1

INTRODUCTION

The Land of Grimney

Who was Cora Pearl?

It is difficult to write about an individual whose life is shrouded in the deepest

mysteries. Very little is known about her. Cora’s stepfather Samuel Blackthorn, who
lived at his manor house in the Malvern countryside, raised the child, it seems that he
was rather cruel to her. Therefore Cora grew into a sullen young girl. The tragedy of
her father Robert’s early death, and the neglect shown to Cora by her mother
Elizabeth did little to improve Cora’s temperament, thus she withdrew into a silent
world of poetry and fantasy. As her obsession with her imagination increased, the
twelve year old child disappeared.

Cora returned some two years later, physically unchanged, with a book of illustrations
and a large collection of poems detailing her experiences in a magical land. She left
her written legacy behind, before vanishing once more.

So lower the lights, make yourself comfortable in a cosy armchair, or better still have
someone read to you as you drift into wistful dreams. But be careful not to sleep too
deeply, you just might wake up in the ‘Land of Grimney’ too…

Gavin Paul Carter

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Cora Pearl’s Life

Behind grey walls of crumbled stone

I live my life a child alone
I have my hobbies and poetry
But nothing more in life for me
I cry at night and hideaway
I don’t care what the adults say
Each day I spend behind closed door
This is my life there’s nothing more
The manor house in which I live
Has no warmth, no love to give
My stepfather has so little dealing
With the emotions I am feeling
Watching me with hate filled eyes
He ignores my sadness and my sighs
My mother who I once adored
Looks unhappy and quite bored
With the world in which we live
Oh I wish she had more love to give

The Adventures of Cora Pearl

I can barely speak since father died

Oh how I wish he were alive
To hold me in a warm embrace
To touch his skin and kiss his face
Would give me all the peace I need
To guide me forward and succeed
In this world that seems so cold
When you’re just a child of twelve years old
In a world where money rules each heart
My love and dreams cannot be part
Of all that I at twelve hold true
And as I walked through the world I knew
I sought a place to hide away
Where no adults from this world could stray
It was in my words I found my home
And into Grimney I did roam
I took my pen and painting pad
These gifts of art were all I had
So I took soft steps and ventured in
And here in Grimney my dreams begin.
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The Magic Book

It was the darkest night I had ever seen

When my world became my dream
Beneath the roots of a giant oak
My prayers were answered and I awoke
I found a book beneath the tree
That would shape my life and set me free
Each page was blank so crisp and white
And guided by the strangest light
I placed a poem on each page
And magic welcomed in an age
Of wonder and weird fantasy
The Land of Grimney would set me free

The Bugwug

I had a guide upon my shoulder

The wisest bird that was much older
Than all the years that measure time
And he spoke in riddle and in rhyme
‘Dear Cora the land is full of danger
Especially when you are a stranger
Walk wisely and do not lose sight
Of creatures with an appetite
For they’ll eat you if they are able
And serve you at their dinner table’…
I listened closely to each word
He was indeed the brightest bird
Each step I took was placed with care
So do walk with me if you dare…

The Land of Grimney

In this magic land of Grimney

Smoke curls out of every chimney
With Grimney marsh and Grimney mire
Folks like the comfort of a fire
Even in their beds at night
They will leave their fires alight
To fend off all those nasty things
With their sharp teeth, sharp claws and stings
Although you may feel safe at home
There are some things that like to roam
Around people’s houses in the
Things that scratch and claw and bite,
So I really do think that you should
Stock up with lots of firewood.
 4

The Grodling

I fell asleep by a bubbling stream

And heard a voice whisper in my dream
Soft and gentle, a quiet tone
And I knew that I was not alone
I opened my eyes and blinked at the sun
But I saw no sign of anyone
I called for the Bugwug who was sat up a tree
Pointing his wing at what he could see
A strange looking creature with a head big and square
With a long pointed chin that sprouted white hair
He had four giant ears that flapped on the breeze
And gigantic blue feet beneath knobbly knees
He was short,
He was plump,
He had a protruding rear rump
And his nose, as it grows,
Was squashed up in a stump.
The creature before me giggled and smiled
I have to admit I was quite beguiled
I asked ‘How are you?’ and winked a blue eye
But he puffed up his cheeks and gave a huge sigh
His large orange eyes rolled around in his head
He was completely ignoring the words I had said
Odd though he was I thought him quite charming
But then his behaviour it became quite alarming
Jumping about he waved his hands in the air
Brushing long fingers through spiky white hair
He danced and he wobbled with his tongue sticking out
He screeched and he gurgled and started to shout
His big bulbous eyes almost popped from his head
Until he fell in the grass as if he were dead
I thought ‘This is odd’ but I could not ignore
The dreadful noise as he gurgled and started to snore
With blue lips all a wobble I left him that day
And crept on my toes and left right away

The Warty Toad

Beware the disgusting warty toad

Who sits by his lair and tries to goad
Unsuspecting passers by
With promises of apple pie
Once inside the dank dark place
You disappear without a trace
Eaten with a pinch of spice
You would not be this toad’s guest twice.
 5

The Borran Wizard

Living alone in a candlelit cave

Sits a wizard so very grave
His name is Gorvan of the Borran tribe
An old man who thinks he’s a magic scribe
Dressed in robes of glittering gold
He looks the part but should be told
That each spell he casts has little power
Not enough to make his enemies cower
For his magic does not work at all
When sacred words he tries to call
For he has such a dreadful stammer
Severe enough to thwart his grammar
Because when faced with fearful foes
He starts to mumble and his stutter grows
Until he is unable to pronounce a word
And soon his voice cannot be heard
So all his spells are lost in a jumble
As each line he speaks begins to crumble
Into an unavoidable mess
And what he says you can only guess
Maybe one day he will get better
And pronounce each word and every letter
 6

Not much room

Do not eat the mushrooms in Grimney wood

This must be clear and understood
Because when I took a tasty bite
I had a rather dreadful fright
My hair fell out my teeth turned blue
And my bottom it just grew and grew
I tried to squat upon the ground
Upon my huge unearthly mound
My trousers split my buttons burst
My mouth dried up to a terrible thirst
I belched I blew from down below
I shook from head and down to toe
With legs like jelly my belly shook
I had a ghastly bluish look
My skin had turned from pink to blue
What was my stomach going through?
I began to wobble and roll about
I raised my voice and began to shout
No one heard this awful din
God I was happy being thin
I sat alone beneath a tree
My flesh was all that I could see
Thick and rubbery blue in colour
Wretched mushrooms I’ll never eat another!

