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
