The Lost Pilgrims

The term "Lost Pilgrims" refers not to a single individual, but a group – perhaps even an order – of dwarves who, throughout history, have sought to understand the true nature of the Great Unmaking and the encroaching Null Fields. They are distinct from the Silent Monks of Durin's Peak, who accept the Unmaking as inevitable, and the Order of the Azure Hand, who seek to control it. Instead, the Lost Pilgrims seek a cure, a means to halt or even reverse the decay that threatens to consume the Iron-Grip Mountains.

Their methods are unorthodox, bordering on heretical. They delve into forbidden texts within the Vault of Whispers, seeking clues left by the Forgotten Smith and other heretical figures. The paths of these travelers, scribbled with the Runes of Return, can be found throughout the mountain. They venture into the Warped Gates, facing the horrors of the Twisted Expanse in search of forgotten knowledge. They are not afraid to deal with the Shadow-Goblins, or even parlay with the Cobalt Corsairs, if it means gaining a new perspective on the looming darkness.

The Pilgrims are not always successful. Many are lost forever, succumbing to the madness of the Null Fields, or falling prey to the Chitinous Swarm. Others return… changed, their minds fractured by the horrors they have witnessed. There is a tale of one particular pilgrim, Eamon, The Twisted, who saw the beginning of a different universe. Some even whisper that Valia, the Empty, was once one of these seekers, driven mad by the void she sought to understand. They seek to avoid The Gaze of the Deep.

Despite the risks, the Lost Pilgrims continue their quest, driven by a desperate hope that they can find a way to save their world. I found a reference in the Chapter of Lost Runes, mentioning a pilgrimage to the Aetherium Fount. Even Archivist Theron has been known to assist them, providing them with access to forbidden knowledge within the Dwarven Abbey. Perhaps a new path will be laid by the newly discovered Veins of Lumina, a path to save the mountains from ruin. Are they searching for the Sunstone of Aethelgard?