Elendor
(Archive) Dain seeks more information
Thari and Morlim are called to King Dain's audience chamber for a more in-depth interview.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Private Audience Chamber
Game Date: Day 2 of July 3047
Description:
Private Audience Chamber(#12101RantU)
Small enough to be personal in its atmosphere, yet large enough to convey the grandness and power of the Heirs of Durin, this antechamber is set to accomodate limited gatherings of Khazad wishing to speak with the Uzbad concerning personal matters. Only one chair is placed in the room a high backed, gem-decorated wooden seat for the King. No desk is set before it, or any other barrier between the king and those seeking audience. The well polished stone walls and floors, cut from the living rock of the Mountain, reflect the light of hidden lamps to the key angles in the room, illuminating the faces of any who enter. Decorations, though somewhat few, are all of immeasureable wealth and craftsmanship. A few set gems or stones, tapestries, and arms and armour adorn the walls and stands around the chamber. Still and silent in the corners are some of the elite Baruk Narag soldiers: the personal guards to the King.
Contents:
Thari
Morlim
Obvious exits:
South leads to Greathall of Thror.
[Dain] It is late now, though the mountain is as cool and its corridors as dark as ever they are. Lights have been dimmed throughout the mountain, but in one chamber they remain lit as always and this is in the private meeting chamber of the King Under the Mountain. Here the brackets along the wall burn as they always do, but at the centre of the room there is set up a solid oak table spread with a large map of Rhovanion.
Currently gathered about the table are a number of dwarves, many with blue, grey or white beards, but several young as well, their beards still bushy and blazing with colour. Seated in his solitary chair is King Dain, slouched forward with a hand under his chin as if in thought. His eyes, however, flick periodically to the door, as if awaiting the arrival of someone else.
[Thari(#31038)]
Through the door comes a lady dressed in yellow with gold twined in her beard. Thari Balur's daughter bows deeply at once, sweeping her skirt a bit to make it a curtsy-hybrid motion. She looks up, still bowed, and sees one of the King's glances. "Your majesty?" She stays by the door, hands over her waist.
[Morlim(#20753)] Another Dwarf enters not too long after Thari, grumbling quietly to himself as he scrubs at his hands with some cloth or another that is quickly tucked away under the silver parade breastplate despite the scrubbing, there still seem to be some faint lines of ink in two or three different shades. Such is the entrance of the Chief Master Veteran Morlim.
A few steps in and to the side to clear the path of the door, the Zinbar bows deeply to Dain, his beard brushing the floor. "My king," Says the Chief Master Veteran as he straightens, his hands being clasped behind his back after his bow is finished.
[Dain] The muttered conversations of the king's advisors slow at the entrance of Thari and Morlim, but they only stop once Dain looks up as if pleased to see the visitors he has been waiting for. The king straightens and then stands, waving at the others to move away from the table. Several move into the background near the king's seat, but most exit through a small door to the rear of the room.
"Good, good, come in," Dain says by way of greeting, waving the two further into the room. "Morlim son of Morlain, welcome again. And Thari you are, I believe. Your father Balur I know quite well. Come in, the both of you. I shall endeavour not to keep you too long from your beds."
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari glances over at Morlim when he enters, then bows her head again once the King speaks her name. "It is no trouble at all, sire," she says respectfully, but her head is lifted proudly as she approaches Dain and his advisors. "I am at your service, of course."
[Morlim(#20753)] The Zinbar bows slightly once more before he moves closer to the table, briefly glancing at it before his gaze returns to the King. "A loss of some sleep is nothing I fear, my lord," Replies Morlim. "A member of the Zirak who expects a full night's sleep has not paid enough attention." A brief smile flickers beneath the Engineer's beard.
