Rumors and Responsibilities

Players: Toran

Ordin

Barracks(#12037RantU)

A collection of small chambers, all linked to one central hall, with tunnels leading away between chambers. From the center of the ore-stained ceiling hang five banners: one for each clan, and in the center, that of the Heirs of Durin, who\'s devices are also engraved and traced with silver over the northern passage.In each of the smaller chambers are beds and personal areas for troops of the Erebor military. The central hall is used for meetings, assignment postings, drills, and training sessions. Lit by a number of large lamps, as well as many torches, and warmed by stoves and fires who\'s chimneys lead through the roof and out of the mountain, all of the chambers stay bright and  warm for Dain\'s troops.

Contents:Ordin

Report Board(#13144)

Dwarven Gear Rack(#21576OXe)

Obvious exits:

Long Tunnel leads to Ravenhill Watch Post.

Spiral Stair (Down) leads to Detention Area.

Large Wooden Door leads to Training Hall.

South leads to Hall of Nain.

East leads to Dain\'s Way.

North leads to Royal Guard Barracks.

Toran is sitting at his desk and seems to be painstakingly copying some sheets of paper. A long sigh is heard as the voices from the Barracks fill the hall. Toran grumbles to himself as his  quill often is dunked into his inkwell. The scribbling of the quill can be heard as his glasses on the bridge of his nose fall slightly. Engulfed in his work, Toran fails to notice people walking in and out of his Barracks. He checks the paper and holds it near the other one. Toran grumbles as he crumples it up and tosses the parchment into the trash can next to his desk. He removes his glasses and places them on the desk. Toran leans back in his chair as he puts his forefinger and thumb to where his glasses were resting.

Ordin enters the barracks from his chamber, straightening his buckle and dusting off his old uniform, which he has neglected to mend or wash for many moons. He withdraws a wolf fur pouch from his side and pulls from it his indication of rank and places it about his shoulder. He then throws his pouch back down to his side and striaghtens his beard, and defines the part in his mustache. Finally he stretches, all ready for his late morning patrol, an hour or better early, as always, to keep sure everyone is good and alert. He approaches the weapons rack and  straightens the axe heads and stands up the helms and so on, and then makes his way to the  troops, and lends them a critizicing eye and straightens them as well. And finally, he strides  for Toran, and coughs his presence.

Toran jumps a bit as he is startled but the cough so near to him. Opening his eyes, Toran smiles as he sees one of his good friends and warders. Toran straightens himself in the chair and places his hands on his desk. In a pleasant tone, Toran says, \"Ah, Morrow Master Ordin. \'Tis  what can I do for ye on this fine day?\"

Ordin lets out a slight smile to assure Toran he comes without any irrate demands, but soon drops his toothed smile to a slight smirk that can barely be seen through his beard, to let him know he does however have demands, indeed. \"Good\'aye, Master Toran,\" the old master defender begins. \"I was looking through me list o\' warders this morning, when I found that I\'m short a few more than I was last week, due to sickness, and due to a few long patrols through Mirkwood by Master Hedric... so far I\'m left with only four, very enexperienced, might I warrent, warders, and two experienced, but sluggest old fellows, who I\'m afraid are getting just about too old to be mere warders, and, far too old to fight,\" he hangs his head, and mutters, \"sad to think such a thing could happen to such a creature as a Khazad...\" he pauses his speech for a few moments to think.

Toran frowns a bit as he leans back in his chair again. He matches his fingers together as he rocks back and forth. After a few moments of this, Toran leans forward and pulls out a drawer in his desk and pulls out a stack of papers. Toran flips through them and sets several aside as he grabs his quill and starts writing. He looks up at Ordin as he says, \"I agree with you Master  Ordin. Your ranks have dwindled some. The foolish new quest of the Historian of the Mazarbul to find gold at the source of the river has caused some Khazad to abandon their responsibilities. I shall pull some Khazad from Master Korris and Master Garon for you. That should help you out.  Master Kurgan and myself have also started some recruiting and it looks promising.\"

Ordin looks up with a nod and puts his arms behind his back. Still, he is not appeased, \"very well, that will deal with the man shortage.\" His voice turns very cold and clear, so not a  single word can be misunderstood for even the slightest of a grunt, \"I\'ve seen a few reports of some sort of gathering of forces in Mirkwood, first on the western edge, an\' now to the eastern edge. I\'d like to think them just rumors, but I\'ve been getting quite a few reports about this gathering. They may be planning to block off our connections over the Misties, or even attack us. I\'d like to be safe about this and take a moderate force up and deal this with, I could use Master Garon\'s, and Master Korris\'s, help on this one, as well as a few wagons, and to be safe,a blacksmith for field repair...\" the old man stops himself in mid-sentence and smiles only  briefly, and softens his tone, \"forgive me, I seem to be getting ahead of me self, I suppose I could use a scouting party to investigate... if it\'s not too much...\"

Toran nods as he gets busy writing. After a few scratchings of the quill, Toran says, \"Done...You shall have the patrol by morning. Take as many warders as you feel nessessary Master Ordin. I shall put Master Korris\' platoon on ready alert status just to be on the safe side. I do not wish to have a battle brewing and we\'re not prepared. I\'ve neglected my reports due to another matter.\"    Toran seems disturbed by his last statement. He smiles again as he continues, \"Lord Loigin will be interested to hear of the progress as well. He not at all pleased at the quality of the performance of our troops in general. He came down rather hard on me the other night as well as some other issues were addressed. Rest assured, we will get the troops back to fighting form within the week, sooner if these rumors are true.\"

Ordin nods, \"aye, me troops as well have been falling behind from their normal conditioning. I will shorten their rest period and increase their daily exercises by half until I can bring them back up to peak performance. I think we need more reports like this to keep the warders on their toes, eh?\" he ends with a toothed smile. \"Well, I\'ll soon be leaving, will ye be needin\'  anything, or require any certain areas patroled?\"

Toran shakes his head as he pulls out a fresh piece of parchment and wets the quill with ink. \"I don\'t think any additional patrols will be needed at the moment. We are short on warders as is. But do please keep me informed on your progress with the rumor patrol. We need to have a drink at the Longbeard and catch up. Too many patrols and responsibilities are way too much to handle day in and day out.\"

Ordin bows his head with that same old toothed smile as he looks up again, \"aye, that we do, an\' yet I fear it shall be a long time before that shall happen again if these rumors prove true. We best not tell anyone, save Loigin, until we are sure one way or the other, eh? Well, I best be on me way, \'fore my Khazad grow restless, good\'aye ta ye and yer kin!\"

Toran stands and bows to his friend, \"Until next time my friend. Let\'s hope that the journey fails to produced the effects we fear. I\'d hate to lose anymore dwarven warriors to those black demons.\"