Moria

[Djihesse]

Known as a dwarf kingdom, not it is an orc lair with a beast in the deep darkness. In the years that we are playing (wich one are we on now?) what are rumors about Moria or what most adventurer might know who have heard about this place ? What a group might think they can encounter by going there dwarves? Orcs? I'd like to hear your though a bout it.

[int19h]

It should be noted that in current age, Moria is known to be abandoned by the dwarves because of Durin's Bane for ages, and only recently retaken by Balin's expedition - of which, also, little is known. IIRC Balin did not have many dwarves with him, and that was also common knowledge - so one should certainly not expect to see the whole Moria populated with dwarves again, like in days of its former glory. Presence of orcs there is not exactly a surprise either, since dwarves and orcs were fighting for Moria ever since orc chieftain Azog slew the leader of the previous expedition, Thror, in 2790 T.A. Orcs were eventually defeated at the battle of Dimrill Dale in 2799 T.A., but the caves themselves were never cleansed by the dwarves, for the fear of facing Durin's Bane.

[Ptolomy]

It should also be remembered that the gates of Khazad-dûm where largely shut to outside world in 1697 2nd Age (c.4745 years ago), it was abandoned in 1981 3rd Age (1020 years ago) and that the battle of Nanduhirion took place in 2799 3rd Age (c.202 years ago).

In my opinion, therefore, what is known about Moria to non-dwarves (and possibly some elves because of their long memories) would be very limited indeed unless the person happens to be a student of fairly ancient history.

I am not sure if this reference is 100% accurate but the entry for Khazad-dûm here (http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/default.asp) gives a fair summary of its history.