Changing Shape

I learnt by magic to change my shape

Through different forms I can escape
Into an image of my design
When I start to draw a pencil line
If I sketch a picture of myself
As a dragon or an elf
And place it firmly inside the book
My form will change and I will look
Like the creature that I have drawn
A giant, a serpent, or a unicorn
With such power so unconfined
I can free my spirit and my mind
And venture forth in many forms
And live amongst the unicorns.
 7

The City of Gollema

‘One gold Tobran is the toll!’

Growls the ugly Grimney troll
For he stands alone at the city gate
A beastly creature filled with hate
We gloved hand outstretched to receive the gold
So give it now as you were told
For this creature in chainmail suit
Will not let you pass without the loot
Once you have paid you can venture in
Onto the streets of this city of sin
Once inside behind grey stone wall
You come across the first shopping stall
In a line with many more
With treasures strewn on cobbled floor
‘Buy my goods!’ The salesmen shout
As the shoppers look all round about
Buying gifts they do not need
From unusual clothes to magic seed
Then down the cobbled streets they pace
Passing many an unfamiliar face
Goblins, humans, Grimney elf
All parting with their hard earned wealth
For a thousand shops line each winding street
Each selling some fancy Grimney treat
From shields to weapons of the strongest steel
And then perhaps to Voramals for a hearty meal
The finest restaurant in the land
And to eat here you must be very grand
For the food that is sold is very rare
So for your money you must have little care
The sort of souls this place attracts
Have the Queen’s insignia upon their backs
Some even have the Golden Crest
Emblazoned upon an armoured chest
The finest Lords of the Queen’s Elite
Sit within on golden seat
The most legendary knights to march to war
The loyal instigators of the Queen’s strict law
 8

Vance Scarab

At Voramal’s restaurant behind a large bolted door

Lives a man who detests Grimney’s violence and war
Although he has fought many a soldiers campaign
Stood on the battlefields amongst the wounded and slain
Collected his purse in sovereigns of gold
The truth must be known now must be told
Vance Scarab’s a man who live by the sword
The highest bidder will pay his reward
But this outlaw’s a poet an artist at heart
Not just an animal that would tear you apart
Those delicate fingers that hold tight on a brush
Have gripped around men’s throats and squeezed to a crush
Each hand is stained by the blood of a foe
Vance murdered his brother with a bolt from a bow
He knows the old saying ‘As ye sow so shall ye reap’…
Ruthless and cunning but compassion runs deep
Expecting to die by a blow from a knife
Each assassin that hunts him desires his life
Stalkers that follow seek the price on his head
There is a rich bounty as long as he’s dead
Missing an eye one side out of sight
Hand on his sword hilt ready to fight
Nowhere is safe for this soldier so brave
He will not find peace until he sleeps in his grave
 9

Grimwood Scribes

Outside a fortress Citadel

Hangs an iron chain that rings a bell
All those that slowly pull the chain
Will enter Grimwood Scribes doman
For at a desk by candle fire
Is the Lord of Grimney mire
He has a mighty intellect
But that won’t earn him our respect
For he is a man who loathes the poor
So tortures them through wicked law
Counting coins from a callous tax
Whilst the fire melts the candle wax
Now and then his mouth will drip
From his drooling bottom lip
As yellow dances in his eyes
He forgets the suffering poor man’s cries
Scribes is a man of hefty bulk
And behind his desk he likes to skulk
Encased in armour with a flowing cape
That will never ever conceal his shape
Every now and then his voice will bellow
As he curses a servant or some other fellow
All who know him live in fear
Of this twisted man so insincere..
 10

The Masokins

In a forest green and plush

Near to a river strange creatures rush
Tall and skinny with pointed heads
They dance amongst the flowerbeds
Long spidery legs, arms thin and narrow
Spines so erect, straight like an arrow
Narrow of body, naked they run
No smiles on their faces they are not having fun
Expressions of agony twist their sad faces
Wracked with deep pain and fixed with grimaces
Eyes filled with tears that pour down each cheek
Why do they dance here? What do they seek?
These creatures it seems
Will go to extremes
Because they cannot stand still
They do not have the will
Why you may ask do they indulge in this task?
The answer I found
Grew near to the ground
For barefooted they prance
But it is not in a dance
Sharp brambles and thorns stick in their toes
But why choose to dance here?
God only knows?
The Masokins gain pleasure in causing great pain
So dancing in thorns these creatures remain…
 11

Eliza Jade

Beneath a burning Grimnian Sun

Is a warrior known to everyone
Crossing the Wasteland through storms of sand
A legendary fighter with broadsword in hand
Stronger than diamond this sparkling jewel
Is loyal to the Queen lives under her rule
Awarded a Knighthood her own Coat of Arms
A strong hearted beauty with the deadliest charms
Never a victim she stands by the Law
Fights for the state in campaigns of war
Much loved by the people, Jade is honest, sincere
Only hated by bad folk who view her with fear
Sworn to destroy the Lord of the Mire
Jade knows Grimwood Scribes to be a treacherous liar
Outlawed from Golt, she has a price on her head
Grimwood Scribes placed the bounty
Wanted Jade dead
Living without fear
By a sword blade so swift
Jade fights like an angel
Her skills are God’s gift.
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Dingle Town

In Dingle town
Near Grimney Moor
People live each day
The day before
As you would think
This causes confusion
Because Monday is Sunday
So it’s quite an intrusion.
Wednesday is Tuesday,
And so on and so forth,
The compass points southwards
When it should simply point north
The people walk backwards
Because they cannot walk straight,
And they always arrive early
But it is always too late.
Much of the time
People simply stand still
Their journey seems pointless
They don’t have the will…
??????????????????
‘To walk without knowing
The route you should take
Is enough to make going
Seem like a mistake’.
 13

The Three Warriors

(Calaman Kade, Cass Crellwin, Tobias Tave)

Galloping along in a thunderous roar

Horseshoe hooves on rough desert floor
Rode the two horsemen and Calaman Kade
Riding forth for some fresh cooling shade
Calaman was a man without fear
Old and wise through a long career
Through many a battle his colleagues he’d led
With a crown of pure gold upon his great head
His armour was also plated with gold
And in his gauntlet a sword he did hold
Which he waved in circles above his great head
As onwards he rode and his warriors he led
The souls that followed Kade’s fine steed
Were not all from Grimney’s human creed
One was Cass Crellwin Elvin of birth
In a hundred fights she had shown her true worth
A beautiful maiden in soft silky dress
Naked beneath in anything less
Her eyes deep blue and her skin pearly white
Her blonde flowing locks shone in the light
Cascading down to her bare shoulders below
And as she rode the wind made it flow
Blown by the wind that gusted the air
Onwards she raced a heart without care
Behind her came Tave a contrasting sight
A warrior in leather out for a fight
With dark hair cut short on an unshaven face
And in one gloved hand a large metal mace
Astride a black stallion that pounded the dust
His sword in its scabbard coated with rust
A shield on his saddle hung at his side
Onwards they charged for glory they ride!
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The Vorte

Who are the Vorte I hear you ask?

