Races

Kaal`Kor (Kaalian Dwarves) - by T.A. Saunders ©1997 v2.2

Racial Articles The Sacred Craft: Runeforging

The secret of Runeforging is said to have been passed from Kaal's own lips to the ears of the first of his Dwarves. The runes are sacred symbols that evoke Kaal's power over elements, including his prime element of fire. In this fashion, the Kaal`Kor are able to craft magical weapons without corrupting themselves by learning magic. It also facilitates a means to enchant things that normally could not be enchanted, like Starmetal which is a highly magic-resistant metal.

Only Dwarves (and later Humans) who have become masters in their craft are taught the secrets of Runeforging as it would be considered a grave insult to Kaal (and incidentally any Dwarf) to place the divine runes of their patron god on a subpar weapon or a bit of armor. Contrary to what the name implies, Runeforging is not limited to metal-worked items; runes can be stitched into clothing, or leather items or chiseled into stone. Anything non-consumable that can be made with one's own two hands can technically be Runeforged.

The Codex of Runeforging is kept by the priesthood of Kaal and are considered a divine relic of knowledge and is guarded viciously against anybody seeking the book without consent of both the High Thane and the standing Archpriest of Kaal. Once that permission is given however, the Dwarf learning from the Codex undergoes a training that takes ten years to complete and once that training is completed, they are given the suffix to their name, Huan Paxa-Durgh or The Rune-Smith. Few are afforded this honor and indeed, few actually gain it.

The secret of Runeforging is not exclusive to the Kaal`Kor. Humans have also been taught this craft and in ancient times they had been instructed in this very same tradition that the Dwarves had followed. However, with the great exodus from Ishaela, the Humans that accompanied the Elves were gifted with a copy of the Codex of Runeforging, penned letter by letter by the High Thane himself, to ensure the knowledge they had imparted would not be lost over the passing of ages. This book resides in Brookshire in the care of the royal family DeBellicose, where any Human smith who wishes to learn Runeforging must go to learn it.

Runeforging can impart a various array of effects to an item so marked by its divine symbols. The most common of these is the Rune of Fire-Blessing, which makes any weapon marked with it a Greater Bane Weapon against the Undead and the Infernal, or any armor marked with this rune partial invulnerability to such creatures. Other runes include those that can reinforce the strength of fabric or leather to the strength of Kaalcite, make metal thrice its normal strength, allow stone to withstand temperatures that would normally crack and brittle it or mystically remove a portion of the weight of an item so it might be lifted by hands that might not otherwise be capable of doing so.

While there are literally millions of different runes, Runeforging an item is in effect giving it a blessing. Those creatures opposed to Kaal will not be able to handle such items as it will cause them great pain to do so. There is a tale that is whispered amongst the Kaal`Kor that the Overlord of the Nine Lords of Chaos, Miron presented a Codex of Black Runes to one of his demon smiths and items and weapons marked in this way, were they ever touched by mortal hands, would slowly corrupt them into servants of Chaos.