The twists and turns of caverns old,
Beneath the ground makes blood run cold.
In flickering firelight shadows dance,
Leaving weary mind in trance,
To boggles - monsters underground;
And dreams of things best left unfound.
While step by cautious step you trod,
And pray to any kindly God,
To see you to the very end;
As you are striving to defend
Yourself from creature's tooth and claw.
Determinedly, you clench your jaw
And glance into the room ahead;
Discovering you've come instead
Into a mighty ogre's den!
He's twice the height of mortal men,
And seems a formidable beast -
(you know you'll make a tender feast),
But gripping sword in steady hand,
You charge right in with visions grand
Of knightly deeds within your mind,
And bardic songs where heroes find
A glistening treasure as reward!
A pirate's chest, or dragon hoard!
Now with your thoughts on conquering,
You give the sword a mighty swing,
And swallow hard, step back, and pale;
Touch shield tattoo and see it fail
As you forgot to ink anew;
And midnight hour's unkind to you:
It struck as you made your first blow -
Your sword was forged so long ago,
It now decays. The ogre howls
And strikes you down amid its growls.
You try to flee from off the floor;
It strikes again, and blocks the door.
You sip your last and start to swear;
Cry out to friends on city air,
"Deliver me!" you quickly beg
As ogre cracks you like an egg.
And as it strikes a final blow,
Your health is gone, your mana low;
'Annice to Ogre, Dun Fortress'
Why didn't you learn preparedness?


Penned by my hand on the 7th of Aeguary, in the year 507 AF.