The War of the Three Hammers

Full History

The War of the Three Hammers began when a dwarven kingdom long held together under High King Modimus Anvilmar fractured among the Bronzebeard, Wildhammer, and Dark Iron clans. Rival claims escalated into open war, leaving Ironforge and Grim Batol contested. The struggle reached its most terrible conclusion when Thaurissan's desperate sorcery summoned Ragnaros. The destruction remade dwarven lands and bound the Dark Irons to a new master.

Thaurissan and Modgud led the Dark Iron challenge against their cousins. Modgud attacked Grim Batol, where Khardros Wildhammer defeated her, but her dark workings left a curse that made the fortress impossible for its former defenders to inhabit. The Wildhammers eventually departed for the Hinterlands, establishing a different life among the mountains and gryphons. Meanwhile, the Bronzebeards continued to hold Ironforge, preserving their stronghold despite the upheaval.

Thaurissan's summoning brought Ragnaros into the world and raised the volcanic terror of Blackrock Mountain. The Firelord's arrival destroyed the prospect of an ordinary settlement among the clans and left the Dark Iron people subjugated. The three branches of dwarven history would continue separately long afterward. Their rivalries shaped not only the mountains and cities of Khaz Modan but also the factions encountered by the Alliance during the original World of Warcraft era.