The Truth About the Silver Mine

After discreetly purchasing supplies, Balric and Druce travelled for a month to the mountain, located far in the north above the headwaters of the River Langwall, south of Mount Gundabad. There they built a silver mine and worked it for a year and a half. They extracted a great quantity of silver, hiding it in several places around the mountain.

But only days before Balric was to leave for his promised return home, a rockfall injured both the Man and the Dwarf. Using his skills, Arahil was able to stay alive, but Balric was advanced in years and weary from the labours of the past seasons. Seven days and nights Arahil tended him. At the end, Balric said to him, "I shall never leave here, nor walk again in the halls of Khazad-dûm. But take what silver you can carry, and this ring from my finger, and go with haste to my people. There meet with my son, and give him the silver and the ring. And perhaps he will not kill you, but allow you to show him this place, and so have the mine for himself." Then he closed his eyes and joined his fathers. Arahil took the ring from his finger and buried the Dwarf under a mound of stones so great that it took him three days to build.

But Arahil could not make it back to Moria so easily. For orcs were numerous in the mountains, and became greater the further south he went from mine. One night he was ambushed by a lurg on patrol. Arahil fought a mighty battle and killed the entire lurg. But he took a poisoned arrow, and although he could slow the course of the poison, he could not heal it alone. So he took the High Pass over the Misty Mountains, and was on his way to Rivendell when he collapsed at the side of the road.

There he might have died. But Elrohir son of Elrond was also on that road, and he recognized the Ranger of the North. He put Arahil on his horse and rode hard all the way to Rivendell. There Elrond was able to heal him of the poison. But it had been long in Arahil and had worked much harm. His memory was almost destroyed, and of the events of the last two years he could remember nothing. All he had was a dwarf's ring, made of silver laced with gold, with the names "Balric" and "Khóri" inscribed inside. Of how he came into its possession, he could not say.

At length Arahir bade farewell to Elrond. "I shall seek out these Dwarves whose names are inscribed on the ring," he said. "Perhaps they can tell me why I might have it."

"They may also kill you for having it," replied Elrond. "Go to Moria if you feel you must, but I would counsel you against such a thing. You have many years left in you still, and it would be rash to throw them away. It is possible your memory will return in a year, or two, or more. Wait until then before going to the Dwarves." And Arahil listened to the advice of Elrond, and heeded it.

In 1640, Arahil is in an undetermined location. He gets flashes of memories: silver, an old Dwarf, maybe even a mine. If he ever meets with Baldôr, seeing the copy of the map should be enough to cause him to remember the entire story.

Week 1: Into the Misty Mountains

The Tale of Balrin, Father of Baldôr

MERP Campaign #1: Index

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