The Next Age of Dwarven Innovation
Following the success of Master Toma and other renowned inventors, Dwarven society entered a new era of technological advancement. Their relentless pursuit of knowledge led to breakthroughs in teleportation, time travel, soul-enhancing technologies, and the study of ancient Giant machinery.
Many of these discoveries would shape the future of the continent, while others would bring unexpected dangers.
Teleportation Golems and the First Time Machine
Inspired by the study of Giant technology, Master Toma and his older brother, Topal, began researching the use of Star Stones.
Master Toma successfully developed one of the first teleportation golems. These machines relied on Star Stones as an energy source, allowing long-distance transportation through advanced magical technology.
Topal achieved an even more extraordinary breakthrough. He created a device known as Wilma III, capable of traveling through time. According to Dwarven records, Topal used the machine to journey between the future and the present.
The invention of time travel also revealed the origin of the Sacred Stones sought by adventurers during the Third Class Transfer quests. These stones were actually fragments of a Resonance Amulet scattered through time after a malfunction in Topal's machine. The fragments eventually became sacred relics worshipped by the Ketra Orcs and Varka Silenos.
Experiments with Artificial Life
Dwarven inventors were not alone in their attempts to create living constructs.
The mage Hardin conducted magical experiments that resulted in a lava-filled stone golem. Although originally obedient, the construct eventually lost its sanity after being abandoned by its creator.
Meanwhile, Dwarven engineers continued improving their own golems. One particularly advanced model became uncontrollable after a defective component was installed during its construction. The enraged machine destroyed part of the laboratory, killed several inventors, and escaped into the wilderness.
The Ivory Tower mages also experimented with elemental energy and accidentally created another unstable golem, adding to the growing list of magical disasters tied to artificial life.
The Invention of Soulshots
One of the most influential Dwarven achievements came from the inventor Master Soran.
His creation, the Soulshot, revolutionized warfare. By channeling spiritual energy directly into weapons, Soulshots dramatically increased combat effectiveness and became essential equipment for warriors across the continent.
Years later, the inventor Maru attempted to improve this technology by creating an Energy Converter capable of transforming minerals into powerful crystals. Although her project never achieved the same fame as Soulshots, it helped popularize energy-infused crystals among Humans and Orcs.
Rediscovering the Secrets of the Giants
Dwarven scholars remained fascinated by the lost civilization of the Giants.
Master Nikola and the researcher Lorain explored Cruma Tower in search of ancient knowledge. Their investigations uncovered valuable information regarding the Giants' experiments and eventually led to the discovery of one of Maphr's legendary tablets.
The tablet contained part of the teachings of Absolute Geometry, the sacred knowledge that had once allowed the Dwarves to achieve incredible technological progress.
Many believed other fragments still existed somewhere in the world, hidden among ancient ruins and forgotten treasures.
The Bronze Key Guild
As the search for rare artifacts intensified, criminal organizations also began pursuing ancient relics.
One of the most dangerous groups was the Benandante Cartel, which sought to dominate Dwarven society through economic influence and control of powerful artifacts.
In response, the Council of Elders established the Bronze Key Guild. Led by the famous collector Kiki the Cat, the guild specialized in acquiring rare relics and protecting valuable discoveries.
After years of rivalry, the Bronze Key Guild succeeded in locating the Stones of Knowledge before the cartel, dealing a major blow to its ambitions.
The Tragedy of Master Chaos
Among all Dwarven inventors, few figures are as controversial as Master Chaos.
A gifted engineer and student of the famous Master Toma, Chaos possessed exceptional talent in the field of golem design. Despite his abilities, he struggled to gain recognition and often found himself overshadowed by more celebrated inventors.
When Master Toma began developing a revolutionary giant mining golem known as Big, Chaos was entrusted with helping design the project.
The machine had the potential to transform Star Stone mining and become one of the greatest inventions in Dwarven history.
