Imcando dwarf

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Thurgo, an Imcando dwarf.

The Imcando dwarves are an ancient clan of dwarves, related to the ordinary dwarves. They once inhabited Camdozaal, a now ruined-city below Ice Mountain, but were believed to be extinct after the Runecrafting Crusades. They are well-known for their masterful Smithing skill, having created the original sword of Sir Vyvin's family and the Shield of Arrav[1], as well as their love of redberry pie. Additionally, most of the ancient Imcando dwarves were followers of Saradomin. For many hundreds of years, they were the world's most renowned smiths. The techniques used by the Imcando were secret, passed down from generation to generation, and any devices created by the Imcando are very hard to replicate; however, it is known that they incorporate magic in their techniques.[2]

Status

Currently, the only Imcando dwarves in the mainland are Ramarno and Thurgo; Ramarno is encountered at the end of the quest Below Ice Mountain, and is the last remaining inhabitant in the Ruins of Camdozaal. Meanwhile, Thurgo can be found in a hut south of Port Sarim. A third Imcando dwarf, Ketla, is encountered during Desert Treasure II - The Fallen Empire within the Lassar Undercity, but is revealed to have died long ago at the end of the quest, with her identity having been stolen by someone else.[3]

Meanwhile, across the Western Sea, descendants of the Imcando dwarves live on in Lovakengj and parts of Varlamore,[4][5] with Cam Torum being their biggest settlement. However, they do not appear to refer to themselves as such; Lovakengj appears to have forgotten the magical aspects of their Imcando ancestry, which presumably were lost during the Age of Strife.

In comparison, the dwarves found throughout Varlamore appear to have retained much of their ancestry, having magical users such as Nahta and the seers, as well as blacksmiths with mastery in smithing.[6][7] Notably, they refer to themselves as the "Dwarves of Cam Torum" rather than Imcando dwarves,[8][9][10] and do not worship Saradomin like their ancestors did.[11][12]

History

Fall of Imcandoria and resettling

The Imcando once lived in the great city of Imcandoria in the far north.[13] Towards the end of the Second Age, their city fell after a mysterious malevolent entity killed the inhabitants of the city and turned it into a frozen wasteland. With no home to return to,[14] the Imcando dwarves were promised a new home by Saradomin,[15] who would have his forces lay siege to Lassar and grant the Imcando dwarves a new settlement in the ruins of the fortress.

Led by Yonrith Lovakengj, the Saradominist forces marched upon Lassar and destroyed it in one of many attacks on the Zarosian Empire that began after the Betrayal of Zaros. Once the Zarosian forces have been driven out, the Imcando dwarves set to build their new city, naming it Camdozaal.

Refuge westwards

During the siege of Lassar, Yonrith Lovakengj, the opposing army leader, fled westward with his closest allies and settled in modern-day Lovakengj, which Yonrith founded. However, Vardorvis, the head executioner of the Zarosian Empire, brought a small force to pursue him all the way to the western continent,[16] but were wiped out on the sixth day after their arrival, as the dwarves had found their camp and the Zarosians had been infected by The Strangler parasite.[17][18]

During Kourend's Age of Strife, many would flee from Xeric's reign, with the dwarves being the first.[19] They, along with the Talkasti and the Pericans, would travel southwards over the previously unexplored Custodia Mountains.[20] The Imcando would establish the city of Cam Torum, appearing to be equivalent to an independent city-state, currently governed by Highlord Katlo rather than Queen Zyanyi Arkan. Through the centuries, they prefer to keep to themselves and are not particularly fond of humans. Towards the end of the Fourth Age, they enlisted the help of an unnamed adventurer from Hosidius to help subdue a demon that was capable of summoning torrential rainstorms,[21] in which they forged a demonbane weapon to help the adventurer.[22]

During this time, it is not known whether they had remained in contact with their brethren in Camdozaal, but they appear to be aware of their demise in the Runecrafting Crusades.[5] However, Cam Torum once had maintained contact with Lovakengj, although they lost contact with them centuries ago,[23] presumably during the War of the Five Houses.

