Classification: Peoples
Origin Era: Fourth Shaping
Associated Entity: Khorrundar — God of Hammer, Flame, and Stone
Current Status: Established Mountain Realms and Subterranean Kingdoms
Last Confirmed Location: Deep Stone Domains of Serathorne
Archive Source: Amariin Divine Records
Preservation Tier: Confirmed
Archive Record
The Khorrundar, commonly known among surface peoples as dwarves, are the Stoneborn race of Serathorne. Unlike most mortal peoples who claim descent through breath or bloodline, the Khorrundar maintain that their existence began through divine impact. Their oldest traditions state that their creator, the god Khorrundar, struck the first of their kind into existence with a hammer blow against the living stone.
Because of this origin, the Khorrundar do not consider themselves followers of their patron deity in the traditional sense. Instead, they believe themselves to be the living continuation of his will — fragments of divine craftsmanship given form and purpose beneath the mountains.
Physically, the Khorrundar are compact and powerfully built, typically standing between four and five feet in height yet possessing extraordinary strength for their stature. Their skin carries the coloration of deep stone, ranging from slate-grey to volcanic black. One of their most recognizable features is their dual-toned vision: the left eye appears as solid obsidian with both sclera and iris blackened like polished stone, while the right eye bears a gemstone-colored iris unique to each individual. These hues often mirror mineral tones such as sapphire, ruby, emerald, or topaz.
This obsidian eye grants the Khorrundar an instinctive awareness of stone itself. Experienced miners and architects claim it allows them to sense structural weaknesses, hidden mineral veins, and the subtle pressure shifts within mountain strata.
Khorrundar lifespans commonly extend to seven centuries, allowing entire clans to dedicate generations to perfecting a single craft. Their bodies are adapted to the deep earth, possessing dense skeletal structures, exceptional lung capacity suited to subterranean air, and natural tolerance to extreme heat and underground pressure.
While they show little affinity for traditional arcane magic, Khorrundar civilization developed powerful traditions of runesmithing and forge-binding. In their culture, magic is not treated as mysticism but as a disciplined craft—etched into metal, stone, and relics through precision and ritual.
Khorrundar society revolves around clan loyalty, craftsmanship, and the preservation of legacy. Where other peoples measure greatness through conquest or rule, the Khorrundar believe true honor lies in what endures: a fortress that withstands centuries, a weapon that carries a lineage, or a hall whose stone remembers its builders.
Amariin Annotation
Amariin scholars note that Khorrundar worship differs significantly from most faith traditions across Serathorne. Their temples are often indistinguishable from great forges, and prayer is rarely spoken aloud. Instead, devotion is expressed through labor and craft.
Many records describe dwarven shrines where the only sound is the rhythmic strike of hammer against anvil, a practice believed to symbolize the divine act that first created their race.
Some archivists further speculate that the Khorrundar’s obsidian eye may represent more than physiology. Several ancient tablets suggest it may be a lingering fragment of divine perception granted by their creator.
Related Records
- Khorrundar — Divine Entity Record
- Durnlak — Divine Entity Record
- Haldrunn-Korr — Nation Record
- Duraz-Mirhal — Nation Record
- Khaldur-Vanul — Nation Record
- Relic War of the Third Shaping — Historical Record