Dwarves

Through oral tradition it is said that the first dwarves emerged from deep within the mountains, illiterate, mute and half blind. It was as if they emerged, half formed, from the ground itself in the wake of the great cataclysm that seared the surface and shook the world to its core. It is said that many had died in the first days of the dwarven people, great were their losses and terrible was their grief. Some terrible foe, its name no longer spoken of, its existence unrecorded in runic script, harried them, chasing them all out of their tunnels and into searing sunlight and the dangers of the surface. Hordes of dwarves stepped out into the world somewhere in the mountain range in the center of the great continent. The surface was no kinder than the deeps. Lessons were hard won and with the deaths of so many little of that wisdom could be passed on. Pure water was rare, food was scarce and competition for survival was ruthless even among their own kind.

It is said that in the darkest hour of their kind's very existence that a single spark of hope was found. Obok and Gunrym, friends forged in battle with irradiated mutants, feral machines, savage humans and wild beasts, took to organizing their people, using their numbers and physical strength to their advantage. One victory over their enemies led to another and their forces grew as they traveled the wastes. After a great battle with a mutant-fiend, Obok dragged a wounded Gunrym to an ancient ruin. There they and their companions rested at the foot of a cold and long abandoned forge of ancient design. By accident or fate as the cold of night set it and the dwarves threatened to freeze Obok tripped over rubble and accidentally activated the great forge. It was here that dwarven historians claim true dwarven history began. As the forge roared back to life a great spirit, Lomonos, the forge-father, greeted what would become his adopted children.

The companions of the forge, as Obok, Gunrym and their companions are called, spent an indeterminate amount of time with the great spirit of the forge. From the forge spirit Obok recieved assistance in deciphering ancient writings and developed the runic script dwarves still use in the modern era. Gunrym was granted a suit of armor using the last of the forge spirits arcane technological crafting components. This suit is rumored to be the fabled Forge-King battle suit, though it has been lost to time. Every dwarf learned some craft from the forge-father creating a mania born of hope within the dwarves. While enraptured in this manic state the dwarves created masterworks unmatched today. Finally when the dwarves were fully armed and armored Obok declared that the people would seize the wastes and together the companions of the forge did just that. All of their enemies were driven before them, wailing and gnashing their teeth as the might of the forge fell upon them. In the intervening years all the dwarves came to live within what was fast becoming a forge-fortress of such might and splendor as has ever been seen in this world. In that time the dwarves came into their own and felt complete for the first time in their harsh lives. This happiness would not last however.

The people forgot the lessons of practicality and cooperation the forge-father and the wastes had taught them. Infighting began the moment the suggestion of conquest was brought forward. Fully half of the people would not allow the forge father's work to be used against those who had done them no harm, the other half would see the world brought to heel under dwarven boots. Still half of each side had differing opinions on how things should be governed and how resources should be allocated. Each argument led to another. Finally, in a fit of rage Gunrym, wearing his great armor, declared himself high-king of his people and would brook no opposition. In response to this, it is said that Obok declared his old friend an arrogant fool. The resulting argument led to a brief duel. Though Obok was intelligent and wise he was said to be not even half the warrior his friend had been. With a single blow Gunrym punched his fist through Oboks chest and cast his heart into the forge. It was at this moment that devastation struck the dwarven people for a second time. This act sparked a civil war within the fortress that flooded its halls with blood and woke something terrible within their adopted father. In rage, denial and confusion the forge-father began to lash out at his adopted people. Great machines hell-bent on death and destruction flooded his forge and the ground shook with his fury. The dwarven peoples fled their father's rage, fled in every direction from the fortress, all save Gunrym. Gunrym knelt beside his fallen brother and wept bitterly crying out in blood chilling wails of despair. As the people fled an angry crimson glow enveloped the forge-fortress and it sank into the earth.

Today the dwarven people have spread across the world, building new homes for themselves with liked minded dwarves, bearing ancient grudges against barely remembered kin while begging forgiveness on their knees before lit forges for their crimes against their father. The dwarven people are long lived, ancient elders among them have marked the passing of roughly 500 years. They are short and stocky compared to other peoples of the world and built of heavily corded muscle and robust constitutions. They have lost much of their technological advancements and equipment. Many dwarves make a pilgrimage once in their lives to attempt to find their lost home and convince the Forge Father to forgive his wayward children.