They are creatures that fail in any task
Ask them to speak they will not reply
Ask them to listen
They would rather die
The vorte are useless and totally lazy
Their memories are poor, deliberately hazy
They sit on their backsides all night and all day
They talk total rubbish whatever they say
The Vorte have ideas and have their own dreams
But nothing gets done at least that’s how it seems
They gather in conference and chat all night long
But whatever they plan it always go wrong
Discussions the answer but never to act
The Vorte have agreement that’s written in pact
‘We never do anything,
We just have suggestion
To move far too fast
Will cause indigestion’
But the Vorte seemed asleep,
And a pointless creation
Just having ideas
That cause deep frustration
The world of the Vorte would eventually end
As they charged round in circles
And went round the bend
Unable to reason or learn from the past
They talked far too much
But they’d soon speak their last
Their greatest mistake was their own greed
To strip away resources
And to fulfil every need
When nothing was left the Vorte simply died
And their homes became tombs
Where they rotted inside…
 15

The Silver Lake

The flicker of diamonds upon the silver lake

Caused Cassandra the mermaid to slowly wake
Swimming now to the surface above
Arose the beautiful fin tailed goddess of love
Once through the waters surface into the air
The sun streamed rays of light over her long golden hair
Strands that fell to the water below
Did not lose as they sank that splendid mystic glow

Cora Pearl’s woodland encounter

If you enter Grimney wood

Care should be taken
Lest you should
Find something dreadful to behold
That would make your blood run icy cold
Tread softly in this spooky place
Or you could find you’re face to face
With something you’d prefer to see
From behind the comfort of a tree
In a clearing picturesque
Squats a creature quite grotesque
The creature turns and spies you there
Transfixing you with malevolent stare
Then it opens up its mouth to say
‘My God you’re ugly go away’
Also…
Something wicked full of spite
Stalks through Grimney woods at night
Looking for some souls to tease
By throwing powder that makes you sneeze
He is a pest when he bites your knee
As you can never shake him free
He only stands three foot four
I could be wrong he maybe more
But compared to me he is quite small
As I am over four foot tall
Then he grins and roars with laughter
What is this little fellow after?
 16

Elkran Venwin

If you hide and stay very still

Within the forest on Grimney Hill
You I am sure will no doubt see
Tip toeing out from a nearby tree
The strangest fellow I have ever known
Elkran Venwin the woodland gnome
He is so small and clad in green
And so very lucky to be seen
But don’t move now don’t even breath
For the slightest noise will make him leave
As he is shy of everyone
And only appears in the noon day sun
 17

The Wise Man

The wise man sat upon the hill

Deep in thought he sat so still
He was old and grey and robed in white
And I walked for miles to see this sight
Men and women gathered round
And listened for the slightest sound
The little man stared straight ahead
What thoughts were flooding through his head?
He closed his eyes and began to mutter
My heart it jumped and began to flutter
Could he tell us life’s true meaning?
Or was he just asleep and dreaming?
‘I’ He said in a quiet voice
I sit here because I have a choice’…
The crowds of people wanted more
Words of wisdom not heard before
The little man began to grin
And raised his hand to scratch his chin
‘In this world we seek a reason
For each day and every season
We want to know why we are here
To find the meaning of each year’
The little man shrugged each tiny shoulder
‘Perhaps I’m wise because I’m older?
Or because I sit alone in thought
You think I know more than I ought?
What makes me wise is very little
I’m very old and my bones are brittle
I sit alone because I can
Apart from that I’m just a man’
But he was more than that the people thought
And they gave him gifts that they had brought
For only a wise man lives alone
The wisest mind needs not flesh nor bone
The final words he spoke that day
As his followers strolled away
Were…
’Some will follow some will lead
We all need guidance to succeed’…
‘But looking for the truth of living
Is not in gifts but in the love we’re giving’
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Funny Foot

The shortest creature I ever knew

Was just a foot until he grew
A narrow leg upon his shin
And I watched in wonder his growth begin
I wondered just how tall he’d be
As he sprouted hairs upon his knee
Onwards upwards grew his thigh
Reaching treelike in the sky.
My mouth fell open with surprise
I had never seen a leg this size!
Atop a peachy bottom grew
Not just one cheek
Now there’s two!
From the crack there grew a nose
Longer than his fleshy toes
And on each cheek
There grew two eyes
Bluer than the bluest skies
He gazed at me.
What could I say?
I simply watched him hop away.

The Skull

The Skull is bathed in unbroken gloom

And in it many demon’s loom
Tortured souls of many dead
All who had been evil led
Alone in a room on a stone carved throne
Sits the Warlock Berilious Bone
Robed in black and hooded from view
A face that is seen by only a few
All that is not hidden from sight
Are those large red eyes that burn so bright
For of the underworld he is Lord
And he does not rule by axe or sword
Magic is the way he rules
Forgotten are all other tools
A thousand demons he does guide
None would ever leave his side
Slaves they are everyone
You would think he was the Devil’s son
Maybe he is you can never tell
But I wish he would fall back to Hell
 19

The Thadonites

They have two heads and never agree

They argue about what it is to be
A two headed creature with their heads side by side
Upon narrow shoulders that are not very wide
Their faces are long and they have giant noses
If only their breath smelt of perfume and roses
Sadly for them this is just not the case
Because stinky bad breath causes them to grimace
With nostrils as wide as wide as can be
They can smell the strong garlic they ate for their tea
With tears in their eyes they always complain
But they cannot escape, oh dear what a pain
The Thadonite curse is to be linked together
Next to a neighbour they will hate forever
 20

