Gandalf Dispenses a Quest

Evening falls, shadows darkening the forest surrounding this small village sooner, it seems, than elsewhere. The gates haven\'t yet been shut, but it is near to time, and the guards are shifting restlessly. And in a small ring within the walls, a cluster of dwarves is camped around a few fires.

There are birds and rabbits on spits, the fat hissing as it drips into the flames and a kettle of stew steaming. Oskar stands near the kettle supervising a younger dwarf who is stirring it diligently.

[Gandalf(#31993)]

A bobbing form topped with a tall pointy hat comes striding out from within the Sheparding village. The form is stooped as if he bears many weights upon his aged shoulders. For indeed this man is old and wears grey robes while holding a tall and gnarled staff in one hand. His dark yet disturbingly keen gaze notes the presence of the dwarves and lets out a grunt of acknowledgment and turns toward them.

[Jori(#30183)] The dwarf Jori Pathfinder is a rare breed of dwarf, taking well to some of the more clandestine aspects of the world. Jori\'s feet find no dry leaves or small twigs as he walks back towards the camp and gate, his dark-colored cloak and cap sucking in the moonlight instead of casting it back out to dark eyes belonging to dark hearts. At the Gate, Jori\'s attempts at stealth are useless and potentially dangerous, so he stands tall, shouldering his bow and making himself well aware to any sentry or friend within the walls. Seeing the Man make his way towards the two dwarves at the camp, Jori moves to join them, his usually grim demeanor replaced with an easy grin and eager eyes for the rotisseries.

The gate is pushed shut just behind Jori, the two guards grunting and eyeing him with disfavor - as if he is the reason they are late shutting and barring the gates.

Oskar looks up as the other dwarf comes near. \"Even,\" he says, and his eyes move beyond the other dwarf to the old man - and sharpen. He watches him approach.

[Gandalf(#31993)]

\"Greetings my good dwarves.\" Gandalf calls out as he approaches, \"Have you room at your fire for a commrade of Thorin Oakenshield?\"

The other dwarves stir, glancing up and then not-quite staring, spoons halted mid-rise. Then a rustle of movement nudges and whispers and nods.

[Jori(#30183)] The darker dwarf with a poor sense of punctuality smiles at Gandalf, but his eyes remain suspicious. \"Showing a little hospitality never hurt anyone.\" replies Jori in an amicable tone, though in his head he finishes, \'when surrounded by allies with lots of axes.\'

He himself sits at the fire, tired and cold but happy, always more willing to fill his belly and rest his eyes after working a long day in the trees. \"An ally to Thorin is a high claim, friend. Might I know your name?\"

Jori knows his name. Or at least, heavily suspects. But a name from the owner\'s lips goes a lot farther than rumors or supposition.

\"There is always room for such an one,\" says another backing up Jori\'s words. \"What name might we give you, sir?\"

[Gandalf(#31993)]

With a glance down at Jori and the other dwarvies the old man replies, \"Ah names, such imprecise things. I have had many names over the years, but you might know me as a Gandalf the Grey. I traveled with and fought alongside Thorin long ago. I remember him fondly.\"

[Jori(#30183)] Jori\'s ladle falters as he watches Gandalf, eyes darting over to the other dwarves. \"...Gandalf? /The/ Gandalf the Grey? As in, turning trolls to stone, killing goblin armies by himself and shooting lightning when he sneezes Gandalf?\"

\"Tharkun!\" whispers someone, and jostles his neighbor for a better look.

Oskar thumps forward, his single eye glittering in the firelight. \"And welcome you are,\" he declares. \"Oskar, I am, son of Boskar, at your service.\" He bows. And more prosaically, \"Care for some stew?\"

Gandalf chuckles and comes into the camp as if he was fully invited. He waves his hand in the general direction of Jori and responds to his comment, \"I see the tales of accomplishments long forgotten have grown with the telling. I was merely available to help guide Thorin and his comrades back to the lonely mountain. But yes I am that Gandalf.\" He glances as Oskar, \"Greetings Oskar, yes some stew would agree admirably with my old tired stomach.\"

[Jori(#30183)] Jori gets his share of stew, before considering the rules of hospitality, and handing the bowl to Gandalf. \"Guests first.\" he says respectfully, before handing over a spoon and turning to serve himself.

