The expansion of the Dwarf realm continued apace under the triumvirate of the Dwarven Kings. The fleet of Karak-a-Varr became ever more confident with each successful naval engagement. Dwarf engineering increasingly proved the decisive winning factor in many sea battles and the ironclad vessels began to gain renown the world over.
Emboldened by their victories the Dwarves became ever more confident, venturing out into the wider seas. At each tavern and harbour they would lay anchor the captains heard rumours of cities to the west brimming with treasures, hidden deep in the dark jungles and jealously guarded by an ancient power. No explorer could resist the lure of adventure, nor the prospect of treasure. So it was that expeditionary forces set out in search of the mysterious cities to the west.
The first Dwarves to land in Cullinor came in force, for they had heard many dire warnings concerning the perils of this exotic realm. They were not to be disappointed. Within weeks of marching inland the treasure hunters were set upon from all sides. By day they had to contend with the overpowering heat, sweltering under their armour and beards. Biting insects plagued them, and daily they ran the gauntlet of the avoiding the grazing thunder lizards that crashed through the jungle, monsters that were utterly oblivious to anything unfortunate enough to be underfoot. By night they huddled by the camp fires, watched through the gloom by slinking predators.
Having spent four long weeks dragging and heaving their winding baggage train through the dense jungle the doughty Dwarves found their prize; they came upon a sprawling city, a mighty gold-decorated pyramid rising from its heart. Overjoyed, the Dwarves gave up a mighty cheer. But their jubilation was to be short-lived. Across the clearing the jungle seemed to erupt as a veritable army of reptilian monsters surged from the undergrowth. Thundering tusked behemoths the size of a forge furnace careened into the column. Shrieking leathery-winged harridans plunged through the tree tops. Darting through the brush, vicious swamp lizards were goaded forward by chattering frog-folk, spitting fiery gobbets amongst the reeling Dwarves. Yet most unnerving of all came rank upon rank of implacable scaly warriors, hefting terrible spiked mauls and brutal stone axes, hewing and slashing at any and all who stood before them.
The Dwarves overcame their surprise and did their utmost to form together to meet this jungle army. The artillery contingent at the rear of the caravan unlimbered and they were quick to let loose shot and shell. But the dense surrounding jungle made it almost impossible for the engineers to find their mark, unable as they were to move the artillery through the undergrowth up to the thick of the fighting.
Meanwhile, the Dwarf companies at the head of the train had rallied around their bellowing Thane. War horns blazing, they threw themselves headlong into the ranks of the oncoming lizard warriors so as they might meet their foe with honour in a head-on charge. Sadly their bravery counted for little, as the resolute Dwarves could not stand against the savagery of their scaly foes, who tore at them with their barbed teeth and wicked claws.
The shrieking bird-lizards stooped down upon the artillery batteries, plucking the crewmen from the ground and carrying them off into the canopy. Almost surrounded and seeing his hopes of wealth and fame being dashed before him the Dwarf Lord ordered the retreat to be sounded before his kinsmen could be overwhelmed. The expeditionary force withdrew back down the jungle trail along which they had toiled. Stoic Thunderers covered the retreat, their volleys becoming a distant crackle as the army pulled back to the coast.
The jungle would not give up its treasure easily.
Emboldened by their victories the Dwarves became ever more confident, venturing out into the wider seas. At each tavern and harbour they would lay anchor the captains heard rumours of cities to the west brimming with treasures, hidden deep in the dark jungles and jealously guarded by an ancient power. No explorer could resist the lure of adventure, nor the prospect of treasure. So it was that expeditionary forces set out in search of the mysterious cities to the west.
The first Dwarves to land in Cullinor came in force, for they had heard many dire warnings concerning the perils of this exotic realm. They were not to be disappointed. Within weeks of marching inland the treasure hunters were set upon from all sides. By day they had to contend with the overpowering heat, sweltering under their armour and beards. Biting insects plagued them, and daily they ran the gauntlet of the avoiding the grazing thunder lizards that crashed through the jungle, monsters that were utterly oblivious to anything unfortunate enough to be underfoot. By night they huddled by the camp fires, watched through the gloom by slinking predators.
Having spent four long weeks dragging and heaving their winding baggage train through the dense jungle the doughty Dwarves found their prize; they came upon a sprawling city, a mighty gold-decorated pyramid rising from its heart. Overjoyed, the Dwarves gave up a mighty cheer. But their jubilation was to be short-lived. Across the clearing the jungle seemed to erupt as a veritable army of reptilian monsters surged from the undergrowth. Thundering tusked behemoths the size of a forge furnace careened into the column. Shrieking leathery-winged harridans plunged through the tree tops. Darting through the brush, vicious swamp lizards were goaded forward by chattering frog-folk, spitting fiery gobbets amongst the reeling Dwarves. Yet most unnerving of all came rank upon rank of implacable scaly warriors, hefting terrible spiked mauls and brutal stone axes, hewing and slashing at any and all who stood before them.
The Dwarves overcame their surprise and did their utmost to form together to meet this jungle army. The artillery contingent at the rear of the caravan unlimbered and they were quick to let loose shot and shell. But the dense surrounding jungle made it almost impossible for the engineers to find their mark, unable as they were to move the artillery through the undergrowth up to the thick of the fighting.
Meanwhile, the Dwarf companies at the head of the train had rallied around their bellowing Thane. War horns blazing, they threw themselves headlong into the ranks of the oncoming lizard warriors so as they might meet their foe with honour in a head-on charge. Sadly their bravery counted for little, as the resolute Dwarves could not stand against the savagery of their scaly foes, who tore at them with their barbed teeth and wicked claws.
The shrieking bird-lizards stooped down upon the artillery batteries, plucking the crewmen from the ground and carrying them off into the canopy. Almost surrounded and seeing his hopes of wealth and fame being dashed before him the Dwarf Lord ordered the retreat to be sounded before his kinsmen could be overwhelmed. The expeditionary force withdrew back down the jungle trail along which they had toiled. Stoic Thunderers covered the retreat, their volleys becoming a distant crackle as the army pulled back to the coast.
The jungle would not give up its treasure easily.
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