[Dain] "Yes, yes, of course," Dain waves to Thari at the offer of service. To Morlim the elder king actually gives a small smile. "True enough, Chief Morlim, true enough." His manner is noticeably less formal than during the public or large private assemblies most dwarves of the Lonely Mountain will be accustomed to seeing him at. He turns from Thari and Morlim to return to his chair. Once the king is seated again, he steeples his hands and clears his throat.
"Now, I wanted to ask a few questions without the audience of a rather larger group. As you two were good enough to speak up several days ago, I had hoped you might do so again now. Specifically, I am interested in the general feeling amidst your caravan with regards to the unfortunate happenstances in Mirkwood."
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari presses her lips shut at the question and shoots a glance brieftly to Morlim. She is silent a moment as she contemplates the King, and then the words burst sharply from her. "The elvenking imprisoned a hero of our people for the crime of travelling on a road that our own people built," she says, the ire trembling in her voice. "There was concern as Lord Bifur was being held hostage to his demands, and anger for what was done to him and to the dwarves! We fought beside the elvenking for weeks and he did not say that he had Bifur as a prisoner then, not once!"
[Morlim(#20753)] The Chief quietly ponders the questions for a few long moments, letting out a quiet sigh between his teeth before he nods at Thari's words. "None of the Zirak liked it," Comes the rumbling reply of the Zinbar, his voice kept studious neutral but his eyes flashing briefly. "In my opinion, it was quite frankly an insult twice over on the Elven King's part: keeping silent and imprisoning the Lord Bifur on no grounds. An insult not only to those that fought beside him but to us all."
Morlim falls silent for a few more moments before speaking once more, glancing at Thari. "At least the Elf was not mad enough to hold the Lord Bifur hostage pending his demands. I think he knew we would not be likely to bow to any such demands while he held one of our own in his dungeons, though what he honestly expected to get out of this whole situation is beyond me..."
[Dain] Dain's lips come together thoughtfully in a pensive frown at Thari's sudden outburst, but he seems unruffled by the healer's strong words against the Elfking. He nods also at Morlim's more measured response. For a few moments after, he is silent, un-steepling his fingers and tapping them instead on the arm of his chair.
"Very well," the king rumbles, nodding as he speaks. "It is expected that we dwarves should be outraged at such an offense, and entirely justified. My thoughts, however, are on any actions that might have been taken, or threatened, in retialiation. From either the dwarves of the Lonely Mountain or of the Blue Mountains." He pauses, as if briefly unsure whether he should continue, but then he sighs and says, "Specifically, any threats of war."
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari watches Morlim as he speaks, her eyes flashing, then hesitates after Dain's sigh. She looks up at the king again. "I do not know of any." Her voice drops lower. "My husband, Frarin son of Forli, spoke with the elvenking words of diplomacy and managed to get the king to release Lord Bifur. I cannot say what Bifur himself said during his imprisonment."
[Morlim(#20753)] The Chief Master Veteran seems to look distinctly embarassed at the mention of threats, glancing down at the table for a few moments before he looks back to Dain and speaks. "Though it was not expressed in the company of any Elves, I did wish to undermine the Elven King's halls and bring them down around him. It was quickly dismissed, however, and I did not put much serious thought into it beyond my initial response.
"I never heard any of the Zirak voice any ideas of retribution and I would have quickly made clear that we were not to act without your declaration first if I did."
[Dain] "Did he?" Dain says to Thari, briefly lifting his brows. "Your husband agreed to King Thranduil's demands?" He pauses, but continues after only a second. "I did not seek to accuse you, Chief Morlim, or any of your fellows. I wish only to be aware of the concerns of my people before this meeting. It is a king's duty to act in his people's best interests, but it is also his privilege to act according to their wishes whenever possible."
[Thari(#31038)]
"Oh, yes, I for--" Thari's eyes go quickly from Morlim to Dain. "Forgive me," she says with a bow. "My husband did nothing of the sort. He only kept tempers from getting out of hand." She then falls silent, lips pressed again.
