Saint Arcus Stoneborn

Patron Saint of Smiths Arcus Stoneborn

Saint's Story

The story of Arcus Stoneborn, the legendary Dwarven folk hero, the founder of the Kingdom of Titanshatter, and Baltus’ most favored Saint.
The period known as “The First Wave,” which marked the end of the Old World, was one in which Chaos Gales and Wild Magic Storms spread inland from the sea, wreaking havoc on the civilized races that resided there. A Titan, named Therus, presided over the land, ruling over all and inviting avatars of mayhem to dominate the domain of civilization. The only landborn, sentient races that hadn’t been subjected to the rule of Therus and the whims chaos, were those that lived behind barriers of rock and earth, the Dwarves. This was a dark time for all of the races of Jaherr, but the Dwarves managed to maintain some semblance of society and cohesion beneath the ground, and away from Therus’ all seeing gaze. That’s not to say that they were organized, or even friendly to one another, the dwarves were divided into different factions, all competing for the same resources and consumed by petty squabbles. One such clan were known as The Deep Seekers, and they would soon be blessed with the birth of a Dwarf who would restore order to the land, and establish the longest standing Kingdom the world would ever know.
Arcus Stoneborn was a Dwarf born into The Deep Seeker Clan. He was born to a pair of skilled smiths who held high positions within the Clan. As Arcus grew, he knew that he wanted to become a blacksmith worthy of the Stoneborn name. Sadly, for many years, it seemed as though this would not come to pass.
During Arcus’ young adulthood, his clan was drained of its wealth, power, and influence, thanks to corruption and the conspiring of the other clans. This caused his family and Clan to become disgraced, and relegated to deep mining in territory that was no longer owned by The Deep Seekers. Arcus continued to make do in this way for 30 years, in that time, Dwarvenkind was forced deeper and deeper underground by mayhem, as the Dwarves’ numbers dwindled. This also meant that the remains of The Deep Seeker Clan was forced to work more and more dangerous mines and caves.
One fateful day, Arcus found himself mining alongside many of his kin when a massive cave in occurred. When the dust settled, Arcus remained the catastrophe’s only survivor. As the story goes, a stray rock from the ceiling struck Arcus on the head, rendering him dazed and unable to act. This meant that Arcus was the only Dwarf who didn’t make it to the entrance to the mineshaft, when the poorly made supports gave out, crushing and killing all the dwarves who didn’t remain in the mine itself.
Once Arcus got his wits about him again and realized the terrible situation he was in, he began to work his way out of the mine. His efforts were in vain however, as there was simply too much rock between him and the rest of the complex. As Arcus sat down, back against the rocks, defeated, he did find some comfort in knowing that he would not have to find and dig through the bodies of his kin to escape. No, Arcus Stoneborn would die here, alone, deep below the ground, the one born of stone, would die of stone. As Arcus closed his eyes, for what he knew would be the last time, a small light in the dark room caught his eye.
It was a forge, the one used for making tools and performing maintenance down in the mines. As he saw this, a thought crossed Arcus’ mind. It had been years since he’d made a weapon or shield or piece of armor, if he was going to die, he may as well die with the tools of his beloved trade in his hands and the glow of the forge warming him. So he set about his work, collecting nails and picks and other mining equipment and began to reforge them. He wasn’t sure what he would make at first, but soon an idea had coalesced in his head, a warhammer. It would be made of terrible metal on a cold forge, but that was all he had. He worked away, suddenly filled with a new determination, he felt himself grow stronger and filled with energy.
As he worked, Arcus felt a presence beside him, assisting him in his craft. The God Baltus, long thought to have abandoned the mortal races, quietly joined Arcus and assisted him in his smithing. For 10 days and nights, Arcus worked with Baltus, God of Craft, never tiring, sustained by passion and the will of a God. After the 10th day, the forge, after burning bright with radiance and fire, finally dimmed, it was complete, the most powerful weapon to ever have graced mortal hands. Baltus grabbed the handle of the beautiful weapon, and held it out to Arcus. Baltus said, “Go now mortal, unite my people, defeat the forces of mayhem and restore order to the land.”
Arcus, filled with righteous intent, turned toward the stone that barred his path, raised his creation in two hands, and with a single mighty swing shattered the rocks of the cave in. All were amazed to see Arcus, who they had long thought died alongside his kinsmen, returned to the world of the living. He set about uniting the clans of Dwarvenkind on the authority granted to him by the mighty Baltus, returned to Jaherr. Those who would not join, were deemed heretics, and slain by Arcus’s mighty hammer.
It is at this moment in the story, with the remaining free mortals of Jaherr united, that accounts begin to differ. Dwarven accounts claim that Arcus’ cadre of heroes was composed almost entirely of dwarves, with the notable exception of St. Ralidar, while most other accounts claim that his party was comprised of a mix of different mortal races.
Regardless of the exact party composition, Arcus led the last of the great heroes of their time above ground, in a last ditch effort to defeat the forces of chaos. The heroes pressed onward up the leg of the Titan, assailed by the forces of Mayhem all along the way. Most, would not survive the ordeal, but their mission ultimately succeeded. Arcus Stoneborn, most favored subject of Baltus, struck a killing blow against the Titan Therus, shattering his spine, and restoring order to the land. The mortal races all rose and followed the example set by the dwarves, overthrowing the rule of chaos.
When the dust settled, and the corpse of the Therus lay across the land, a monument to the strength of dwarvenkind, a new kingdom was born under the leadership of King Arcus Stoneborn, the Kingdom of Titanshatter, the oldest continuous civilization to ever grace the land of Jaherr.
Upon his death, many hundreds of years later, Arcus Stoneborn rose to stand alongside Baltus in the afterlife, as St. Arcus Stoneborn, Father of Dwarvenkind. His hammer, “Therdat, the Titan’s Bane,” appears a number of other times throughout history, typically as a gift to followers of Baltus during times of crisis.

Divine Goals & Aspirations

Arcus Stoneborn is a Saint of Baltus, The New God of Creation. He is the Patron Saint of Smiths and Baltus' most favored subject. He seeks to protect and pass on metalworking techniques and expertise. Arcus also stands as a steadfast defender of Jeharr, his legendary weapon, Therdat, the Titan's Bane, often appears in capable mortal hands in times of crisis.

Divine Classification

Saint

Current Location

Arksend

Species

Stone Dwarf

Ethnicity

Stoneborn

Patron God
Baltus, The New God of Creation