Clan Anvilbeard

An Introduction

As taken from the Scholarly works of

Orator Abnar ‘Steady Hand’ of the Hall of Succession.

Entitled

‘The Clans of Muttugr-fell, a reference’

Vol I.

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Shamus Anvilbeard, scribe of Anvilbeard Histories and Herald of the Hall of succession.

Entitled

‘Clan Anvilbeard a Family History’

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Olsen ‘The Humble’

Entitled

‘From here to there and back again, Journeys under the golden sun’

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Anonymous

Entitled

An unofficial chronicle of Anvilbeards at Arms

Clan Anvilbeard

The rise and fall

The origin of the Clan Anvilbeard within the halls of Muttugr-Fell is unknown, although many of the Dwarven sages put the arrival of the Clans patriarch in the fifth year in the reign of ‘High Lord Bruenor Bloodfist Steward of Muttugr-Fell and Bane of the Abyss’. It is written within the chronicles of Dwarven court by the scribe Alfor Stoutbeard that,

‘A humble fellow from distant lands came unto the court of High Lord Bloodfist seeking sanctuary’.

The name of the refugee was Olsen the humble. Olsen the Humble was assigned a position within the Guild of Metal Workers having claimed to have been of the Hall of the Blacksmiths prior to the sacking of his home ‘Hadramkath’ by Orcish Forces under the command of Klach the Blood Drinker.

Olsen the Humble soon became renowned for his fine workmanship with both dark and bright metals, a craftsmanship that soon caught the eye of Lord Bloodfist himself, and in the seventh year of his reign Lord Bloodfist appointed Olsen the Humble into court as part of his personal retinue. This appointment was at odds with the rest of the court for Olsen the Humble was thought of as being beneath such a high position. Agnar Iron Fist the Master at Arms is recorded as saying regarding Olsen the Humble,

‘A Clansman of near insignificance to behold, yet within his most disheveled and un-kept of beard doth dwell clutter liken unto the stars of the firmament, clutter that be of jewels and works of gold blessed of such beauty that they appear like gold from within the very bowels of the earth before its smelting’.

However High Lord Bloodfist enjoyed the man’s countenance and manner, thinking it quaint that a craftsman should put the love for his craft before that of his most prized, his beard.

It is here within the records and chronicles of the court of Bruenor Bloodfist that Olsen Anvilbeard first appears.

Olsen Anvilbeard went on to marry Marrin Ironfist ‘Keeper of the Royal Wardrobe’ and the niece of Agnar Ironfist. In doing so cemented his Clans position within the upper echelons of Dwarven society of the time. Olsen Anvilbeard went on to become Master Silversmith to the Lords of Muttugr-Fell, one of the highest positions within the Guild of Metal Workers, and a position his Clan was to retain for an unprecedented time.

Olsen Anvilbeard died at the age of 175, he had come to Muttugr-Fell as a Clan of one, but on his passing he left behind him a Clan numbering in excess of Twenty Seven. Of those Twenty Seven, six were in positions of high regard including his first son Bruenor Anvilbeard Master Silversmith to the Lords of Muttugr-Fell, and his third son Olaf Broadaxes Master Armourer.

It soon became apparent that Clan Anvilbeard had more than a passing lust for adventure as at least one from each generation would be cursed with wanderlust. However their position within Dwarven high society was secure due to their exquisite skills in the art of Silversmithing. The occasional act of wanderlust was often overlooked due to their Clans position within Muttugr-Fell. However it is noted within the Clan Anvilbeards scholarly histories that,

‘Never however did an act of Wanderlust go unnoted, for on the occasion of these acts they were undertaken with such knightly conduct and in such a ways as to be of great grandeur.’

Little of these grand acts of wanderlust are documented in any great detail, often being relegated to footnotes and appendices. This lack of regard for acts outside of the Guild of metal workers is no more evident than with the absence of Olsen Anvilbeards second son Corson from the core texts of the family histories. His entire existence is represented with a single footnote.

However within the library of Clan Anvilbeard can be found a little known chronicle form an anonymous series of authors entitled,

‘An unofficial chronicle of Anvilbeards at Arms’

Even here however the lack of true detail of the exploits of Corson speaks volumes as to how the Clan Anvilbeard perceives acts of arms and adventure

It was noted at this time within the chronicles of the Guild of Metal Workers that,

‘And so there after the Clan Anvilbeard where blessed with the craftings of such beautiful devises as to out shine like the sun to the dark the crafts of other clans.’

This increase in skill, according to Anvilbeard historians, is commonly attributed to Bruenor and Olaf who had gained grand appointments within the Guild of Metal Workers; however Scholars outside of Clan Anvilbeard have suggested that,

‘Upon Corsons return and with him being the dark but of fair folk kin that the skills and crafts of the very fair folk being passed down unto them.’

Corson’s dark skinned companion however being a little known fact even to the Anvilbeards themselves. That being said however both Bruenor and Olaf where responsible for the construction of works of such beauty that to this day they reside in the Vaults of the High Lord and are only brought out in times of great ceremony.