Arrav of Avarrocka

Back in the mainland, Arrav, after meeting Zemouregal in the Dream Land, was sent by his village's elders to find the mythical Shield of Arrav, in the possession of the Imcando dwarves in Camdozaal. After wandering through what would later become Asgarnia, Arrav settled at the foot of a mountain (possibly Ice Mountain) where he was greeted by several Imcando. Despite their refusals of knowing the Shield, Arrav stayed with them, hoping to gain their trust. After spending many days with the Imcando and learning their arts of mining and smithing, he was given the Shield.

Destruction of Camdozaal

Camdozaal would remain as the prosperous home of the Imcando until the early Fifth Age, when a faction of Fremenniks sought to destroy any users of magic in the Runecrafting Crusades. With their inclusion of magic in dwarven smithing techniques, as well as experimentation with golems[24] left over from the Zarosian era,[25] the Fremennik turned their weapons toward Camdozaal.

The Imcando dwarves, believing their weapons to be strong enough to repel the invasion, were ultimately wiped out.[26] Today, they are now largely believed to be extinct, with Ramarno and Thurgo being the sole remaining Imcando dwarves on the mainland.

Dwarves of Cam Torum

The dwarves of Cam Torum would eventually sign an agreement with the Grand Museum to allow for archaeological digs in their city, much to the disdain of a majority of their residents.

Sometime after Varlamore opened to the rest of Gielinor, more humans began to visit the nation, though the dwarves of Cam Torum would continue to prevent more people from coming in. Another group would also form the settlement of Mistrock on Aldarin. After an attack by the Twilight Emissaries was foiled at The Teomat, a passing adventurer discovered the gates leading to the city, along with the Netla of Ranul, Zuma and an advisor to Highlord Katlo, Attala, arguing over entry into the city. Attala allowed the two humans to enter if they dealt with a Sulphur Nagua that had escaped from containment, and once the deed was done, she reluctantly allowed them to enter. There, the two humans caught up with Jessamine, who had been allowed into the city due to the agreement between the dwarves and the Grand Museum.

During this time, they explored the prison of Neypotzli, after which Zuma accidentally released a seal in the prison, allowing the Moons of Peril to somewhat break free of their bindings. The adventurer quickly helped the prison's warden, Eyatlalli, secure the Moons, though many dwarves blamed them for the disturbance.

Sometime afterwards, the Hueycoatl awakened on the Darkfrost, resulting in a group of dwarves led by Taala to try and subdue the beast, as to prevent her from tunneling into their city and causing damage; they did not want to kill her. However, given their lack of personnel, they were forced to accept aid from passing adventurers to keep her in check. According to Taala, she believes some of their Imcando ancestors made dealings with the great serpent, though the details are likely lost forever.

