[Bêthberry]

Welcome, Anarya Silverbranch, Aylwen Dreamsong, and Ithaeliel to Erebor, dwarven kingdom under the Lonely Mountain. Do you know that in the Unfinished Tales Tolkien practically refers to The Hobbit as The Quest for Erebor? Anyhow, here's the backstory and first post for our kingdom. Bethberry
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A Brief History of Erebor and its King

Recent events have moved rapidly in the life of Thorin III Stonehelm and he is still learning on the job so to speak. Stonehelm is King of the dwarves known as Durin's Folk. He rules Erebor, the dwarf kingdom delved underneath the Lonely Mountain. His illustrious and successful father, Dain II, fell in the Battle of Dale, so Stonehelm assumed the kingship in the middle of the battle, leading his people during the seven-day seige of Erebor by Sauron's forces and then routing them finally on 27 March 3019 III once news of the Downfall of Barad-dur arrived. (These forces would be those of Mislavini, Great Captain of Ozren, described in the Barrow Wight's backstory for Rhun.) The valour of the dwarves and the men of Dale and Stonehelm's leadership thereby protected the northern flank of those battling Sauron and so ensured that Rivendell and Arwen did not fall to Sauron. Bilbo himself has written that Gandalf praised this contribution: Had it not been for the valour of Durin's Folk, "[t]here might be no Queen in Gondor." Stonehelm expects Elessar to recognize this fact with strong support for Erebor's position.

Thorin Stonehelm is a young king with no experience of leadership in peace. His father had fabulous success rebuilding the wealth and fame of Erebor after the Battle of the Five Armies but age had stifled development before the War of the Rings. Not only his father and elder brother but also his father's most trusted advisors fell in the Battle of Dale, as did two of his closest confidants. He has been preoccupied with matters of internal administration, repairing damage to the delving under Lonely Mountain, providing aid to dwarven families displaced by the War, and establishing his own Council. He has worked towards finding peacetime councillors to replace military advisors. Particularly close and helpful has been the advice and support of Dain's widow, his own mother, Ruthen the Cruel Fated. Unmarried, he is aware of his obligation to provide an heir for the kingdom and, indeed, of the great need of the dwarven people to increase their numbers. It can be said he is more a scholar and statesman than strategist or militarist, for it was his elder brother who had been groomed for the throne. He is smitten by Ingeld the Able, a woman instrumental in establishing a system of dwarven education, but in keeping with the right of dwarven women, so far she has maintained a polite distance from him.

Stonehelm is a direct descendent of Durin, the eldest of the Seven Fathers of the dwarf race created by Aule. He is also a collateral relation of Thorin II Oakenshield who fell at the Battle of the Five Armies, fighting with Gandalf and Bilbo to recover the dwarven gold from Smaug. The close ties between Gandalf and the dwarves date from this time and it would surprise no one if Stonehelm named his first son Tharkun, after the dwarven name for Gandalf. Stonehelm is acutely aware of the dwarven heritage and traditions and believes his lineage to be at the very least the equal of Elessar's.

Stonehelm views Elessar's invitation as an opportune moment in dwarven history. He will guard jealously the right of Durin's Folk to claim any artifacts found at Khazad-dum and wants to see the dwarven right to recolonise the ancient city confirmed. (His descendent, Durin the VII and Last, will succeed at this recolonization.) He is also anxious to see that dwarven superiority in smithcraft, stoneworking and delving is 'retooled' towards commodities more marketable for the Fourth Age peace. He particularly wants to advance dwarves as road and bridge builders and as security contingents for trading missions as well as manufacturers of furniture (diversification!). He will need the support of Thranduil for this, for the forests to supply wood. He is a little uneasy that the king of the Dale might be preoccupied with trade with states to the south. Stonehelm is suspicious about what the supremacy of men will mean to dwarves.

First Post

Thorin III Stonehelm watched as his mother led the family in the daily ritual of mourning. She cupped her hands to her heart, her lips, and her forehead and bowed three times. He followed suit and then lowered his eyes to the ground as she picked up each stone which had been positioned around the ornate silver oil lamp, a stone for every member of the family lost in the War. Each stone bore a rune, the work of his own chiselling, which represented the name of one of those dwarves now gathered by Mahal to the Halls of Mandos. Thorin wondered if it was these stones which caused elves to think that at death dwarves returned to stone, but he wondered how it could have been that an elf had seen the ritual.

His mother's voice called him out of his thoughts. Thorin king-son, you have often been lost in thought since we received Telcontar's invitation.

There is much to contemplate, honoured Mother-queen. Instead of celebrating victory over Sauron, I become ill at ease over the rise of men. It was a sombre omen which accompanied the arrival of the messenger. Five black crows! Stonehelm shook his head and lifted his right arm to wave over his left shoulder, pushing the omen away. And then this news that Gimli son of Gloin chooses to camp out in trees. It is an ill sign when a dwarf chooses not to return to his people. Ruthen nodded, put out the lamp, closed the silver door to the family shrine, and offered to listen to her son's concerns. The two sat together, falling into a discussion of the summons to Minas Anor.

Stonehelm wanted a delegation of several councillors. The only remaining dwarf from his father's council, Heremod the Loremaster, could be relied upon to gain Elessar's ear concerning Khazad-dum, while Hengest Thaneson would know how to advance contracts for dwarven manufactures, perhaps also Stonehelm's plan for the Royal Corps of Dwarven Engineers to be deployed by Elessar where needed. Beode Shielding or Freode Strongaxe would be needed if the Corps accompanied the mission. There were too many male dwarves in Erebor with nothing to do since the War ended and too many nightly drinking sessions. Either Beode or Freode would know how to manage twelve or even twenty-four of them on the road, and they could always be counted on for security. One councillor to look behind, one to look forward, and the third to watch sideways. And a king behind to guide them.

And servants. Ruthen had advised Stonehelm to choose the servants wisely, for oft to them fell the most important tasks of listening to the wind and the stream to see where others tread. That would mean sending either Hringa or Halgen.

Then the maidservant Hrethel came for Ruthen, who left to lead the morning devotions at Ingeld's school. Stonehelm had bid Ruthen give his greetings to Ingeld and compliments on the success of her school. Ruthen had smiled quietly, bowed three times, and then withdrew with a final observation.

Aside from the question of how large a delegation to send, Stonehelm needed to decide whether to contact the mad elf Thranduil or Bard of the Dale. And what route to take to Gondor. Stonehelm took a deep breathe and recalled his mother's parting words:

Do not lose sight of the final prophecy. Whatever befalls, remember that when the world is destroyed in The Last Battle, Mahal will call upon us, not men, to rebuild Arda.

RPG requirements:

Sigin-tarag ai menu!. Here are several dwarven characters to choose from, even some women! Ruthen and Ingeld will of course stay in Erebor, as will Stonehelm (ie, me, Bethberry) but they provide an opportunity for a second plot line should anyone be interested. The names I have derived from Old English, for it seems to me that the Scandinavian names of The Hobbit are a tad too informal for the valorous dwarves post-LOTR. Name changes can, of course, be negotiated as long as they are in keeping with dwarven culture. Also, feel free to add other servants and escorts.

Contact Bethberry through PM for info about dwarven culture and behaviour and let's talk strategy.

As for the Royal Corps of Dwarven Engineers, here is their marching song:
We are, we are, we are the Engineers.
We drink, we drink, we do drink beers. (If you know the story of Rorke's Drift, where 100 or so British soldiers led by an engineer held off 4000 Zulu warriors, you will understand the value of engineers. )

It might be a long journey to Minas Anor but it sure should be fun!

[ September 19, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]