The Dwarven Clan Wars

I have just recently gotten back into Arcanum thanks to Good Old Games, and found some history of the game that I was curious about. I was speaking with Randver and then Loghaire about the Clan Wars, but I don't think I had the Intelligence score needed to get more information. What exactly were the Clans Wars and who was Lorek the Abjurer? Are there more than the few Dwarven Clans remaining now or is it really just the Wheel Clan and the few smaller mines you visit?

Also: Hello! I'm new to the forums, but have enjoyed Arcanum for quite some time and am excited to start playing it again.

 

Welcome to the House of Lords, Lord Winter.

The Clan Wars was a most devastating five-hundred-year-long conflict among the dwarven clans. Gigantic war machines never seen before or since were used, many dwarves have died, whole clans were wiped from the face Arcanum.

Lorek the Abjurer was a charismatic dwarf from the Wheel Clan whose outlook started the Clan Wars. He believed that the dwarves from his clan were superior to the others and that they should rule over all dwarven clans, acting as their masters rather than mentors, while those who disagree should be put to death. "His words were evil yet he spoke them well", so many have followed his leadership. Reminds you of a certain historical figure, doesn't he?

Much point to the fact that there are other clans in Arcanum, mentioned (the Steel Clan, for example) or unmentioned, which the Living One simply didn't have the occasion to visit. Non bigger than the Wheel Clan, though, for it is said that it is the biggest of all.

 

Thank you! That is very interesting -- does all this come from Randver and Loghaire or are there books and sources on it as well?

 

Dwarves seem to be a race which remembers its history but chooses not to write it down (with some exceptions, non of them here), so all of the knowledge related with the Clan Wars and Lorek comes from in-game dialogue. Most comes from Randver and Loghaire when one has enough Intelligence and chooses the right dialogue lines, but some also comes from a dialogue between Z'an Al'urin and Loghaire.

As for the other clans, it is a conclusion coming from what a large number of NPCs say. If the Wheel Clan rules over all those dwarven clans, there has to be something more than one dead, one kidnapped and one nearly-destroyed clan out there to rule over in the first place, right?

That and the fact that generally there are a lot of places which are said to exist in Arcanum but are simply not possible to visit in the game. Halfling and gnome villages, orc tribes, smaller elf settlements, dwarven clans, they are are said to be out there. Arcanum as a universe in bigger than Arcanum as a game.

As for the Steel Clan, it (and possibly one or a two other ones, can't remember more at the moment) was mentioned as a possible answer in an in-game game of wits. Since even incorrect answers in the game of wits are always things which do exist in the Arcanum universe, I'd say it is somewhere out there.

 

For the record, an intelligence of 10 is needed to get the dialogue from Randver, and Z'an's dialogue is not triggered when Magnus is also in the party.

And: Welcome to the forums.

 

What do you guys think happened to the Iron clan? Does the game mention anything about it ? or maybe the UAP or WIP ?

 

IIRC, it's 12.

 

Im sure it was 10 but anyways, does anybody know the answer to my question?

 

10 indeed.

The reason behind the Iron Clan's fall is not explained in vanilla nor in the UAP. I don't know about A:WIP.

Troika probably thought such a mystery would be more interesting than any explanation.

 

Yes.

Should've checked it before posting.

 

yes it seems so , although I thought that I heard once that rroyo, made an answer to this mystrey ,in his hack , IIRC.

 

I am very new, so I was just wondering: what are UAP and A:WIP?

 

Where is the conversation between Loghaire and Z'an Al'urin triggered?

 

If you convinced Loghaire to return to the throne, the conversation is triggered when you return to him to report on what and why did the Dark Elves do with the BMC dwarves, just before he offers to join you in your quest. Z'an must be your follower at the moment, naturally.