Taark Shanat the Crusader and his eight sons, lead a great exodus of dwarves out of Bhaerynden to a new kingdom in the west. These emigrates eventually become known as shield dwarves and establish the great empire of Shanatar beneath the lands of Amn, Tethyr, Calimport, and the Lake of Steam. »
-10800 DR to -8137 DR:
Shield dwarves mark the founding of Alatorin as the beginning of the First Great Age of Shanatar. »
The Cloaker Wars
The followers of Shanat come under attack by the mysterious inhabitants of Rringlor Noroth, who rise form the depths of a great chasm in a battle for control of the caverns of Alatorin. The Stout Folk eventually prevail after Taark slays four blue dragons who claimed the Rift of Dhalnadar as their demesne. The Wyrmskull Throne is created using the skulls of the four blue dragons (some say by the dwarven god Dumathoin). The former lair of the dragons is renamed to Brightaxe hall and the kingdom of Alatorin is founded. »
The eight sons of Taark Shanat set off to found their own kingdoms in the caverns to the north (beneath modern-day Tethyr and Amn). Because each son claims a different child of Moradin as a patron deity, each subkingdom becomes closely linked with the church of a particular dwarven god or goddess. »