[Morlim(#20753)] "A war against the Elves would be costly, for we would be fighting them, the forest and any orcs that decide to take advantage of the situation," Replies Morlim, quickly recovering his former composure. "We cannot waste our strength in war against the Elves it would leave us unable to support our allies and there are better uses for our weapons and skills. Given that the Lord Bifur was merely imprisoned and not harmed or maimed during his captivity, from what I have seen, diplomacy would be the better path to tread than war." Another brief pause comes from the Chief Master Veteran before a grin flickers beneath his beard. "Though, I am sure your advisors have said as much."
[Dain] "Ah yes," Dain rumbles. "Forgive me, I assumed only that the Elfking had released our Lord Bifur upon receipt of his demands. That was the implication at our previous meeting, you will recall. Please convey my gratitude to your husband then, Thari Balur's daughter. He is a representative of his clan, I believe, if he is the son of Forli that I have heard before. That is good."
Falling silent at Morlim's offered advice, the king looks first interested, then amused. He gives a nod when Morlim finishes. "Indeed, though it is I who have said as much to my advisors. I did not seek another opinion, but I am glad of your wisdom, son of Morlain. Yet still, if there are whispers of such bitterness towards the elves, I must know of it. Our enemies are numerous enough without adding the woodland elves to them."
Sighing, Dain rises slowly from his seat and holds his hands together before him. "Very well, I thank you, Thari and Morlim. I merely wished to be aware of the morale of your caravan, and of all that passed within in, during your time in the Mirkwood. If I have need of your services again, I shall send for you." The king inclines his head slightly, but his words imply a farewell that is not spoken.
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari's shoulders make a small twitch that spell out a faint, silent protest, but this is gone quickly and she bows quite deeply to the King. "Thank you, majesty," she says, then takes a step to go, glancing at Morlim again.
[Morlim(#20753)] "They are, of course, at your command my king," Replies the Zinbar, giving another low bow to Dain before he straightens and heads for the door, taking a quick glance at his hands and grumbling quietly to himself before he offers a farewell nod to Thari, stepping out of the chamber.
Private Audience Chamber(#12101RantU)
Small enough to be personal in its atmosphere, yet large enough to convey the grandness and power of the Heirs of Durin, this antechamber is set to accomodate limited gatherings of Khazad wishing to speak with the Uzbad concerning personal matters. Only one chair is placed in the room a high backed, gem-decorated wooden seat for the King. No desk is set before it, or any other barrier between the king and those seeking audience. The well polished stone walls and floors, cut from the living rock of the Mountain, reflect the light of hidden lamps to the key angles in the room, illuminating the faces of any who enter. Decorations, though somewhat few, are all of immeasureable wealth and craftsmanship. A few set gems or stones, tapestries, and arms and armour adorn the walls and stands around the chamber. Still and silent in the corners are some of the elite Baruk Narag soldiers: the personal guards to the King.
Contents:
Thari
Morlim
Obvious exits:
South leads to Greathall of Thror.
[Dain] It is late now, though the mountain is as cool and its corridors as dark as ever they are. Lights have been dimmed throughout the mountain, but in one chamber they remain lit as always and this is in the private meeting chamber of the King Under the Mountain. Here the brackets along the wall burn as they always do, but at the centre of the room there is set up a solid oak table spread with a large map of Rhovanion.
Currently gathered about the table are a number of dwarves, many with blue, grey or white beards, but several young as well, their beards still bushy and blazing with colour. Seated in his solitary chair is King Dain, slouched forward with a hand under his chin as if in thought. His eyes, however, flick periodically to the door, as if awaiting the arrival of someone else.
[Thari(#31038)]
Through the door comes a lady dressed in yellow with gold twined in her beard. Thari Balur's daughter bows deeply at once, sweeping her skirt a bit to make it a curtsy-hybrid motion. She looks up, still bowed, and sees one of the King's glances. "Your majesty?" She stays by the door, hands over her waist.
