To Rûndis, my Moonlight,
Today did not go as expected. Still in awe at the glorious halls of Khazad-dûm, it took us great effort to find our bearings and continue with our mission.
As instructed, we set off towards the Dolven View. The group was excited at the prospect of finally seeing some action after so long, and action we found.
As we approached the camp, the sounds of pickaxes and deep, commanding voices filled our ears. What we found was not a place of respite, but the aftermath of a great battle. Pillars and works of art both new and restored lay in shambles, and the survivors mourned their fallen comrades.
As we looked around and talked among ourselves, one of the dwarves noticed us. They were expecting some help from another encampment, and he was disappointed to learn that it was not us.
He was expecting us — ‘those Emberdeep folks’, as he put it —, but recent events had drawn his focus away from our expedition. We had stumbled upon the aftermath of a goblin raid. Despite this, he pointed us towards the Chamber of Wisdom, where the map could be found. Unfortunately, they could not spare any of their scholars at the moment to accompany us, so we would need to fetch it ourselves.
I thanked the Captain, and turned back towards my companions. ‘Friends’, I asked, ‘We have finally arrived at our destination. This map we have been chasing for months on end is finally within our grasp, but I must ask you for help yet again. It pains me to see my brethren in such disarray, fending for themselves in the wake of an attack by our ancestral enemy. I would ask of you that we take some time to lend a much needed hand’.
Braudin was ecstatic. He proclaimed he would not have believed me a true leader for this expedition if I had suggested otherwise, for a sense of duty is at the centre of any self-respecting Dwarf. Kharsi and Narali were not short to follow, either, and Atgar cheered enthusiastically. Rompli, as I confess I was expecting, immediately started yelling about finding those goblins and showing them a piece of his mind, most likely conveyed by his axes. The others also agreed, as each of them was as honourable as any Dwarf, and even more so! I could not be prouder of the group we have managed to assemble over these last few months.
But there was a voice among them that I had not expected to hear. Bradati, our kinsman, had heard about our efforts, and was the latest to join us. I was surprised to learn of this, but, as I told him, very pleasantly so. Any help we could muster would be needed for such a task, now more than ever that the goblins were once again on the offensive.
Before I start mumbling on again about old battles, let me tell you what we did then. We told the Captain — who went by the name Bennt Sharp-Eye — of our decision, to which he answered with a respectful nod. He pointed us towards the two guards who spotted the goblins coming, and towards two mirrors that were destroyed after the attack.
We decided to split into three groups. I took Rompli, Bradati and Thorlaen to the Chamber of Wisdom. We needed to recover the map as soon as possible, and I would need their help in case any goblins were hiding along the way.
Alas, I had made a fatal mistake. I had failed to mention to Rompli that the Chamber of Wisdom was, in fact, his most feared enemy. It was a library.
It was good that the goblins had already left, for if they had not, they would have all found our position the moment Rompli found out what we were walking into. I am sure his loud ‘NOOOOO!’ could be heard all the way from Erebor, and for a moment I believed the mountain was about to collapse on our heads. Fortunately, Thorlaen was able to calm him down. He merely ‘leaked some honour’ in the corner, as he put it, and was able to come back to us, and slowly face his mortal enemy.
The library was a complete mess. Almost every book had been thrown to the floor, which was littered with torn pages and pieces of parchment. It was almost as if the goblins had been looking for something…
As we were trying to piece all of this together, we heard a loud crash behind us. We saw a broken ladder on the floor, with Bradati lying beside it. He let out a painful moan, and needed some help getting back up.
However, his little accident led us to an important discovery. Near to where he landed was an old chest which we had failed to notice until then. With great effort we managed to lift its rusty lid.
I only wish poor Rompli had not been there to see it, as we uncovered the biggest book I have ever seen. He fell backwards and swung his axe, yelling ‘The books! The books are trying to eat us!’, and it took the three of us to calm him down again.
