warriors of Dispossessed clans are accustomed to many types of warfare. They are renowned for their skill in the arts of siegecraft, both as defenders and as attackers, and many of their tunnel-fighters have been known to be called upon to rid Free Cities of infestations of grots and Skaven.[3a][6a]
Known Clans, Cultures, Nations, and Cities
Dispossessed in the Cities of Sigmar
Dispossessed can be found throughout most of the Free Cities of Sigmar's Empire whether it be from within small self-contained disticts or alongside their fellow Free Peoples in mixed residential districts. Some Cities of Sigmar, such as the Oasis of Gazul, even originate as Dispossessed holdings.[2][14a][16a]
Sizeable populations of Dispossessed can be found in many major Free Cities such as Hammerhal Aqsha and Greywater Fastness, where they often dominate both industry and infastructure which allows them to amass considerable cultural and political sway.[14a][16a]
Other Cities
- Barak Gorn: The Shadow Duardin who call Barak Gorn home were forced to abandon the city in the Age of Chaos but have since returned and rebuilt it as a thriving port, that maintains trades relations with a nearby Grey Aelf city.[9a]
- Karaznethil: Karaznethil is a joint Dispossessed and Ironbark city in the Realm of Chamon dating back to the Age of Chaos.[13]
Notable Clans
- Clan Halgrimm: A duardin clan loyal to the God-King's cause. Their karak was carved into the side of the Shuddering Mountains of Chamon.[7a]
- Dunrakul Clan: A Dispossessed clan that attempted to reclaim the kingdom of Karag Dawrkhaz.[18a]
- Firewalk Clans: Dispossessed clans who have returned to Aqshy to reclaim their ancestral homes.[5a] Many of the Firewalk Clans hail from the Adamantine Range and seek to reclaim their karaks from the skaven clans infesting them.[5b].
- Gazul-Zagaz: They are named after their god, Gazul who had fought Nagash in the Age of Myth and lost, They inhabit the ancient ruins of a once glorious cavern-city known as the Oasis of Gazul, built into the Gazul-Baraz. It is located in the Sea of Dust in the Realm of Shyish [2]
- Grunndrak Clan: This clan of Dispossessed lives in the port city of Excelsis. They are known for carrying on the traditional values of the Khazalid Empire.[5a]
- Jadeforged Clans: These Duardin clans live in the city of Hammerhal Ghyra.[4b]
- Riven Clans: Dispossessed clans who live in the Free City of Glymmsforge.[8a][8b][8c]
- Zhu'garaz: The Duardin of the Zhu'garaz are a clan who have garnered a reputation as a swift and efficient folk.[10a]
Sources
- 1: Grand Alliance of Order - Devoted of Sigmar, pg126
- 2: Sacrosanct & Other Stories: A Dirge of Dust and Steel
- 3: Age of Sigmar: Core Book (2nd Edition)
- 3a: The Great Parch, pg. 86-89
- 4: Battletome: Cities of Sigmar (2019)
- 5: Soulbound Core Rulebook
- 6: Battletome: Stormcast Eternals (2018)
- 6a: The Works of Sigmar Rise High, pg.16-19
- 7: Myths and Revenants
- 7a: Blacktalon: When Cornered
- 8: Soul Wars (novel)
- 9: Inferno! Volume 2
- 9a: At the Sign of the Brazen Claw: Part Two - The Merchant's Story
- 10: Hallowed Knights: Black Pyramid
- 10a: Chapter Ten: Siegeworks
- 11: Spear of Shadows
- 12: White Dwarf February 2021
- 12a: Old Whitebeard's Special (short story)
- 13: Soulbound: Refuges of the Realms
- 14: Soulbound: Blackened Earth
- 14a: Chapter Two: Greywater Fastness
- 15: Soulbound: Brightspear City Guide
- 15a: Chapter Two: Guide to Brightspear
- 16: Age of Sigmar: Core Book (3rd Edition)
- 16a: Hammerhal Aqsha, Pg. 86-89
- 17: Arkanaut's Oath
- 17a: Chapter Twenty-Five: Bastion
- 18: Grombrindal: Chronicles of the Wanderer
- 18a: Lords of Stone, Fire, and Sky, Chapter Two
| Dispossessed | |
| Units | Hammerer - Ironbreaker - Irondrake - Longbeard - Quarreller - Runelord - Thunderer - Unforged - Warden King - Dispossessed Warrior |
| Characters | Bryn - Grom Juddsson - Halgrimm - Halgrimmsson - Hruna Kollok - Judd - Kazrug - Idenkor Stonbrak |
| Groups | Clan Halgrimm - Firewalk Clans - Gazul-Zagaz - Grunndrak Clan - Riven Clans - Zhu'garaz |
| Cities | Barak Gorn - Forge-City of Grungni - Karak-a-Zaruk - Karak-Cairntomb - Karak-Khazhar - Karak Kzaf - Karak Ohrgaf - Karak Thain - Oasis of Gazul |
| Armoury - Artwork - Language - Miniatures | |
