Editing Epic of Stonebirth (section)

== The Skaldsong ==
The epic is sung from the perspective of a dwarf (likely Ferdurg, though their name is never spoken) describing the creation of the original 15 dwarven Born Clans: Stoneborn, Marbleborn, Graniteborn, Basaltborn, Obsidianborn, Ironborn, Copperborn, Silverborn, Goldborn, Leadborn, Platinumborn, Tinborn, Mercuryborn, Zincborn, and Kohlborn. It begins with an intro verse explaining the concept of the song, common of skaldsongs of the time, with twelve subsequent verses of eight lines in an ABAB CDCD etc rhyming scheme following. Each verse details how a particular Born Clan was born. For example, the Silverborn clan was born out of droplets of silver which melted from the intense heat of the Blood Cauldron, a large magma reservoir far underneath the continent of Dorian.

''And now so deep the cold 'comes hot''

''We travel 'neath the Underdark''

''Where molten stone doth stir in pot''

''And silver veins in rock do mark''

''A heat so strong 'twould boil your eyes''

''Did melt this silver ore within''

''And from the drops upon did rise''

''The Silverborn clan and kin!''

- Verse Eight (translated from Old Dwarvish by Kandre Ispex, St.B.)

Following the twelve verses are six verses outlining the four Alloy Clans, Bronzeborn, Brassborn, Electrumborn, and Steelborn, as well as one concluding verse. Bronzeborn were created when the Copperborn clan's Orefather married the Oremother of the Tinborn clan; their children became Bronzeborn. Ferdurg alludes that this was a very shocking thing to do, as Tinborn was considered a "less noble" clan. Later, the Copperborn's first Copperborn son married one of the Zincborn clan, and their children became Brassborn.

Electrumborn emerged when members of the Goldborn and Silverborn clans married and/or produced children; Ferdurg states that the heat of the various magma chambers underneath Dorian created a "heat within their loins." Steelborn, meanwhile, formed from a rift between Ironborn clan members, some of whom resented leaving the warmth of the Big Magma (the neverending magma pit at the center of the world, which they called Mother Magma. They left the clan for many years, likely at least a century, and not much is known about them after they disappeared, other than that when they returned, they called themselves Steelborn.

Ferdurg makes no attempt to explain their change, but more contemporary scholars have come up with two theories: first, and widely accepted, is that the Ironborn who left grew hungry during their travels and simply ate coal from a coal deposit in desperation; over time this turned them into Steelborn. Second is a more contested theory that the Ironborn found a lost "Coalborn" clan and bred within. If true, the Coalborn clan would be only non-stone or metal dwarven clan.

The Copperborn, Tinborn, and Bronzeborn clans swiftly became very important figures in Valwyran history. Particularly, the Bronzeborn clan was the first of the dwarves to reach the surface and interact with the ancient Valwyran peoples, bringing with them metallurgy and helping to create the Bronze Age as we know it. Meanwhile, underground the Copperborn spread southward, meeting the Zincborn and Obsidianborn clans in ancient Arrow Island and Khaosar, respectively. The Brassborn Empire and the Obsidian Shards, their royal guard, emerged out of this meeting.

Other clans began to intermingle thereafter, yet none birthed new "born" clans, which Ferdurg explains is because the clans had all reached their limit of 101 members.