Weary (Doy'nesch)

Year after year of battle and bloodshed takes its toll on even the most jaded and experienced of the Khanshael. Battle after battle, with close members of the Kin falling at his side, the scent of the blood of his fellows strong in the air, corpse after corpse of his closest kin slain and dead at his feet. Decades, and in some cases even centuries, have consumed the passion and drive of even the hardiest of the Khanshael warriors.

A malaise settles over Khanshael thusly afflicted. It saps whatever fervor and desire they may have once had. They settle into depressed, uninspired lives as their perceived failures, the deaths of their friends and families, and many other possible afflictions weigh heavily on their shoulders. They lose their taste for forge work, their passion for life, and the Darkness that surrounds them, changes their souls forever. Khanshael tradition prohibits suicide, as it is a violation of one of their most fundamental laws. These Khanshael seek nothing less than death in battle, or a return of their passion.

These warriors are secluded in barracks with other dwarves suffering similar afflictions, separate from other Khanshael. They live apart from the other Kin, in spartan, military lifestyles. Their food is simple, and their lives are filled with military training, if they can even muster enough drive for that. Often, these dwarves merely exist from battle to battle. They wait for the warrior priests to array them in their armor and lead them to war. Some of the worst afflicted of the Weary sit idle in their armor between battles, without removing it, from the time they join this caste until the time they die.

These Khanshael become the spearhead of the Khanshael forces. Arrayed in force, they serve as shock troops for the Dhe'nari armies. A carefully chosen Warrior priest, who is arrayed in the blackened armor of his caste, leads them into battle. Using his battle magic, and the powers of the spirits of War that accompany him, this priest is able to instill a berserk frenzy in the troops that follow him.

The Weary are arrayed in blackened armor, painted to portray, symbolically, the wounds of their fallen comrades. Their helmets are faceless black masks, riveted to their armor, until they fall in battle, or are able to regain their former passion. They wield the same weapons in battle they used during their normal lives, and with which they have shown the most proficiency.

Doy'nesch that have fallen in battle are accorded a hero's burial. This caste is held in reverence, and viewed with a reverent sort of pity by the other Khanshael. They have lost what the Kin view as their soul. To die in battle, or find one's soul again, is the most honored path these tired and jaded dwarves can take.