However, before the project could be completed, Chaos stole the blueprints and disappeared.
His actions shocked the Dwarven world. Master Toma accepted responsibility for the failure and resigned from his position, while Chaos was expelled from the guild.
The Secret Laboratory of the Giants
After his disappearance, Chaos traveled to an abandoned Giant research facility hidden deep within ancient ruins.
Inside, he discovered countless inactive golems and advanced technologies far beyond anything known in the modern age.
Using the laboratory's systems, he reactivated the administrator golem Wendy and gradually gained control of the entire complex.
Chaos then began creating a new generation of machines using parts recovered from the facility. His greatest ambition was to build an automated army capable of protecting the laboratory and continuing his research.
War in the Laboratory
Eventually, Dwarven explorers discovered signs of activity within the ruins.
The Council of Elders organized an expedition composed of adventurers from the Bronze Key Guild and miners from the Gray Pillar Guild.
When they entered the laboratory, they were met by awakened guardian golems and powerful war machines under Chaos's control.
The expedition was forced to retreat.
To sustain his growing mechanical army, Chaos activated one of the laboratory's largest energy projects. Unfortunately, the system became overloaded, triggering a catastrophic explosion that threatened the stability of the entire facility.
Preventing a Catastrophe
Later expeditions managed to reactivate Atlanta, the damaged administrator golem of the laboratory.
From her records, researchers learned that the facility was studying several dangerous sources of divine energy, including fragments connected to Shilen, Einhasad, and Pa'agrio.
One of these energies appeared capable of causing madness in living beings, potentially explaining the increasingly unstable behavior of Master Chaos.
Working together, explorers prevented additional reactor failures and avoided a disaster that could have endangered the entire continent.
Although they located Chaos's hidden workshop, the inventor himself managed to escape before he could be captured.
The Return of Trasken
While the events surrounding Chaos were unfolding, another threat emerged beneath the northern mountains.
For many years, magical barriers maintained by the Altars of Lucien had successfully contained Trasken, the monstrous Earth Wyrm sealed beneath the Mithril Mine.
Over time, grave robbers searching for treasure weakened the seals protecting the prison.
As the magical barriers deteriorated, evil spirits began spreading throughout the mine, corrupting those who entered.
The danger of Trasken's eventual return once again threatened the entire continent.
The Discovery of Tauti's Axe
Another legendary tale began with the archaeologist Dituns.
During his research in the Forge of the Gods, he discovered records describing a powerful artifact hidden deep within the volcanic caverns.
The artifact was Tauti's Axe, a legendary weapon forged by the demon craftsman Bremnon, who was also responsible for creating the infamous Demon Sword Zariche.
Accompanied by hired adventurers, Dituns penetrated the deepest chambers of the Forge of the Gods and bypassed powerful guardians protecting the relic.
The moment he claimed the weapon, his body was transformed by its demonic power.
The Rise of Tauti
Under the influence of the axe, Dituns became the new vessel of Tauti.
He established a massive industrial fortress known as the Furnace of Hellfire and gathered armies to serve his growing empire.
The weakest workers were forced to labor in terrible conditions, producing weapons and armor for Tauti's followers.
Believing that no one could challenge his power, Tauti underestimated the determination of those he oppressed.
Eventually, resistance movements emerged, setting the stage for the conflict that players would later experience during the Tauti update.
The Legacy of Dwarven Ingenuity
Throughout their history, the Dwarves never sought to conquer the world through military domination.
Instead, they transformed the continent through innovation, engineering, trade, and knowledge.
Their inventions made teleportation possible, revolutionized warfare with Soulshots, uncovered the secrets of the Giants, and built vast commercial networks connecting every major civilization.
By accumulating wealth, knowledge, and influence, the Dwarves achieved exactly what Maphr envisioned from the beginning. While other races fought for thrones and empires, the Dwarves quietly became one of the most influential forces in the world of Lineage II.
