Ok, so this is just my edit of
@Faelivrin's edit of
@MithLuin's outline. A couple of notes: I cut some of the edits about language and communication. I think that it would be far too clunky on screen to have characters speaking in half-intelligible pidgin through translators that are speaking nearly the same language. This is a problem we have been discussing from the beginning of this project, and it is unfortunate, but it will slow things down significantly. The changes that deal with the removal of the Sleep work well. It's a bit "Captain Planet" but good writing will smooth that out. Modifying the word "trinket" with "minor" seemed a bit redundant.
Season 3 Episode 4: Khazâd ai-mênu!
Protagonist: Mablung of the Heavy Hand
Introductions: Mablung has been part of this project since Season 2, but this will be the first Mablung-centric episode. The Dwarves were also introduced in Season 1, but this will be the audience's first exposure to their culture. Azaghâl I appeared in the creation-of-the-Dwarves scene (with Durin); Norn and Telchar are new characters.
Final Appearances: N/A
Characters: Thingol, Melian, Eöl, Mablung, Daeron, Lúthien, Norn, Telchar, Azaghâl, Mairon/Sauron, Boldog, Thuringwethil
(Frame: Elladan, Elrohir, Estel, Halbarad, Hamilcar)
Summary: Surprised to meet a new people in the east, the Sindar establish diplomatic relations with the dwarf-kingdom of Belegost.
Theme: Forging alliances. The misunderstandings and assumptions that come with first contact. People can work through less-than-positive first impressions with effort.
Frame Teaser - Elladan and Elrohir give Estel some advice before entering the village of the Dunedain. Aside from the practical diplomatic advice is the unexpected admonition not to mention his mother's name. When he seems confused, they tell him it is to protect her. When they reach the village, the sons of Elrond meet with Halbarad, sending Estel off with Hamilcar. As they wander around the village, the older people catch sight of Estel and have an "Oh!" widened eye reaction, but say nothing more. Hamilcar is annoyed that this young stranger is getting such attention.
Act I
Scene 1. Doriath - Eöl comes before Thingol and requests that the land of Nan Elmoth be given to him. Thingol claims that this land is part of his realm. If Eöl were to move there, he would have to be subject to Thingol, even though he's not currently his subject. Eöl wants to live in Nan Elmoth because of the protections provided by Melian when she and Thingol first met. Melian shares her misgivings concerning Eöl with Thingol in private.
Scene 2.The River Ascar - Mablung and his companions come upon a group of Dwarves on the border of Ossiriand and Thargelion that they see from afar. Surprised, they try to figure out who these beings are and discuss what to do. They worry that these beings might be hostile or dangerous. They decide to approach cautiously. They see that the Dwarves are engaged in the activity of building a road using carts to transport rock, stone cutters, surveyors, and guards. The Elves have never seen anything like this. The Dwarves are also systematically destroying a woodland glade, cutting down every tree and indiscriminately trampling the flowers and smaller plants. The Elves can see a forge-fire nearby. [The scene looks disturbingly reminiscent of the way the Orcs behaved last episode.] The Elves are worried and some are angry, but Mablung's group have not met the Orcs, and their first inclination is *not* to attack.
Scene 3.Doriath - Beleg returns to Doriath and reports on his encounter with the Orcs, showing Thingol and Melian the orc blade he picked up. His companions did not return with him because they have been killed.
Scene 4.Northern Ered Luin - Thuringwethil is flying over a desolate area covered in dark shadows. When she lands, she sees a lot of large spiderwebs.
Act II
Scene 5.River Ascar - Mablung's group is spotted by the Dwarves, who halt work, startled. It is clear that the dwarvish guards have more significant weapons and armor than the elven scouts, but the scouts are also armed. Mablung and the Elves adopt a somewhat threatening stance towards these destructive beings, but the Dwarves only see unarmored savages armed with pathetic stone weapons and don't take the threat seriously. Mablung himself tentatively calls out a greeting, and one of the dark-haired dwarven guards answers back in accented Sindarin. The Elves are surprised to hear an Elven language and relax somewhat, but most of the Dwarves speak to one another in Khuzdul (with subtitles). The first attempts at communication are difficult, but Mablung being older than the others, and can make out what the Dwarves say. The tension dissipates a bit once they realize they can communicate with one another, even with difficulty. There are some first contact type questions of "Who are you and where are you from," and in the end they agree to sit down together and share food/drink (cautiously). The Dwarves consider the Elves to be uncivilized savages. The Elves see the Dwarves as short ugly people with harsh voices. But despite some clear disdain/dislike, there are no open hostilities. As they talk, Mablung begins to pick up more of the archaic Elven dialect the Dwarves are using.
Scene 6.Angband - Boldog is impatient to leave and start attacking Beleriand, so he can fulfill their mission of wiping out the Elves. Mairon tells him to wait, because his army isn't ready or prepared for the campaign. It becomes very clear that Mairon understands tactics and strategy, whereas Boldog does not.
