Travelers to the Temple of the Rock were, while not common, at least heard of.
Even Stoneshod travelers occasionally made the pilgrimage.
Unheard of in Chief's village, however, was eight great Stoneshod warriors, one wearing dwarrow treasure, seemingly unaware of the Temple at all.
Brother Kab stubbornly insisted that this was indeed the situation waiting in the village entrance hall, so Chief reluctantly made his way up to meet them.

―I believe believe the leader is called kala pini, or something like it, Kab said as they walked. I don't speak the Open Tongue well enough to understand him.

― The one who speaks Border?

― No, that's the thing. Proper Dwarrowspeak, too pure for me to follow. None of them speak Border though, which is why none of us have gotten through to them.

― And the dwarrow treasure?

― Made of truesilver, the only adjective I can come up with is legendary. Kab grimaced as Chief gave him a look. I swear, it's something out of the vaults of legend.

Chief hummed pensively, letting the tunnel walls resonate with his intrigue.

They entered the entrance hall, where to his dismay Chief saw Brother Jod glaring at the visitors, who seemed distinctly uncomfortable with him.
Even Chief was uncomfortable with Brother Jod.
The eight Stoneshod were large even for their kind, the largest almost fifteen feet tall.
That one was one of two carrying a spear, which would not have helped Jod's mood.
The leader caught Chief's eye, however.
Slightly smaller, twelve feet from toe to head, a head on which he wore a thin circlet off which threads seemed to flow, through his hair down to his chest and back.
The circlet and the many threads flashed a rich gold, or a pure silver, or if the light caught it perfectly, the red of sunset as Chief walked, so the truesilver was real, and some deep part of Chief's mind urged him to reach out and feel the metal.
Truesilver worked this finely, each thread no thicker than each hair of the Stoneshod's brown fur, would have taken a master to make, and Chief wondered if his village was worth as much as even one of those threads.

Chief shook himself out of his admiration of the circlet.

― Welcome, friends, Chief said in the Open Tongue. Kab says you're not seeking the Temple of the Rock?

At this, the tall one with the spear grunted and said to their leader

― What else would you expect, talking to a dwarf?

― Coming from a one of the Herd, no less! Brother Jod shouted, starting to reach for his spear, but before Chief could process the sudden flurry the tall Stoneshod had raised his spearpoint to Jod's throat.

― Stop! rumbled their leader. His voice echoed painfully loudly in the hall, deep as thunder, and the warrior with the spear seemed to shrink back.

Hell, Chief thought, I'd flinch at that voice too even if it weren't from someone twice my size.
Their leader glared at the tall one a moment, turned to Chief and said, in proper Dwarrowspeak,

― I beg forgiveness twice, once for my guard's insult to your people with his word, and once for his insult to your hospitality with his spear.

Jod looked shocked to hear the holy language in the great Stoneshod's mouth, which Chief made a note to relish later.

― Well met friend, and I hope this hall provides you shelter, Chief said in reply in the little Dwarrowspeak he could manage. Switching to the Open Tongue, he continued:

― Your guard is forgiven, Chief said. At this the guard bristled slightly, and Chief noted that their leader gave the guard a pointed glance.

― You speak our tongue beautifully, better than anyone in this village, I would say. Chief caught a glimpse of shame in Jod's eye, so this day was improving rapidly. I'm the Chief of this village, and you can go ahead and call me Chief. We're used to travelers passing this village for the Temple, so it's surprising to see Stoneshod headed anywhere else.

― I have studied Dwarrowspeak, yet I find myself embarrassed not to know the languages here. As I tried to tell your man there, the Stoneshod said, gesturing at Kab, I am President Calvin of Galvarelli. I seek passage to Mountberg, and aid from the dwarrowfolk to find an end to the Witchfen Meadowlark.