Jori sets his bow against the seat and blows the steam from his stew, awaiting the words of the wizard, and his reason for wandering.

\"Get some...\" Oskar cuts off his order as Jori properly offers his own bowl to the wizard. \"To what do we owe the honor of this visit?\" he asks then, gruff, but polite.

[Gandalf(#31993)]

Using the offered spoon to try the stew the old man nods his head in approval, \"My compliments to the cook, and I thank you for the stew.\" He glances around the gathered dwarves before taking a second bite. \"I have some news that might be of interest to you. In my travels it has come to my attention a relic of Durin has turned up at Mount Gundabad.\"

Jori\'s hand falters. The greed in Jori\'s heart nearly lifts him to his feet, but he keeps his composure. \"Oh? A relic worth taking on the goblins of the Misty Mountain? What sort of relic, friend? And how did you come to learn this?\"

There is a sudden, alert stillness among the dwarves all of whom seem to have come to attention at the words of the wizard. \"Durin? A relic! Durin\'s Tomb!\" The whispers range from awed to amazed to down-right lustful.

\"Aye,\" Oskar adds. \"What of the orcs? We\'ve never had enough to overcome them yet, blasted grubbing swarms that they are.\"

[Damlur(#30238)]        \"And why should a relic of the Eldest be of concern to us?\" Rumbles a voice in the darkness. Stepping into the light of the fires is a black-armoured Dwarf, features concealed by his helm, but there is no mistaking the battle-axe upon his back. \"Not all Dwarves are of Durin\'s kin why should the Broadbeams and Firebeards involve themselves in the business of the Longbeards once more?\" The words of this Dwarf are like the call of a crow amidst song birds.

[Gandalf(#31993)]

\"It\'s worth only you can judge, for I am no dwarf of the line of Durin. I know little else other then the goblins within Gundbad covet it and guard it closely.\" Gandalf either ignores or does not hear the other question as he scoops up a spoonful of stew and eats it silently before responding to Oskar, \"Perhaps they are not so densely populating Gundabad at the moment. There have been rumors about a new Goblin king and that he is assailing the elves on the other side of the mountains. In fact it is there that I go to investigate what is afoot.\"

[Jori(#30183)] \"We should go with you, some of us.\" replies Jori, gesturing out into the dark. \"If the tales are exaggerations, you could use our help and escort. If they are not exaggerations, we could use yours.\" he says with a gruff chuckle.

Gandalf smiles, \"I think you for the offer master dwarf, but I have been traveling on these legs for many years and am better traveling alone. And you certainly do not need the protection of an old broken down man. You have stout hearts, strong legs, and mighty weapons. Any that confront you will be sorry indeed.\"

Heads turn towards Damlur, scowls appearing on grizzled faces. \"Ssht!\" comes one hiss.

With another bow, Oskar says gruffly, \"Our thanks. And the news that those vermin are thin on the ground...\" He looks around with a fierce grin. \"A great day, cousins!\" And to Damlur, \"Oh, who is to worry about lineage when there is battle in the offing!\"

[Jori(#30183)] \"BATTLE! GLORY! GOLD!\" shouts Jori finally, lifting to his feet with a proud beating of his chest. Jori may be an archer, and a sneak, but he is first and foremost a dwarf. And the Wizard has dropped tales of war and wealth in his ears, and they have found home in his heart. Jori wants a Durin relic. Jori wants a necklace of goblin fangs. Jori wants to be lauded as a hero of Ered-Luin.

Jori wants a war.

