The Story of the Secret of Metal

An oral history regarding the Dwarves
as told among the Northruner Clans
translated and promulgated by E.T. Daniels

Hear now the story of Our Clans. It is the story of our fathers. It is the tribute of our children. Listen now to the story of Our Clans.

When Our Clans first came to the Heim they knew only the stone axe, for they had not the secret of metal. They carried the stone axe and swung it when demanded by their Jarls.

In that day some of the Strangers hid in the hills between the Five Hearths and were called the Modsogner. The Modsogner was as old as the Heim and had walked upon it when both The Wanderer and the Glorious Lady were yet young. But the Modsogner had grown tired and forgot the making of children and they also were taken by the fell pox.

The Modsogner also had many enemies in the South, and in the West. They had enemies among the Strangers that lived in those places. The enemies had made slaves of the Modsogner sons. So the Modsogner promised to teach Our Clans the secret of metal if we would but lift the spear and the axe against their enemies.

So Our Clans lifted the spear and the axe against the Svartalf in the West and drove them past the Fast River. Then they lifted the spear and axe against the Krymer and drove them down to the Place Between the Seas. Then they lifted the spear against the Wurms and drove them to the mountain peaks. So the Modsogner were very glad and taught Our Clans the secret of metal.

When Our Clans learned the secret of metal and fashioned their plows of it, the Glorious Lady returned and smiled on them and made them exceedingly rich. They had many crops and grains for fattening furred beasts. Our Clans also fashioned their spear heads and their axe blades of metal. So many of the Strangers feared Our Clans and gave them the Heim around Five Hearths to grow and to fill.

But some of the Strangers did not fear. These made war on Our Clans and each in their season. But with the secret of metal, Our Clans could not be vanquished for the Wanderer had returned and was with them. He made their hearts happy to war and their arms strong enough to withstand all who opposed them.

Heard you now, the story of Our Clans.