The Creation of the First Dwarf
From Fire and Stone
"While the gods gave the world to the First Dwarf, it is we who will inherit it. Remember our ancestors' deeds and live a life worthy of their praise. No matter what may come, remember the streams of misfortune will pass. So speaks the stone, from the highest peak to the deepest veins, which will never forget what we do. Go with honor."After the beginning, the gods had created the world and sought to put creatures on it to live. Mahadin, Father of Mountains, drew from the deepest veins in the earth and brought forth the strongest of ores. Riohna, Mother of the Forge, used her talents to craft the metal and then the bones of what was to be. Together they found materials to create other parts, eager to do their best to bring to life an idea. They brought clay and soil to be the flesh, soft and pliable yet hard under the right circumstances. For eyes and teeth they brought gems and crystals, to give their creation sharp vision and strong teeth. Finally, they sought the secret streams in the deep earth to act as blood. With a final blessing from each of the gods, was the first of the dwarves created. He wandered the newborn world, learning what he could of the surface under the boundless sky. He traveled into dark caverns to see what wonders waited to be found.
At long last, the First Dwarf found a place to call home and built a hall of carefully-cut stone and polished wood. Then he prayed to the gods for others to share the world with, only after he had built a place for them. The Father and Mother both discussed it, and in much the same way as they created the First Dwarf there were the first clan elders. Each time a pair of dwarves were made, they were given a gift to take with them to the First Hall, one which the gods had given to represent the talents which would bloom in the family lines. These elders bowed to their elder sibling, pledging to be in service, and together they began to make the First Hall a home for dwarvenkind to grow from.
Variations & Mutation
There are a few variations of the legend, but two major ones are told so often enough to blur the exact myth which is held to be the origin of dwarvenkind. Disputes about which one are real are not as commonplace as might be thought, though they can get very heated when they happen. Each clan tends to keep their own conclusions on which is the "official" myth, and teaches it to their members. Because of this, finding others who do not share the same myth as 'truth' is rare enough to not matter. When encountering the variations as told by other cultures, naturally the problem is them getting it wrong.
The first variation is about as common as the "First Child" myth, stating the first dwarves were all made during the same time period. The First Dwarf was made as a proof it could be done, but then the other clan elders were made and all were released into the world to make their home. The First Among Dwarves pulled them together to focus their talents on building the First Hall. An act of inspiring leadership which ensured he would forever be remembered as the First Dwarf. This version is told most often among clans who have long existed with close ties to other cultures, and subtly internalized the importance of working together as a whole.
The second variation is much less common, and claims the First Dwarves was created to seize control from other creatures which had been there before. To tame the world which had gone awry, the First Dwarf and clan elders were placed on the world to bring order to chaos. After the First Hall was raised, each clan was tasked to build their own halls as bastions against chaos. This variation also flows into another tale which describes the fall of the First Hall to a host of demons and devils who could not stand the presence of order in the world. The clans which subscribe to this origin tale are few, but they are also ones who are the most focus on an orderly society within their halls.
The first variation is about as common as the "First Child" myth, stating the first dwarves were all made during the same time period. The First Dwarf was made as a proof it could be done, but then the other clan elders were made and all were released into the world to make their home. The First Among Dwarves pulled them together to focus their talents on building the First Hall. An act of inspiring leadership which ensured he would forever be remembered as the First Dwarf. This version is told most often among clans who have long existed with close ties to other cultures, and subtly internalized the importance of working together as a whole.
The second variation is much less common, and claims the First Dwarves was created to seize control from other creatures which had been there before. To tame the world which had gone awry, the First Dwarf and clan elders were placed on the world to bring order to chaos. After the First Hall was raised, each clan was tasked to build their own halls as bastions against chaos. This variation also flows into another tale which describes the fall of the First Hall to a host of demons and devils who could not stand the presence of order in the world. The clans which subscribe to this origin tale are few, but they are also ones who are the most focus on an orderly society within their halls.
Related Species
This is nice reading.
I wish I had half of what I had in mind able to be clearly put into text. But I have two weeks to work still!