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Newly Deceased
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Re: Whoa!
Gilthalion here again. (How I hate this new EZBOARD!)
I should think that there were many more Dwarves in Moria during its zenith.
If the East Gate and chambers and passages were the first built, then the numbers would be smaller. As the population grew, the logistical demands increased. Obviously, when Hollin was active, there was trade through the West Gate as well.
There would always be a tremendous flow of traffic in and out of Moria, or any other non-self-sufficient Dwarven community. I tend to think that the logistical demands would be child's play to them. As the math demonstrates, even one ferry with one cart could handle the needs of 100,000 dwarves. Add as many ferries, collapsable bridges, etc. as you need over the abyss, and the job is even easier.
Recall Thorin & Co. collapsing a wall when joining the Battle of the Five Armies. Semipermanent bridges, strong until disposed of, would be the ticket, though the ferry could be used in a pinch, say, after a battle and the collapse of the bridges.
I can see a stone arch bridge, laid without morter, strong as strong, but able to fall all at once down the abyss.
In fact, if your enemy makes it through the gate and is actually crossing over your collapsible bridge, that might not be a bad time to move the lever which releases the weight that pulls the chains that pull the pins that retain the anchor bolts that hold the keystone in the center of the arch of the bridge. This would be very bad for a vangard of pillaging orcs...
Or for the Dwarf who does this by mistake. A little more serious than pulling the fire alarm.
"Dwarven bridges falling down..."
And of course, in the fall of Moria, such events may have occurred. Whatever construction was employed, it was cast into the ravine in the last despair....hence, leaving only the narrow bridge of old.
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