The Lost Miners of Karadum

The Lost Miners of Karadum
(A Dwarven Road Ballad)
Verse 1
We swung our picks at Karadum
Where the deep roads split the stone,
Where the lanterns burned like borrowed suns
And the mountain felt like home.
We marked each turn with hammer sign,
We laughed at every seam —
No dwarf believes the road runs out
Until it ends the dream.
Refrain
And the men, knowing not where they were,
Took solace all the same —
For though the road forgot their names,
Their brothers still remained.
And shoulder close in the dark below,
No miner stands alone —
The lost of Karadum were lost…
But not without their own.
Verse 2
The map was wrong, the air grew thin,
The echo would not guide,
The compass spun like a tavern coin
And would not choose a side.
The last bread passed from hand to hand,
The last of ale was shared —
No prayer for rescue filled the hall,
Just truth that all men dared.
(Refrain)
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Verse 3
We spoke of hearths and winter fires,
Of boots beside the door,
Of children bold and iron-loud
Who’d swing the picks once more.
Regret sat down beside us there
But did not take command —
For grief walks slower in the dark
When held by many hands.
(Refrain)
Verse 4
No panic took the final hour,
No coward’s bargain made —
We sang the Shift-End Hammer Hymn
Like wages fully paid.
One torch remained, then only coals,
Then ember, breath, and tone —
The mountain kept their final verse
But never kept them lone.
Final Refrain — softer, slower
And the men, knowing not where they were,
Had solace in that truth —
Better lost in faithful dark
Than saved by leaving you.
So raise a cup to Karadum
Where the last true lantern shone —
The lost miners were never found…
But they were not alone.