The Halls of Durin’s Folk (OOC)

[Fuin Elda]

Hahaha ALRIGHT @Drifa lets kill this orc! I mean it depends on how quickly you and I post as the crow vs our foes or they post vs us as to how long it will drag out. I am fine leaving the numbers as are or if we were to cut them in half each I suppose that would work (Something like taking off 40 points each would work? Or we can just leave them be.

(I've also answered what I think by striking first lol)

[Fuin Elda]

Found yet another egg

[Fuin Elda]

@Drifa and @Romeran So with Frost stepping out I know that it is less likely that the orc will make it between Drifa and I... Do we want to do another 40-60 days of working on this orc or do we want to call it/cut that timeline down?

[Romeran]

Yeah I haven’t been participating much partly due to being busy IRL, but also mostly not to create a stalemate again I’m happy with whatever @Drifa decides. It’s a long uphill battle for Bolrag at this rate anyway.

[Drífa]

Hi @Fuin Elda and @Romeran ! Yeah, we are back to where we were when the dwarf was alive. Although it irks me not to have a chance to stab the orc, I say we let the Bird take the win. Sound fair?

[Fuin Elda]

@Drifa indeed it does I was going to suggest at the dropping 40 points each (so bird at 100 orc at .. 24) that way it wouldn't take as long and you could get some pecks in if you wanted but if we just want to end this fight we certainly can.

[Drífa]

Cool! Congrats! I will get the game closed up shortly!

[Lail]

@Rillewen Kai is most welcome to steal from Lailyn, who is unwittingly leaving her belongings with a thief (and may justly deserve it)! feel free to get in touch if you want to discuss further!

[Pele Alarion]

@Drifa Happy Birthday!!!

[Drífa]

@Pele Alarion Thank you, love!!!

[The Good Hunter]

Quick question/survey for everyone (plus some context because this is me after all). I've recently had the idea to write a goblin-centric story during the dark days of Khazad-dûm, aka Moria and was initially going to start writing in the main KD Free RP thread but I had a thought that such a story might run contrary to what the initial thread was meant to be about.

My question(s) therefore is this: 1) should I make a Moria thread, 2) would I be the only that uses it, 3) and should I place it here (given geography and all) or in Mordor (given alignment)?

My own reflections on those questions: 1) I feel like I should because the OP of the Free RP thread is very dwarven centric and it feels wrong to suddenly jump in with a bunch of goblins; 2) I hope not, but I'm okay with that being the case; and 3) I'd like to place it here and bring more attention to this kingdom and spread the activity about a bit.

Thoughts? Comments? Condemnations?

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Frost: Considering Khazad-dum is the home for these goblins during a certain period of time, I feel it ought to be posted here. It could be posted into the Misty Mountains RP? It includes locations as Khazad-dum, Goblintown, Redhorn Gate, High Pass, Carrock and Eagle Eyrie. The other free threads are more particular theme-based and you're right about it, your tale might not be fitting there. The Goblins of Moria belongs to this area and shouldn't be banned to Mordor. They bring flavour. Hope this solves your questions a bit.

[The Good Hunter]

Aik: your suggestion is a very good one; I hadn't even thought to use the Misty Mountain Free RP but looking at it now, it really does seem like the place to have some Moria goblin adventures, I've already written some Goblintown bits there, why not continue

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Frost: Thanks! Indeed, I am glad I could be of help to you! It is a while ago you posted there. Good luck with continuing there or posting a new chapter of what you have written now.

[Borromino]

A lot of time, really a lot. 20 years about. But I am back. Thanks to the Admins and thanks to all for the new LOTR plaza revival forum. Borromino, the Anarchic Dwarf is more than happy to arrive again in such huge halls of past time. I think i will need a bit of time to read all again and find the right way to proceed, but so it is life. Just hoping to find old old old friends. We will see.
Greetings to all for the moment
:)

[Silky Gooseness]

It’s so good to see you back around and about @Borromino!

[Lail]

hi @Borromino!! welcome :D

[Drífa]

Greetings Borromino, father of the KD Theif Hunt! It has been many years since I have seen you in these halls (2003 or 2004?) I joined in 2003 and was called kimli. I was an Ankixog then with Blue Silk Sword, wrestlingdr, and many others. kimli was lost when the tent in the cave burnt down, and her sister Drifa arrived.

Silk dropped by in January 2021, but I have not seen him since.

Welcome home!

[Borromino]

Thanks a lot @Lail, appreciated.

Dear @Afird Splitax, what may i say ????.....To meet another one of the Old Ones is a great emotion and pleasure. And to see remembering of the KD THief Hunt........it is a great emotion. Thanks a lot for Your words. It will be of huge help for me to move again inside this lost halls with old and new friends. It is time to push high again the kingdom of Dwarves. It is our job and duty.