[Morlim(#20753)] Another Dwarf enters not too long after Thari, grumbling quietly to himself as he scrubs at his hands with some cloth or another that is quickly tucked away under the silver parade breastplate despite the scrubbing, there still seem to be some faint lines of ink in two or three different shades. Such is the entrance of the Chief Master Veteran Morlim.
A few steps in and to the side to clear the path of the door, the Zinbar bows deeply to Dain, his beard brushing the floor. "My king," Says the Chief Master Veteran as he straightens, his hands being clasped behind his back after his bow is finished.
[Dain] The muttered conversations of the king's advisors slow at the entrance of Thari and Morlim, but they only stop once Dain looks up as if pleased to see the visitors he has been waiting for. The king straightens and then stands, waving at the others to move away from the table. Several move into the background near the king's seat, but most exit through a small door to the rear of the room.
"Good, good, come in," Dain says by way of greeting, waving the two further into the room. "Morlim son of Morlain, welcome again. And Thari you are, I believe. Your father Balur I know quite well. Come in, the both of you. I shall endeavour not to keep you too long from your beds."
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari glances over at Morlim when he enters, then bows her head again once the King speaks her name. "It is no trouble at all, sire," she says respectfully, but her head is lifted proudly as she approaches Dain and his advisors. "I am at your service, of course."
[Morlim(#20753)] The Zinbar bows slightly once more before he moves closer to the table, briefly glancing at it before his gaze returns to the King. "A loss of some sleep is nothing I fear, my lord," Replies Morlim. "A member of the Zirak who expects a full night's sleep has not paid enough attention." A brief smile flickers beneath the Engineer's beard.
[Dain] "Yes, yes, of course," Dain waves to Thari at the offer of service. To Morlim the elder king actually gives a small smile. "True enough, Chief Morlim, true enough." His manner is noticeably less formal than during the public or large private assemblies most dwarves of the Lonely Mountain will be accustomed to seeing him at. He turns from Thari and Morlim to return to his chair. Once the king is seated again, he steeples his hands and clears his throat.
"Now, I wanted to ask a few questions without the audience of a rather larger group. As you two were good enough to speak up several days ago, I had hoped you might do so again now. Specifically, I am interested in the general feeling amidst your caravan with regards to the unfortunate happenstances in Mirkwood."
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari presses her lips shut at the question and shoots a glance brieftly to Morlim. She is silent a moment as she contemplates the King, and then the words burst sharply from her. "The elvenking imprisoned a hero of our people for the crime of travelling on a road that our own people built," she says, the ire trembling in her voice. "There was concern as Lord Bifur was being held hostage to his demands, and anger for what was done to him and to the dwarves! We fought beside the elvenking for weeks and he did not say that he had Bifur as a prisoner then, not once!"
[Morlim(#20753)] The Chief quietly ponders the questions for a few long moments, letting out a quiet sigh between his teeth before he nods at Thari's words. "None of the Zirak liked it," Comes the rumbling reply of the Zinbar, his voice kept studious neutral but his eyes flashing briefly. "In my opinion, it was quite frankly an insult twice over on the Elven King's part: keeping silent and imprisoning the Lord Bifur on no grounds. An insult not only to those that fought beside him but to us all."
Morlim falls silent for a few more moments before speaking once more, glancing at Thari. "At least the Elf was not mad enough to hold the Lord Bifur hostage pending his demands. I think he knew we would not be likely to bow to any such demands while he held one of our own in his dungeons, though what he honestly expected to get out of this whole situation is beyond me..."
[Dain] Dain's lips come together thoughtfully in a pensive frown at Thari's sudden outburst, but he seems unruffled by the healer's strong words against the Elfking. He nods also at Morlim's more measured response. For a few moments after, he is silent, un-steepling his fingers and tapping them instead on the arm of his chair.
