Gain the Old

Gain is an old, pale-skinned Dwarf who hails from a long line of trusted guards. These warders traditionally keep Khazad-dum's valuables safe from any outsiders. Wrinkled and wizened, Gain wears his long beard forked and braided. He tucks the ends into both his belt and the tops of his boots. He is also noted for the long, distinct scar over his left eye, an almost-white mark he sustained long ago in the King's service. This wound apparently rattled Gain's brain, for he has never been the same since the day of that battle. Because he was injured in a noble pursuit, he was promoted to a Guard-warden's rank and charged with an honorable task: the keeping of the King's treasures.

Having slowly become unbalanced, Gain now counts the treasures that he has guarded for so many long nights as his own. He resents the fact that the King treats these objects as royal property. After all, Gain has long since earned them all and more through his valorous service. One dark night, while standing watch over the treasure horde, an idea came unbidden to Gain's mind, and ever since it has remained uppermost in his thoughts. Gain entertained a plan to make the vast treasures of Khazad-dum his own. He is particularly fond of the Three Axes of Azaghal, a valiant Dwarf from ancient times from whom (for no reason besides his madness) he believes he is descended. He has determined that the weapons shall belong to him and no other. To that end, he has contacted a person on the outside who has arranged for a band of thieves to break into the halls of Moria and spirit the axes away, along with whatever else they can carry. Although Gain is asking for 90% of what the PCs acquire, he feels it is only just, since he is taking a tremendous risk in betraying his King. He has no doubt that Dwarven blood will be spilled by the invaders in the course of their mission, but that is an eventuality that cannot be prevented, sad as it might be.