Molke’s Mushrooms

There is a forest on Haunted Hill

With towering trees and branches so still
Where shadowy figures move out of sight
Keep themselves hidden away from the light
There once walked a girl in flowing blue cloak
Within the dense forest of towering oak
And whilst she picked mushrooms in dark silhouette
This pretty young maiden unfortunately met
A contemptuous creature that lived in this wood
A grumpy old troll always up to no good
For the mushrooms that grew here out of the soil
Were grown through his labour, his hard work and toil
At least that’s what he said, but it just was not true
And the young maiden smiled for already she knew
That this troll was prone to tell awful lies
As for a young maiden she was very wise
‘Oh Mr Molke’
The young lady said
‘Can I pick toadstools, not mushrooms instead?’
The troll was confused but had to agree
For he wanted those mushrooms himself for his tea
‘All right my pretty, toadstools are fine,
but these mushrooms, not so, because they are mine’…
‘But these are the toadstools’
The young maiden said
‘These are the toadstools, the gift from the dead’
The troll now was muddled and very confused
‘These are not mushrooms?’
He silently mused
Molke looked at the maiden with a threatening stare
‘Then where are my mushrooms?’
She replied ‘Over there’
‘Well little miss you had better go home
I will give you no mushrooms no toadstools to own’
The girl gave a look that seemed to show sorrow
‘Thanks for your kindness, I shall be back tomorrow’
Waving goodbye she glided back home
Whilst the wicked old troll to the mushrooms did roam
Molke filled a huge sack right up to the brim
Then returned to his hovel when the sun had grown dim
He had mushrooms for tea that dark stormy night
He'd have mushrooms for breakfast when it came early light
But in the morning the troll never woke
Whilst in the woods the girl in the cloak
Picked mushrooms solemnly throughout that strange day
For she knew the troll would not come and say
‘These are my mushrooms pick toadstools instead’
Because those were her mushrooms her gift from the dead.
 21

The Wibble Bird

The Wibble is a most peculiar bird

He flies round in circles and looks quite absurd
He hooks onto trees by a curve in his beak
And hangs in midair for over a week
The Wibble never builds a nest
For true power of flight this birds not possessed
So when this fellow needs to feed
He hooks up a worm
Or sucks on a weed
He has long feathers of yellow and green
And wispy white stripes that flow in between
His eyes pop out as if on a spring
When he opens his beak he’s unable to sing
Then every so often he takes to the air
So watch out below keep your head down, beware!
As he does not know his left from his right
There’s nothing much worse than this feathered sight
Flying towards you out of control
So climb up a tree or jump down a hole
For if you do not, or fail to see
This bird with a squawk fall from a tree
You are likely to get a large bump on the head
Or worse than that he will knock you quite dead
 22

Demon of the Sky

At the crack of dawn you would hear it cry

From many miles up in the sky
Amongst the clouds near rising sun
A beast that is feared by everyone
Soaring now by wings of steel
Eyes alert for a passing meal
Down below people do not see
If they did they would surely flee
The creature now that lurks above
Has no feelings and shares no love
For where it is from is hard to place
As it fits no other Grimney race
This monster is one of a kind
With only murder on its mind
It kills for food and kills for pleasure
Selecting victims at its leisure
With blood drenched teeth and gaping maw
Razor talons snatching claw
Its targets have but little chance
When upon them it does swiftly prance
Because of this they have no time to fight
As they are dragged into a helpless flight
Which ends in death in a giant nest
God hear our plea destroy this pest
 23

A Peculiar Picnic

At a stone table beneath a leafy tree

Sipping slowly from a cup of hot tea
Sat a funny looking fellow
With hair of orange and skin of yellow
His eyes were of the lightest green
A pointy long nose stuck out between
Below the shade of the towering oak
The fellow stood, and smiled and quietly spoke
‘Please join me at my picnic table
I will feed you well for I am able
To provide you with the finest tea
Please share my food come sit with me’
He gave me some cake, and some strawberry flan
But who was this funny little man?
His clothes were cut from the finest silk
And in his tea he would take no milk
I sat and drank one cup of tea
And he spun in his chair and smiled with such glee
He opened a box containing four pies
I gazed at the contents, a feast for the eyes!
‘There is blueberry, blackberry, apple and such’
But he waved a long finger and said
‘Do not touch!’
Those fingers were long, and his nose was sharp
And he entertained by playing the harp
He asked for me to give a request
A special treat as an honoured guest
I thought for a moment, then named my choice
But when he sang he had such a terrible voice
The birds in the trees would not join in
They flew from their nests from the terrible din
I was glad when he finished so I gave him a clap
Oh what an amusing little chap
 24

The Assassin

Lurking amongst the shadows of the night

Dressed in black a fearful sight
Is a man the bad men fear
A soul who has never shed a tear
With a sword at his side hung in its sheath
A malevolent warrior who has brought much grief
For ten gold pieces he will stalk from the dark
And his blade will swiftly find its mark
Because he is an assassin of some repute
A judge who will settle any dispute
His name is not known and it will stay that way
And those that learn it he will slay
So watch your step when you pass his lair
For his heart is ice and his conscience is bare
For with steely gaze he will see you first
And take your life to ease his thirst
 25

The Magic Ring

Let me tell you the tale of the magic ring

Of the wonder and wealth that its power could bring
For on a snowy mountainside
This magic ring was found inside
A rusting battered wooden chest
And within a cave it had been laid to rest
For by this land it was forgotten
Until its panels had crumbled rotten
A man with a whistle found it there
Within the cave so cold and bare
He smashed away the iron seal
To see what treasures it would reveal
What lay within lit up his eyes
And made him jump up to the skies
There in the box lay a ring of gold
An open doorway to wealth untold
He placed the ring upon his finger
And in the cave he did not linger
As he knew the legend of the ring
So with a smile and a whistle he began to sing
About the prize that he had found
Beneath the rocks below the ground
Finding a clearing picturesque
He put the ring to a test
Wishing for food then golden ore
Then wishing again for more and more
Until the gold concealed the snow
Within a yellow shimmering glow
Laughing with a cheeky grin
Once more the wishes did begin
He wished and wished throughout the day
On and on until the sky turned grey
Then to his horror he began to see
That he was trapped and could not break free
For all around the gold did tower
As the magic ring became drained of power
And the man was entombed forever more
Within the walls of golden ore
 26

The Tootalu

The Tootalu, he grew and grew

And lived on pints of ale and stew
He scoffed when others said of him
‘You’re growing big, why don’t you slim?’
‘Sort out your weight, or you’ll get ill’
‘Surely now you’ve had your fill?’
But the Tootalu paid no heed
Because all he ever did was feed
His swelling belly with hot stew
And never ever used a loo
This did little to reduce his weight
And led him to an awful fate
One day when he had drunk much ale
His blubbery skin it turned quite pale
His bottom rumbled and he blew
His body split and fell in two
He learned his lesson, but too late
And now he waits at Heaven’s gate
Because this creature is so wide
Dear God won’t let him step inside.
 27

