I have told of the skill of Nurvi Stouthammer, my ancestor, and the enmity between his three sons after his death. Yet I have not told you of who his three sons were and what they did to pass their time in Durin's realm of Khazad-Dûm.
Nagli was Nurvi's firstborn and the stone mason of his three sons. He built the deepest halls of Khazad-Dûm, many of which have now been submerged in cold and dark water and haven’t seen light, or heard the sweet tunes of harps in so manieth a year. He was a master of stone who crafted finely chiselled chambers out of the bare rock, with pillars and walls and archways of all sizes. His work reflected most clearly the artistry of his father before him. He was the one who built the vault of our family and stored his father's works inside, and for a long while only he knew how to open it - but Narfi the second-born could not bare to have this kept a secret from him.
Narfi was the smith of the three sons, and the least skillful at his trade out of them all. Of all the precious metals the Redhorn and Silvertine gave in those days, iron was the only thing Narfi could mold in great design. He was the strong-arm, the heavy hammer upon the anvil, with strength that echoed the warriors' blood of ancient times and flowed into the blood of his descendants - of which Fruni is the best example. However, he cared little for iron-ore, yet held the most fierce and jealous desire for gold, jewellery and true-silver. Most of his helmets and coats of mail were set with gems of sparkling wonder - none of which he himself had either mined or cut. He therefore never attained the level of respect and skill which Nurvi had been endowed with, nor was he brave (or stubborn) enough to mine for his own materials.
Bruni was the merchant of the three brothers. Being the youngest he was the most eager to steer away from the general crafts, but instead chose to simply learn the value of things and how to sell them for the right price. He spent most of his time in the merchant halls of Khazad-Dûm hawking his wares or those of others for a good deal of gold. He had inherited the keen eye of his father to spot the invaluable from the valuable and made himself and his family a small fortune in the final days of that ancient realm. Several of his grandsons would turn out to be quite as adept to selling wares of dwarven-make.
'Twere these three brothers who faced the last days of Durin's realm and only one of them would live to see their days renewed in the Blue Mountains amidst his fellow Firebeards.
