Bestowal dialogue
'But I see we have a visitor! What do you want, newcomer?
'You have a message for <name>? Then deliver it! Are you not aware that a Wizard's time is valuable?'
Background
Gandalf has come to Skarháld with the Black Book of Mordor, but the situation in the Ered Mithrin will not wait for the Wizard to finish his research, and there are other demands on your time.
Objective 1
A dwarf has come to Gandalf's chamber in Skarháld, and he has a message for you.
- Zhélruka messenger: 'I did not mean to cause offence! Everyone knows Wizards are quick to anger, but I did not expect the wick to catch so swiftly!
- 'I have a message for you, <name>, from a mutual friend. He asked me to send you to him on the road to the Glimmerdeep with as much haste as you can manage, "as fast as the wind," he said to me. Well, now I have delivered the message and I will take my leave, and more importantly I will leave the Wizard to his books, and in peace!'
Objective 2
- Search along the road to the Glimmerdeep to find the message's sender
Someone wants to meet you on the road to the Glimmerdeep, and you should find out who it is.
- Vútro the West-wind leans on his staff and nods in greeting
Objective 3
Vútro the West-wind is on the road leading to the Glimmerdeep.
- Vútro the West-wind: 'I did not follow Hórin to the Anvil, <name>, as you and Durin requested, and when the expedition returned with word that Karazgar had been slain by the Herald of Winter, my friends told me I was avenged. But I knew it was not so. I knew in my bones that Karazgar still lived, but none of the scouts have seen any sign of him since the expedition returned.
- 'We know he is a master of stealth. Did he not prove his ability to move silently when he first ambushed me, cutting my leg with his cruel blade and robbing me of my fleetness? If he does not wish to be found, even the more alert of our scouts will not find him.
- 'I stood nearby and listened as Hórin gave his report to Inek, who succedded Bótuz Frostblood as the leader of my people here at Skarháld, and I think they missed something important! Karazgar had control over much of the Frost-horde, yes; did he not use its drakes and worms to attack us here? But that power derived from his mastery of Vethúg Wintermind. According to Hórin's account, Karazgar began to lose control over Vethúg as the battle turned against him, and when Vethúg perished, the drake died cursing his former master. What if Karazgar's control over the Frost-horde perished with Vethúg, <name>?
- 'Instead of scouting from on high for Karazgar, I instead watched for strange behaviour on the part of frost-drakes in the mountains. And behold! I saw many of the creatures moving with single-minded purpose. Not on behalf of Karazgar, no. I think they are seeking for him, wounded as he is, for the same purpose as I. I think the drakes seek him for vengeance, <name>. If we follow their tracks, they may lead us right to Karazgar!
- 'I saw them south of here! Hurry there and I will follow behind, and catch up as I can!'
Objective 4
- Find frost-drake tracks to the south along the road
Vútro the West-wind saw frost-drake tracks to the south, and he thinks following them will lead you to the wounded Karazgar.
- Frost-drakes passed this way in great numbers, heading south
Objective 5
- Find frost-drake tracks to the south along the road
Vútro the West-wind saw frost-drake tracks to the south, and he thinks following them will lead you to the wounded Karazgar.
- A partially-hidden path leads up among the rocks to the north-west
Objective 6
- Talk to Vútro the West-wind by the hidden path among the rocks
You followed frost-drake tracks to a partially-hidden path that winds its way up the mountains. Vútro the West-wind stands at the start of the path, eager to speak with you.
- Vútro the West-wind: 'This is where the tracks have led us, <name>. Karazgar may be stealthy enough to hide from Longbeard and Zhélruka scouts, but it seems he has found it more diffucult to escape the sight of the Frost-horde. Many drakes and worms came this way, and if I am right they seek to avenge the death of Vethúg Wintermind!
- 'We should climb this path and see where it goes, but remain alert! If I am right, we may find Karazgar at the end of it, and perhaps at his end as well!'
Objective 7
- Climb the steep hidden path you discovered
By following frost-drake tracks in the Ered Mithrin, you found a hidden path climbing into the mountains. Did drakes of the Frost-horde come this way in search of Karazgar?
- A steep path climbs north-east to a shadowy cave entrance
Objective 8
- Talk to Vútro the West-wind inside the cave
Vútro the West-wind is inside the shadowy cave you discovered high among the rocks in the Ered Mithrin.
- Vútro the West-wind: 'I think we found it, <name>. This must be Karazgar's lair, from where he launched his attack on Skarháld. Can you smell it? The stench of evil is all over this cavern!'
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![[36.0N, 46.1W]](/wiki/File:Ered_Mithrin_map.jpg){kind=link}