Ardent

A dwarf who, during Thud!, works closely with Hamcrusher and his fellow deep-downer Grags, wearing the typical black leather flap robe-and-hood of a Deep-Down Dwarf. His beard is trimmed somewhat neater than other dwarfs. He acts as Chief Liaison to the world above for the group of Grags who are looking very hard for something under Ankh-Morpork.

He discovers to his dismay that Ankh-Morpork Law goes all the way down when applied by Sir Samuel Vimes during the events of Thud!. He is even more dismayed when Bashfull Bashfullsson proves that the hand is faster than the axe. Sam Vimes then intends to take Ardent back to Ankh-Morpork for trial. He resurfaces (although as a Deep-Downer he would not use the phrase) in Raising Steam as an advisor in the court of Low-King Rhys Rhysson. Here, he is ostensibly putting the case for the old ways. However, he is also deeply involved in more militant ways of restoring the Old Order to the world of Dwarfs. When he feels secure enough to do so, he usurps the Low Kingship and provokes a civil war among Dwarfs.