Appearance:

Nyr is a dwarf of surly appearance. His eyes are a kind walnut brown, but his low-hanging brow, his large crooked nose and his protruding lips from under his thick mustache give him a rather serious expression. Time has left deep, weary pouches beneath his eyes and the creases in his brow speak of long days and restless thoughts.

His hair is golden, long and bound together at the back, leaving bare a broad and long forehead. His large, crooked nose rests on a very thick mustache and its ends our bound by silver beads. Strong shoulders tower from both sides of his short neck, and his hands are big, ending in broad fingers and small nails. His skin is rather pale but pigmentation is visible on his hairy forearms.

Despite being a descendant of well-to-do dwarves and having access to a sizeable hoard, Nyr is more likely not to dress to impress. His preferred outfits are made from wool and cooked leather dyed in somber colours like umber or grey with only subtle Dwarven motives on the edges of the fabric. His leather boots look weathered but comfortable enough for long travels. The hooded cloaks he owns range between simple leather ones to cloaks lined with fur. He takes a great liking to wearing light helmets while on the road.

He never leaves without his backpack, stuffed with the essentials, but also with parchment, a leather-bound book, a set of quills and ink, and pipe-weed. No dwarf travels unarmed, and neither does Nyr. An axe is always his weapon of choice as it sees use as both a weapon, a tool and a walking aid.

Origin:

Nyr hails from the Blue Mountains and has lived there his whole life. His father Norr, like all his fathers before him, was a Firebeard, but unlike most of their predecessors, Norr had taken on a Longbeard wife. Nyr is therefore a dwarf of two houses, and while he mostly identifies by the house of his father, he feels strongly connected to Durin's Folk as well. He is not the first in his lineage to share Longbeard blood. Several of his ancestors mixed with Longbeards in Khazad-Dûm after their exile from the ruins of Tumunzahar, and it was only after their return to the Blue Mountains that this mingling with the Longbeards was brought to a halt. Thus Nyr's blood tells an older tale.

Name:

Like is common with dwarves, the name Nyr is derived from a short Old Norse name that replaces his secret Khuzdul name. Nyr is the anglicised form of Nýr which in Old Norse means 'new' or 'new moon'. In some texts his name is rendered as Nýr – and it must be said that he himself does not hold a preference for either spelling. The name is generally pronounced as [nɪ:r] with a long 'ee' vowel. But the anglicized [nɪr] is also accepted.

Being a descendant of well-to-do dwarrows, and doing what he does, he has earned himself several titles:

- The Scribe

- The Wanderer

- Amrazu uzal

- The Great Adventurer

- Voice of the Mountain

- ...

Character:

In many ways, Nyr is a typical dwarf; very stubborn, easily angered, secretive, prone to carry enmities to the grave and overly fond of gold. But also loyal, fond of song and merriment and incorruptible. However, while he shares these traits with his people, he is also very mindful of their flaws. He knows the dangers of greed, stubbornness, and ancient grudges because he sees them in himself.

Nyr’s exterior has grown gruff, but beneath it lies a heart that cares too deeply. As winters passed, so too did the seasons change in Nyr's heart. The joy and fiery tenacity of his youth made way for a recurring sense of melancholy. Love mingled with grief as a feeling gnawed at his very being that the world was drawing the curtain on his people. This sense of foreboding would reflect itself in his writing and in his desire for solitary travel.

In one thing he remained ever resolute: his distrust of Elves. Perhaps set on by stories of old grievances, especially the offenses against the house of the Firebeards – like the Battle of Sarn Athrad. It is not that he harbours hatred towards their kind, for he admires them also, or at least their loremasters.

Nyr is not all pensive and reserved. There is much light in him still. He gladly partakes in merriment, song and dance, and he enjoys telling stories and jokes. He also never says no to a drinking game.

Now that he is becoming older, he is also turning more spiritual like his father, praying daily to Mahal for blessings and travelling to distant shrines to pay his respects to the Maker.

Occupation:

Nyr is as a binder of books and was long known as an archivist of the Katûb-zahar, the library of the Firebeards. He cares a great deal for books and the art of the written word and rune. It should not be surprising then to learn that, eventually, he set himself upon writing histories and poetry of his own making, taking on additional tasks as a scribe.

Glory through bravery, bravery through sacrifice.

- Motto of the House of Nurvi Stouthammer