The Secret Of Negankerdak

Ages have passed since Earth-Wrought was lost

And for our people great was the cost

Quests were begun where Unforged was sought

At rumors of finding fierce wars were fought

We are now broken, our great ones have died

Lightcatcher is gone, in grief set aside

Yet when a dwarf sees the diamond black

His heart remembers Negankerdak

Mordaar Morthain in the Noddyrock mined

Eagerly delving for treasures to find

This stout-hearted dwarf was humble and true

Honest souls like his in our day are few

He followed what seemed a black diamond trail

But it brought him near the accursed Black Vale

Corrupt, full of snares, deception its mark

A deep crevice caught him he fell in the dark

Mordaar came to a cave of light, soft and dim

To Irna’s own heart his fall had brought him

With fountains and pools, with airy light-streams

And wells for wisdom, and inspired dreams

His footsteps soft, he trod the smooth floor

And found in the wall a small, gleaming door

With a sign of a Moon, of deep earthen brown

And a sign of a sword the full Moon did crown

Then spoke a deep voice within his mind

Firm as the rock, yet noble and kind

Know, little dwarf, it was from Vordan fear

That I hid away what you will find here

It was dwarven conceit, beyond measure

That prompted me to remove their treasure

Too quickly I came in far off season

But could not to them reveal the reason

Yet do you suppose they could have perceived

That I came for their good would they have believed?

Mordaar, amazed, with a trembling hand

Pressing his palm on the granite brand

Unsealed the door where a Sword lay hid

Warily, whispering as he did

It was no demon, but a Guardian true

I see it now, from his very own hue

Negankerdak, here long laid to rest

By mighty Rilfar, a Guardian blest

Then a soft voice he heard within

Light and dark, heavy and thin

Negankerdak, by no hand made

A blue light shining within its blade

To the dwarves I was commended

But not for dwarf my use intended

Another there is I must employ

The world to save, or to destroy

Think not this blade as yours to own

Think what hand made you, flesh and bone

Are not our days by another cast

In this world so deep and vast?

To spend ourselves for another’s sake

My fate and yours, each we take

Silent, in awe, the Sword in his hand

Aware it was not his to command

With wondering mind and a heart that yearned

Mordaar’s steps toward home he turned

Forever, I will be seeking you