Thanks

[Borromino]

Bum bum bum.............welcome back to myself. I need. ahahhahahahahah.....And happy to see many faces and beards around

[Drífa]

I thought that this would be the best place to post this question. What would you all think if Khazad-dûm moved into the Fourth Age? As it is now, old KD before the Balrog has lost some of its allure. And not everyone wants to play in Moria, the empty black pit. Suppose the timeline was set in the Fourth Age sometime after the Fo. A 171 / S.R. 1592. We could have different RP opportunities where dwarves, men, elves, hobbits and other creatures can interact. Durin VII is born, grows to adulthood, and supposedly retakes Khazad-dûm for the Dwarves of Durin's Folk at this time. Durin VII & Last appears in the genealogy in Appendix A, TROTK. Also, there is this quote in HoME vol 12.

And the line of Dain prospered, and the wealth and renown
of the kingship was renewed, until there arose again for the
last time an heir of that House that bore the name of Durin,
and he returned to Moria; and there was light again in deep
places, and the ringing of hammers and the harping of harps,
until the world grew old and the Dwarves failed and the days
of Durin's race were ended.

and there was light again in deep
places, and the ringing of hammers and the harping of harps

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Drifa: Ah, that sounds like a nice idea. Into the Fourth Age as in the olden days. A vibrant KD. I seldom tried a Dwarf before.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

Dwarves are tasty but hairy, Aiks.

KD in the 4th Age would work well with synchronization of post offices, putting you into the same temporal orbit as Lore and Undertowers.

[The Good Hunter]

Let's go for it Drifa! That you would ever require it, but my aid is at the ready should you desire it.

[Drífa]

Thanks for the responses. I do not have much time, but bringing other areas into the Fourth Age would be interesting. You do not have to be a dwarf to play in KD. Old grievances have indeed fallen with Sauron (one hopes). However, some mischief/evil is good.

[Pele Alarion]

Should I plan Pele's visit to KD?

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Pele: Sure, if you want.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

And the line of Dain prospered, and the wealth and renown of the kingship was renewed, until there arose again for the last time an heir of that House that bore the name of Durin, and he returned to Moria; and there was light again in deep places, and the ringing of hammers and the harping of harps...

@Drifa, just a heads up on the wider map in the early 4th Age. Because we have been setting up the Elostirion Library in Undertowers for a few months now, we are ahead of the game (the game = control of Middle-earth in our present time = early 4th Age). We now have a replacement palantír in Elostirion, though we have hardly begun to use it, and are negotiating with the Rangers (who hang out in Bree) and also the Goblins of Mordor. Most importantly, we have recently occupied Orthanc and are looking to take control (directly or indirectly) of Helms Deep, thereby giving Elostirion control of the Gap of Rohan.

What do the Dwarves care about the troubles of others down in the South? Our plotting and scheming around the Gap of Rohan is of little concern to the race of Durin. However, the reason that we want to control the Gap of Rohan is that long distance trade and travel (and hence also Mordor or Isengard style domination of the world) requires passage through, over, under, or around the Mountains. The two basic roads are (a) the Gap of Rohan and (b) the Mines of Moria.

If we manage to keep Orthanc and take Helms Deep and Elostirion comes to control the Gap of Rohan then we will not wish for any competition and will not look favourably upon Dwarvish efforts to re-open Moria. The Dwarves may need to watch their backs.

[Drífa]

So Lore has become a controlling Ogre? Wasn't that Saruman's aim? To take over? And look what happened to him! He blew away, and all his layers shrivelled till there only remained bones. Good luck with that. The dwarves have taken on wicked dragons before.

@Pele Alarion , yes, you should. Remember, the halls of Khazad-dûm are high and lofty, not like a hobbit hole. Mind you, there are some smaller picturesque caves with lower ceilings for comfort and coziness, which dwarves like, in the residential areas of KD. However, with the rebuilding, we have attempted to accommodate all races of Middle-earth.

I am especially interested in the food trade. Dwarves were never interested in growing their food supply. But one can hope they became somewhat more self-sufficient in this new age.
Trade with Dunland may be a possibility. And the Beornings. Honey cakes are yummy! And yes, the Beorning were not overly fond of Dwarves, but the Fourth Age may bring new beginnings. Some elves remained in Rivendell and the Woodland Realm, another food supplier possibility. And the hobbits and men of Bree.

Fathers would beg us to take their sons as apprentices, and pay us handsomely, especially in food-supplies, which we never bothered to grow or find for ourselves. The Hobbit

Thus there grew up in those regions the economy, later characteristic of the dealings of Dwarves and Men (including Hobbits): Men became the chief providers of food, as herdsmen, shepherds, and landtillers, which the Dwarves exchanged for work as builders, roadmakers, miners, and the makers of things of craft, from useful tools to weapons and arms and many other things of great cost and skill. HoME 12

Should a plaza-wide vote be set up for a new Khazad-dûm banner?

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Drifa: Not necessarily, but if you want? Would you create a few banners then, we could choose from?