The big old book was a ledger that detailed the location of every single document in the Chamber of Wisdom. We skimmed through it, and foung what we were looking for — an entry that read ‘Maps – OTHER CHEST’. Rompli, eager than ever to leave that accursed library, quickly found it, and opened it again with a surge of might I had never seen in him before. However, we were not in luck — the chest was empty.
Kharsi grabbed Atgar to investigate the destroyed mirrors. I am going to let him do the honours of transcribing his experience, and also to give the boy a chance to talk to you. I hope your ears do not hurt too badly.
Hey, Auntie! How have you been? I’ve missed you a lot! Here’s what happened, I’ll give you the gist of it since Uncle is looking at me funny.
Alright, so it was just me and Atgar, you see? And we decided to investigate the sappers and the mirrors. Uncle didn’t tell you about the sappers? Well, I will. There were pieces of ceramic all over the floor, and the dwarves around there had burns on their arms! It was obvious it waas sappers. This noggin’ of mine is not just for fighting, you know?
Anyway, we found the nearest mirror destroyed, and pretty fast, too. It was pretty close by. We both wondered why they'd go to the trouble of attacking one, although we both knew they prefer the darkness. But that’s hardly a reason to risk their lives! We found the second mirror was not far, either, with soot covering it, and oily broken pottery shards on the ground. More sappers, obviously.
So, we noticed that since this one was VERY far out of the way they came in, which meant they must have scouted the place before! Atgar said the goblins had been here longer than us, which was a painful truth.
We then saw a third, broken mirror in the distance and a large camp, so there were plenty of locations for them to spy on and plan an attack from. The little bastards knew what they were doing!
We then smelled something funny. There was a faint trail of a black powder in the ground! Just in time, Narali came with the rest, bringing Braudin and his good boy. The hound’s keen sense of smell helped us follow the trail right back to the southern tunnel. We came to the conclusion that this was a well planned attack and they destroyed the mirrors not because they don’t like light, but to give them an advantage as they retreated! Whoever planned took good care of every detail.
Narali’s account was much easier to follow, I must confess. She recounted it to me in a calm manner, so I am now able to write it myself.
Her group talked to the two guards, as we had planned. They had been watching these goblins for some weeks, who had in turn been keeping an eye on the Dolven View. It was an uneasy stalemate that unfortunately broke in the recent attack.
They all poured from the same tunnel, which came from somewhere in the Silvertine Lodes. They came in with plenty of sappers, leaving many dwarves badly burnt. After some careful questioning, and discussing of the best way to gut a goblin, they were able to extract one important bit of information — the goblins fled the way they came, and they carried armloads of parchment with them. They were understandably confused. Bog and Braudin tried to go down that tunnel, but its maze-like structure made it impossible to determine exactly where the goblins had fled.
After finally reuniting, we were able to piece together what happened during the Tragedy of the Dolven View. The goblins had had their eyes on the camp for some time, for reasons unknown. They planned a quick, devastating attack — running in with sappers to destroy the mirrors and force the dwarves to fight in darkness. Then, making the most out of the distraction, a contingent slipped through the guards towards the Chamber of Wisdom to steal their maps. To what end, we do not know. However, they had made one fatal slip — a trail of gunpowder that would no doubt lead us to wherever they have taken them.
We now had a sound plan of action. Many of us wished to set off immediately — particularly Rompli, Braudin, and, surprisingly enough, Eldanith — but I warned against it. It had been a long day, many of us were tired, and we would be facing a cunning enemy. I have seen first hand what fate awaits those who underestimate the Goblins, and still, there was something amiss. Narali could not shake the feeling that there was something else behind this strange happening, and I could not help but agree. The goblins are not dim by any means, but this was too complicated for them. Perhaps a new champion had risen among them? Had Azog’s line not been truly vanquished?
I am sorry to worry you with this, my love. I am sure we will prevail, and make our forefathers proud! Baruk-Khazâd! I hate to cut this short, but I really need to catch some sleep.
Sweet dreams,
Your Thrarfi.