Grimney Moor

The most dreadful place I ever saw

Must surely be the Grimney moor
Cold and dank on a summer’s day
A place no one would care to stray
Even when the day is bright
Grimney moor is as black as night
No living creature ventures near
They hurry by in abject fear
Monstrous creatures it is said
Roam within this land of dread
Unearthly things not of this time
Covered in a sickly slime
Slither about in a hideous way
Forever searching their prey
The night is shattered by the groans
And the crunching of the victim’s bones
Other creatures hide in wait
Not knowing what will be their fate
What dreadful monster will pass by
And whether it’s their turn to die
But life and death go hand in hand
In this cruel and brutal land
I know you have been told before
So please don’t walk on Grimney moor
Who rules this deadly place of dread
Where the Devil himself would fear to tread
No one knows but one things for sure
There is no place worse than Grimney moor
 28

The Four Horsemen

Galloping swiftly through the night

Four ghostly figures dressed in white
Where are these horsemen heading for?
Yes you’re right to Grimney moor
Other creatures of the night
Cower in terror at the sight
Of these spectres rushing by
Glowing white against darkened sky
The hoof beats give a muffled sound
As the horses race across the ground
Their bodies caked in mud and sweat
As they are ridden faster yet
What can their dreadful mission be?
To drive them on so purposely
Of one thing you can be sure
Something nasty is in store
So if you venture out tonight
Make sure that you do not lose sight
Of somewhere safe to hide away
In case the strangers come your way
 29

Jacob Vale

Across silent windswept stormy plains

Over bones of goblins and human remains
Walks this wanderer on a lonely path
A man of madness with a satanic laugh
Insane with hatred vengeance dire
Vale’s evil soul dwells in hellfire
By his sword he lives and he will die by its blade
All creatures that know him are always afraid
Hidden in shadows they cower in fright
Watching the hunter who stalks through the night
Vale’s home is a fortress that is reached by a maze
But upon Grimney moor he spends all his days
Hunting the wildlife killing for pleasure
Pursuing his quarry on each day of leisure
Vale’s body is twisted battered by time
He has lost all his morals and lives only for crime
Stealing from peasants who are starving and cold
Taking their clothes and food to be sold
To unscrupulous traders who know not their grief
Those merchants with money to pay to this thief
Will buy all Vale’s goods and sell them again
Ignoring the poverty misery and shame
Jacob Vale is a villain who would sell his own mother
Claim on a bounty to trade in his own brother
No compassion or feelings flow in his veins
Only a desire for power through ill gotten gains
 30

Gongle Shanks

Gongle Shanks always stood on his head

He slept that way, never went to bed
He did not like to stand on his feet
Or sit on a stool or a comfy seat
His behaviour was odd and some did say
‘Why stand on your head all night and all day?’
Gongle’s answer was simple and not that profound.
‘The world looks better upside down’
‘I’ve seen this place from top to bottom’
But upside down its not so rotten’
‘I dislike this land it’s in a tangle’
‘It looks so much better from this angle’…
But people simply past him by
Looked on in wonder and did not try
To stop him from his strange behaviour
After all it was a sight to savour

Elvira Snitch

On the cliff top overlooking the Keep of Droc

Sat an old dirty woman upon a dusty room
Her name is Elvira Snitch
And she is a horrible murderous witch
With her big pointed nose warty white face
She is a total and utter disgrace
Casting spells on innocent folk
Turning them green and making them croak
Cackling in the foulest tone
Waving her wand fashioned from bone
She does not care who she harms
Waving her wand by her matchstick arms
Adventurers who tackle her never last
They are struck by a magic blast
Turned to stone or reduced to dust
For killing is the witch’s only lust
 31

The Fairy Dance

In the distance I could see a glow

Brought to sight by a fairy dancing show
Getting closer I watched them fly
Silhouetting upon the sun setting sky
Dropping silver fairy dust to the ground
Where next morning silver flowers would be found
Each fairy twinkled of yellow and gold
Their true glory cannot be told
After a while they begin to sing
So much joy to my heart they always bring
A chorus of angels from Heaven’s gate
Something that the bad folk hate
 32

The Tomb of Moloch

Within the walls the dust lay thick

Layered heavy from centuries past
Inside the solid but crumbling brick
Were many souls who had breathed their last
Jack held a torch to guide his way
Along this dark and dreaded path
He wished he had the light of day
For in his head he heard a mocking laugh
Within its coffin it lay awake
A concrete slab above its head
Inside Jack’s coat he held a stake
That would free it from the living dead…
Slowly Jack unlocked the tomb
Then nervously drew back the gate
Like a voice it gave a scream of doom
And closed behind to seal his fate
Onwards Jack walked below the flickering flame
Which cast dancing shadows upon the ground
From behind he heard his whispered name
Forcing himself he turned around…
There it stood, the evil one
Eyes blood red, skin pearl white
A beast that would blister in the sun
Or burn to ash in the searing light
Jack removed his stake from inside his coat
Tearing a pocket in his haste
Moloch saw his terror and began to gloat
And licked its lips for that blood filled taste
Nervously Jack raised his stake
As across the crypt it began to glide
Jack stood his ground but began to shake
For here was a beast that had never died…
Moloch screamed a blood curdling scream
And became a shadow in the dark
Jack swirled around in this nightmare dream
Searching for a place to find his mark
With the stake as his only defence
Into a corner Jack backed away
The darkness now was thick and dense
And he could only hope and pray
Because Jack’s torch had been blown out
And beads of sweat formed upon his face
Jack’s heart was filled with a terrible doubt
That he would never leave this place…
Under the glow of a luminous moon
Which cast black shrouds over pillars of stone
Outside the walls of the crumbling tomb
That hid in the dark the decay of the bone
 33

It was like the dead were holding their breath

Within the graves some six foot under
And as they waited still in death
The gate of the tomb was rent asunder
Then from the dust of centuries old
A black cloaked figure stepped from the gloom
Moloch’s skin was rigid so icy and cold
Its face so pale formed a mask of doom
There grew no hair upon its head
No lashes fluttered above its eyes
Moloch’s jagged teeth were dripping red
Blood taken from Jack near his demise.
In the vaults the rats scuttled by
While the spider’s spun another web
Jack lay in a coma but did not die
Even though from wounds his life did ebb
With heavy breath he dragged in stale air
But the stagnant taste was the last he knew
For Moloch had returned to its lair
As once more the vampires hunger grew…