"Very well," the king rumbles, nodding as he speaks. "It is expected that we dwarves should be outraged at such an offense, and entirely justified. My thoughts, however, are on any actions that might have been taken, or threatened, in retialiation. From either the dwarves of the Lonely Mountain or of the Blue Mountains." He pauses, as if briefly unsure whether he should continue, but then he sighs and says, "Specifically, any threats of war."
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari watches Morlim as he speaks, her eyes flashing, then hesitates after Dain's sigh. She looks up at the king again. "I do not know of any." Her voice drops lower. "My husband, Frarin son of Forli, spoke with the elvenking words of diplomacy and managed to get the king to release Lord Bifur. I cannot say what Bifur himself said during his imprisonment."
[Morlim(#20753)] The Chief Master Veteran seems to look distinctly embarassed at the mention of threats, glancing down at the table for a few moments before he looks back to Dain and speaks. "Though it was not expressed in the company of any Elves, I did wish to undermine the Elven King's halls and bring them down around him. It was quickly dismissed, however, and I did not put much serious thought into it beyond my initial response.
"I never heard any of the Zirak voice any ideas of retribution and I would have quickly made clear that we were not to act without your declaration first if I did."
[Dain] "Did he?" Dain says to Thari, briefly lifting his brows. "Your husband agreed to King Thranduil's demands?" He pauses, but continues after only a second. "I did not seek to accuse you, Chief Morlim, or any of your fellows. I wish only to be aware of the concerns of my people before this meeting. It is a king's duty to act in his people's best interests, but it is also his privilege to act according to their wishes whenever possible."
[Thari(#31038)]
"Oh, yes, I for--" Thari's eyes go quickly from Morlim to Dain. "Forgive me," she says with a bow. "My husband did nothing of the sort. He only kept tempers from getting out of hand." She then falls silent, lips pressed again.
[Morlim(#20753)] "A war against the Elves would be costly, for we would be fighting them, the forest and any orcs that decide to take advantage of the situation," Replies Morlim, quickly recovering his former composure. "We cannot waste our strength in war against the Elves it would leave us unable to support our allies and there are better uses for our weapons and skills. Given that the Lord Bifur was merely imprisoned and not harmed or maimed during his captivity, from what I have seen, diplomacy would be the better path to tread than war." Another brief pause comes from the Chief Master Veteran before a grin flickers beneath his beard. "Though, I am sure your advisors have said as much."
[Dain] "Ah yes," Dain rumbles. "Forgive me, I assumed only that the Elfking had released our Lord Bifur upon receipt of his demands. That was the implication at our previous meeting, you will recall. Please convey my gratitude to your husband then, Thari Balur's daughter. He is a representative of his clan, I believe, if he is the son of Forli that I have heard before. That is good."
Falling silent at Morlim's offered advice, the king looks first interested, then amused. He gives a nod when Morlim finishes. "Indeed, though it is I who have said as much to my advisors. I did not seek another opinion, but I am glad of your wisdom, son of Morlain. Yet still, if there are whispers of such bitterness towards the elves, I must know of it. Our enemies are numerous enough without adding the woodland elves to them."
Sighing, Dain rises slowly from his seat and holds his hands together before him. "Very well, I thank you, Thari and Morlim. I merely wished to be aware of the morale of your caravan, and of all that passed within in, during your time in the Mirkwood. If I have need of your services again, I shall send for you." The king inclines his head slightly, but his words imply a farewell that is not spoken.
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari's shoulders make a small twitch that spell out a faint, silent protest, but this is gone quickly and she bows quite deeply to the King. "Thank you, majesty," she says, then takes a step to go, glancing at Morlim again.
[Morlim(#20753)] "They are, of course, at your command my king," Replies the Zinbar, giving another low bow to Dain before he straightens and heads for the door, taking a quick glance at his hands and grumbling quietly to himself before he offers a farewell nod to Thari, stepping out of the chamber.
Players: Dain, Morlim, Thari
Located in: Erebor
