A letter passes across the Uzbad’s desk on it’s way to the library of the Longbeards. It is written in the hand of his estranged brother, the scholar Thorvralin. He does not bother to read it.
My dear friends and noble members of the Thorin’s Hall Scholar’s Guild,
I am writing to you an account of a most remarkable find I made while accompanying master Frimsi Gembeard and his expedition on their search for new markets in the ancient kingdom of Angmar. As you well know, the geological formations of that region are quite simply extraordinary: fumaroles and basalt pillars abound, and the air is filled with the sulphury spell of exciting change (new theories suggest tectonic shifts of up to a centimetre a year!). Naturally, I jumped at the chance to travel there, and, armed with my travelling-hat and trusty shovel, joined my companions on our journey into Angmar.
After a little trouble at Trestlebridge, solved yet again by humanity’s ignorance of Khuzdul (and a rapidly improvised outbreak of “kiznekitis”), we soon arrived at the outpost of Othrikar in the North-Downs. I must mention to you, my learned friends, that I was pestered all the way up by the burly Stoutaxe Fralir Grimhammer; I would say that his mind was overcome with jealousy at my scholarly achievements, except that I doubt its existence in the first place. Endless whinging of “pick up this”, “stop reading that”, “books won’t get you anywhere”, etcetera etcetera. He clearly hasn’t read my seminal work An Investigation into Haemetite Deposits of the Western Grey Mountains, their Spread and Purity - perhaps then he would stop calling me boring! Still, I doubt even a light read like that would be penetrable to the blunt butter-knife of his intellect. How he reminds me of my brother sometimes.
At Othrikar we stayed a night or two; one of Frimsi’s main ingredients for his “discount” gems is mined in that region and he was anxious to make sure his order was on time. I thought at first that there might be an as-yet undiscovered mineral vein under the keep but the reality turned out to be slightly less… romantic. It does not do to reveal the trade secrets of one's friends, however suffice to say that the anatomy of cave-claws warrants more study than I had originally anticipated.
On we went, through the damp grasslands of the North Downs, our path existing presumably only in the imagination of the cartographer. And then there it was, my friends. The great cliffs of Angmar! The hulking granite overclouded the sky with the terrifying majesty of the earth, giving way at only the loftiest peaks to darting black bands of basalt, like arrows from a bow. Oh my friends, it was stunning; surely one of Mahal’s proudest creations.
Through the mountain-pass we went. I begrudgingly accept the usefulness of master Fralir in warding away prowling orcs, but Thorlaen’s crossbow was swifter than his hammer, and did not have the disadvantage of being attached to a book-hating kiznek. Still, to give book-hating kizneks their credit, we passed shortly afterwards a monument to then-Azaghâlbad Thordralin’s victory at the battle of Aughaire. Alas, that so many dwarves have to die for honour.
Now, even by my own standards I have waffled away from the point for an inordinate amount of time. Fear not, it is arriving rapidly, as did we as we set foot in the giant-town of Lehmä-koti. Yes, you heard me right: giant-town. The earth-kin there served as good allies to the dwarves, I am told, and by Moria’s mithril was I glad of that fact when I found out what awaited us!
They presented us with two gifts: Frimsi was naturally overjoyed at the first, a large chest of ancient Gundabad coins, pure gold. But this is irrelevant: the true prize awaited us in the arms of the chief himself. He proffered me a rock - deceptively ordinary at first, but soon I beheld the glittering black glass beneath the surface. Obsidian! Smoke-glass! Sauron’s Earwax, as it is known among the miners. And let me tell you, not only a small chunk but near almost an entire boulder! Alas, the meagre tools I have available with me here in the North do not allow me to weigh such an item, but it must be the biggest find for a century, maybe more. My dear friends, I implore you to pass on letters to all learned dwarves who would benefit from study of it, and ask them to receive me upon my return. The Lehmä-koti Find will be the talk of the guild for a decade, at least!
Ever at your service, and awaiting your response,
Thorvralin, son of Thorfralin
