The current dwarven inhabitants of the ruins of Kheled-zerak are the
descendants of those dwarves who survived the downfall of the city
The city was founded many thousands of years ago
by the younger brother of the king of Glitterhold, a legendary dwarven city
itself which was long ago sacked by dragons. The dwarves of Kheled-zerak followed
the god, Roknar the Tempter. Power and wealth Roknar promised them if they
delved ever deeper and for a time it seemed he kept his promises. Much arcane
lore he taught the clerics and wizards who followed him and Kheled-zerak became
the centre of a dwarven empire in the Underdark. The citizens of Kheled-zerak
travelled to other planes and their craftsmen were renowned throughout the
known world. Yet Roknar led them down a slippery slope. In the last years
slavery and treachery were manifest in the city and the followers of Moradin
were persecuted and many left the city. At the last the dwarves came into
conflict with the great demon general Makor the Accursed. Fearing no one the
dwarves made ready to withstand his assault but were betrayed by Roknar. Their
spells and incantations failed and the city was overrun by demons. It is said
that when Makor broke into the throne room Bain VII reached for the Demonsbane,
an axe given to his house by Moradin himself, but such was the fall from grace
of the Kheled-zerak dwarves that the axe itself rejected him flying from his
hand and embedding itself in one of the pillars of the hall where it remains to
this day.
Farin was the last cleric of Moradin left in the city on that day, kept
there by the ties of his clan and his fear for the souls of the dwarves. As the
city fell he called on Moradin to save his small band of followers promising to
renounce forever the pursuit of gold and power that was threatening the souls
of even those loyal to him. And Moradin heard. He sent them an avatar to lead
them away through the earth to a cavern inaccessible by normal means of travel.
Thus Bolori was founded. Since then the descendants of Farin have renounced
violence and the pursuit of wealth and have tended the Underdark enhancing its
beauty.
After a time the demons moved on and the dwarves collapsed the entrance to
Kheld-zerak so that none could enter it apart from themselves. They removed
the unclean taint from the city and although they did not rebuild it they
enhanced the cavern in which it stood to make it beautiful again. Recently
after thousands of years Makor himself has returned, for some unknown reason.
Makor's followers have tunnelled into Kheled-zerak and retaken it. Makor sits
on the throne of Bain and every day more demons flock to join him. Yet it was
foretold that this would happen by Kilbin the Seer many eras ago. And the
prophecy said he would be slain by Demonsbane wielded by a dwarven hero.
Now for many months such a dwarf had explored the blocked ways into
Kheled-zerak and knowing the courage needed to survive in these depths
the dwarves of the city tried to find him fearing that the return of Makor
would drive him away.
At last they found him, hidden in a lost outpost of the city,
and they begged him for help. His name was Torfur and as he did not flinch from
the
task he was guided
to the throne room. Alas, brave though he was, the power of Makor is formidable.
Torfur's body was recovered and his tomb is in Bolori, a true son of
Moradin.