| Moria, Smith Commons A reprieve from the heat at last, yet still far from cool. To this long cavern the smiths come to rest after long days of working. Cots line the walls here, and the stone floor is covered with muddy and bloody straw in case a bed is taken by a stronger orc. The cots are not much better, most stained with grease and soot. Fleas crawl through them, seeking out the dried blood and sweat. Uruk who are not sleeping can be found here, fighting or playing games with bone dice. And it is never long until the knives come out and more blood stains the straw lining the floor. Contents: Graksh Glurshnatra Obvious exits: West leads to Moria, Forges. Up leads to Moria, Endless Mines. North leads to Moria, Brood Room. [Glurshnatra(#26691)] This room is a little chillier and quieter tonight, yet it is still mistier and more humid then most of the underground complex. A lot of Uruks are present, most of them are sleeping, or lying on their filthy straw beds. Other are drinking, and braging, and laughing audibly. They are all very strong uruks, broad and tough. Their arms are heavily muscled and undoubtedly belog to skillful smiths. Gurstaka opens one eye from where he rests on the warmed stone of this room. One back propped up at the joining of the wall and the floor - he sleeps this way so that he can be prepared for action in the smallest possible time, a carry over from his sleepless nights when he was a target in the morghash owned forges. Now however, as one of the highest ranking smiths, he can afford to be a little less careful. The one eye is trained upon a newcomer into the area. "Scout" he mutters to himself, noting the careful way that this female uruk carries herself. You can spot em a mile off. "Your a long way from your area, Scout. Might I ask what brings you to the Morian forges?" [Glurshnatra(#26691)] The Young Scout stands out among this group of Uruks, for she is slimmer, and more agile. She looks at the sleepy uruk at the corner. "Just a regular patrol, Musgak" she mutters, as she scans the room with both her crimson eyes and her hood-like ears. The Young Morghash steps closer to the Senior Smith, keeping the appropriate distance, kneels down, and she says a little more softly, so no one else can hear "Any trouble recently, Muzgak? Any unsual matters?" She raises her brow suspiciously and waits for his answer. Graksh comes into the common room pushing a barrow full of ore with a silvery gleam to it. He looks around the commons at the other uruks in the hall before seeing Gurstaka and Glurshnatra and coming closer to them. Graksh sets down his barrow and wipes some sweat off his face before speaking, "I got this load of demon's silver for smith to work on. You know where I be putting it? Or too busy lying down?" He looks over to the scout and says to her, "I not expect see you down here," before turning his gaze back to the smith and waiting for a response. [Glurshnatra(#26691)] The Young Scout smiles secretly at the Senior Miner. "Greetings, my better friend of Thrakburzum!" she says to him softly. Her eyes fix again on the lying Uruk. Gurstaka opens his eyes fully, they raises one eyebrow at the uruks fowardness in getting so close to him. Muttering something under his breath, he gets to his feet just as Graksh begins to talk to him. Adressing the scout first, he frowns slightly. "Yes snaga, there was something strange lately - the very ground shook and the roof tumbled down upon us." he says sarcastically. And a regular patrol down here is almost unheard of. this is one of the safest places in Moria. Turning his attention to one more worthy of it, he allows the side of his mouth to raise slightly "Friend Graksh, it has been quite awhile since since I talked to you. I see the flame has smiled upon both of us. Demon's silver you say? hmmm..." With this, Gurstaka puts a claw into the barrow to inspect the merchandise. "How very interesting. I'm not sure exactly what do down with it. I've never seen its like before. I'll take charge of this until I can confer further with my fellow smiths. How does that sound?" Graksh replies to the scout, "Greetings to you too. You feeling better than last time I see you now I hope." He then watches the smith carefully as he looks over the mithril and speaks to him, "Long time indeed, I almost forget, you get me my first armour. Still got that helmet and scimitar, though changed to ring mail now." Graksh indicates the various items around his body as he mentions them and then continues to talk, "You say you not received any before? I thought that worm Grunnu bring at least some down before he disappear." [Glurshnatra(#26691)] The Young Scout looks up at the now standing Uruk. Her eyes flicker with a controlled anger. Gringing beneath her breath, she says to the Senior Smith with a sadistic gentleness: "Did you just call me a Snaga, Muzgak?" After waiting for his replay, she turns back to the Senior Miner: "The Flame has been good to Glurshnatra, Muzgak Graksh" she says to him in a