Grolin

Grolin is a young, vain Dwarf with a chip on his shoulder. Son of a minor noble family, he has long enjoyed the good life, his by birth-right, and his fall from the King's favor has badly bruised his substantial ego. He now bears a grudge against Bain. A handsome Dwarf, Grolin makes no pretense of being a warrior, or even much of a worker, and he wears his auburn beard long and free in open defiance of style and good sense. He brags that the tip of his beard has never met the inside of his belt. A number of young Dwarves emulate this style, but even they tuck their beards into their belts when working. Fashion can only be taken so far, For many years, the handsome youngster was a favorite of the King. Always quick with a witty word to set the royal court laughing, he was the toast of almost every social event of any import. He was constantly in the company of the most powerful members of Moria's society, and a number of extremely eligible young Dwarven women pined after him. If Grolin has a weakness, it is that he thinks even better of himself than do those that worship him from afar. His ego is quite swollen and, although he is unusually thick-skinned, when someone does puncture his pride, Grolin becomes quite vengeful. That, along with his taste for ale, was the cause of his undoing. His lite of fame and luxury ended suddenly one night, after Grolin had enjoyed one mug too many. While attending a great dinner, he stood up and recited a witty poem to the royal couple—a limerick he conjured on the spot. Unfortunately, drink clouded his judgment, and stuck for a rhyme, he inserted a couplet insinuating that the King and Queen looked enough alike to be twins. While the King viewed this slip of the tongue goodnaturedly, the Queen took instant offense. She demanded an apology from Grolin. Taken aback for a moment, Grolin protested that he had done nothing wrong and attempted to extricate himself from his predicament with waggish deprecation. Bris grew even more incensed at the fact that Grolin would try to make her look the fool in front of the assembled guests. At her behest, the King banished Grolin from the royal court. The King accorded Grolin the opportunity to return to the court's good standing by making an earnest and public apology to the Queen. Unable to swallow his hubris, Grolin refused. And so his wrath atbeing (atleast from his point of view) unjustly barred from the court has festered and grown.