Cipher of Around

Too long ago for anyone to tell
holly sages from high to earth they fell

Each held a secret a font of old lore
from the source of magic, pages they tore

In lands in the west, past desert and sea
runes in strange places a great oddity

Symbols and letters drawn figures in code
told a grim future where pitch blackness flowed

Cyril the Cipher Chief of the Mages
loved a good puzzle solving in stages

Under moonlight and starlight, fire, steel, wood, stone
explored every corner and weary he'd grown

Looking for monthto connect many signs
Intricate patterns, designs in designs.

Vigorous stude for nearly a year
every stone uncovered -  a new did appear.

Standing one day on a rock on Brine Hill
ingenious thoughts his head they did fill.

Not a moment too soon - scribbled and penned
the code - it made sense - his mind it did rend.

He babbled and muttered his mind seemed fried
Eerrily vapid, "he's mad" they all cried

Despondent grew those who saw his grim state
a  once giant wizard doomed by his fate

Reach for the stars and your fall can be long
King and queens, knights and knaves, weak and the strong.

Nary a one can espape the warp's weave
each person is caught unable to leave

Some say however that Cyril stayed true
sanity was his friend though no one knew.