The Book of Sorrows

History is a foundation built not of comfortable memory, but of structural warning. It is the duty of the Chronicler to stabilize the records of tragedy, not to dwell in sentiment, but to ensure that the mistakes that led to the collapse are never repeated. Thus, I present the definitive catalog of human failure: The Book of Sorrows. This grim, necessary tome is not a narrative in the heroic tradition, but a relentless documentation of the emotional and societal dissolution that followed the great dwarven cataclysms.

This compilation, rigorously assembled by Archivist Theron from the fragmented personal accounts and testimonials he calls the Chapter of Woe, serves as a psychological map of our civilization's darkest moments. Theron’s work focuses on the century following the Great Sundering, charting the decay of spirit, the loss of faith, and the existential terror that settled upon the populace of the Iron-Grip Mountains as they confronted the looming threat of the Great Unmaking. Unlike standard histories, The Book of Sorrows concerns itself with the consequences of loss: the silence of the shattered deep, the panic over dwindling resources, and the decades of desperate searching for any remaining light.

Its significance lies in its chronology, which establishes a precise timetable for the emotional fallout, providing future strategists with crucial insight into how long the dwarven spirit can withstand prolonged distress before breaking. It documents not the collapse of stone, but the slow crumbling of the soul, extracting lessons from despair that might yet build resilience. The original fragments were often found hidden deep within the remnants of the Vault of Whispers, demonstrating the leadership's initial attempts to suppress this painful truth. By bringing these accounts into linear context, we solidify the knowledge of our pain, transforming sorrow into a shield against future folly.

Index of Spiritual Attrition: The Eras of Despair

This volume is meticulously divided into chronological epochs, each representing a distinct phase of post-cataclysmic suffering, starting immediately after the cataclysm of 1700 YE:

1. The Age of Lingering Echoes: 1700 – 1600 YE (The Immediate Aftermath and Pervasive Guilt)

2. The Famine of Aetherium: 1600 – 1500 YE (Resource Wars and the Scramble for Power)

3. The Era of the Silent Peaks: 1500 – 1400 YE (Isolation, Retreat, and the Decline of Craft)

4. The Descent of the Shadow: 1400 – 1300 YE (The Rise of the Undead and the Spread of Gloom)

5. The Years of the Empty Vault: 1300 – 1200 YE (The Loss of Knowledge and Cultural Amnesia)

6. The Twilight of Endurance: 1200 – 1100 YE (The Final Stand Against the Creeping Corruption)