Melgar Coalhammer

Melgar Coalhammer, the serpent,  the treasonous one, the vile, the black heart and King.    When Melgar was a boy his grandfather under ill advisement took the Coalhammer clan to war against the elven Prince. This at the behest of a gnome who pleaded with Melgar's grandfather, telling a sad tale of how the vicious elf invaded and took his  mine away from him. Pleading how he was the only survivor and would gladly give up his claim if only the Coalhammer clan would assist him.   The Coalhammers struck first by murdering one of the prince's loyal retainers, the dwarf Thorgal and a large percentage of Thorgal's family and clan. Perhaps the thought of this was to break the spirit of the elven prince. It did not. Enraged the prince sacked the Coalhammer clan holding, cast every one of them out and gave the holding to a group of unseelie faeries and dark elves to add insult to injury. The gnome was not seen by anyone.   Melgar's grandfather then plead with his liege and lord, King Silveraxe of the dwarves. King Silveraxe agreed and gathered his bannermen. The dwarves then marched on the elven prince. They met on the field, the elven prince concentrated his forces on destroying  the Coalhammers to the last man. Then by some trickery word reached King Silveraxe that his capital was sacked and his family taken. King Silveraxe bent the knee.   Both Melgar's grandfather and father were slain in the battle. His clan was reduced to the status of paupers and forced to rent from the Silveraxe clan a place to live. This all the while doing the most menial of labor. Furthermore over the intervening years the Coalhammers were required to send fifty of their best workers to serve the elven prince for fifty years. The work the  prince had them do was the most demeaning he could find.    During this time Melgar and his twin sister Melgravina began to smuggle contraband items, in particular vice items that various dwarves wanted. They directed this towards the highest ranking members of clan hierarchy possible. This so that when they became leaders in their own right, the Coalhammers would have leverage over them.   Melgar also slowly began to recruit from the other disenfranchised clans who also were in a tenant relationship with the Silveraxes. Landless  clans and dwarves are in general considered to be second class citizens, no matter what position they might earn.    Melgar  invested what  wealth he could obtain into the purchase of exotic weapons and magical  devices that would  give his men an overwhelming advantage. Secretly he drilled and trained his men.   When King Silveraxe received diplomats asking for help in defending the neighboring Autumn March, Silveraxe agreed and gathered the dwarven host. This is when Melgar initiated his plan. Melgar now Sir Melgar Coalhammer had earned some trust and persuaded King Silveraxe to leave behind the smaller tenant clans to guard the kingdom. These smaller clans being the ones in his pocket.    All seemed well with King Silveraxe as he stood on the field in front of Autumn dale, capital of Autumn March. His personal forces and three sons with him, he perhaps thought it would be an easy victory. Before he could give the order from his left flank and rear came a thunderous war. Sir Melgar Coalhammer and those he had persuaded to join his cause struck. Volleys of musket shot, arrows, bolts, cannon firing grape shot and magic devices rained hell upon the Silveraxe lines. At a quick  time Coalhammer and company withdrew to the dwarven camp that was in complete disarray as Coalhammer's guard slew the Silveraxes there.   The enemy quickly filled in the opening in the lines as Coalhammer withdrew, King Silveraxe and his host quickly became enveloped and were being overrun. While this happened those loyal to Coalhammer that stayed in the kingdom struck taking the royal family and guard prisoner.   The other forces allied with Autumn March let Coalhammer withdraw in good order without harassment. Though they did send what scouts they could spare to observe. The decision was made to face Autumn March's enemies first.    Coalhammer entered the kingdom and slew any loyal to Silveraxe. He parceled out lands to those who assisted him. He then forced Silveraxe's eldest daughter to marry him and father his children. The queen was then made to crown Coalhammer King and take the position of Queen Mother while her other daughters married now King Melgar Coalhammer's cousins or were placed under lock and key in a nunnery.    King Silveraxe lay slain upon the field of battle, two of his sons at his side, the remaining one broken and left a cripple unless there is a miracle. King Coalhammer has placed a bounty for the last son's head. Time will tell what will become of the dwarven affair.