Are the Duergar forces linked?

I recently took Erdrique (Level 16 Rogue) and Hamllin (Level 16 Fighter) through some quests and areas that deal with the duergar dwarves.  For Erdrique, I took him through the Black Anvil Forest (Made to Order and A Relic of the Sovereign Past) while Hamllin has been making his way through Ataraxia’s Haven.  As I was battling my way through these tough enemies, I wondered if they had some type of a link.  These two areas account for the majority, if not all, of the duergar dwarves in game.  I also find it interesting that both of these locations are accessible through House Kundarak, which is a dwarven dragonmark house.

In A Relic of the Sovereign Past, the end boss is King Dolgrim Nightforge.  I’m unclear of Dolgrim’s origins but I’m beginning to think that his clan extends further out than just the Black Anvil Forest.  I have no doubt that Dolgrim has migrated to the Black Anvil Forest and started to excavate the Black Anvil Mines in the pursuit of adamantine ore and to develop a strong forge for exceptional armor and weapons.  I’m also assuming that Dolgrim has made concessions of some sort with Haywire which explains the duergar present in his Grotto.

Erdrique preparing to fight the duergar in A Relic of the Sovereign Past.

However, what about Ataraxia’s Haven?  We know from Sykro’s, the wealthy merchant who bought the island from the Coin Lords, that the duergar showed up shortly after he started to develop the island.  However, he didn’t elaborate on where these duergar came from.  Its logical to think that Dolgrim has sent out a mining expedition to Ataraxia’s Haven.  I can see the eager king looking to take advantage of the shift in ownership between the Coin Lords and Syrkos to make a claim on the land.  Sykros doesn’t command nearly the resources or the military might that the Coin Lords do and would be limited in attempting to stop any type of large operation put forth from the duergar.

Hamllin fighting the duergar in Ataraxia’s Haven.

I can see the foreman in the quest Reclamation reporting directly to the Dolgrim, giving him constant updates on the mining operation, Syrkos and his attempts to regain control of the island, as well as any issues that might be occurring with the local scrag populations.  I can also see Dolgrim suggesting the kidnapping of Ataraxia to keep Sykros in line, which would be a direct link between the two areas.  What is very likely that Dolgrim is looking to supplement his mining operations in the Black Anvil Forest with ore excavated from the mine that they have started in Ataraxia’s Haven.

If this is the case, perhaps we will see the duergar moving out into other areas.  Maybe they will start exploiting other mines.  Not sure, but I can easily see this as being a potential and interesting storyline.  Thanks for reading everybody and happy hunting!!