Banick Kholearm

Banick Kholearm had worked with the Dufaris Rangers, once favoured by the great Herneas himself. Banick fought alongside the ancient greater earth elemental known as Craggoth during the war with the Abyss.

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Banick Kholearm
Biographical information
Full name	Banick Kholearm
Also known by	Drillbeard
Occupation	Miner, Former Ranger
Location	Dolgarth
Worship	Dianek the God of Earth
Family	Craggoth (bonded Earth Elemental) Banick Kholearm's Wife (Divorced)
Affiliation	Dufaris Rangers, Free Dwarfs
Physical description
Race	Dwarf
Appearance	Black beard
Class	Rangers
Model History
Status	Alive
2nd Edition	Yes
3rd Edition	Banick Kholearm Craggoth & Kholearm
References
Sources	2.0 – Edge of the Abyss 3.0 - Clash of Kings 2022 Pride of a King

Appearance

Has a black beard with broad shoulders

Biography

Early Years

Banick Khole got married and joined the Dufaris Rangers

Dismissal as a Ranger

During the time Banick Kholearm was a ranger. he accidently led a scouting patrol led his patrol into an orc ambush which led to the deaths of all but himself including Ysgara. He had been deemed careless and sloppy as it led to so many deaths through his own fault. Banick was dismissed from the Dufaris Rangers, exiled from the clan and his wife left him when the clan welcomed her back as she was seen as a victim being married to such a disgraced dwarf.

Banick saw this as fortunate that he had borne him no children with his ex-wife due to sons and daughters being seen as outcasts due to the sins of their ancestors. Banick ended up working in the mines as punishment for his exile.

Edge of the Abyss

main article: 2.0 - Edge of the Abyss

In 3850, the expansion of the Abyss occured and Banick was still operating in the mines. In the war against the Abyss, Banick is determined to find solace for the Rangers who fell under his command. And hopefully find forgiveness from his fellow Dwarfs too

Banick had served his time a long time ago, but continued to eat, live and sleep drilling in the mines, his wife had long since died, so every waking moment was spent drilling in the mines which led him to bond with Craggoth.

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At a lunch break, all the tools were down for all the dwarfs, but Banick kept hearing a thumping, suddenly a Greater Obsidian Golem exploded through the wall with Blacksouls came streaming in killing all in their wake. Banick picked up his drill and hammered it till it worked, then set to drilling through the Golem's leg and any Blacksouls in his way to mine a new escape for himself and the other dwarfs.

All the could be heard above the drilling were the screams of the Blacksouls a the drill chewed through their armour and flesh. Soon hi normay black and sooty face was covered in the slick of blood.

The disgraced ranger Banick Kholearm fought alongside the ancient greater earth elemental known as Craggoth during the war with the Abyss. The two formed a bond as brothers in arms, fighting as heroes throughout the war, even surviving the loss of the Halpi Mountains.

Pushed from their homes in the Halpi Mountains by the swarm of vengeful Abyssal Dwarfs, across the Great Cataract and into the kingdom of Golloch. The Free Dwarfs weren’t so free anymore. In the years that followed the mysterious magic that animated the golem started to break down, the construct’s motions slowing and stuttering, as if with old age.

Banick travelled across Abercarr, beseeching the ancient order of Stone Priests to save his companion. None would agree to help the outcast dwarf. So, in desperation, Kholearm turned to a fellow outcast – a Free Dwarf Warsmith.

With the knowledge of forging and machinery, the Warsmith was able to augment Craggoth’s failing energy with a powerful furnace and the elemental’s limbs were reinforced with mechanical joints. The Warsmith passed the knowledge to maintain these contraptions to Kholearm. Now, Craggoth and the disgraced dwarf fight side by side to protect each other from a world that has all but rejected them.

During these open events, his colleague Yorrin was killed.