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Within the Guild at Arms the exploits of those Anvilbeards who chose a path within the Guild are well documented and often sung of, however the prowess at arms of Clan Anvilbeard has been overlooked to the most part within their own Clan in favour of the higher prestige afforded to them through those of its Clan within the Guild of Metal Workers. To say that Clan Anvilbeard is ashamed of its role in the defence of the realm of Muttugr-fell however is unwarranted for there is mention of those of the Clan who in defence of Muttugr-fell have risen to great standing, of prime example is Baldvin Ijos-Skor who is documented although with some scorn within the core texts of Clan Anvilbeards History,

‘Baldvin Ijos-Skor turned away from his families’ honoured ways and took up Arms for the defence of his most beloved of realms.’

Baldvin Ijos-Skor took up a post within the Southern Guard, a position in which he rapidly advanced until he held the lofty positon of ‘Warden of the Southern Gate’ and ‘Charge of the Deep Horn’, the ‘charge’ being a powerful position unto itself. Baldvin was joined by his younger brother Janus who in turn rose to the high position of ‘Gate Keeper’.

During this period however great honour was heaped upon Clan Anvilbeard from the Stewards house for within their homely halls a work of such great craftsmanship was constructed. Having been witness to the visitation of a High King of Human stock to the Halls of Muttugr-Fell, Florinn Anvilbeard later to be known as Florinn ‘Globus’ took it upon himself to emulate an item of such splendor that he had seen the Human King holding, the item was known to the Human court as a ‘Globus Cruciger’, a hollow globe of Gold that symbolized the holding of the very world within the hands of said King. Florinn crafted a hollow globe of Gold of his own, and about its center he wrought a belt of cunning Silver design set with jewels. The uppermost half of the Globe being separate from the lower and within sat an Anvil of bright Silver atop which sat a throne. When he presented it to the High Lord of the time he explained that as the King of Human stock held the surface of his world within his hands now too does the Dwarven High Lord and steward of our throne within his very hands hold the world under the surface.

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Many centuries after Olsen first arrived in Muttugr-Fell the Clans positions of power began to decline, this decline is spoken of by the Dwarven Sage Darius the long Fingered in his account ‘The Dwarven Clans of Mattudr-Fell’.

‘And thus Clan Anvilbeard, unable as they were to prevent the comings and goings of their younger hearted fell from grace within their hallowed Guild.’

The decline first began when Baldvin Ijos-Skor took up a position within the Guild at Arms and was assigned a post at the Southern Gate. Their decline was exacerbated thereafter when Baldvin’s brother Janus also joined the Guild at Arms. Although both brothers held powerful positions, as noted above the loss of two of the family’s younger generation from the traditional smithing positions greatly weakened the family’s position within the guild of metal workers, the most powerful of the Dwarven guilds.

The core texts of the Clan history regarding the next generation completely overlook the acts of Baldvin’s first two sons, Hronn and Dvadi, both again are relegated to the position of a single footnote each, and a position his fifth son Oski was also to grace. The Unofficial Chronicles however does cover although briefly Hronn and Oski, Dvadi even in the ‘Unofficial Chronicles’ unfortunately is relegated to a similar footnote existance. As for Baldvin’s other son’s Durinn ‘Longest Nose’ and Muninn ‘Gleaming Jewel’ great praise is afforded them for their craftsmanship stating that

‘Durinn’s work in the halls of the Armourer was of such beauty and strength as to befit a king’

And

‘Muninn was the better of all, producing such great works as to be courted by all of the Guild of Merchants for his wares’

Hronn however re appears later in the core texts as he was to rise to the hallowed position of ‘Martial of the Forge’, a position that is considered a powerful one within the Guilds of both Metal Workers and Arms.

The loss of Baldvin’s second son Dvadi Anvilbeard appears to have cost the Clans reputation dearly. Dvadi Anvilbeard hence forth was to be known as ‘Clans Bane’ and all that can be ascertained is that he left Muttugr-fell completely but nothing is known of his motives.

The loss of so many Silversmiths’ to the military from two successive generations had near crippled the Clan within the Guild of Metal Workers. Hronn seeing his families decline retired from the Military and took up a position within the Guild of Metal workers, ‘Martial of the Forge’, and this act stopped his families decline within the Guild of Metal Workers whilst at the same time bolstering their new found powers within the Guild of Arms.

Hronn’s first son Olaf, joined the Guild of Metal Workers and restored his family to the ‘Order of the Silversmiths’ an order that their ancestor Angus Anvilbeard once controlled. Olaf was responsible for the crafting of a large proportion of the High Lords and Ladies jewels of the time, many of which now reside in the vaults of the High Lord.

Hronn’s other sons also took up positions within the Guild of Metal Workers bolstering once more the families position, during this time the Anvilbeard Clan once more basked in the glory of the Guild of Metal Workers.

A point of note here is, again the acts of arms of Hronn’s third son are completely ignored in the core texts. We find however evidence of a short period of military service in the ‘Unofficial Chronicles’ for Hronn the younger.

As for the Chronicles of the youngest generation of Clan Anvilbeard through the line of Olaf ‘Skina-Gron’ Martial of Silversmiths, little is yet written.

Appendix 1

Extracts from

‘An unofficial chronicle of Anvilbeards at Arms’