Erebor and Dale Undertakings

[Rich H]

Sorry, stupid autocorrect on my phone.

No worries. Being called "Rick" makes me gnash my teeth.

I promise that more people will check it out if I put it that way than a more mundane plug.

Ha!

EDIT: For clarity, I really only mean to tease Rich and not to pester him or annoy him. Everything in his guide is the sort of stuff that you would expect a city the size of Dale to have and its quite well done.

... Assuming you agree with Dale being of such a size. I could quite easily have written a guide making it more of a cowboy-western-like border town but I wanted it to be a bit of a "jewel in the crown" of the north, what with the dwarves aiding in the rebuild and all the gold obtained from his share of Smaug's hoard by Bard. Also, as the Shadow returns it's fall from such a lofty position will have a greater impact. So these elements wouldn't have really meshed with a border town feel. Mind you, that still comes across in the lands to the east of Dale, in the delta between the two rivers so you get that feel if you travel just a day or so from the city walls.

[Apologies for the tangential comment to the thread subject]

[Arthadan]

John didn't paint the Arkenstone and I have proof:

Suddenly Bilbo's arm went towards it drawn by it enchantment. His small hand would not close about it for it was a large and heavy gem; but he lifted it, shut his eyes, and put it in his deepest pocket.

The Hobbit, Chapter XIII - Not at home.

Bilbo would have had a hard time lifting the gem in the painting single handed and putting it in his pocket, so it cannot be it

Thus the Arkenstone is emtombed with Thorin and the bigger Fakenstone placed on the tomb.

[Khamul]

That was my thought too. And I like it.

[Stormcrow]

The Arkenstone was placed on Thorin's breast. Orcrist was placed on his tomb where dwarves could see it; it warned of the approach of enemies.

[Glorelendil]

Orcrist was placed on his tomb where dwarves could see it; it warned of the approach of enemies.

Obviously filched by the time Jon got around to painting it. Probably by somebody with Stiff Neck of Dwarves, less for the sword and more for the Shadow.

In fact, I think that somebody is in Hermes Serpent's online campaign...

[DavetheLost]

Sorry guys, that is Balin's tomb in Moria. Jon decided that a moldy old book wasn't photogenic enough so he put in a big white gem instead. It's not like anyone actually looks at the pictures in these books anyway so why not?

[Glorelendil]

Suddenly I'm thinking about unscrupulous persons stealing the gem, which in turn brings to mind this classic:

[Falenthal]

Hey, the leftmost dwarf is Dáin, right? He's got a red axe, after all.

[venger]

A couple possible Dwarvish Undertakings for Erebor might include these (they could lead into each other or be separate adventures);

Library Restoration- Help the Librarian restore a section of the Library in Erebor dealing with old dwarvish history.
(Fellowship discovers old maps/scrolls that leads to an adventure or reveals something of historical significance related to one of the characters)
Bonus to Dwarvish Lore?

Restoring/Clearing out a lower Section, collapsed passage or a Lost Mansion in Erebor.
May include discovery of a family relic or icon or other Dwarvish relic of significance.
Dangers may include pitfalls and other physical problems to solve, or maybe denizens of the dark or something "uncanny" that dwelt in secrecy beneath the notice or concerns of Smaug.
Establish a Holding in Erebor?

Hall of Shields- In my campaign Erebor sports a "Hall of Shields".
One of the tasks my Fellowship undertook was to find the character's missing family "Crested Shield" specifically made to adorn this spot, and restore it to it's proper place. (This required an adventure),
Effect: Restores family honor, possibly increase Standing for a Dwarf character.

(In my campaign allows character to be seated at a place of Honor at the Grand Table during feasts with the dwarvish upper crust. This is good because the character would be privy to private conversations not normally accorded to the average dwarf)

[Rocmistro]

Orcrist was placed on his tomb where dwarves could see it; it warned of the approach of enemies.

Obviously filched by the time Jon got around to painting it. Probably by somebody with Stiff Neck of Dwarves, less for the sword and more for the Shadow.

In fact, I think that somebody is in Hermes Serpent's online campaign...

You gotta do what you gotta do, Glor, as an adventurer. And if that means stealing stuff to get shadow points so you can be heroically better at being a selfless hero...well then, stealing's what you gotta do.

This is Middle-earth, after all, where the ends justify the means.