Ralin was born at Zagragathol in the Ered Luin around S.A. 3380, The second son of King Rulin, he was fated from birth to be the Second of the Seven Lords of the Stone Hammer. According to Dwarven legend, the Hammer, also known as the Great Stone Hammer, was a gift from Mahal (Aule) to Dwalin, the King of the Second Tribe of the Khazad (and later the Lord of Belegost). It was one of Seven Hammers of the Seven Tribes. (Another of these enchanted symbols was the North Hammer.)