[Rumil]

Hi Kuru!

I think that in later ages of the sun many inter-dwarven conflicts may have been sparked off by the seven rings. It is said that the dwarf lords failed to fade to wraiths as Sauron had hoped, but the rings, as well as facilitating the gathering of lucre, engendered an overmastering love of riches of which much evil later came. This probably refers to the Balrog of Moria, but could be taken more generally.

Could one imagine a Dwarven civil war within or between the seven houses, with one of the rings as the prize, with all the motivation of Boromir on a bad day, added to gold-lust and natural dwarven stubborness and grudge-holding? Perhaps helps to explain why Thrain et al were so cagey about possession of the ring of Durin.

I'm sure Sauron and his agents would have done all they could to sublty stir things up and cause friction, remember that he could still appear disguised in 'fair form' during the Second Age.

Another possibility for conflict must involve mining and settlement rights. Sure it would have been very difficult for the Western Dwarves to invade the home territory of the Eastern Dwarves or vice versa, but what about valuable mineral deposits about half way in beteeen? One candidate for such a place could be the Iron Hills maybe.