Axemen of Erebor
The Axemen of Erebor are veterans of King Thorin's battles who found peacetime ill-suited to their temperament. Trained in the close-quarter fighting of the Dwarven halls — shield wall, short axe, mattock — they are formidable on any terrain but excel in the mountain passes that connect Erebor to the kingdoms of men. They take contracts from any who can afford their fee, but will not raise an axe against Erebor or Rivendell.