Never ending Sorrow

Walking alone through the dark of the night

Surrounded by a yellow shimmering light
Is a ghostly figure all clad in white
Chanting words of a melancholy past
Until into the spirit world his soul was cast
Where his sorrow would not let him rest
For when alive he was not blessed
Because the maiden he loved was turned to rock
By a spell from one of the evil witches flock
So every day since he had died
His soul has left its grave to be at her stony side
Forever this ritual will go on
Until the statues figure has crumbled, dissolved and gone
 34

Robert Pearl

My father died when I was young

I lost him before life ne’er begun
A noble man with a heart so kind
I seek for him and I shall find
The key to dreams I need to fill
Drawn to his sided by iron will
I crossed the mire deep and dark
Just to light that loving spark
That remains within and never dies
And guides my way beneath darkened skies

The Drumlins

Around a table sat three men

The likes of whom, you’ll not see again
Red of hair and blue of face
You have never seen a stranger race
From their mouths so large and round
Flows a most peculiar sound
Nothing like the way we speak
More a noisy high pitched squeak
They wear red coats and have dark eyes
I ask myself
‘Who are these guys?’
‘Where are they from? What do they do?’
‘Are they a threat to me and you?’
Should I ask them who they are?
Or would this be a step too far?
They gesture gently invite me in
Giggling loudly
‘Oh what a din’
They wave their spoons up in the air
Shake their heads and ruffle their hair
But, I think, I will just slip away,
Perhaps visit them another day…
 35

Vortanna the Fire Queen

An explosion of flame filled the sky

And thick red clouds came rolling by
Like the sunrise of a glorious dawn
But from the sun this heats not born
For flying up high like a locust plague
Soars the demon Vortanna Zague
A woman from a fiery birth
Within the sky she has shown her true worth
With ghost white skin and reptile eyes
She is no doubt Queen of the skies
With a flicking tongue and poison bite
She is a most ferocious sight
Behind Vortanna swarms her demon hoards
For up above they are the lords
God’s of fire breathing flame
For their Queen they fly and honour her name
On the ground souls keep out of sight
Or shield their eyes from the burning light
Because if they fail to beware
They will be snatched and taken to her lair
Where she will burn them in a demon fire
So when they leave they will be most dire
For the flame that burns will pollute their souls
And convert them to Vortanna’s goals
To conquer all who live in this land
And rule them with a demon’s hand
 36

The Beedledo

‘Who ate my soup?’ The Beedledo said

Looking quite solemn and scratching his head
A curious creature all covered in fur
A long snout was a feature where his nose should occur
He sat on two feet and had furry arms
The thickest green hair grew from his palms
His toenails were long and scratched at the dirt
They made such a noise I was sure it must hurt
‘Who ate my soup?’ The Beedledo cried
‘My stomach is empty there’s nothing inside’
The Beedledo grumbled and started to moan
‘Under this fur I’m just skin and bone’
He raised up his feet and plodded about
‘Where is my soup?!’ He started to shout
‘I really don’t know’…
Was all I could say
And the Beedeldo grumbled and said
‘Go away’…
I offered to stay and cook him some dinner
But he simply replied
‘No, I’d rather be thinner’…
 37

The Mystic Wood

Hidden in the Mystic Wood

Where hundreds of magic oak trees once stood
Lived the legend Orin Sworf
Mighty warrior heroic dwarf
Slayer of a hundred trolls
Trophy keeper of a hundred skulls
With sword and shield of magic steel
Almost every enemy became his meal
Until one fateful morning
When a horse backed messenger came with a warning
‘Let me make this understood
Pack your bags and leave this wood
If you do not you will be destroyed
A fate you no doubt you can avoid’.
But the dwarf he did refuse
For he knew that he would never lose
So the rider took back his reply
Someone this day was about to die
On that fateful day
The warrior who came Orin’s way
Was the pig like beast Dagrim Du Darke
And his mighty axe soon found its mark
With a swipe he pierced Orin’s chest
And the fearless dwarf was laid to rest
Dagrim took a torch in hand
To set alight the mystic land
Every tree was burned to the ground
Until not even ash could be found
Dagrim Du Darke turned to leave
While Orin’s family were left to grieve

The Queen of Grimney

In a fairytale castle on Grimney plain

Lives our Queen of longest reign
In twenty years her power has grown
And great leadership she has shown
Wearing her crown of shimmering jewels
The Queen has instigated her strict rules
With a force of a million knights
Champions of a hundred fights
In which all have been won for her fair laws
Battling bravely in three bitter wars
 38

The Grimney Caves

This dank place is where crimes are planned

Thought out and done by Orcan hand
For nearby is Bogall village
A place for them to rob and pillage
Living there are many gnomes
Who have little protection for their homes
For the Orcs this is too good to waste
So every morning they make haste
Down the valley to where it stands
And rob each house in little bands
Then they leave back to their caves
Dragging with them some young gnome slaves
As for the booty it is hidden away
Until it can be sold at a later day

Fenris Gob

Gob thought himself the greatest poet

He often said ‘And don’t I know it!’
Smug and boastful with little praise
For those he felt in deep malaise,
‘I have great talent, look at me
Read my words and you will see
How great I am, my talent shines
I write prose not nursery rhymes!’
Gob’s conceit was mere pretension
He thought in depth but without invention
Blinding others with fancy phrases
And waiting smugly for their praises
Sadly those who read each word
Just viewed poor Gob as quite absurd
‘That does not matter’ Gob used to say
‘You’re a simple fool, just go away’…
In time his poems gathered dust
And Gob’s few readers no longer fussed
Over a man who only criticised
A man who people now despised
And now poor Gob he writes alone
But he does not boast,
He has a softer tone
Although no one listens anymore
As now poor Gob is just a bore.
 39

The Camp

Near the ghostly Grimney mire

Sat five soldiers around a blazing camp fire
Each one spoke had a story to tell
Of fights with sprites
And demons from Hell
Each of them were human in form
And wore black uniforms that were tattered and torn
One was a major in the Queen’s Elite
The type of man who would not retreat
Looking at the other four
I realised they had seen the horror of war
One had a patch across his left eye
Taken away when an arrow did fly
The other three were covered in mud
Faces scarred and laced with blood
And as they sat telling their stories
Of so many of their former glories
I began to wonder just how long
These men would sing their victory song.
 40

