Kanlin

Kanlin was the first mortal being crafted by the Voru, whom the dwarves revere as the Ancient Fathers. Called the Perfect, All-Gifted and Giantson, Kanlin is the divine Image that all dwarves were made in, the model for their perfection. According to the myths, the giants made Kanlin along with his brother Logha. The brothers were tested to determine who would be the student and inheritor of the giants' divine knowledge. Each brother was given a number of tasks to perform, the exact details varying from myth to myth, though the tasks always number seven. Kanlin was the victor in most of these tests. When only one task remained, Logha decided to cheat. One night, while Kanlin was sleeping, Logha crept up and stole part of Kanlin to add it to himself. When Logha, who now stood taller than his brother, was questioned by the giants as to his transformation, he refused to answer. Knowing the truth, the giants declared Kanlin the winner of the competition and Logha fled into the Underworld in shame. Kanlin thus became the prototype of the dwarves, the giants’ favored servants, while Logha became the father of the goblins. Logha's model was used as the basis for all subsequent mortal life. Kanlin and his people, however, were unique, the chosen of the Ancient Fathers. 
Kanlin is credited with many achievements. He created the first crystal bells so that the dwarves might hear the Song of the Pancreator, and divided the original dwarves into the Hundred Clans, naming a clan father or mother for each. He made tablets of orichalc, etched with godsblood, laying out the laws of Tir Urdun, and the responsibilities of all clans. He reigned as Warmaster of Tir Urdun for many years before he perfected his arts and became a crystal ancestor. He continued to advise and guide his people, sharing the Song with them. Soon after the Night Wars and the banishment of Nyx, the Azlan took advantage of Tir Urdun’s distraction. Yekkat the Beautiful led an attack on Talamon and breached the Brass Tower where Kanlin was ensconced. Yekkat smashed the first crystal ancestor, dealing a terrible blow to dwarven morale. Within a few generations, Tir Urdun had all but collapsed, and the few remaining lowland dwarf cities were sacked or abandoned during the Great Passage. However, as crystal ancestors are attuned to the divine, their pieces cannot be totally destroyed. Dwarves, called the Mourning Clan, travel the worlds, above and below, searching for pieces of Kanlin so that one day he might be pieced together again and restore the glory of Tir Urdun. The mourners are also fierce protectors of all the remnants of Tir Urdun, for as the True House was founded by holy Kanlin, all its works are blessed and should not be defiled by younger races. Even if dwarves consider Kanlin dead, he also lives, and his spirit is honored as the animating force within all dwarves, guiding them towards perfection and union with the First Music as crystal ancestors.
Category:Heroes