II. Of Khazad-Dûm and Nurvi Stouthammer
Their Longbeard brethren at Khazad-Dûm welcomed them with open arms as the arrival of the Firebeards and Broadbeam exiles, amongst which were many great smiths and warriors, meant a great addition to the growth of Durin's realm.
In the course of many centuries, the descendants of Marazâl grew in number and prominence. They became very wealthy in the golden age of Khazad Dûm, for they shared their knowledge on jewel - and weaponsmithing that had brought them much renown during the First Age. Their family consisted not just out of rich merchants, astute stoneworkers, smiths and jewellers, but also out of stout warriors. When the armies of the Free Peoples came knocking on Durin's Doors, some of them followed Elendil and Gil-Galad to war. It is known that at least two of my forefathers marched to the Morannon. Neither of them returned after the seven year siege of Barad Dûr. Luckily, they had sons who had stayed behind in the halls of Hadhodrond.
With Sauron destroyed, Khazad-Dûm became a beacon of prosperity in the Third Age. Especially the mining of Mithril brought about an unseen splendour to this ancient Kingdom. Many centuries passed and the descendants of the Firebeard Marazâl started to take on Longbeard wives. With their eyes fixed upon the glory of Khazad-Dûm under Durin VI, it wasn't until the awakening of Durin's Bane that they thought of returning to the Blue Mountains.
Before that time, however, there was a stouthearted dwarf named Nurvi whom earned a great deal of respect among all Dwarves in Khazad-Dûm. Nurvi was a daring miner who mined deep in the Basâmun Isâban, the Lower Deeps of Moria. He dared to mine in places where others would not – in flooded caverns, in tight passageways, and even in the darkest darkness where nameless things dwelled. Always he came out unscathed, carrying raw gems or news of some newly discovered vein. And for that, they called him Stouthammer and he was even granted honours by Durin himself.
While records say he spent most of his time in the deeps, we know he did tinker with some of his hard-won jewels himself, forging jewelry of great beauty. Some of his works have been passed on as precious heirlooms to our family. Kurdû Uslûkh, a vivid red jewel from the deepest depths of Moria that survived the fall of the kingdom. He also passed on a heavy platinum ring, plain and unadorned except for a single N rune engraved in the metal. The khuzdul name of this artifact was Binadkhât, which is a name he kept a secret for the majority of his lifetime. He only told his sons the true name of the ring, but it had born another name before it came into Nurvi's posession: Thangrîm, the ring of compulsion, by which it was known to the elves of Eregion, and the elf Tinnurion Dwarf-friend, Giver of Treasure, was the one who passed it to Nurvi in exchange for the hammer Silivrentil. Its magic properties, if it had any, were kept secret by the descendants of Nurvi, and so it eventually came to Fruni who wears it today.
Though renown a miner and jewelsmith as he was, he never ceased to try and pursue even greater feats. His ambition eventually caused him his downfall in 1920 when he went for another dangerous climb in the darkest of depths. He fell there into a bottomless abyss, never to be seen again, his likeness preserved only in his muznakan carving at home. The world would not see another miner so brave. His sons Bruni, Narfi and Nagli grieved their father's passing, but fought amongst themselves for his works, including the ring, for many years to come.
When Durin's Bane was discovered in the year 1980 of the third age, Bruni fell quickly to its evil along with Durin VI. One year later, also Nagli was consumed by its fire. Narfi was the only one of the three brothers to survive, and he and his cousins reluctantly left Dwarrowdelf to travel west where they settled with the rest of their kin. Narfi had taken as much of his inherited riches with him as he could, but there is no doubt some had been left behind.
In the Blue Mountains they found the hall their forefathers had built, and henceforth called it Stouthammer Hall in memory of Nurvi Stouthammer. However, one stubborn dwarf named Skagi, a son of Bruni, decided to follow those of Durin's Folk whom settled themselves in the Grey Mountains. There he helped in building the foundations of a Kingdom to come. He died 8 years before the King actually arrived in 2210. King Thorin I, son of Thraín I who had founded Erebor, joined them in the Grey Mountains and ruled there for 79 years. His son Skrogur and his grandson Skaldur remained at the Seat of Kings there until the dragons appeared in 2570. Skaldur must have fought bravely against this threat, but was eventually killed by the cold-drakes who killed Daín I and his second son Frór in 2589. We lament his death to this day.