[Chrysophylax Dives]

Thus there grew up in those regions the economy, later characteristic of the dealings of Dwarves and Men (including Hobbits): Men became the chief providers of food, as herdsmen, shepherds, and landtillers, which the Dwarves exchanged for work as builders, roadmakers, miners, and the makers of things of craft, from useful tools to weapons and arms and many other things of great cost and skill. HoME 12

So you Dwarves want to recruit a load of non-Dwarves to come and make food for you while you play in the mines carving out seams of precious mithril and crafting it into magical thing? And in return for raising your food we get some sparkling trinkets?

OK. But where are we going to settle and farm? Holin? That was already desolate and now the Elves of Rivendell have left all the lands to the west of the Western Gate are troll country, at best. And on the eastern side? The Golden Wood? The Three Rings of Power have gone. Galadriel passed in the same ship as the two Bagginses. Already signs of Orthanc Orcs are seen by those Dwarves who step down to gaze upon the sky and crown of Durin in Mirrormere.

What you are saying, basically, is that you wish for grub, food, and will trade good stuff. We know you stuff is good, Dwarf. That is why I am here talking to you. What we are talking is terms and conditions.

So far as I can see, without an alliance with Orthanc any farmers who you persuade to settle in the lands either side of your Mountains are liable to be picked off, one by one and in groups. Not prisoners to be taken to one dark tower or another. No, I would imagine that the Goblins of Mordor and our Orthanc Orcs of the White Hand would have no such orders and so would eat the farmers there and then. Same with any Dwarves they caught.

My counsel to the Dwarves, speaking OOC (nuplaza Lore voice), is that the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm should not be so rash as to dismiss out of hand an alliance with Orthanc.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

But Drifa, speaking again from the point of view of Lore, that is, OOC, I don't see why you and Orthanc need be at dagger-point in your negotiations. Surely Orthanc and Khazad-dûm have much to offer each other? You would not imagine the storage space of what is after all a very large as well as ancient tower, nor what Saruman had gathered and collected and stored away carefully classified over the long years of the previous age of the world.

I would surmise that it is only a trifle that Orthanc fancies, no more than an earnest of your good will. Who knows, Drifa, but maybe an alliance with Orthanc would see three rings that the dwarf-sires possessed of old returned to you, and the realm of Moria yours for ever?

One cannot enter into alliance with Orthanc without speaking, friend.

[Pele Alarion]

@Drifa Why vote? The banner is quite awesome, and KD might do with a bit of refreshing. Just that changing the banner is not so easy, and Narv would have to do that. Unless I could try and hack into unavailable buttons and then blame the broken plaza on gremlins...

[Narv]

@Drifa if you like I can make this change to the KD header:

[shiny new 4th age KD pic that you posted]

and there was light again in deep
places, and the ringing of hammers and the harping of harps

Is that right? If so I'll make that change this week, but if there's any tweaks or other stuff you'd like feel free to let me know.

[Drífa]

Yes, the [shiny new 4th age KD pic that you I posted]! Thanks, @Narv. That would be perfect. You are a peach!!

I purchased the artwork on Deviant Art. If you right-click the image and Inspect, I have the artist's name in the link. Thanks!

Finally, after almost four years, I will be rid of the itch and the uncomfortable sensations on my skin that cause a desire to scratch every time I look at the Front Gate of Erebor in my beloved KD. I am fastidious that way.

Thanks everyone for your input.

It's the Fourth Age. The Weed is excellent! Two young dwarves on an adventure discovered the missing stairs that lead up to Durin's Tower. The rebuilding of the tower is high on the list of things to do.

[Narv]

Ok did it - lemme know what you think, I can tweak any of the sizes / colors / arrangement / whatever if you like

[Drífa]

Hahaha, it looks great. Thank you @Narv.

My only suggestion (fastidious, I warned you, ) is, can the banner be lowered so there is the same space between the top of the forum header and the writing below the banner? That would be cool!

The forum header is the grey box the banner is in, correct?

Thanks again, Narv!

[Narv]

Added a lil breathing room up there

[Drífa]

Ah, perfection! Thanks, Narv!

[Chrysophylax Dives]

Did all the margins around all images on the site just get a tweak? Or is it just me? I like the margin and it surely makes the images better. But is it new or is my mind playing tricks on me?

[Drífa]

I just woke up. What margins in particular?

[Chrysophylax Dives]

The white margin on either side of this image - which is actually a picture of our Huorn farm in the Westmarch but I have a sense might appeal to you Dwarves.

[Drífa]

The white border around your photo is the postbody box. Dragon, your images are pretty large, 4320x3240 pixels. Most pictures of that size have white space around them.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

O. I feel less intelligent than I did 34 seconds ago.
Should I be shrinking the pictures on my computer or on the image resize function on the plaza? (I once worked out how to use that, but have since forgotten).

[Drífa]

They are fine, I guess if you do not have too many pictures on one page. They slow the loading down when too many of them are that size.