[Damlur(#30238)]        \"/I/ do,\" rumbles the sable-clad Dwarf. \"The kin of Durin have asked /much/ of the kindreds of the Blue Mountains. What have they given us in return?\" Gleaming eyes flick to and fro beneath the helm, though the question seems more rhetorical than anything. \"If you wish to help... them, that is your affair, cousins.\"

Gandalf quietly finishes his stew as the dwarves begin what promises to be a lively debate. \"Thank you for the stew and the hospitality. Few can offer either that can compare to what dwarves offer. I must be away to see about news across the mountains. Good luck in whatever you decide to do about this news, but whatever it is I urge caution and thought. Goblins are not to be underestimated. You are strong but they are many, take care friends.\" With that Gandalf stands and takes up his staff and quickly makes his way from the camp.

There may be one or two among the dwarves who stop to consider this. What /have/ they been given?

But most of them don\'t know, don\'t care and are firmly in Jori\'s camp - the lure of war and of gold far stronger than any petty concerns about which family kindreds are which.

Oskar watches the wizard leave, his deep-set single eye gleaming. \"Caution,\" he repeats and perhaps it is not coincidence that he looks at Jori as he says it. \"We are not all-powerful. We must consider well how best to gain our ends, and not lose all in the doing.\" To Damlur, he grunts and says dismissively, \"This is of Tharkun, and last I knew, he wasn\'t of Durin\'s Kin!\" He laughs, a deep rumble of sound, at his own joke.

[Creban(#22423)] Footsteps approach the campfire. It was another familiar face- Durn, the Late. He glances around, somewhat eagerly. But as it seems the one he sought was gone, his face fell under the mouse-brown facial fur \"... I missed him?\"

[Jori(#30183)] Jori\'s black mustache twitches unconsciously at Osk\'s apt statement. \"Yes. Caution.\" he says concedingly. \"Allies. We go to Erebor, we ally with our dwarf friends. We use the Elves to help quell the goblins. They will assist as they are being terrorized by the mountain goblins anyway. We will use their need to bolster our own. And after their threat is over, and the halls cleared, we take the treasure.\" Jori laughs, greed gleaming in his eyes. \"We may take back the mountain!\"

[Damlur(#30238)]        What may be a grunt of disgust comes from within the depths of that black steel helm worn by the sable-armoured Dwarf. \"Tharkun is a long-time friend of the Longbeards, is he not? Was it not he that convinced Thorin to reclaim Erebor? What advise has he given the Broadbeams and Firebeards that has improved our fortunes?\" Comes the reply to Oskar.

\"If you wish to assist, yet again, the usurpers of the place of our lords, that is your business. My axe is of more use on /this/ side of the Misties.\"

\"Then let us go and claim our own fortunes!\" Oskar shoots back at the other dwarf. \"He has told us of this opportunity, us and none other. Who is to say that we must give away the treasures we gain?\"

Durn glances from one of his fellows to another, to try and catch himself up to the situation as he states \"We mustn\'t make the mistake made and be too greedy. When there is treasure, there must be caution or blood will be spilled again.\" he finally speaks.

Jori shakes his head, politics often making him confused and bored. \"I will not leave my share of glory or gold to others.\" defiantly states the dwarf, hands firmly on his hips. \"Caution I agree with, as Durn states, but to stay behind simply because of family squabbles?\"

\"Aye,\" Oskar agrees, listening to Jori and Durn. \"And what of that, Master? If you fret over such things, take your chance and claim the wealth for your own!\"

[Creban(#22423)] \"Why let the Goblins have it? They probably ruined some of it. But if we get it back, then we can restore it to its\' RIGHTFUL owners, and its\' rightful state.\" adds Durn, taking a seat as he leans forwards, to see what was left in the cookpot.