Bertie Ballstrong

Bertie was a dirty beast

Who dwelt within the mire
He bathed in mud, thick clay and crud
And he liked to play the lyre
‘Mud and dirt it never hurt
And I am never to be clean
I spend my time in filth and grime
And my skin you’ve never seen’
So sang Bertie the dirty beast
Alone but always happy
The only clothes he chose to wear
Were a top hat and a nappy
Most people they avoided him
And past him swiftly by
Some tried to give him bars of soap
‘But wash?!’
He’d rather die!
Bertie was a dirty beast
Who liked to sing all day
His voice was like a cat in pain
That would turn a man’s hair grey…
‘Why live in mud?’
I asked of him, the smell the stench, it was so grim,
He simply smiled and began to laugh
‘A mud bath is a pleasure’
And I like to play the lyre and live
My life of leisure’
So Bertie never left the mire
He was happy bathed in grime,
Perhaps one day I will choose to stay
If I ever have the time?!…
 41

Urat Holme’s Tavern

One of the most interesting places to go

Is where the beer and spirits flow
At Holme’s tavern near Grimney Mire
Where the nightlife will never tire
Spending money throughout the night
Soon makes your pockets very light
After about twelve O’Clock
Holme’s tavern begins to rock
As trolls sing songs of many a crime
But none make sense or even rhyme
Once their stomachs are filled with booze
Their consciousness they start to lose
Falling downwards to the floor
Their stomachs cannot take any more
Nearby, normally stuffing themselves with pie
Sit the goblins of Arachny Stry
Bloodthirsty cutthroats of the Keep
Ghastly beasts that never sleep
On their right another beast of the night
Slouched upon a wooden stool
Its green scaled back to the wall
Sits the monster Gradlan Grime
Its body dripping revolting time
In this bar he does not care
How many species he will scare
For he is feared in every place
He and his dreaded lizard race
Not too far from him
Sits the outlaw Joanna Simm
A striking girl with raven hair
Darting eyes that watch and stare
Dressed in red leather a knife strapped to her arm
She is swift in a skirmish and always stays calm
A legendary thief who is clever and brave
A lady of cunning who has avoided the grave
This outlaw has earned a large price on her head
The bounty is signed the law wants her dead
Simm lives on her wits and stays out of sight
Lurking in shadows avoiding the light
She steals from the rich but keeps all for herself
Simm’s ambition is to gain enough wealth
To start a new life and escape from this place
To be free of her history and not live in disgrace
 42

Cora Pearl’s strange encounter

Last night came knocking at my door

The oddest thing I ever saw
Three eyes of orange long hair of blue
Nothing like it in Grimney Zoo
Instead of hands it had big hooks
Which did nothing to assist its looks
Short in body big in head
The sight of it filled me with dread
It was so bad I felt quite sure
That I quickly shut and locked the door
It was so grim and smelt so dire
It must have come from Grimney mire
But now I know I will not find out
What that thing was all about
Perhaps one day I will meet another
Although Heaven forbid that it has a brother

The Zoorban

On Slattern moor don’t ever walk

For in this place the Zoorban stalk
Tall and thin
Living skeletons lacking skin
They live on blood
When they take their fill
And if they catch you
You will be their kill
So never walk alone at night
For the Zoorban are dreadful sight
Walking with their candle lanterns
These sinister undead phantoms
Terrorise all who walk their way
So take heed of what I say
Never step into this ghostly place
Or the monstrous Zoorban you will surely face
 43

Cora’s Lament

I lived in their world of black and white

Where bad dreams blocked out all the light
The creatures in my world have such colour
And I gave them life I am their mother
Even monstrous creatures have their worth
I drew them all and gave them birth
With pen and ink their colour flowing
Am I God? The truth? All knowing?
What right have I to claim such power?
Or to stand atop my ivory tower
For I am just a child of grey
This is my home and here I’ll stay
For in my thoughts I have more worth
Than a child unloved who lives on Earth…

The Dragon

With red scaly skin

Carnivorous grin
And a roar that could wake up the dead
There is nothing much worse
Than this Grimney curse
Unless his teeth he has shed
For when he breathes flame
It is such a shame
His teeth fall out of the gum
So when him pushes them back
And tries to attack
This dragon looks totally dumb
So now he’s discreet
And never eats meat
For that kind of food he can’t chew
So it’s to his relief
When he’s picking his teeth
That in his garden his vegetables grew.
 44

The Hideous Hogarth

Beneath in its chasm of great divide

A fearful creature waits inside
Below in the depths of impenetrable doom
Lurks a tentacled beast to seal thy doom
Above strained whispers of armoured men
Gauntlet gloved they stand by its den
Sword swift warriors who seek this foe
Light wood torches of blue fire that glow
They draw their swords and descend down the path
Ready for war with the beast Hogarth
Their shimmering blades prism the light
As they hunt for the beast within permanent night
Shadowy, shadowy images dance
Watching searching with eye strained glance
Waiting for Hogarth’s vengeance so dire
Walking beneath blue torchlight fire
Onward downward into the pit
Scattering in showers the dirt and the grit
With steal metal boots that jangle their spurs
The monster is woken and slowly it stirs
Bravely, cautiously the knights marched on
Into the pit where the sun never shone
Wherein the abyss arose a hideous yawn
And swift into nightmares dark terror was born
So swiftly, so deadly this beast came alive
And the twelve gallant knights were reduced down to five
As tentacles slithered to suck down its prey
So even those warriors could not get away
The Hideous Hogarth this monster so vile
Has a pot bellied stomach with a mouth streaming bile
It waits at its gates to take a huge bite
Of any foolhardy courageous young knight.
 45

The Mogrins

The Mogrins are such peculiar things

Flying around with their huge red wings
Darting here and racing there
Zooming all day through the misty air
Sometimes they stop in mid flight
And float quite gently like a kite
Then they gibber in a very odd way
And nobody quite knows quite what they say
Brodwig the Mogrin is the most famed of his kind
A terrible pilot but with a superior mind
Flying up high and diving below
But how to land will he ever know?
For when he tries to land he falls in a heap
As from the sky he tries to leap
In every attempt he ends up in the dirt
I am quite surprised he never gets hurt
Then he’s back on his feet with a smile and a sigh
Up into the air back up into the sky
Soaring once more in heavenly space
What a strange creature what an odd race.
 46

