Now, maybe a small poem to lead the way ? [Now actually solvable, my bad]

Using the second hint, I think I found some clues. Buuuuuuuuut, it should be solvable WITHOUT edits 1 and 2, so still stuck.

How dare you to make a so difficult riddle!!!

Oh wait...

Nope, no clue. Might take another look later.

Hmm, I'm now getting a 4 digit number, but it seems I'm still missing some rule, as it's not working. So many steps without a means to validate partial results :(

Bump for solved! :)

bump for solved! my brain hurts XD

bump solved whew

Solved bump -)

Bump

Usually I'll miss out giveaways of this kind, not because I'd ignore the puzzle, but because I usually get started at the last minute and end up not solving the puzzle in time.

This could have happened to this puzzle, but I have something else with higher priority to procrastinate on (i.e. more important RL stuff), so I just immediately got started the moment I read this thread. It's certainly the kind that when you solve it, you glow with bigbrainedness (but actually it's because the puzzle creator took pity and gave out sufficient hints).

So thank you very much for creating such a fine puzzle to help me procrastinate, and have lovely GAs to join at the end of it all. Perhaps you could list the games on offer so folks here could decide if they'd like to sacrifice their brains to have further cracks at this!

Explorers! Now, the picture is revealed, perhaps you'll find something interesting ?!

bump for solved... though that was before i realized you revealed the picture and I owned all 5 games 😂

Space felines! A cambion told me the portal is closing in less than 48 hours.
I heard strange rumors about recent events in the west, i'm about to go investigate. We'll see each other soon perchance !

Bump for not solved

Bump! :3

2.5h left bump

Travellers, I received another message from an unknow entity calling itself The Ancient One with a tentacle drawn (badly at that), that reads:

You have done wonders explorers, I was told that my superior were happy with the results of the portal openings. New game to prey on, and delicious cats at that! Wonders I say! Now, for the lucky few that escaped our gaze, let's see what the key to the riddle was:
Let's select the strophe that resonates with the initial note:
Oh, and I should tell you that only the start holds sway, that gold lies within those lines and probably that only duos shapes the way.
He met a queen, auguste and fair, = He for helium, and Au for gold, so atomic numbers 2+79 = 81
(As a side, this line was for Queen Galfrey, ruler of Mendev, and leader of the crusade, as this poem is about the story of Pathfinder WOTR)

Now the whole poem:

Within nebulous haze, the demoness sways, --> Ne 10 Th 90
Her crimson eyes, a glowing blaze. --> He 2 Cr 24
With predatory grin and voice in swarth, --> Pr 59 In 49
She lures the lost with whispered warmth. --> Lu 71 Th 90

With nefarious whispers, the demon misled, --> Ne 10 Th 90
Amid covert plots, she shaped his dread. --> Am 95 Co 27
Her titanic will bound him in chains, --> He 2 Ti 22 In 49
A defiant pawn in dark domains. --> Pa 91 In 49

He met a queen, auguste and fair, --> He 2 Au 79
Yet thwarted dreams obscured his glare. --> Th 90
Through agonized trials, he withstood the fight, --> Th 90 Ag 47 He 2 Th 90
With unshaken alacrity, he reached her height. --> Al 13 He 2 Re 75 He 2 He 2

By potent will, her curse was slain, --> Po 84 He 2 Cu 29
And cupid’s grace broke love’s refrain. --> Cu 29 Br 35 Re 75
Through iron storms, he carved his fate, --> Th 90 Ir 77 He 2 Ca 20
With kryptic strength, defied his state. --> Kr 36

In balanced peace, his heart held true, --> In 49 Ba 56 He 2 He 2
As modest hands claimed love anew. --> As 33 Mo 42 Cl 17
With serene joy, his soul took flight, --> Se 34 Fl 114
And fragrant dawn embraced the night. --> Fr 87 Th 90 Ni 28

Total: 2357
And this way, you accessed the portals to many demonic domains, including The Old One's and Mendev, soon to fall in the grasp of Khorramzadeh. My superiors will await your arrival in the next operation. Hopefully our plans unfold soon.

Well. Who could have guessed, Auguste, Gold, yeah... silver ink, maybe? Whatever. You did great, the portal have closed and the winners have been drawn, thank you everyone for participating despite my failure. I sincelery hope there'll be more excitement and less frustration with the next puzzle, as i said, i've been called west and something dark is brooming there, we'll get to the bottom of it together I hope!

Cheers 🎺