The Dwarvish capital of Khazad-Dum, known to Sindar Elves as Hadhodrond and to Men as Moria, had long been the 'crown jewel' of the Naugrim (Dwarvish) culture - a shining example of trade and cooperation (if not, in the beginning, friendship) between the Naugrim and the Eldar (Elves). Yet, in the third age, it became a symbol of failure to the Dark Lord Sauron, as he had been unable to bend the Naugrim to his will with his 'gift' of the Seven Rings.
So, as Sauron slowly nurtured his power, and the Dark Things returned to the nearby Greenwood, causing it to become thereafter the Mirkwood, Sauron's forces broke the strength of the Naugrim by more direct means - they invaded the buried halls of Moria, killing all within. No dwarf survived the slaughter, so the Naugrim living in other parts of Middle-Earth never even knew that Khazad-Dum had fallen...
A scene set long before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring in the tunnels of Moria. This features a new 'Orc' character for Michael (by "Ghost of Macbeth"), and a dwarf character by "LiteLuvr".
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