The Bongle

The Bongle had a foot for a nose

And stood on his fingers
Instead of his toes
He had hands but not feet
Thin legs like a spider
A waist slim and narrow
Although his shoulders were wider
His head tall and oblong
Grew out from between
With one eye of orange
And another of green
A large rubbery tongue
Hung down to his chin
His mouth was quite large
And spread in a grin
His bottom was rounded
And swelled from behind
I stood there dumbfounded
He looked out of his mind
The Bongle was bonkers
Or so I was told
He had the mind
Of a mischievous
Five year old
He liked to break wind
Because that’s how he spoke
And the clouds
From his bottom
Wafted like smoke
The gas would change colour
Depending on mood
But the Bongle’s intention
Was not to be rude
He had very few friends
Because of his nature
A talkative fellow
Although a rather
Odd creature!
 47

Angus Bower

Across the meadows and further still

Over the wastelands beyond Grinmey hill
Lives the outlaw Angus Bower
Atop alone in a prison tower
Because for many years he stole and killed
Until his castle he had filled
With precious stones and golden ore
All snatched through greed in blood soaked war
For twenty years his brigand band
Robbed and pillaged in this land
Until an army of daring gnomes
Set out from their burned out homes
To capture or kill this one eyed foe
With sword or spear or magic bow
So for many years a battle did rage
Until Angus Bower was locked in a cage
Whilst his men were taken and placed in chains
The gnome’s retrieved the ill gotten gains
As for the villainous Mr Bower
He was sealed away in his own dark tower
Never again to see the rising sun
Hidden away from everyone.

The Yabnab

The Yabnab is made of thin elastic

And inflates himself something drastic
He sucks in his cheeks and fills up with air
The bigger he grows the more you beware!
Those passing by think he just might explode
So pass him at distance when crossing the road
His body is rubbery when he isn’t inflated
And when it grows wider he seems quite elated
He puffs himself up as bold as can be
And his head disappears in a blubbery sea
His skin all a quiver as its stretched very tight
As he sucks in the air with all of his might
And then with a grin he raises his bottom
Releasing a gas that smells something rotten!
 48

Mr Krebbat

Hide your children when the clock strikes ten

For crawling out from its deep dark den
Is a terror created in the wild
The soul stealer of any little child
This fearful fellow is human in form
But from our kind it was not born
It has no features upon its face
And does not belong to any Grimney race
This monsters name is Mr Krebbat
And it wears white gloves and a large top hat
As for its clothes it is swathed all in black
And always at this fateful time
Is looking for a tasty human snack

The Blobbydob

The Blobbydob is a peculiar thing

Prancing through the forest trying to sing
With an odd expression spread over its face
As it wobbles and jumps all over the place
Like a large green demented jelly
It shakes about with its huge fat belly
Waving its arms up in the air
All you can do is stop and stare
Where the Blobbydob lives I cannot tell
But it is often found at the Grimney Well
For it goes there to drown its thirst
But if it drinks much more it will surely burst
After a drink and a Blobbydob dance
Back to the forest it will quickly prance.
 49

The Wibbly Elf

The sound of a flute would fill your ears

A woeful tune so full of tears
If in Wibbly Wood you stray
The place to hear this sad song play
For upon a toadstool clad in green
Is the saddest elf I have ever seen
With a tear rolling down a ruby cheek
Hear he sits each lonely week
For many years he has been down in heart
Since his sweetheart she did part
For in a fever she had died
And up to Heaven her soul did glide
So all alone was this poor elf
For he had always had such good fine health

The Grimney Bog

Deep within the Grimney Bog

Amidst the swirling banks of chilling fog
Lurks a creature of muddy birth
Something evil not of this earth
It swims in slime and lives on meat
When walking there do watch your feet
But it blends in with all around
And wherever you look it will not be found
If you see do not go too near
For you will be overcome with horror and fear
Its eyes are so black and would pierce your soul
Before a huge maw would pull you down the swamp filled hole

The Beast Within

Dark eyes are watching from the water

Welcoming strangers to the slaughter
A deadly hunter swift to eat
Travellers who walk on careless feet
In the swamp and slime beneath
Lurks a beast with sharpened teeth
Sharper than a butcher’s knife
With a lust for death to give it life
Its scales are shiny thick and coarse
It will pull you in with all its force
And in the silence so far down
It will hold you tight until you drown
Next to a neighbour they will hate forever
 50

The Giant

If you feel the ground about you quake

You will know that the Giant is awake
But fortunately he’s such a sleepy head
He spends most of his time tucked up in bed
When the giant stands he cannot see his feet
But the view he has is quite unique
For he could see for miles on end
If first some glasses you could lend
As the giants eyes are not what they were
So what he sees is caught in a blur
Which is quite a worry for those down below
As the Giant walks to and fro
Crushing buildings in his stride
As people quickly run and hide.

The Mystic Jewel of Gothar

Cut from stone from a sheer rock face

Is this jewel of the Grimney race
A giant ruby of deepest red
And those that seek it end up dead
It is hidden in an unknown land
Placed there by a magic hand
Beyond the wastelands past the Tower
Is this stone of mystic power
Placed behind a giant fortress wall
Where many wraiths and Dravons rule
So those who seek it have to face
These frightening creatures of the Grimney race
But one more terror blocks the path
And it sits alone in a mud filled bath
It is a huge reclining slug
A hideous slimy carnivorous bug
Dribbling saliva from a blood drenched maw
That drips on down to a blood stained floor
This is Caddarran the Grimblethwart
And a hundred adventurers it has fought
Each one had wished to claim the stone
But without a chance were reduced to bone
Bitten in half crunched to dust
As the beast fulfilled its awful lust
 51

The Never Ending Journey of Cora Pearl

Over the Mountains of the Moon

Down through the valley of Kil Kar Koon
Beyond the forest of forever night
Within the Wastelands out of sight
There lay a chasm so wide so deep
That tumbled sheer by a rock face steep
Down beneath in this dark abode
There swept a path a winding road
Torches hung from cobwebbed walls
And moisture dripped into stagnant pools
A gravelled path led the way
Through cold dead tunnels of black and grey
Bats did hide beneath their wing
Hidden creatures were whispering
Staring eyes trapped dull light
To give their vision the power of sight
I with my travellers did walk this path
As the creatures watched we heard them laugh
For they knew no man had been below
Where an ocean of ice had frozen in flow
I with my colleagues explorers so brave
Will march into Heaven before death and the grave
Thus continue the trek to pass through a door
That leads to another world unseen before.

End of Part I

(The Illustrated Land of Grimney)