It was a quiet day in the Prancing Pony, for all the fine services this inn provided the warmth of the summer's weather outside proved more favorable for people to bask in.
Bob one of the staff of master Butterbur was putting out some flowers at the windows, Then turned around to head over to the kitchen as a figure rose a hand, "Two beers, a mug of tea and serve us some stew of yesterday, if there is any left!", a deep voice requested. "Right fine master!", Bob said, "I'll be right on it!"
As the hobbit ran off so he left the number of dwarves sitting at a table to their own, one of them was none other than Asudrom. Ever the shining example of dwarven prosperity! Gems shone mysteriously in his beard as he spoke to his friends, "So then I took up my backpack and left, I hadn't seen Forli since really, untill just two days ago in this fine establishment!", he let out a chuckle. Another present was the vigorous dwarf named Thogen, "Was good in his cups I believe, if you hear him going on about that thing dwelling in the mountain passes. Sure, everyone knows that it's filled to the brim with goblins and wargs. Or that an occasional traveller dares to go there in his folly or desperation, but what he spoke of was just tall tales friend.." A third dwarf frowned at that and looked the large dwarf up and down with doubt, " Many strange things live in the mountains, why not on it's peaks I ask you? My! Most of these things have come down into the wilds the last few years aswell, been hunting a good lot of them in my day!" "Master Khlosi speaks truth there I fear", said an aged dwarf at the head of the table, well-dressed and cultured he was, known as Duinn "The description of master Forli was in fact, not unlike that of a Beorning." Some nodded quietly in unision, all but Thogen in fact. The quiet persisted for some time as their thoughts went inward. Personal experiences were fresh in their minds still perhaps. Thogen cracked the silence for he was not impressed, "They have left their forest-homes again? I doubt it.. sure they have guarded the High Pass and their Carrock for almost sixty years now, but they never went further, have they?" He raised a large eyebrow and a sigh escaped Asudrom's lips. His hands came to rest upon eachother while on the table, "They are trusty, but their tolls are infamous enough. Even if they do clean out both the goblins and wargs no dwarf would risk the mountains with their presence."
Thogen laid his elbow upon the table and tightened the muscles in his arm, "No skin-changer will take something from me without a good fight!" The others looked at him, alarmed. "Thogen, you are the envy of many warriors of our folk and of many of many other peoples, but I have seen such a .. Man, change and fight, even you with all your strength could not hope to defeat such a thing." Thogen but grumbled at Khlosi's remark. Asudrom smiled a little, "Seems the mountainroads have gotten more dangerous for the dwarves then!"
Then Bob returned with a plate of the ordered drinks and steaming stew, "Here you are fine gentlemen! I've thrown in a few carrots and taters on top!.. Now err.. what were you all chatting about? Big tollmen in the mountains?" ..
