Female Dwarf quest in Moria

[CloudCastle]

I know I encountered this quest back during one of my first forays into Moria, probably sometime around 2010. I wasn't playing when the Moria revamp happened, and now I am back in Moria with an alt, trying to find this quest. It started with finding an item lying on the ground, I believe it was an axe. When you picked it up, a quest was bestowed, something about how some feature on the axe made it appear to have belonged to a female dwarf. You take it somewhere to show someone, maybe in the 21st hall? That dwarf tells you a story about how there used to be an old dwarf nursery in the Redhorn Lodes and tasks you with finding it. Once there, you find a building, called Nud-heden, crawling with gredbyg. There is a room in the back filled with funny little beds with high sides. The Lotro-wiki says you used to be able to click on the beds, which were labeled, "ancient dwarf crib" and it would start a quest to kill the gredbyg larvae sleeping in the cribs, called "Gredbyg in the Nursery."

According to the wiki this quest is no longer in the game. I found Nud-Heden tonight, and was sent there for a quest from Auti's Camp. The cribs are still there, but they are no longer clickable or labeled. The dwarves at the camp say nothing about Nud-Heden being a nursery for dwarves, or anything about a female dwarf who used to work/live there. They instead talk about the miners who used to live there.

Does anyone remember this? Has the reference to the female dwarf been removed? I remember being really excited when I found it, and the story inspired me to a create a female dwarf alt who I still have today. I want to say that the axe was originally located somewhere in Nud-Melek, maybe near Balin's camp, or possible in a corner of Zelem-Melek. It was rather out of the way and only one of my chars ever stumbled upon it.

I was excited to find the nursery building tonight but disappointed when the quest givers at the nearby camp made no mention of it once being a nursery for infant dwarves.

[Harla]

I don't recall the exact details, but I think the axe, which started the feminine curve quest was found at the ruins of Balin's camp, originally. I'm going on memory here, but the quest was originally "A Feminine Curve to the Steel", and upon showing the axe to someone at the 21st hall, and then at Orc Watch, you were tasked you with finding out more about where the nurseries and women's areas in Moria were, which leads you to the chittering hole, and the dwarven nursery there-arounds.

You used to get the axe itself as a reward out of it, named "Feminine Curve"

Most of the information seems to have been removed from the wiki except as legacy mentions, but let's see.....

Bestowal: "This axe looks entirely identical to many other dwarf-made axes you have seen in the past."
Background: "You found an axe in the remains of Balin's camp. It is drawing the attention of every dwarf you meet."
Objectives:
Objective 1:
Seek information about the axe you found
There are dwarves encamped in the Twenty-first Hall.

You found an axe in the remains of Balin's expedition's camp. It is drawing the attention of every dwarf you meet. Perhaps you should ask someone about it.

Objective 2:
Speak to Kafli at the Orc-watch
Kafli may be found at the Orc-watch, far to the south of here.

You were told to speak with a dwarf named Kafli about the axe."


I've not found the original dialogues from the dwarves themselves yet. I'm looking about.

I'd be interested to hear from MoL or someone else about why the quest chain was so substantially altered, to remove all trace of female-dwarf related material.

I half suspect that upon review the way the dialogue and quests were set up were deemed as coming across more sex-segregationist than they wanted to portray dwarven society (The idea of there being specifically 'women's quarters' within a dwarven hold, where the nurseries are, and where the women stayed, most of the time, etc., doing women-things like raising babies, etc., was likely not an idea they wanted to propagate) so it was changed. That would just be a guess though.

EDIt: Not having any luck finding the original dialogues from the dwarves you actually speak to, alas... I recall Geirfast's enthusiasm as he explained all the elements of the axe that marked it as being designed for a dwarf matron to wield, was quite endearing.

I also regret that none of my dwarf characters got up to the quest before it disappeared, so I don't know if it had alternate dialogues for them.

Would really love to hear anything that any writers/devs can share with us about this little piece of lotro history.

[CloudCastle]

Glad someone else remembers this! Good research finding more info. I was starting to second guess myself and wondering if I had gotten two different quests mixed up. I really wish I had kept the reward item but it's long gone now. This was such a special and unique quest, particularly when there are so few references to female dwarves in game, that I miss seeing it gone. I would be interested to know what happened when the revamp occurred to cause it to get the chopping block.

