Editing First Poem from Malek

Poem found on the way into Malek (in the room full of corpses):

NEGATIVE - 7 = dusk

Dim in dusk, dark fields and forests lay ''---- dusk = heading into dark => implies move to negative age'' '' ''' Start point is on -ve side but also indicates close to a pivot between light and dark'''''

Open, exposed to lengthening light. ''----conversely, this implies that light (+ve) is increasing?'' '''''Moving in a +ve direction towards the light'''''

Golden beams glinted on heads and helms ''----good light on a battlefield?'' '''''+ve forces winning the day'''''

Silently slipping from forest fastness ''---- elves leaving the Sylvan Forest'' '''''Causes other elves to leave ?''''' 

Into open twilight ''---- openly following evil's path'' '''''...and to follow another -ve path'''''

reaching the road ''---- they set foot deliberately on the road to Evil  '''''where a clear route is shown to them'''''

on the verge of night.  ''---- again implies heading into darkness'' '''''...a split in the Elvish yet balancing +ve & -ve'''''


AN OUTER PLANE- 7 = underground

They were awaited: one in sable silk ''---- Black Silk could be Malor'' '''''Lanzi agrees'''''

Bowed gravely in greeting, held out his hand,

Wishing welcome to His Lady’s lands. ''---- on behalf of a female ruler (probably Hel or Inwe)'' '''''Malor welcoming Inwe to Hel's domain)'''''

The riders reined in, their heavy helms

Revealing elvish eyes:

Sylvan, unyielding ''---- Sylvan elves leave a forest openly heading toward evil''

Wary, yet wise. ''---- Malor welcomes Sylvan into Hel's or Inwe's domain?'' '''''Hel's I think - Lanzi'''''



----
''The first 2 verses are either side of one door on the same wall; the next 5 verses are all on one wall.  The poem reads naturally anti-clockwise around the room''
----



FIRE - 7 = fumerole or in the volcano

Hunched on the heights, a castle crowned the crag: ''---- Castle on a mountain? A minas? or [[Ratorain Tower]]?''

In fading light it loomed stark and strong. ''---- again fading light => +ve to -ve transition''

The cobblestones clattered; flaming torches flared ''---- stone = earth; flame = fire''

Shielding corners in shadows that dipped and danced. ''---- dancing shadows, evil ascendant?''

They entered the hall: ''---- ''

bright gold, crystal ''---- bright gold => good but crystal => Sarnim Stone; is a good shard here?''

a fire-lined wall. ''---- a volcano?''




possibly NEGATIVE - 7 = maybe be a negative outer plane; planes of Hades / Hel = Nilfelheim

The master of his Hall sat in state ''= Hades himself ---- in state => in death => a Lich Lord?''

Tall as a tower, gaunt, with gleaming eyes. ''---- a giant?''

Briefly they bowed, then stood silent, still

Like statues in a tyrant's tomb. ''''---- tomb => -ve''

The tall lord smiled

as a hunter might ''---- a predator/killer''

to something once wild. ''---- he is patronising so possibly ancient?''


----

This is another natural break between 'where to go' and 'what to do'

----


- 8

'Welcome,' he said, 'And where is the smith,'

'Whose skill is famed near and far?'

One stirred and stepped forward; softly spoke:

'The smith stands before you, for Orodruin has come,' ''---- possibly Orodruin has come to a Lich Lord?''

'And would learn from your lips what price you would pay.'

And his face was cold ''---- cold => ice = -ve water''

his voice polite

and utterly controlled. ''---- I think Orodruin is not evil; he is not happy to be here...''


- 7

'Have you skill sufficient,' said that Master of Drow, ''Master of Drow = ruler of Drow = Hel or Hades in Greek mythos

'Armour to make unbreakable by man?' ''---- unbreakable by 'man' but not by 'woman'; schoolboy error''

'No price may be paid for the perfect piece,'

'But gifts I may give, exchange priceless for perfect.' ''---- bartering artefacts??''

Thus the grim lord ''---- grim => -ve''

offered for armour

a choice from his hoard. ''---- what did Guerin have left to offer Orodruin?''


- 8

'If the metal is mithril,' the Half Gnome answered,

'My skill could shape it strong and sure.'

'But armour unbreakable? Only Powers could prove it, ''---- Powers => Gods?''

'Or battering of battle, though the smith should strive'

'Armour to make unbreakable by man.' ''---- 'by man', Orodruin exploits the poor choice of words (as per badly cast wish)?''

'But what, great lord,'

might you have to offer

from the depths of your hoard? ''---- what did the armour cost ...?''