In my work as a chronicler, I have hithertho talked about what is known and tried to bury what is clouded by doubt - for a chronicle should try to pursue the telling of real stories and leave the figments of imagination to the realm of myth and prose. However, 'tis true that, sometimes, darker stories are quite left out, and that they are unjustly forgotten due to fear of having to tell them. The story I am about to tell should not be read as a true fact, for it is riddled with doubts and no sureties can be deduced from the very little proof I managed to gather. All I have is an obscure riddle and my own chronicles of the family history. Thus I hope that thee, my dear reader, will use thy proper reading eyes for this short telling. I must also add that writing this pains my heart and I have no desire for it to be true, and if it were, than I would hope to keep it a secret between you and me. If my words appear to thee vague, pray do wait and read on, for in what follows I will recount what I understand so far of the Secret of Kidîz Baraz.

The Secret of Kidîz Baraz (The Secret of Red Gold)

There is no denying that my family earned a great deal of gold after their exile to Khazad-Dûm. Their craftsmanship was a great addition to the realm of Durin, and partly thanks to their help it reached the splendour that today is still praised in song. During the Third Age, as I have recounted in other tales, one of my ancestors, Nurvi, forged himself quite a reputation. He received the name Stouthammer because he dared to chisel in the most dangerous of chasms and tunnels in search of veins of gold, gems and mithril. Nurvi was reluctant, however, to spend his days only mining and thus later on he would start to work what he dug up into beautiful jewelry, becoming one of the greatest jewelers our family has ever known. But the thrill of climbing was to him too precious to pass up, and eventually his lust for danger proved his downfall when he fell down a mining shaft to his untimely death. He left his three sons, Bruni, Narfi and Nagli a large treasure hoard over which they fought for many years.

This treasure hoard was thus, like it would be centuries later, a source of many quarrels. As is known, Narfi survived the downfall of Moria and took with him the majority of the treasure of his family along with his cousins. His two brothers, Bruni and Nagli, are both said to have perished to Durin's Bane before they could flee to safety. But there is also another story that tells Narfi secretly killed his brothers for the treasure. Nál, son of Nagli, and Narfi's cousin was suspicious of his uncle and would not believe his father had perished in the ensuing chaos of the nameless terror. Why he had his doubts is uncertain, but like his father he felt little love towards his uncle and thus his cousins did not heed his words. It is known that Nál survived the fall of Moria and travelled west with his kin, but he disappeared not long after their return to the Blue Mountains. Among his possessions was found a map of Moria and it was held as a truthful assumption that Nál thus held the location of the vault and the secret to opening it. 

There was also a poem titled Kidîz Baraz, most likely written by his hand. Narfi nor his cousins paid much attention to this trivial verse, but little did they know it was in fact a riddle. It remains a peculiar mystery to this day what exactly the riddle is about, but I do like to believe that it hints after that same hidden vault in Moria that holds the remainder of the treasure and perchance some evidence of whatever truly happened to Nagli and Bruni. If that is true, more answers could be found in that ancient kingdom.

The riddle's first lines seem to hint after a possible fratricide, though it could very well mean something different entirely. The following line talks about a "chamber", though this again could be meant figuratively. In what follows the verse seemingly loses all sense, talking about reflections or mirrors, dark and light, sounds and signs,...

I have spent many years already trying to uncover the secret behind these lines. I carry it with me everywhere as if I hope it will whisper its hidden truth to me one of these days. All my research ends up pointing to Khazâd-Dûm. Perhaps I ought to pack my bags...