The Dwarven Hammerers, as far as scribes have been able to find, have been in the Northlands, living in the mountains, at least as long as the Northlanders themselves.
At first the Northlanders did not find the Dwarves entirely hospitable when they attempted to expand "civilisation". Strong assaults met even stronger defences, and the humans were left fleeing in disarray.
Soon however, peace offerings were made, and much later, perhaps two hundred years so, the Hammerers arrived to save a hard-pressed Northlander patrol, attacked from all sides by the tough Mountain Orcs. With their heavy hammers they crushed many Orc skulls, and the remainder fled. The Dwarfs did not stay long.
Since then little has changed. Many patrols have been seen saved by the Hammerers - however they have never stayed behind afterwards.
There has been little contact between the Dwarves of Mount Kelethion and the King of Durderak Hall, and certainly no military compromise. The Dwarves are certainly a free people.
It appears, then, that their aid is a fairly random thing, perhaps decided by their sense of honour and justice. Perhaps Dwarvish law states that a treaty has been made between dwarves and humans. They have never asked anything of the Northlander king, and rarely has the King asked anything in return. They are mysterious and solitary, and prefer it that way. Every year peace offerings are sent from the king to the dwarves, and they are received cordially, and paid for in dwarvish fashion. However, it is rumoured that this year the peace offering has not been received by the dwarves, and they are viewing this as a breach of the treaty between them. Injuring the pride of the dwarves is never a wise thing to do, and reportedly the King is looking for adventurers to find and deliver the treasure in time.
