The Gilded Paths of Dumatharun
As the clans of the Forgefathers spread across the Dragon Spine Mountains, establishing their own halls and strongholds, a need for unity and safe passage grew. Though the mountains of Steerbright offered wealth in stone and metal, the deep places between them were treacherous—filled with shadow, winding caverns, and creatures that feared neither steel nor flame.
In 4500 BGW, the Forgefathers decreed the creation of the Gilded Paths, a vast network of underground highways that would link the distant forgeholds to Dumatharun, ensuring the clans could travel in safety to gather for the Festival of Forge Song.
The Veins of the Mountain
The Gilded Paths were not mere tunnels; they were monuments to dwarven craft and perseverance. Carved deep beneath the peaks of Kharak-Dur, these highways followed the natural veins of Drakthorite that ran like rivers through the stone. As dwarves quarried the precious ore, they widened the tunnels, reinforcing the walls with iron and carved stone, ensuring the paths would endure for millennia.
The veins of Drakthorite were left exposed in places, glowing faintly in the dark, marking the way for travelers. The stone surrounding the veins bore protective carvings—dwarven runes that, while not magical, were believed to confuse and repel the creatures that stalked the deep roads.
The Gathering Roads
The Gilded Paths allowed the far-flung clans of Halgrak, Nuraber, Banmar, Thalrik, Thonir, and Ghonir to return to Dumatharun for the Festival of Forge Song without risking open mountain passes. These highways became known as the "Gathering Roads", for they ensured that no matter how far a clan wandered, they could return to stand beside their kin under the stone of Dumatharun.
At key junctions, massive Stoneway Halls were constructed, serving as rest points and gathering spots along the route. These halls held forges, food stores, and barracks, allowing caravans to resupply or wait out dangers that lurked beyond the light of the Gilded Paths.
Defenders of the Paths
To guard the highways, each Forgefather’s clan contributed warriors known as the Pathwardens. Clad in armor that shimmered faintly with flecks of Drakthorite, these warriors patrolled the Gilded Paths, ensuring the roads remained open and free of threats. It was considered a great honor to serve as a Pathwarden, for it meant standing vigil over the very arteries of dwarven civilization.
A Symbol of Unity
The completion of the Gilded Paths solidified the bond between the Forgefathers, linking their distant halls in a way that no river or road on the surface could. Though the clans ruled their own domains, the mountain beneath them was shared, and no dwarf could forget that the heart of their people beat strongest beneath Dumatharun.
To this day, the Gilded Paths remain a testament to dwarven perseverance, binding the Forgefathers’ legacy together in stone, steel, and the unyielding will of Dumathar’s children.
