Epic of Stonebirth

The Epic of Stonebirth is a dwarven skaldsong, or epic poem, likely the first to be sung, which outlines the birth of the first dwarven clans out of the stone of the world. Its origins are from deep in prehistory and thus difficult to ascertain, but it is usually attributed to Ferdurg Stoneyes, a legendary and mythic skald who lived during the Origin Time, or the few hundred years following the birth of the dwarves.

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.

Legitimacy & Authenticity

While the skaldsong itself is thousands of years old and largely untouched or changed, it is regarded as myth and legend, rather than historical fact. Knowledge of the creation of Avo is generally known via scholars and sages, though the specifics of how the titans made each and every living thing aren't, something some dwarven scholars use as evidence that the Epic of Stonebirth could be true, or at least an allegory to how the dwarves were made by the titans. It is agreed upon that the limit of "born" clan members to 101 is myth, used by Ferdurg to explain why dwarves aren't all still born out of metal and stone to this day.

All of the original dwarven clans existed, and some dwarves still hold their clan names to this day. Brassborn and Bronzeborn, in particular, are still widely known in Valwyr and Phynsia, while the secretive Platinumborn clan still resides underneath the Teeth in Kalempha, mining and minting platinum coin for the Vysavith Syndicate. Stoneborn is also a common dwarven name seen all throughout Avo, though many clanless dwarves adopt the name, so it's hard to tell who is truly a descendant or not. Most of the other clans have died out, merging with other clans and creating new clan names and titles.

The Clans & Their Origins

This list outlines each "born" clan and how they came to be. Explanation of their clan "personalities" comes from ancient runescript that is essentially astrology for dwarves.

Stoneborn

Stoneborn dwarves emerged out of stalactites which fell and crashed to the ground in various parts of Avo during an ancient earthquake. Despite only having 101 members, as Ferdurg says, he also suggests that the Stoneborn were the "most abundant" clan.

Marbleborn

Marbleborn dwarves were spit out of a high pressure fissure of limestone in eastern Iro. They are calm and collected.

Graniteborn

Graniteborn dwarves slowly congealed out of cooling magma underneath the Lionsrange in southeast Dorian (one of many magma chambers deep below the continent). Graniteborn are stoic and lacking emotion.

Basaltborn

Basaltborn dwarves also congealed out of magma, though they came from the northern Teeth of Kalempha, around where Gamaver Volcano is now. They are hardworking and master masons.

Obsidianborn

Obsidianborn dwarves were chipped off of the bottom of the Obsidian Sea in Phynsia, as the rock beneath it shifted. They are sharp-witted (get it?) and prone to violent outbursts.

Ironborn

Ironborn dwarves are said to have stepped out of the deepest part of the earth, where it is so hot that all objects melt into the Big Magma. They are enigmatic and quiet.

Copperborn

Copperborn dwarves emerged fully formed when air from the surface rushed into a newly formed cave beneath modern day Letora, brushing past exposed copper ore and turning it green. They are jovial and outgoing.

Silverborn

Silverborn dwarves were created out of the droplets of silver that melted near the intense heat of the Blood Cauldron in Dorian. They are smart and keen-eyed.

Goldborn

Goldborn dwarves emerged fully formed from ore deep underneath southern Dorian (Morentar is known as the so-called "gold capital" of Avo). They are charismatic and open.

Leadborn

Leadborn dwarves emerged fully-formed out of lead ore veins in relatively shallow caverns beneath Honra (modern day Honn Island), but above what constitutes the Underdark. They are easily swayed but paranoid.

Platinumborn

Platinumborn dwarves were pulled from the veins underneath the south-central Teeth by the ancient dragon Kosorga, the mother of Vysavith. They are noble but docile and obedient (likely due to Kosorga's influence).

Tinborn

Tinborn dwarves were shaped out of tin ore underneath northeastern Valwyr. Ferdurg does not mention who, or what shaped them. They are obsequious and meek, known as the "lowliest" of clans.

Mercuryborn

Mercurborn dwarves emerged from the bottom of the Cirrel Hot Springs, located underneath the Cinder and surrounding area in Deneshae. They are slick and deadly, and are directly mentioned in the Epic as assassins.

Zincborn

Zincborn dwarves, like Stoneborn, arose in several places in Avo, typically around other clans. Their origins beyond that are unknown. Most Zincborn migrated to the Underdark beneath Arrow Island. They are helpful and kind.

Kohlborn

Kohlborn dwarves arose fully-formed within the mountains of southern Isoasar, particularly Mt. Sinasuba, making them arguably the only "born" dwarves to emerge above the surface of Avo. They are fashionable and erudite and most Kohlborn never left the mountain.

Bronzeborn

Bronzeborn dwarves were created out of the marriage of the Copperborn Orefather, Zerrund, and the Tinborn Oremother, Akalzha. They are the most gregarious and outgoing of the Born Clans, and the first to emerge to the surface of Avo.

Brassborn

Brassborn dwarves were created by marriage between the Copperborn Orefather's eldest son (also Copperborn), Zlund, and the Zincborn Oremother's eldest daughter, Urkiah. They married underneath Arrow Island. Brassborn are warlike and dominant.

Electrumborn

Electrumborn dwarves are the product of various interminglings between the Goldborn and Silverborn clans of Dorian. (Ferdurg alludes that the heat of the magma chambers produced a "heat within their loins.") Most Electrumborn left Dorian, traveling eastward into Isoasar. They are greedy and haughty.

Steelborn

Steelborn dwarves were Ironborn who left the clan and descended deep into the earth, returning as Steelborn. Ferdurg is unsure how they changed, but a commonly accepted theory is that the Ironborn were starving as they traveled and consumed coal from a deposit in order to survive. They are very cold and, you guessed it, steely.

Born Clan Genealogy

Most dwarves can trace their lineage back to one of the Born Clans. (All dwarves should be able to, technically, but not all have sufficient genealogical record.) To become an Orefather or Oremother, the dwarf must be able to prove lineage to a Born Clan.