A Dwarven Legend

For the first thousand years of the dwarves’ history, all our peoples were united in a great city. It was built in a fabulous series of caves, where each hall was lovelier than the last. At the end of the thousand years, the caves began to shake and shift. The dwarf-fathers thought themselves under attack, and many people fled. Eventually it became clear: Our city was not built inside of caves at all, but in the head of Korak, the Forger of Souls.   To His eternal glory, the Grand Wright was not angered that small folk had built homes in His head while He slept, and He did not smite them. Rather, He waited for all to depart from the caves of His mind, and then assumed a form in the likeness of our forefathers. Walking among us, He taught us many cunning secrets, and gave us many blessings. He aided us in building new homes, and taught the dwarves the names of all the gods, blessing each of them, but most especially His beloved sister, Anwyn, who had awoken Him from slumber.   He showed us how to respect the Wellspring of Life, Rontra the Earth, as we built new homes in the deep places. He took us on great journeys to each of the highest mountains, introduced us to the other races, and even gave us an audience before His cousin, Darmon, who showed us the wonders of trade.   At the end of this golden age of the dwarves, the Lord of Wrights, Korak Hammer Hand, turned His thoughts back to His family. He decided to part company with the dwarves. At His farewell, He gave the dwarves three stones of incredible power that He had forged in our fires, and a promise more precious than any stone: that one day He would return to teach us new ways. We await him still.