[Himaran]

Bali sat in his comfortable stone chair in Erebor's great hall, attempting to relax. In truth, every nerve in his body was ready to burst. He kept counting the dwarves waiting around him, knowing that all those interested were present. But for some inexplainable reason, the dwarf was wildly searching for a reason to stall. He simply didn't want to initiate the meeting that would catapult his party into the wild. Fool! This is an adventure, and a fun one at that. Just enjoy the treasure hunt! But deep down, the dwarf knew that the whole venture was viewed far too lightly; Rhûn was thought of as a child's playworld. It may not be what it seems.

Knowing that he could not wait any longer, the dwarf stood, pacing in a nervous manner around the group. "You all know the purpose of this journey. We are seeking the land of Rhûn, and any riches it may hold. My brother Dwalin and I are leading the expedition, and have mapped out a route to the new land. But do not be certain that you will return with a sack of riches, or even knowledge of Rhûn itself. It may not even exist."

As he sat down, Bali knew that he had annoyed his brother. Dwalin a treasure-seeker, who often placed his love of riches over common sense. All huff and business, the young dwarf stepped forward, laying a map on the table with a flourish. "Here we have Erebor... and over there, the land of Rhûn. Our route is simple and safe: We shall follow the Great River Running south and east, which shall lead us directly to the great Sea.

As you can see, the northeast corner of the Sea is surrounded by a dense forest. Along the south western side is a group of low mountains. The sea itself is far larger than either feature, and it appears that most of the land is clear; although possibly marshy."

Dwalin returned to his chair, and the brothers waited for a reaction from the travellers.