"Du Bekâr!" – A Reclamation of Moria AAR

[Koweth]

Hey all! Just a quick update on the status of this AAR. I'd originally intended to post a new chapter for this Moria AAR following the one I'd done on my other work, but I'd found myself deprived of motivation to do so. Instead, the next chapter will be posted on the same day as the Legacy of Edmund's next one. I apologise for the long wait.

 

[Koweth]

THE BOOK OF MAZARBUL, PAGES 26 TO . T.A 3016 – T.A 3024

Return to Moria concept art by Job Menting​

[26]

I am afraid still of the beast lurking beneath Moria. Some among us have taken to worshipping the Nameless Fear, and seek to deliver our people into the monster's grasp. Balin has tried to reason with the cult leader, Hilyótholf, but they refused to listen to his pleas. Dolgur suggests a swift and ruthless strike into their homes in the Long Hall, but I still have hope that Hilyótholf and his followers will see reason [...] A herald has come from the Grey Mountains, claiming that Lord Gorin of Nordinbad has sent forth a number of his people to settle in Moria, with the belief that it is now safe. He remains unaware of the lurking presence of the beast who dwells in the dark, but Dolgur tells me it is best not to utter a word.
​

[27]

Hilyótholf and his followers have taken up arms in the Long Hall, and Balin has sent a group of Dwarves to quell the rebellion... I cannot understand why those in the Long Hall have taken to worshipping the beast—it has taken so much from us already [...] Balin and Dolgur have killed the followers of Hilyótholf, and have taken him captive [...] In the spring, the Dwarves of the Grey Mountains arrived in Moria through the East Gate, and had met little resistance. It seems the Orcs no longer swarm the Silverlode [...] I worry that the Goblins of the Iron Pits have sensed the division within our people—the Drums do not stop beating.
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The Fellowship of the Ring crossing a bridge in Moria, by Unknown​

[28]

Today, on the 4th of March, a number of Goblins snuck into Balin's quarters in the night and tried to murder him in his sleep. He defeated the assailants, and Olni believes the Orcs of the Iron Pits were responsible for the attempt on Balin's Life [...] on the 4th of January, Gimli and his companions arrived in the Twenty-first Hall. Balin welcomed his cousin with open arms, and had given them shelter and food—they had safely travelled through the West-Gate, and had reportedly found the remains of Farin and his party [...] They claim be in possession of a Ring of Power, and seek to destroy such an artefact in the fires of Mount Doom. I cannot help but see the folly in such a plan, but Balin seems to trust the judgement of his cousin and companions [...] The fellowship left peacefully through the East Gate today. I do not know if they will live to see their plan to fruition.

[34]

Orcs from the Iron Pits emerged and had attacked our homes close to the East-Gate. Hilyótholf returned and led Balin's host, rejuvenated by the presence of the Dwarves of the Grey Mountains had slaughtered the Goblins attempting to enter the Twenty-first Hall. A small host of Dwarves arrived in Moria on the 29th of March, and had come bearing gifts of weapons and armour from Erebor. Draupnir, among them, is said to be especially gifted.​

 

[Koweth]

I apologise for not posting this earlier as I'd promised--I wasn't too happy with what I'd written previously for it. Regardless, how do you think Balin's expedition is doing? Is there hope yet for Balin's people to restore Moria to what it once was?

 

[jak7139]

Some among us have taken to worshipping the Nameless Fear, and seek to deliver our people into the monster's grasp.

Why? That's seems like a horrible idea. Then again, fanatical cultists aren't the smartest.

Today, on the 4th of March, a number of Goblins snuck into Balin's quarters in the night and tried to murder him in his sleep.

Balin is the head keeping the expedition together. Without him, who would lead?

Gimli and his companions arrived in the Twenty-first Hall. Balin welcomed his cousin with open arms, and had given them shelter and food

I'm sure Gimli appreciated the "roaring fires, malt beer, meat right off the bone."

So Gandalf isn't dead then? That's going to have consequences for sure. Not that the Dwarves of Moria know or care about that. They've got other problems.

I apologise for not posting this earlier as I'd promised--I wasn't too happy with what I'd written previously for it. Regardless, how do you think Balin's expedition is doing? Is there hope yet for Balin's people to restore Moria to what it once was?

No apologies needed! This was worth the wait.

The cultists are worrying. Even if Hilyotholf is reformed, who's to say that's not a ruse? If the Dwarves want to win, they need unity.

As a wise man once said, "There is always hope."

 

[Koweth]

Why? That's seems like a horrible idea. Then again, fanatical cultists aren't the smartest.

It's an interesting mechanic in the mod that has some of your people will begin to worship the Balrog, with the belief that Durin's Bane (for whatever reason) will lead them to some sort of salvation. Thankfully, it's a rather uncommon thing.

Balin is the head keeping the expedition together. Without him, who would lead?

If Balin were to die, the Balin's Expedition title in-game would actually destroy itself--so Balin, quite literally, is keeping the expedition together.

I'm sure Gimli appreciated the "roaring fires, malt beer, meat right off the bone."

So Gandalf isn't dead then? That's going to have consequences for sure. Not that the Dwarves of Moria know or care about that. They've got other problems.

Absolutely! I'm sure Moria is everything he promised and more to the rest of the Fellowship.

Yes, this'll probably have some ramifications in the future, but thankfully, Moria's quite cut off from the rest of the world, so I needn't worry about how Sauron gets defeated. A good thing, if you ask me. Even with the return of Aragorn as High King, Gondor loses Minas Tirith twice over the course of the game, causing the "Fall of Gondor" event in T.A 3049. Thankfully, Sauron is eventually defeated by Aragorn in T.A 3135 (though, in the fighting, he was slain himself), so about just over a century after the Fellowship's time. But I'd like to believe all that happening outside the mountains was just a terrible nightmare...

No apologies needed! This was worth the wait.

The cultists are worrying. Even if Hilyotholf is reformed, who's to say that's not a ruse? If the Dwarves want to win, they need unity.

As a wise man once said, "There is always hope."

Thank you! It is true, there's always the possibility Hilyotholf is waiting for the perfect moment.

 

[Chac1]

Thank you for the new chapter.

We are definitely into some Tolkien alt-plot/timeline here. Balin still alive when the Fellowship arrives! Aragon battling Sauron for a century after becoming king! Guessing then the Fellowship fails in its mission? Or partially fails? Will you be getting into detail about how any of this happens?

Definitely like what you are doing with this mod and AAR.

 

[El Pip]

I cannot help but see the folly in such a plan

Balin's folk would be the experts in plan's full of folly at this point.

Another interesting chapter and I liked the way the Fellowship was woven in as just another passing group of travellers. Overall it still feels like the Expedition is failing, just very slowly. The little trickle of new dwarves from the grey mountains and elsewhere isn't really covering the losses to cults, goblin assassins and so on. At some point one of the many dark forces will get lucky, or manage to work together even briefly, and that will be it.

Hopefully that is too negative and things start to improve a bit in the next chapter.