References

  1. ^ Elias White in Defender of Varrock. Old School RuneScape. "To answer that, our best bet would likely be to seek out the creators of the shield: The Imcando Dwarves of Camdozaal."
  2. ^ Ramarno. Old School RuneScape. "Our methods would often differ from other dwarves. Whereas they just used traditional smithing techniques, we would combine them with magic as well."
  3. ^ Player. Old School RuneScape. "I encountered someone I believed to be a dwarf, but it was a lie. It was a Mahjarrat in disguise as someone called Ketla. [...] She's gone, Ramarno. I'm so sorry."
  4. ^ Attala. Old School RuneScape. "The Varlamorians won't mention this, but we were the first to settle here. Our ancestors saw the writing on the wall when Xeric came to power in Kourend. They chose not to stick around. [...] Before Lovakengj, there was Imcandoria. Our ancestors there were forced to abandon their home, just as we were forced to leave Kourend."
  5. ^ 5.0 5.1 Overseer Khougo. Old School RuneScape. "The Imcando were our ancestors, but I thought they were long dead [...] The Lovakengj dwarves were born from the Imcando and we were born from the Lovakengj. If you want to know more, find a historian."
  6. ^ Nahta. Old School RuneScape. "My people have mastered Smithing and Magic in equal measure."
  7. ^ Blacksmith (Cam Torum) in Perilous Moons. Old School RuneScape. "Our metalwork and our magic are one. I am an expert in both."
  8. ^ Nahta. Old School RuneScape. "I am a Dwarf of Cam Torum."
  9. ^ Blacksmith (Cam Torum) in Perilous Moons. Old School RuneScape. "I am one of the Dwarves of Cam Torum, human!"
  10. ^ Attala. Old School RuneScape. "The Lovakengj dwarves have mostly forgotten their history., but we Dwarves of Cam Torum remember it all too well."
  11. ^ Zuma in Perilous Moons. Old School RuneScape. "They [the Dwarves of Cam Torum] are arrogant! They think they know it all, and worst of all, they are non-believers!"
  12. ^ Seer (The Darkfrost). Old School RuneScape. "I do not have the time nor desire to explain the advanced concepts of theology to you, but you should know that the Dwarves of Cam Torum take a different approach to worship than your kind."
  13. ^ Ghost (Ruins of Camdozaal). Old School RuneScape. "Rumour has it [the Imcando] once lived in a great city in the far north."
  14. ^ Ghost (Ruins of Camdozaal). Old School RuneScape. "The city [Imcandoria] fell and now they are homeless."
  15. ^ Ghost (Ruins of Camdozaal). Old School RuneScape. "It seems [the Imcando] have been promised a new home here in return for wiping us out."
  16. ^ Ghost (Ruins of Camdozaal). Old School RuneScape. "Their leader is named Yonrith Lovakengj. He has fled to the west with his closest allies, but much of his army still remains. Carnifex Maximus Vardorvis is in pursuit of him."
  17. ^ "Tatty page". Old School RuneScape. "They [Imcando dwarves] took his head clean off! He's a vampyre! It shouldn't have been possible, but they did it all the same! The parasite must be to blame."
  18. ^ "Tatty page". Old School RuneScape. "The parasite must be to blame. It's far more dangerous than we thought, and I fear others may be infected as well. Many have claimed to be feeling strangely unwell, and one of the legionaries even started having visions. Of all things, he thought he saw the Carnifex Maximus' body move!"
  19. ^ Attala. Old School RuneScape. "The Varlamorians won't mention this, but we were the first to settle here. Our ancestors saw the writing on the wall when Xeric came to power in Kourend. They chose not to stick around."
  20. ^ Curator Herminius. Old School RuneScape. "When it comes to the existence of Varlamore, it is Xeric we have to thank. During his Age of Strife, many refugees fled Kourend over the previously unexplored Custodia Mountains."
  21. ^ in Bloody diary. Old School RuneScape. "I recall encountering a particularly nasty demon capable of summoning torrential rainstorms in the Avium Savannah. Being requested by a group of dwarves underground to quell the demon's rage..."
  22. ^ in Bloody diary. Old School RuneScape. "...[the dwarves] forged me a silver sword combined with some mystical metal, which they claimed was carefully tuned to greatly harm demons."
  23. ^ Lady Vulcana Lovakengj. Postbag 23: "Spooky Mahjarrat, Cabbage Mages, and Spots (A Good Boy!)". 6. Old School RuneScape Postbags from the Hedge. Jagex. "There are a few other dwarves in Varlamore, but we haven't been in contact for centuries, on account of all the assassinations and wars and such."
  24. ^ Ramarno. Old School RuneScape. "We used our advanced Smithing knowledge to improve their form. Eventually, we were able to get them working again. We kept pushing with the golems. Many of them we imbued with magical energies."
  25. ^ Ramarno. Old School RuneScape. "Camdozaal was built upon the ruins of an older civilization. Little trace of them remained by the time we arrived. However, when building the city, ancient golems were discovered."
  26. ^ Ramarno. Old School RuneScape. "We learned of a horde of barbarians pillaging across the land, hunting down and killing anyone who dared use magic. We underestimated them. We believed our weapons would be enough to keep us safe. We were wrong. The barbarians brought ruin upon Camdozaal."