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The Stonebeards are a slow-moving but powerful faction built around defense, resilience, and overwhelming firepower. Known for their heavy armor and tenacity, they thrive on holding defensive positions and using superior firepower to decimate approaching enemies. Defensive players will find their strength in fortifying key points and maximizing their economy, bolstering armies with durable units while setting up artillery for long-range devastation. Key to their playstyle is Erdin Stonebeard, who pilots an immense Stone Golem to lead powerful assaults when the time is right. Though their slow speed and limited versatility can leave them vulnerable to quick or surgical strikes, their defensive superiority can easily turn the tide of battle. The Stonebeards are at their best when maintaining strong frontlines, protecting vital positions, and using their artillery to control the battlefield.
The Rams of Duranduul are more than just war mounts—they are the lifeblood of Stonebeard society. Bred in the windswept, snow-covered peaks outside Balduir, these majestic beasts are raised by the hardy mountain-dwelling Dwarves who have mastered their care. From a young age, Rams undergo a selection process steeped in tradition. Each promising ram is adorned with rune-etched collars and blessed by Runemasters, said to grant them the strength of the mountain itself. In battle, Ram Riders charge headlong into enemy ranks, their powerful horns shattering formations with ease. Outside of combat, Rams serve as the Dwarves’ primary companions for travel, scaling treacherous mountain paths, hauling supplies, and providing warmth and sustenance.
Nestled deep within the mighty Duranduul mountains, the city of Balduir stands as a bastion of Dwarven ingenuity and resilience. It is a labyrinth of grand halls, trading quarters, and vast forges, where the legendary weapons of the Stonebeards are crafted. The Forges of Grundag produce masterworks of war, and at the heart of it lies the Abyssal Obelisk, an ancient relic that twists the sanity of those who dare temper their weapons upon its oily black surface. The deep caverns of the northeast, known as the Deep Dark, hold precious ores and dangerous, unearthly crystals that enhance both body and mind. Beyond the Gates of Balduir, the Stonebeards face constant threats from the savage Yaeton tribes of the north or the malevolent Dark Ones below. The Stonebeards are forever vigilant against the evils that haunt them.
Duran’s Reign, the royal heart of Balduir, stands as a symbol of wealth, power, and mystery within the Stonebeard kingdom. Rising into the cavern’s vast ceiling is Duran’s Hold, a colossal statue of their god-king. Some Dwarves believe the figure holds the mountain’s weight upon his shoulders, protecting his children, while others dismiss it as royal propaganda. This sacred district houses two major sites of cultural significance: the Hall of Heroes, where the greatest Dwarven champions are immortalized, and the Hall of Secrets, where ancient knowledge, some too dangerous to share, is hidden away forever. Though safe from the corruption that ravaged the rest of the city, Duran’s Reign has become a fortress of paranoia. Protected by impenetrable walls and armed towers, it has never been breached. Yet, its wealth draws envy from the struggling Low Quarter, stirring unrest and rebellion among the common folk.
High King Erdin Stonebeard has been shaped by loss, tragedy, and the deep scars of a crumbling kingdom. As a young dwarf, Erdin was forced to make a heartbreaking decision—to push his plague-infected father to his death. Later, driven by desperation and defiance, Erdin led an expedition into the Deep Dark, hoping to reclaim some semblance of the Stonebeards’ former glory. The mission ended in horror, with his comrades perishing or vanishing in the endless caverns, leaving only Erdin to escape—at the cost of his legs. Now bound to a throne of guilt and shame, Erdin's determination is unshakable. He refuses to yield to the madness threatening his people or to the dark forces rising beneath Duranduul. No longer a warrior in body, Erdin wields the Mountain Breaker Mech, a towering marvel of dwarven ingenuity, as his personal war engine. His rule is defined by grim resolve: to restore his people, conquer the unknown, and defy the creeping dread of the Deep Dark—no matter the cost.
The Stonebeards, once a proud and prosperous clan, thrived beneath the towering Duranduul Mountains, in the great city of Balduir. In 960AR, their world was shattered by the emergence of the Stone Plague—a horrific affliction that transformed Dwarves into violent, mindless abominations for days before finally petrifying their bodies forever in stone. The outbreak was like a nightmare, as tens of thousands of Dwarves were infected. Though quarantines were set, they quickly failed, and nearly 70% of the population was wiped out. Some Dwarves, in desperation, fled into the Deep Dark seeking refuge, only to fall prey to the unspeakable horrors lurking there. Now, after 30 years, the Stonebeards have begun the arduous task of rebuilding their society, but whether they can truly recover from such a devastating calamity remains uncertain. The shadows of their past still linger, and the threat of the unknown looms ever closer.
- The Stonebeards have superior armor, making their units highly durable in prolonged engagements.
- The Stonebeards excel at defensive play, fortifying positions and holding off enemy advances with ease.
- The Stonebeards’ artillery is unmatched, allowing them to decimate enemies from a safe distance.
- The Stonebeards’ hero unit, Erdin Stonebeard, can lead devastating assaults with his powerful Mountain Breaker Mech.
- The Stonebeards suffer from low mobility, making them vulnerable to fast-moving enemies.
- The Stonebeards’ unit production is slow, limiting their ability to quickly adapt to battlefield shifts.
- The Stonebeards lack versatility, often relying heavily on static defensive strategies.
- The Stonebeards struggle against armies that can bypass their frontlines with surgical strikes.
