Thunder Blasters

Thunder Blasters are often brought in large groups to create proper firing lines that range from thirty to two hundred sixty, often varying depending on the area they are stationed in or the environment they are in.

Blastcoat Armor: Treated leather reinforced with tempered chain links making it fire-resistant to protect the wearer from ignition burn and in melee combat.   Egg Helms: Tall egg shaped helmets designed to aid in protecting the wearer from falling debris and arrows for their heads.   Blast Goggles: Modified forge lenses used to protect from flare, smoke, and dust; lenses can shift to detect movement surrounded by smoke haze.   Blackpowder Satchel: Sealed tightly to prevent accidental ignition and worn like a sacred burden as one ember can easily cause an explosion on the wearer.

Thunder Rifle: A Long-barreled firearm that uses black powder to fire lead balls at high speeds with devastating effect.   Rune Thunder Rifle: A superior model of the Thunder Rifle that uses runes to fire projectiles with magic-infused rounds and is immune to wet weather.   Fold Axe: A compact axe that can be folded and unfolded for use in combat as a regular axe.  

Special Ammunition

  Breach Round: Heavier shot that shatters shields, doors, and monster carapaces at the expense of accuracy, requiring close range.   Dragon's Breath: A flammable glass ball that produces a cone of alchemical fire and shrapnel, which is lethal in enclosed spaces.   Bane Piercer: Special rune-carved balls inscribed for combating magical and supernatural creatures that are hard to defeat normally.   Ghost shot: A silent ignition gas is used to fire a round, producing no flash or sound, making it effective when needing stealth.

Gunner Captain: Competent officers who can keep their men in line and maintain discipline in the harshest of battle conditions.

Firing Line: A line of riflemen fires volleys of lead into targets to deal damage from a distance, going up to three rows of lines can fire in sequence to deal severe damage.   Priority Targeting: shots are targeted at specific enemies when given the chance, such as enemy leaders, cavalry, and monsters.   Killzones: When in narrow areas and during sieges, riflemen are stationed in areas to deliver deadly volleys when the likelihood of increasing enemy losses is high.   Covering Fire: Shots are continually fired at will to allow for infantry to advance and cover more ground while the enemy is at bay.   Overwatch: Shots are fired when enemy movement is sighted before they can do anything with precision   Inferno Line: All rifles fire simultaneously, producing a shockwave that obliterates enemy morale through overwhelming firepower.   Firing Crucible: Interlocking firing arcs create a kill zone shaped like a crucible to combat being surrounded on all sides or cavalry.

Trajectory Mathematics: Thunder Blasters are trained to fire their shots with care to hit their targets by calculating distance, elevation, and wind reading.   Marksmanship: Each riflemen is tasked with increasing accuracy through harsh conditions above and underground, such as firing through darkness and echoes in tunnels, and through harsh weather conditions to hit their target still.   Explosive Handling: Dealing with an explosive substance such as Black powder can be dangerous and requires safety training that requires caution and discretion to ensure that the powder doesn't explode in with them near it.   Fire Discipline: Thunder Blasters are trained to fire only when told to avoid wasting their shots and to shoot in synchronized volleys without hesitation.   Emergency Melee: Having little protection when fighting in close quarters, each Thunder Blaster is taught to use an axe and their rifles to fight off attackers that go near them with brutality to stay alive.   Ring Shotl: Each blaster is trained to fire a precise shot through a small molten steel circle while the steel is still glowing and fire through the center to create a ring that they wear on their finger as a final test to prove they are worthy of joining their ranks.

All members of the Thunder Blasters come from various military units involved with firearms and are called upon to join if they show exceptional skills, such as having keen eyes and accuracy with their shots. Each one is tested through shooting ranges and through hazadous terrain with all of their equipment in them. They are also expected to go through training with other recruits to work together to form a new unit that can maintain cooperation on the fly. Most crack under the pressure as being a Thunder Blaster means being in the line of fire constanly unlike other riflemen. Those that can get past the tests are able to find there place in them and end up in active duty as soon as possible.

Wielders of Thunder

  TThe origins of the Thunder Blasters can be traced back to the earliest days of black powder warfare, when cannons were the sole instruments of thunder on the battlefield. Though devastating, these weapons were slow to load, cumbersome to reposition, and ill-suited to the shifting chaos of open war. It was the brilliant and notoriously reckless inventor, Deg Firebrand who envisioned something new. Through countless explosive trials and more than a few near-fatal miscalculations, Firebrand developed the first true dwarven muskets. Their success led to rapid refinement and mass production, and before long, musketeers became a common sight throughout the Mountain Kingdoms. Yet it was not until the War of Stone and Wood against the Elves that these soldiers earned a name worthy of legend. Fighting the Elves in a ranged war proved brutally difficult; elven archers could loose arrows faster than a musket could be reloaded, harrying dwarven lines with merciless precision. In response, dwarven smiths and engineers evolved their arsenal once more, culminating in the Thunder Rifle, a refined, more reliable weapon capable of greater accuracy and significantly faster reload times. Recognizing the potential of this innovation, the Kingdom of Ulther selected its finest musketeers and trained them in a new, disciplined method of ranged combat.   Thus, the Thunder Blasters first took to the field. Their volleys answered elven arrows blow for blow, thunder against wind, and for the first time the balance of ranged warfare was truly contested, the conflict ultimately ended in stalemate, broken only by the sudden invasion of the Orcs. In the aftermath of the first Black Blood War, the ranks of the Thunder Blasters swelled dramatically. Their unmatched marksmanship proved vital in the defense of holds and fortresses as the Black Blood Hordes swept across entire regions. Thunder Rifles cut down charging droves before they could reach the walls, turning overwhelming numbers into smoking fields of broken bodies. Countless dwarven lives were saved by their steady hands and iron resolve, and to this day they continue to hold the line along the borders of the Dwarven Mountain Kingdoms. The Thunder Blasters also play a crucial role in reclamation campaigns and expeditions into the Deep, clearing ancient tunnels and hostile territories with ruthless efficiency. Few foes survive once caught in their steely sights, for when the Thunder Blasters take aim, the mountains themselves seem to answer, bringing thunder to smite all who dare stand in their way.

Thunder Blasters are loyal to their kingdoms and fight for them accordingly, but some have been known to serve among the Dwarven Hill Clans seeking a life of freedom and adventure.