much friendlier yet respectful tone "I am well, and ready to serve my people, Muzgak". Gurstaka shrugs his shoulders at Graksh's question. "Grunnu eh? A skai like himself, I would not be suprised at any low deed he did at the flame's expense. Either him, or a Morghash skum collaborating with him down here like as not have stolen the goods. Morghash are lower than rat crap in a wagon rut. Ignoring Glurshnatra's question, he thinks for a moment. "Fear not Miner, I shall make sure that this shipment is kept safe for the flame. Graksh smiles back at the scout and says to her, "Flame always good to those uruks who deserve. I wonder if you found the Master Shaman like Zorack told you to?" He turns to the smith then and laughs at him while speaking, "This one here is Morghash, and you seem want offend her." Graksh then indicates the ore and says, "I trust you with this ore then, I know you do better with it than Grunnu, but then, that not hard. I know a fellow Thakburzum will only serve the Flame with what she provides for us." [Glurshnatra(#26691)] The Young Scout smiles back to the Senior Miner. She slightly bows her head, and says to him softly: "Aye, Muzgak" She then turns to the Senior Smith, her eyes glare with fury, yet her speech is surprisingly calm. "My lines and myself have served you faithfully for years" she looks at him directly in the eyes, "Glurshnatra has come all the way down here, just to make sure the Muzgak and his servant smiths are safe, and what do I get in return?" she asks faking a surprise. "So be it," she grumbles, "I shall make sure my Master knows about it, he is a Morghash too, you know" she adds, as if by chance. Gurstaka laughs at the Cobug's words. He actually laughs! "The smiths are more than capable of looking after themselves, little Morghash" he gasps out when he has recovered from his unexpected glee. "We do not need the scout encroaching on our territory." this last statement is said with deadly seriousness. "As for telling your Master, go right ahead. I fear him not, and as Morghash, I respect him little. Run and cry to him if you will, but presume not to threaten me, or you will exit with less than you came with.. The scouts would be nothing without weapons, and who do you think supplies them? Now begone, before I throw you out. Graksh watches the exchange between Gurstaka and Glurshnatra gravely before speaking to the smith, "You not need get annoyed at her, she just little misguided in her beliefs. Flame will show her true path in time," he turns to the scout and clenches his teeth as he continues, "If she shows proper respect." Graksh them turns back to Gurstaka and says in a much calmer voice, "I wondering what you planning to do with ore. You got any orders from King? Going to be making new equipment for those worthy of it perhaps?" [Glurshnatra(#26691)] Astounded, the Young Scout looks at the luaghing Muzgak as if he were a mad Uruk. "I never said scouts do not depend on you with their weapons, Muzgak" she says softly "All I said is they are needed by the smiths in battle. And those are, as you know, times of battles" She then takes one final look at the room and those present in it. "Very well, I shall be gone now" she says to the Senior smith. Though her words are polite her intonation is not. "Thank you for your cooperation, Senior Smith" she says to him sardonically. She then turns to the Senior Miner "I shall leave no, my better friend of Thrakburzum" She takes a step backwards to face them both, "If you do not have any other need of me, honorable Muzgaks." Gurstaka shrugs his shoulders once again at Graksh's question. "I have heard nothing about the disposition of it. I shall confer with the King myself should I be allowed to. Meanwhile, I shall store whats here and post guards over it. I'm sure every uruk in Moria would love to get their hands on this little bundle.. Once again, his attention is riveted on the Scout. "I understood your meaning, Scout. One last thing however - mention to your leader that if he would have the continuing co-operation of the smiths, he might wish to teach his newer members proper respect for their superiors.. and betters. Understand? Graksh nods to the smith and speaks, "That good to hear. I hope your guards not succumb to temptation like Grunnu do. I got enough problems up at vein keeping non-miners away from the delicate work. I sure you find something productive to do with it, I probably bring more later when it is dug out." He turns to the scout then and speaks to her,"I hope you listen to what Gurstaka tell you, not want you acting like that snaga Globurz." [Glurshnatra(#26691)] The Young Scout turns to the Senior miner "Aye, Muzgak Graksh. I am a loyal servant of my betters" She says to him softly, "And as one, I must guard the honor of my Master, when our tribe is put to shame" She then turns to the Senior Smith "Glurshnatra understands, Senior Smith, I shall report of nothing unusual in your commons" She then bows to both of her betters, ready to depart. |