Pride of a King

main article: Pride of a King

Creating the Eastern Wall Hole

In 3865, he joined in The Retaking of Cwl Gen, lead by Lord Sveri Egilax. He gave the idea of creating three tunnels under the outer wall of Cwl Gen, setting charges in each that once ignited would cause the wall to fall down under its own weight. During this operation in building the tunnels he began speaking to a hallucination of Yorrin who was was a young mining colleague that had been killed in 3850 in the opening days of the abyss expansion.

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After recanting recent events and issue with the Imperial Dwarfs and their lack of efforts to retake what was lost for the Free Dwarfs, a Stone Priest by the name of Cwythn approached him. the vision of Yorrin vanished. Cwythn enquired on the progress of the tunnels and Banik advised being around hour away from denotation. Cwythn then sent a stone message (which was a bunch of images) via his Stonemancy abilities to Lord Sveri Egilax to relay the situation, hoping it would be understood correctly at the other end.

Banick and Cwythn began discussing Craggoth, who was with Grodgni, and Banick thought back to his younger military days where he would dig and refill holes. Suddenly, a young dwarf ran up to them both to advise them of some sound been heard in the tunnels which sounded like diggers coming towards them. Banick and Cwythn rushed to the location in the tunnels and Cwythn confirmed with his Stonemancy that its was Sappers aka Goblins.

Banick told two dwarfs to run and ignite the other two tunnels then arranged the workers in the last tunnel to make the final preparations at a quickened pace yet trying to stay quiet to not draw the enemy to them. Before they could complete however the Goblins managed to break through and one goblin threw down his torch and drew his knife. Banick noticed the torch falling into some dry straw which will ignite the rest of the explosives, he urgently ran for the exit of the cavern and yelling orders to do the same.

The explosion impact pushed Banick out of the remainder of the cave, knocking him out.

Retaking of Cwl Gen

Banick regained consciousness and prepared to fight the goblins which had already occupied the new hole in the eastern wall of Cwl Gen despite being wounded. Grabbing a rock, he prepared to engage until suddenely Lord Sveri Egilax raced past on Hellbrock. The battle had begun.

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A short while later, Grodgni caught up with Banick while bringing the Earth Elementals forward towards the battle, reuniting Banick with Craggoth. Banick hopped onto Craggoth and continued with the rest of the group towards the battle. Suddenly there wer several explosions around the hole in the eastern wall which knocked Banick off Craggoth, falling to the ground.

Kings of War Appearances

• 2nd Edition - 2.0 – Edge of the Abyss
• 3rd Edition - 3.0 - Clash of Kings 2021 - Halpi's Rift

Banick first appeared as a playable Hero unit in the 2.0 – Edge of the Abyss. He was introduced into 3rd Edition in 3.0 - Clash of Kings 2021 - Halpi's Rifthowever now part of the Free Dwarfs faction.

Second Edition Biography

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Despite being a former Ranger, Banick has abandoned his previous weapons in favour of the powerful drill he has been forced to use in the mines. In the war against the Abyss, Banick is determined to find solace for the Rangers who fell under his command. And hopefully find forgiveness from his fellow Dwarfs too

Third Edition Biography

Expand

Banick appears as two units for the Free Dwarfs Faction in Third Edition. Banick can be played as their own unit and combination of Banick and Craggoth called Craggoth & Kholearm

Banick Kholearm	Craggoth & Kholearm

Trivia

• Originally Banick's wife was noted as being killed in a raid by goblin raiders in 2.0 - Edge of the Abyss however in Pride of a King it was stated she had left him and rejoined the clan he was exiled from due to being in a loveless marriage and the clan's pity to be married to Banick.

Gallery

• 
  Banick Kholearm Model
• 
  Banick Kholearm Art
• 
  Banick Kholearm 2nd Edition Stats
• 
  Banick Kholearm 3rd Edition Stats
• 
  Craggoth and Banick 3rd Edition Stats

External Links

• Kings of War – 3rd Edition Compendium - https://www.manticgames.com/kings-of-war/books-kings-of-war/kings-of-war-2022/
• Pride of a King Digital - https://www.manticgames.com/kings-of-war-fiction/pride-of-a-king-digital/

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