In the weeks following the defeat of Vethúg Wintermind, tensions have risen between the Dwarves of Erebor and the King under the Mountain as the Zhélruka of the East now make for the Steel Keep, Thikil-gundu.
'I am pleased that you have returned to Erebor, but I wish it were under better circumstances. It seems only more troubles have come to Erebor since the defeat of the great cold-drake, Vethúg Wintermind.
'There is much to be said of such things, and I would hear your counsel. Where shall I begin?'0/1
3.1) Speak toKarazgar (Show dialog)
'Karazgar, the Weeping Warrior... not since the days of Azog has a name been so reviled by my people!
'His cunning drew our foe of old, a great cold-drake, to Erebor. Dwarves, Elves, and Men battled against Vethúg Wintermind, but it seems our defeat of the great cold-drake only served to further his designs for the North.
'You see, after Vethúg fled the battle, Karazgar followed him into the Ered Mithrin. By Durin's beard, nothing good can come of that!
'Karazgar has left us in peace, but he will return. I am certain of it!'0/1
3.2) Speak toVethúg Wintermind (Show dialog)
'The great cold-drake, Vethúg Wintermind, has long been known to my people.
'When the Longbeards still dwelled among the Grey Mountains in the Dwarf-kingdom of Grárik, my people discovered a great delving beneath the slopes of the Wrathhorn. They restored it and built upon it, naming it Thikil-gundu, or the Steel Keep in the Common Tongue.
'It is true that the first mines and outposts in the Grey Mountains were delved by the Zhélruka, but the halls of the Steel Keep were shaped by the craft of the Longbeards. I will not speak of rightful claims or of the old conflict between our peoples -- they matter no longer. It was a great cold-drake that stole Thikil-gundu from us! Vethúg Wintermind!
'Vethúg devoured Dáin I, and slew his son, Frór. Grárik was ended, and if not for the flight of Thrór and Grór, the Longbeards would not have survived.
'Mere weeks after the War had ended, Karazgar drew Vethúg Wintermind to Erebor, and though my people suffered great losses, the cold-drake was defeated... but not slain.
'Whether he seeks to tend his wounds or die atop our hoards of old, I am certain he has returned to the halls of Thikil-gundu.'0/1
4 Speak toNori (Show dialog)
'After Vethúg was defeated and Karazgar travelled into the North, I issued an edict forbidding any expeditions to the lost halls of Thikil-gundu.
'It seemed that my people had come to understand my wisdom, or so I thought.
'It was then I was betrayed by one of my father's oldest and closest friends. Nori, hero of Erebor and Keeper of the Coffers, had gathered an expedition in secret and set out in the night.
'In anger, I thought to leave him to his fate, but that is not the way of a King under the Mountain.'0/1
5 Speak toKing Thorin III (Show dialog)
'And now you understand, Player.
'It is true that Vethúg Wintermind was defeated, but that does not mean that Thikil-gundu has been left unguarded. Karazgar has pursued Vethúg into the Grey Mountains, and there are Orcs of Gundabad lurking in the foothills. If the Zhélruka hope to reclaim the Steel Keep, they will have to contend with the dangers of the Grey Mountains... and I am inclined to let them.
'However, their passage into the Ered Mithrin has not gone unnoticed by my people. Even now, they gather before my throne in anger and restlessness.
'Listen well to their grievances, Player, and then we will see if I cannot put their minds at ease.'0/1
'It is as I expected, but not as I had hoped, Player.
'My edict was not firm enough to withstand the passage of the Zhélruka... and my people will not heed it. Nori has proven that much to be true. I may hold the rest of them back for days, weeks, or even years, but it will not last. There must be another way....'
King Thorin produces a small missive and glares at it.
'Nori left a missive behind when he made for Thikil-gundu with his expedition. I would ask that you deliver it to Dori.
'I think now it is time that he learns what his brother has done!'0/1
Mark of the Longbeards (2)