From the Holy Book of Moradin

(a scholarly note at the start of the scroll mentions several conflicts between this dwarven creation myth, and the teachings of the human priests in the libraries at Zamorra)

-1-

In the beginning was Ao, known to Dwarves also as the Lonely God. Who can understand the effects of the solitude and silence that must have afflicted Ao, alone since time began? In need of company, Ao conceived of new creatures to share the multiverse with him. And thus the gods were made, as Ao divided His essence among them. Gods in great number, and of many aspects.

But none were content to remain children of Ao, they demanded realms of their own, and for this they would need something as far beneath them as they were beneath their Creator. They met and schemed, and laid plans to create a world and people it. But since no two could agree on how the world would be, or who would people it, they acheived nothing.

Only the dwarven gods stood apart from their squabbles and plotting, being too wise for that kind of foolishness. They watched, and waited, and kept their own counsels, in unity of purpose then as they are now. Thus did our gods give us the first great lesson - unity is strength, and woe to the Dwarf that forgets it.

The other gods learned nothing from our gods, and argued for so long that Ao himself could take their babbling no longer. Seeing that the Dwarven gods stood aside from the conflict, Ao came to Moradin, in his holy forge.

"Why, Moradin, do you not join your brothers in their bickering, why do you instead toil in solitary labour?" He said.

"I am not alone, my Father," Moradin replied, "My family are all around me. And I do not bicker with the rest of the gods, for I have the solution to their problem, and I will show them when they have run out of breath."

And Ao looked into Moradin's forge, and Ao saw what Moradin and made, and Ao smiled.

-2-

With their power spread wide and far, the many gods could not create a world, so they followed their Father's example and sacrificed of their essence to give life to something new. They created nine titans, creatures more powerful than them, who would do the true work of creating a world. The heavens were split asunder, letting the sky flow in. The sea was dug out, and the rocks piled up in rough mountains. Great hammers beat at the ground, shaping rudimentary rivers and lakes. An abundance of life was spilled forth from the Titan who came to be known as the Earth Mother, covering the land with green.

The gods were pleased with what they beheld, as they watched the labours of the Titans, and they made peoples of their own to live on the new land. But when Moradin saw the Titans at work, He wept.

"My brethren," Moradin said "What have you done?"

"What is wrong?" asked one of the other gods.

"These Titans will bring you no end of grief," Moradin replied, "But even gods must face the results of their actions."

And thus Moradin taught us the second great lesson - none can avoid the consequence of their actions. Alas, its import was lost on the gods of the orcs and the goblins, who cackled and laughed at Moradin. With great anger he stood before them, and as cowardly as the creatures they had made, they became silent.

"Behold," Moradin said, "Here is what I would have brought to you, when you were ready."

-3-

Moradin opened a sack and sprinkled the land with Dwarves. The rough shapes of the Titans' work was smoothed out as the Dwarven mastercrafters went to work, bringing order to the haphazard work of the Titans.

Where the seas met the land, the Dwarves carved cliffs and promontories, and with the dust and rubble they laid out gleaming beaches.

Where the footprints of the Titans had fallen, the Dwarves made gentle valleys to shelter the new made peoples from the howling winds.

Where water puddled inland, the Dwarves dug rivers and streams, to let it flow to the sea in an orderly fashion, and to bring water to farms and plants.

Lastly, the Dwarves turned to the broken piles of rock thrown up when the seas were dug. These were chiselled into proper mountains, while the gathered gods looked on. The elven gods, like their minions, prefered the greener areas of the world, but even they were forced to acknowledge the beauty of the mountains the Dwarves made.

Moradin looked at the work of the Dwarves and was pleased, and blessed us.

"These mountains are yours now," Moradin said, "For you have worked well this day, and it is right that you should have a reward."

And thus we were given the third great lesson - all labour will be rewarded. And to this day, we Dwarves continue to labour, building, forging, and crafting, as is our purpose.

-4-

In jealousy of our work, the Titans grew angry, and in pride they refused to give up the world they had laboured to create. Though our gods had taken no part in the creation of the Titans, they joined in the eventual war against them.

Through aeons as we measure time, the gods and the Titans struggled, and great was the damage done to the world. The Titans and the gods were of such a close match
that no side could gain a final victory.

We Dwarves watched from our mountains as the great war went on, safe from the chaos that was unleashed, and the other peoples of the world took refuge in such safe places as they could find. It was during this time that the Giants first warred upon us, wanting our mountains for their own hiding place. That enmity persists to this very day.

The gods' victory was eventually acheived through treachery - unwilling to see the destruction of her children go on any more, the Earth Mother turned against the other Titans. With her aid, the gods were finally able to defeat and imprison the Titans. Deep beneath the earth they were chained, and still the Earth Mother holds them.

But we must continue to be wary, even as we Dwarves continue our work. The Titans are not dead, only gone, and if the Earth Mother ever fails, they may be released once more.