[Erionor]

Not connected to this quest, but was recently in Goblin Town and noticed that the dwarf who had apparently been imprisoned in the empty cell next to Glorwen the elf is referred to as “she”. Just a shame “she” isn’t there...

[CloudCastle]

Not connected to this quest, but was recently in Goblin Town and noticed that the dwarf who had apparently been imprisoned in the empty cell next to Glorwen the elf is referred to as “she”. Just a shame “she” isn’t there...

Wow, interesting! I'd never noticed that before. The cell is empty though? Wonder why that female dwarf is missing from the game now too...I'm going to imagine that she escaped.

[Erionor]

Wow, interesting! I'd never noticed that before. The cell is empty though? Wonder why that female dwarf is missing from the game now too...I'm going to imagine that she escaped.

I’m not sure what happened to her. The quest is called “The Great Escape” and here is the bit of quest text in question:

Aeglas says, "Let us slow our pace and see if we can save the dwarf the goblins had taken."
Aeglas says, "We were too late for this poor soul. She is gone."

[OldMadeOfLions]

I'd be interested to hear from MoL or someone else about why the quest chain was so substantially altered, to remove all trace of female-dwarf related material.

The Moria Revamp happened sometime around late 2012, when I was pretty focused on Volume III, so I wasn't privy to most of those discussions. But this is a good question, so I did some digging! It looks to me as if these quests weren't removed for the purpose of 'getting rid of the traces of female dwarves,' but more as an unfortunate side effect of the actual goal, which looks to have been this: "Too many trips back to Orc-watch. Creating a better flow through Redhorn is the top priority."

Aside from that, there isn't a lot of documentation about the removal of the quests. But I did find this bit of dialogue amusing, so I'm reproducing it here, for posterity:

"'By Durin's beard! What a find! That's a lady's axe, that is! Look at the delightfully feminine curve of the steel! And this playful little spike right here! And look! The curve of that decorative etching imitates the distinctive handle of a fine-toothed beard-comb, such as only a high-born lady would use. What a find, friend (Player)! You must bring this to an acquaintance of mine, by the name of Kafli -- he is a student of lore, history, and society. You will find him in the Orc-watch, far to the south of here.'"



MoL

[Erionor]

"'By Durin's beard! What a find! That's a lady's axe, that is! Look at the delightfully feminine curve of the steel! And this playful little spike right here! And look! The curve of that decorative etching imitates the distinctive handle of a fine-toothed beard-comb, such as only a high-born lady would use. What a find, friend (Player)! You must bring this to an acquaintance of mine, by the name of Kafli -- he is a student of lore, history, and society. You will find him in the Orc-watch, far to the south of here.'"



MoL

That’s brilliant. Especially the bit about the beard comb - priceless

[CloudCastle]

I’m not sure what happened to her. The quest is called “The Great Escape” and here is the bit of quest text in question:

Aeglas says, "Let us slow our pace and see if we can save the dwarf the goblins had taken."
Aeglas says, "We were too late for this poor soul. She is gone."

I must have done this quest not too long ago, but I'd forgotten about it! Sounds like she met a bad end, sadly, and that she never was in the cell for you to see anyway. I wonder how how she got captured in the first place?

The Moria Revamp happened sometime around late 2012, when I was pretty focused on Volume III, so I wasn't privy to most of those discussions. But this is a good question, so I did some digging! It looks to me as if these quests weren't removed for the purpose of 'getting rid of the traces of female dwarves,' but more as an unfortunate side effect of the actual goal, which looks to have been this: "Too many trips back to Orc-watch. Creating a better flow through Redhorn is the top priority."

Aside from that, there isn't a lot of documentation about the removal of the quests. But I did find this bit of dialogue amusing, so I'm reproducing it here, for posterity:

"'By Durin's beard! What a find! That's a lady's axe, that is! Look at the delightfully feminine curve of the steel! And this playful little spike right here! And look! The curve of that decorative etching imitates the distinctive handle of a fine-toothed beard-comb, such as only a high-born lady would use. What a find, friend (Player)! You must bring this to an acquaintance of mine, by the name of Kafli -- he is a student of lore, history, and society. You will find him in the Orc-watch, far to the south of here.'"



MoL

Thanks so much for looking into this and solving the mystery! That quote from the dwarf is even better than I could have remembered. No wonder I still recalled the quest after all these years and enjoyed it so much. I do wish it had survived the revamp though. I would love to see it returned somehow, although that's probably unlikely...still putting my vote for it out there just the same.

