Ardenas

"From deepest chasm to highest peak, from richest vein to strongest stone - all these are mine to shape, all these are mine to guard. But the dwarves... the dwarves are the greatest treasure I have wrought." - Words of Ardenas, recorded in the Granite Codex

 

Ardenas - God of Mountain and Stone

Born in the first breath of creation when Te Vevutur shaped the realms, Ardenas emerged as one of the mightiest of the Eeirendel, embodying the very essence of mountain and stone. His domain stretched from the highest peaks to the deepest caverns, but his heart belonged to the labyrinthine realms of Kezian-Zer, the sacred underground kingdom he would forge alongside his beloved dwarves.  

"The heart of the mountain beats with the rhythm of the forge, and in that beating lies the soul of my children." - Ardenas to Broln Stoneguardian

  In the year 2125, Ardenas undertook his greatest act of creation, breathing life into the Ardenasi - the First Dwarves. He shaped them with divine care, imbuing them with his own love for stone and craft. Their bodies he made sturdy as granite, their minds sharp as diamond, and their spirits burned with an inner fire hot enough to forge the strongest metals.  

The Founding of Edrind

  The establishment of mighty Edrind in 3950 marked the pinnacle of cooperation between Ardenas and his chosen people. He sanctioned his Avatar, Under-King Broln Stoneguardian, as the first king of the dwarves, establishing a divine monarchy that would endure for millennia.  

"Let the hammers ring and the forges burn bright! By my divine will, Edrind shall stand eternal!" - Ardenas at the Consecration of the Deep Throne

  Under his guidance, the dwarven kingdoms flourished. Their underground cities became marvels of engineering and artistry, where grand halls stretched for leagues beneath the earth, supported by columns carved with histories and adorned with precious gems that caught the light of eternal flames.   Throughout the Ages of Peace, Ardenas walked among his people in various guises - sometimes as a master craftsman sharing forgotten techniques, other times as a wandering storyteller preserving ancient lore. His presence blessed every significant dwarven endeavor, from the forging of legendary weapons to the discovery of new mineral veins.   When the First Black Fire War erupted in 7600, Ardenas stood firm against the forces of chaos. He led the dwarven armies in defending their underground realms, his divine power turning entire tunnel systems into deadly traps for the invading forces of Malondria.  

The Time of Trials

  The Years following the First Black Fire War saw Ardenas focus on fortifying the dwarven realms against future threats. He guided his people in creating the Deep Wards - massive networks of runic defenses that would protect their kingdoms from supernatural threats.   During the Rise of Zastor and the spread of mortal magic, Ardenas maintained a careful neutrality. While he did not oppose the new power directly, he taught his dwarven children to rely on their innate crafting abilities rather than external sources of power.  

"Magic may shape the surface world, but in the deep places, only the ancient ways endure." - From the Teachings of Ardenas

  The Second Black Fire War brought Ardenas's ultimate test. As Te Nesavatar's forces breached the outer defenses of Edrind, the Mountain God made his final stand in the year 14100. In the Great Forge Chamber, where the first dwarven hammers had rung against divine anvils, Ardenas faced a host of corrupted fire elementals and dark gods.  

The Final Stand

  His death shook the foundations of the mountains, causing earthquakes that would be remembered for generations. Yet even in his final moments, Ardenas's love for his people shone through. With his dying breath, he transferred a portion of his divine essence into the very stones of Edrind, ensuring that dwarven works would forever carry a spark of his power.  

"The mountains may crumble and the deeps may flood, but the spirit of Ardenas lives on in every dwarven heart, in every struck hammer, in every carved stone." - Lament of the Deep Singers

  His successor, Grimdar Soulforge, rose from among the most dedicated priests of Ardenas, ascending to divinity through the combined will of the dwarven people and the lingering power of their fallen god. Though different in nature from Ardenas - more stern and martial - Grimdar would ensure that the dwarven ways endured through the darkening ages ahead.  

Legacy

  The influence of Ardenas continues to echo through the halls of every dwarven settlement. His teachings form the foundation of dwarven culture, his laws still govern their greatest kingdoms, and his name is invoked at the beginning of every major undertaking beneath the earth.  

"We are the children of Ardenas, born of stone and shaped by divine fire. Though our father has fallen, his wisdom endures in the bones of the earth." - The Oath of the Deep Kings

  Even now, thousands of years after his fall, dwarven craftsmen claim to feel his guiding hand when they work at their forges, and miners swear they hear his whispered warnings before cave-ins. In the deepest halls of Edrind, they say his presence lingers still, watching over the people he loved more than divinity.