Nyr

As is custom with Dwarves, the older dwarf has more authority than the younger, and to him is relayed all the knowledge of his forebears and their treasures also. In the line of Stouthammer, each Elder received the family heirlooms; the ring and key.

Age 0-30

I have packed my bags with enough provisions for the journey ahead. Dwarves' Bread rations in case I finish my store of salted pork. Last time I ate it all before I even reached the Great East Road. Some barley bread and seasoning for when I'm fortunate on the hunt. My lucky cauldron and a few of my old iron pans, dented but not rusty! A small iron ladle of my father's that has spent many an hour in kettles full of hearty stew. O' how I miss my father's cookery! The scent of his meals could delight a bear out of his winter sleep!

The King has commanded me to find forgotten secrets in Mordor, mostly surrounding the ring-lore of Sauron. While I wish not to defy my Lord he demands a great many things, and it weighs heavily upon me. I have fought alongside the Longbeards quite recently and personally spoken with King Dain II Ironfoot prior to his death before the gates of Erebor, where also the last of my family fell. His son, Thorin III is now king of Durin's Folk, and I pledged my allegiance to his house the day we broke the siege and drove the Easterlings from our lands.

A herald of the Firebeard King comes before the doors of Stouthammer Hall, the residence of Nyr son of Neri, Amrazu Uzal and Keeper of the Great Drum of Akladubeshek, the Great Adventurer of the Firebeards.

Herald: Hail Nyr, son of Neri. Your presence at court is requested by the King. He bids you not to tarry.

Nyr is surprised by the urgency behind the herald's words, but he knows better than to inquire after it.

Nyr: If the King summons me, I will answer.

I have not talked much about my mother. In fact not about any female relative thus far. I prefer to keep their names a secret, like it is custom for our folk to do, but it is no secret that our family bloodline hasn't born any she-dwarves in almost an age. Those female dwarves that we reckoned to be part of the family all were dwarf lasses from other family's or even other Houses!

Prologue

This tale picks up after the Moria expedition, described here. After the discovery of mithril in Khâzad-Dum, something went terribly wrong, driving his party apart, Hilfar was forced into exile. His path led him deep into the mountains where he was about to face the coldest winter any dwarf had to endure. 

Chapter 1