[Skoch]

@MoL suggestion for reinstating such a quest series and furthering to help the flow of Redhorn Lodes: Add swift travel from Twenty-first Hall to both Anazârmekhem and Orc Watch.

[Dorri_Hammerfist]

[...] You must bring this to an acquaintance of mine, by the name of Kafli -- he is a student of lore, history, and society. You will find him in the Orc-watch, far to the south of here.'"



MoL

now Kafli is dead and another dwarf female from Erebor - Finna Frostbeard - mourns the loss of her betrothed. sad story

[Herwegur]

You used to get the axe itself as a reward out of it, named "Feminine Curve".

It was a sword, with a suggestive shape of the blade That sword appearance exists in game under other names, but whoever thought of this connection must have been an art aesthete. It was subtle, tasteful, and genius.

I've been wondering about disappearance of this quest. Would be sad if it had been censored for that reason. If it was removed for mere pragmatics as a casualty to improve quest flow, as MoL suggests, I join the petitions for its reinstatement! Don't let the dwarf lore linger in a discarded vault. Details like this add so much color and character to Moria questing experience.

[auximenes]

Bring it back please!

/signed

[Aelir]

The other long-lost Moria quest was recently restored (dwarf lords chronicle, I forget exact name).

Let's restore this one too! Does this quest harm or hurt anyone by its existence? It offers more glimpses into Dwarf culture, and was really unique for this.

I really don't get axing quests just to "improve quest hub travel". Players make their own routes and choices. Kinda unfair to delete this quest for everyone just because some hate running back and forth to Orc Watch, no? Others live for stories like this.

Bring it back please.


edit:
Running back and forth to Moria hubs was nicely solved by introducing click-travel goats at various distant corners of the zone maps, making it very efficient to return to quest hubs faster. There is really no reason to keep withholding these deleted Moria quests now. Bringing them back will revitalize the zone, these quests will be new and fresh to many players. And the best part - these quests already exist, nothing new to create. Just to put them back. Would love this - please consider!

[Echoweaver]

Wow, that really is a fabulous bit of dialogue, MoL. Thanks for sharing.

I love the idea of finding the Dwarf creche, but not so much the idea that it's specifically the girls' place.

The original quest of Finna Frostbeard's love is in Moria, yes? I haven't found it. Where is it?

[Polymachos]

You find a deceased dwarf in the Redhorn Lodes, not far from the orcs, and a trinket nearby, a locket on a chain. It contains some text from Finna Frostbeard, written for her beloved Kafli. You are supposed to bring this charm back, and then begin a really strange voyage, where you drink to the memory of this dwarf, in many places.

see also https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Quest:Worth_Dying_For and https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Quest:In_His_Memory


Greetings, Polymachos

[gildhur]

@MoL suggestion for reinstating such a quest series and furthering to help the flow of Redhorn Lodes: Add swift travel from Twenty-first Hall to both Anazârmekhem and Orc Watch.

By all that is holy, THIS. And Rotting Cellar too.

[Echoweaver]

You find a deceased dwarf in the Redhorn Lodes, not far from the orcs, and a trinket nearby, a locket on a chain. It contains some text from Finna Frostbeard, written for her beloved Kafli. You are supposed to bring this charm back, and then begin a really strange voyage, where you drink to the memory of this dwarf, in many places.

see also https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Quest:Worth_Dying_For and https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Quest:In_His_Memory


Greetings, Polymachos

Thanks!

[BINKLEY1]

@MoL suggestion for reinstating such a quest series and furthering to help the flow of Redhorn Lodes: Add swift travel from Twenty-first Hall to both Anazârmekhem and Orc Watch.

I remember the "bearded lady" quest from when Moria first opened. +1 to bringing it back, if feasible.

Cheers,
Gloimli @ ex-Windfola

[HunterGreen]

I am glad I'm not the only one who was sad to see this taken out. In fact I can't think of a single other quest that got lost in the revamps that I really felt was missing. The revamps, I think, did a great job of making things flow better and avoiding most of the frustrations with Moria (except the Water Works, which I skip as much as possible, and which seems to have mostly escaped the improvements of the revamp), but this is the one thing I wish they'd retooled instead of removing it. I mean, you do still go to the building, it seems like it could have been kept by simply changing where the final delivery happened, and fitting it into the visit you're already doing.