A dwarf walks into the Prancing Pony with a ranger behind him. Both are bald men coated in dirt and the dwarf has a large bag on his hip that sounds like it's filled with stones. The pair find seats and with a quick look at each other race to drink the tankards Butterman put in front of them. The dwarf manages to finish before the ranger.
"You must have a great deal of practice drinking," Nethraw says.
"If there's two things dwarves know it's mining and drinking," Bothwar says.
"That I can believe."
"You haven't told me what you were doing out in the wilds."
"I am a lore master of the rangers and found something I found interesting," Nethraw says. "I was looking into the ruins you found me at."
"Is that normal for your people?"
"I wouldn't say it's normal. There are a few of us that enjoy finding learning about the histories of the places we visit."
"I suppose it's good to learn from the past," Bothwar says. "There are some dwarves interested in the past but most only want the freedom to mine in peace."
"Is that why you were wandering the mountains?"
"I have discovered a great deal of gem bearing ore throughout the mountains. I was spending my time off collecting some gem stones from the safer areas."
"Even if it is safer it seems like a dangerous practice," Nethraw says.
"It could be far more danagerous. A friend became blinded with the thought of mithril and thought I was trying to hide it from him."
"That is not good. When one of your people contracts this sickness their madness makes them dangerous to themselves and all others."
"It certainly made Arngrim violent," Bothwar says. "I had to hire a powerful traveler to stop him. I felt bad about how hurt he was when he returned but I'm glad he is over the sickness."
"It is likely best to keep him under observation."
"That was my thought as well. I left him under the watchful eye of my commander. What did you find in the ruins?"
"Something horrible," Nethraw says. "It was once a hall of the Arnor but the hillmen betrayed our people and took it."
"It sounds like a place of evil."
"It is that. With the swords removed it has become a prison for the spirits of the oathbreakers."
"You opened it?" Bothwar asks.
"I did and entered. When I learned what was contained within I removed the swords to reseal the oathbreakers. The swords have been destroyed so the prison will remain until the evil held within has disappeared."
"Perhaps the hills are more dangerous than I thought they were."