A Page of His Own in the Book of Grudges

(Thanks to Nano Plague Swarm: Luo Yu for the donation! Bonus release 5/11.)

That was right, Space Dwarfs. The world of Warhammer 40,000 had dwarfs too.

After all, the entire world of Warhammer 40,000 was really just a Western fantasy setting in space.

Elves, orcs, undead—all the staples of traditional Western fantasy had their space counterparts in Warhammer 40,000.

Space Dwarfs were much like the dwarfs of Western fantasy: short-tempered, eccentric, and skilled at forging.

And they were not xenos, or at least not entirely xenos. They were humanity's cousins.

Humanity's Dark Age of Technology was the era when human technology had come closest to that of gods.

Back then, to mine precious minerals in extreme environments or work for long stretches in confined spaces, people had used genetic engineering to modify human genes and create Space Dwarfs.

Space Dwarfs were short, generally standing between 1.3 and 1.4 meters tall, which made it easier for them to move and work in cramped spaces.

Their muscles and bones were incredibly dense, allowing them to perform heavy physical labor with extraordinary endurance and resilience.

Their personalities had been shaped at the genetic level, giving them a strong interest in minerals and forging.

They were incredibly stubborn. Once they made up their minds, nothing could sway them. This might have been designed to help them endure long hours of work in dark, confined spaces.

After humanity's Dark Age of Technology ended and the galaxy entered the grim fortieth millennium, the Space Dwarfs had broken away from human society and formed an organization called the Leagues of Votann.

The Leagues of Votann controlled a moderately sized region of space, and their favorite daily activity was flying their ships around to mine things.

Their attitude toward their human cousins was complicated. On the one hand,