Scene 7. River Ascar - Mablung and the Dwarven translator who calls himself Norn, discuss politics. They are able to converse with less difficulty now. Mablung explains that the territory where they are building the road is part of Thingol's territory. He can't speak for his King, but he knows that the Dwarves will need permission to complete this construction project. The Dwarves are surprised, as they had no idea the land had been claimed by the Elves. Norn explains that he is from Belegost and some of the other Dwarves are from Nogrod, so there are two dwarvish Kings to discuss the matter with. Mablung is curious how Norn learned his language. Norn tells him that he has met the Elves on the east side of the mountains, and they taught him. But Norn says those Elves don't have any official dealings with the Dwarves. The Dwarves are impatient to get back to work. Some of the Dwarves of Nogrod attempt to offer the Sindar trinkets to pay them off so they can just get on with things, which the Elves do not accept. Norn and Mablung agree that their leaders should meet to discuss these issues.
Scene 8.Doriath - Thingol's court discusses the monster problem. Some people seem to think it's only a minor issue with a small group. Others are very disturbed by the idea of evil creatures who can start fires. No one really knows what to do or what to make of it -- the idea of actual warfare has not occurred to anyone yet. But Melian recognizes Melkor's work in the steel blade, and is clearly disturbed. She lets the court know that the Orcs are not the real problem - that there are beings who will not rest until they rule all of Middle-earth.
Act III
Scene 9.Frame: Estel is bursting with the news of his first orc kill. Estel challenges Hamilcar to an archery or knife-throwing contest after Hamilcar mocks his story. Hamilcar insists that he doesn't have time for games and leaves Estel on his own.
Scene 10.Doriath - Daeron shows Lúthien his runes, which she praises him for. He informs her that no one else seemed very interested, but she insists they'll be useful for things like recording music.
Scene 11.Mount Dolmed - Eöl meets with Telchar in a well-ventilated forge on the mountainside of Mount Dolmed. [We do not see Nogrod or Belegost in this episode]. They discuss Thingol. Eöl makes the point that Thingol is not his king, because he's not one of the Sindar. Telchar mentions that the King of Nogrod has no interest in meeting with Thingol, because he does not consider the Sindar important enough. Telchar is a young dwarf apprentice at this time, and the only one in the forge who talks with Eöl.
Scene 12.Doriath - Mablung reports back to Thingol to arrange the meeting with the King of Belegost.
Act IV
Scene 13.Sarn Ford at the River Gelion - The arrival of Thingol's delegation; the Dwarves are already there waiting for them, with a pavilion set up across the river. There are courteous greetings on both sides when Thingol meets Azaghâl, King of Belegost. The Dwarves do make a slight dig about the Elves being late, but the Elves remain oblivious. The Dwarves are outfitted in their best armor.
Scene 14.Angband - Thuringwethil reports to Mairon that she has found the location of the large spider. Boldog's orc army marches out of Angband. Mairon and Thuringwethil take off and fly towards the location.
Scene 15.Sarn Ford at the River Gelion - The Elves and Dwarves sit down to a feast together. They find each others' food to be unusual, but not disgusting. Part of the entertainment is Lúthien singing a song and dancing. The Dwarves think she is beautiful, but aren't particulary impressed by her singing and dancing and lose interest quickly, which surprises the Elves. After the meal is a mutual gift-giving ceremony that seeks to establish the basis of a strong friendship between the two peoples. The Sindar give the Dwarves a collection of treasures (which includes amber, pearls, wood and ivory/bone/antler carvings, turquoise, and obsidian arrowheads), as well as some tokens such as a tree sapling, lamps, and fabric items. The Dwarves give the Elves steel knives and preserved foods, as well as some minor jewelry. The Dwarves are not impressed with the gifts they receive, with the exception of the pearls.
Scene 16a.Sarn Ford at the River Gelion - The Kings sit down to negotiate the territory dispute. Norn serves as interpreter, and Mablung stands by Thingol and helps interpret as well. Norn makes sure that whatever is said is translated into the most polite version possible (as indicated by subtitles.) Thingol initially lays claim to all of Beleriand. Azaghâl points out that the Dwarves too can see this land from their homes, so they see no reason to recognize that claim. They say that the Elves have built no homes or cities in any of the land the Dwarves can see, which the Elves don't consider relevant. Thingol is willing to concede lumber rights to the east of the River Gelion to the Dwarves, once he realizes that is what they want. They point out that they've already built the road and had already intended to harvest the trees, and that they would need to continually expand as the trees do not grow back fast enough for their needs. Thingol offers to send Elves who can grow new trees, andThingol replies that the forests west of Gelion are home to many Grey Elves and he will not allow them to be driven out. Thingol also points out that the Dwarves are clear-cutting and killing the smaller plants, not coppicing and allowing trees to grow back; the Dwarves had no idea it was possible to harvest wood without clear-cutting, and didn't even realize that their actions were harmful. The Dwarves agree not to extend the road or tree-cutting beyond the River Gelion, and are interested in learning how to coppice so the trees they do cut will grow back quickly.
Scene 16b. Afterwards, Lúthien gives a gift Daeron had created -- an illuminated parchment sheet with the song she sang written on it -- as a personal gift to Azaghâl. Once Norn realizes what the runes are, he is very excited. He tells Mablung that he is very pleased with what happened today, and that he looks forward to learning more about the Sindar. Mablung is a bit more dour and less enthusiastic, but he agrees that this was a good meeting, and thanks Norn for helping to organize it.
Frame tag - Elrohir urges Estel not to jump to conclusions. Estel learns that Hamilcar lost his mother some years ago, and is responsible for looking after his younger siblings. He realizes that Hamilcar had a valid excuse for being impatient with him, since his little sister is sick and needs looking after.
