O livro é um diário, escrito por Morvegil Curucam, enviado pelo rei Araphor de Arthedain a Moria. Morvegil era um ferreiro de grande capacidade, e o rei estava particularmente interessado em que ele aprendesse tudo o que pudesse com os mestres dos anões. O diário traz uma série de informações sobre as técnicas especiais empregadas em Moria, antes da queda.
: ”“I am constantly astounded by these Craftsmen. They never seem to sleep, and are always about singing and hammering in sweltering Quarters where the only light is that which leaps from the forges. Even the blistering cold of this Narwain can be preferable to the searing heat of their King’s Smelting-halls. But the Dwarves relish these dimes, and I cannot dispute their Art.
: ”The Smiths employ hundreds of little Tools---Awls, Chisels, Chimps, Molds, stretching Chains, Adzes, Metal-shears, and the like---but above all, they favor those we know from Home. Forges, Anvils, Tongs, and Hammers bear the brunt of their toil. Strangely enough, they mainly do the things our Folk try, although they tinker a lot and ply their Trade without thought of strain. Rest comes in the form of huge Meals and Buckets of sour Beer. Dwarves count work and war as fun and frolic.
: ”The most noticeable differences between our Tools and those of Moria relate to their size and composition. Dwarf-tools use an immensely strong Steel, as hard any I’ve seen in Fornost, and capable of cutting good Iron like Lard. Some of their better Smithies are even stocked with Equipment faced or edged with the Mithril Alloy the Sindar call Ithilnaur. Enchanters and Alchemists run these Shaping-halls and turn out the incredible Treasures bound for the Coffers of Dwarf-lords and High Kings.
: ”As one might think, Dwarven Tools tend to be smaller than those of Men, although they commonly use large, two-hand Hammers and Adzes. I’ve also noticed steel Anvils of all sizes, some seven feet long and molded with full weapon Rests. The average Block spans three feet, which is twice the norm of those from Eriador, It’s the variety that intrigues me, though, because Moria certainly enjoys at least one type of Anvil to match any found Elsewhere.”
Após algum tempo de leitura, outro trecho parece interessante:
: ”“My guide Buri is blind in one Eye, but had no trouble descending the narrow Spirals of the granite Stairway that leads down to the Cold-works. I, for one, am always scared on Moria’s access Steps, because they have no Rails and occasionally drop through huge open Caves. Even the breezes through the ventilating Shafts feel like Gales when you balance on these precarious Stairs.
: ”The seventh Flight of Dwarf-steps ends seventy odd Feet above the the Floor of an exceedingly frigid Ice-cave. Here the Path gives way and becomes a curving Ramp that winds to the Surface below. I couldn’t explain the Cold, and expected an Opening to the harsh Winter outside, but I was quickly reeducated. The sloping Floor of the Cave is actually the Top of a huge subterranean Glacier that sweeps through the northern Deeps of the Silvertine.
: ”An elevated Causeway spans the Glacier and takes the Path into an Opening in the Wall, about 100’ from the lower Edge of the Ramp and 200’ beyond the Base of the spiral Stairway. Dancing Lights set among the gigantic Icicles and stunning ice Columns add an Elven air to the Chamber; however, the Scene quickly reverts to One familiar to Moria. After passing the Portcullis and Gate that guards the Aperture, We entered a dimly lit Tunnel with smooth, glowing limestone Walls. The Passage ran straight like an Arrow into another (this time smaller) Ice-cavern.
: ”Moria’s Cold-works lie in the second Ice-hall, amidst wild Stalactites and Stalagmites, and thousands of Ledges which are like enchanted glass Bowls filled with frozen Pools. Gold Lanterns and steel-cased crystal Lamps adorn the Walls and illuminate a Collection of work Areas; all separated by deep, ice-filled Canyons.
: ”What wonders Moria holds! Here choruses of Dwarf-smiths craft their magic wares, while the drone of huge natural flutes and drums echoes off the walls. Working in glass forges sprinkled about the Cold-works, they create items of power using the charmed ‘frozen Flames’ from the mystical Helvorn wood.
: ”Helvorn comes from secret Vales in the high Mountains, and I have no inkling as to how It reached these Depths. The bluish-grey Wood is brought in on ice-lined Troughs and slides down out of Store-halls set around and above the Cold-works. Laborers take the Wood from the Chutes and feed It into Slots high on the Sides of the Cold-forges. The Helvorn then falls and the Bark cracks away on impact, exposing the magical Core of the lower Tree to Air, Blisteringly cold Flames explode out of the Core, giving Life to afresh Cold-fire.
: ”Moria’s Cold-fires reside in the innermost Vaults of multi-chamber Furnaces (just like Those that breathe hot Fire in Smelting-halls above), These Cold-forges are crucial to the crafting of the enchanted, glassine Laen, since Laen only gets stronger with increasing Temperatures. It is utter Cold that softens the wondrous Substance, enabling the Laen-smiths to sculpt fabulously strong and beautiful Artifacts.
: ”My Lord, I saw this process at work, and I write about It; yet, I must say that what You read cannot describe the haunting Techniques or the splendid Results born of the Cold-works.”