[Damlur(#30238)]        \"You think Durin\'s folk will let you /keep/ anything of importance?\" There is a note of disbelief in the voice of the black-armoured Dwarf. \"Rather, you will merely reinforce their image of the junior kindreds being at their beck and call. The Longbeards lost it after we last helped them let /them/ reclaim it alone!\"

[Creban(#22423)] Durn snorts \"DWARVES rightfully own the treasure, moreso than Goblins.\"

Oskar rolls his good eye in disgust. Even his patch looks irritated in the firelight. And not bothering to say anything more, he stumps over to the stewpot, snatches the long spoon from the slack hands of his junior, and gives it a ferocious stirring.

Jori shakes his head, sitting back down. Politics really can really deflate one\'s bloodlust. Or inspire it, depending. \"Never in my days have I seen dwarves argue whether they should reclaim a fortress and get rich doing it.\" he mutters, mostly to himself. \"Then do not help, Master Dwarf.\" he says to Damlur, sighing. \"You keep your principles, and I will keep my gold. We shall meet at the market when this is all said and done, and see which spends better.\"

[Creban(#22423)] Durn sits back as the spoon is besnatched, sitting back without a word.

[Damlur(#30238)]        \"Bah. Do as you will!\" Says the black-armoured Dwarf. With a dismissive wave of the hand, he walks back into the night beyond the camp fires.

[Jori(#30183)] \"A fine warrior with a strong pride. He would be valuable in reclaiming the relic or the mountain.\" grumbles Jori. \"But he feels, it seems, that the old families are the rightful rulers. He never gives his name, and never removes his armor. It is suspicious, but not surprising of a rabble rouser.\"

[Creban(#22423)] Durn ohs and nods, glancing back to the stew pot \"IS there enough left for another meal? \" he asked Oskar simply, tapping his hand impatiently

\"Yes, of course,\" Oskar says grumpily. He looks over his shoulder at the arguing dwarves, gives the spoon back to his apprentice who smiles apologetically, and heads away from the fire.

[Creban(#22423)] Durn takes the opportunity to scoop out some stew for himself \"About time. Always the bottom of the pot muck.\" he notes of the leftovers, settling down to eat it anyways.

Jori laughs at the Dwarf, clapping him on the back. \"Change your name to Durn the Early, and perhaps you can get first choice next meal!\"

[Creban(#22423)] Snorting simply, DURN chooses not to speak just yet as he munches down on the food. Finally though he gets a breath of air instead of meal \"I had a lot of things to do. I like being organized.\" he points his spoon back.

Jori sits next to the other dwarf, blowing imaginary steam off his now-cold stew as he takes a gobble and nods. \"Oh? What are we planning for, then?\" he asks with only a hint of patronizing. Jori is a cautious dwarf by nature, but it is fun to have a go with his peers.

[Creban(#22423)] \"Well, if it comes down to a vote, we\'re going to Gundabad. Though I was really making sure my things were all ready for tomorrow.\" replies Durn with a smirk \"As well as making sure my axe is ready. I\'m a bit curious to see our black armored friend in battle.\"

[Jori(#30183)] Scout Pathfinder shrugs. \"Never seen it myself, but I\'ve seen the aftermath. He\'s brave when he wants to be, and can take quite a beating if he so chooses. Suits me if it lets me line up a clear shot.\" he says with a grin, \"...But he\'s voicing genuine concern. There are dwarves out there that want the Old Cities back.\"

\"We call them fools.\"

[Creban(#22423)] Durn nods again seriously as he continues to eat his stew, scraping the bottom of the bowl soon \"Well, it will not be EASY that is for sure. It will be worth the honor to see it through though.\"

[Jori(#30183)] \"And the gold. Do you think its a weapon? Or armor?\" asks the dwarf, daydreaming. \"Or just the standard droves of gold and jewels?\" he asks, a lazy smile stretching across his lips.

[Creban(#22423)] \"Gold makes poor weapons, although it does make them much nicer looking. \" Durn grins \"I do hope it is gold and JEwels myself. It is more easily divided than if it is only one or two big peices. Then who would get which of the few peices unless you wanted to melt down such treasures?\"