Askenar

Askenar made the rune system, and he was never a god. He was a dwarf — a king-inventor charismatic, wise, and strong enough in his own forged armour that nobody needed to check the difference. Born to the royal line of Kaz'Nakaram, he became king of kings, the first sovereign of all Askenon and, for sixteen centuries, the last. During his reign the dwarves renamed the continent of Tulon and their language in his honour.

He forged extraordinary weapons, protected ships with runes and ordered his people to explore the planet for rare resources. He still preferred building to fighting. He kept his workshop in the open gallery because his dwarves asked him to, and they slept to the sound of the hammer. His lineage survives through descendants such as Merenin.

He was forging a sword the night he died. He had been uneasy for several days without knowing why, and thought he might give the blade to his champion if something came of it.

Manatar walked in unarmed and asked whether the people he had just settled to the south would be left alone. Askenar told him that his dwarves went where they liked, did what they liked and took what they liked, and so did he. Manatar said it was the wrong answer. Askenar swung first; Manatar caught the hammer in an open hand, told him he was not a fighter, and dropped him into the ocean still holding it. The dwarven fleet disappeared with him.

Askenon searched for two centuries and recovered only his armour. The dwarves eventually accepted his death, but did not learn how he had died or who killed him for seventeen centuries. His monastery remained, its kings continued to make the pilgrimage, and some still expected his return. The vision that finally showed the killing named Archon, and that is the war Valin and his fleet sailed to fight.