Manually added by Prophet Dacien Victae

I saw a figure looking up at me in the basement security camera TV monitor. I have neither a basement, or a security camera.

I sit beside the fire and think of all that I have seen.
I look upon the flames and see people I have known,
People I have loved, people I have lost.
Memories swirl through my mind like the smoke from the fire,
Drifting away, or choking me.

I try not to have regrets, but I fail.
Lives I have affected for better or worse,
Lives that affected me.
The memories haunt my psyche, dancing across my brain,
Like the fire I sit beside, as I think.

Twerpfart City
Kingdom of Ralf the Flatulent

Benn and his brother Gegryck looked at the local bounty board and then grinned at each other.

“Goblins? Really These wankers can’t kill goblins?” Gegryck snorted, hawking a glob of phlegm into the nearby horse trough.

“Must you do that? You know how disgusting I find that habit of yours,” Benn responded sighing. “Yes, apparently these poor folk cannot fend off some goblins.”

Gegryck read the board again. “Whatcher thinkin’? We go and rescue the miners and then save der poor, grateful daughters from their virgi-”

“GEG! What is your problem? You went through all the brothels in Vindaloo, Pan-ty-girdal and then here as well. Does nothing sate that libido of yours?” Benn interrupted. “Give it a rest will you?”

“I hafta make up fer you, my oh so pious and proper brother. Da would shite his coffin if he knew what ye had turned inta’, ye Paladin wannabe.” Gegryck mumbled, chastised.

Benn glared at his older brother and then rolled his eyes. “C’mon, it says we can find more information from someone named Lord Stinkypitts at city hall.”

The two ambled off, looking around the squalid town as they went. Finally coming upon a ramshackle building in the center of town. A crude “City Hall” sign hanging over the door.

Entering they looked around and spotted an obease slob of a man snoring behind a desk. Drool dribbled from his mouth and flies crawled in and out of his hair and the ripped seams of his clothing.

Gegryck kicked the desk and the man awoke with a snort. “OY! We’re here about the goblins.” He yelled.

“What! Goblins, where? Whoozit? *buuurrrrrp* Wha Goblins?” The man stammered rising to his feet. “Who, who, ‘scuse me, whr I put tha’ bottle?”

Digging around in his desk the portly man smiled as he grabbed a large bottle of something that smelled like apples. “Here’s mud up your nose!” he toasted and then took a huge drink of the brandy.

Putting the bottle back he turned and looked at the two men before him. “Now, *burrrrp* Sorry, now what can I do for you and your goblins?”

Benn stepped back from the breath of the foul smelling man. “The bounty board said to see you Lord Stinkypitts about a reward and information concerning a nearby mine with goblins in it and some missing miners?”

“Oh, right, right, um, bounty reward, yeah,” Lord Stinkypitts mumbled. “Ri-, *hic* right. You nee’ ta killem’, all of them. An then bring the goblins back. No,*hic* no thash not right, kill the goshblins and bring the people back. Yeah, yeah, you *hic* you, you get your money then.”

Benn and Gegryck looked at each other and then nodded. “10,000 gold, right?” Benn asked.

“Yesh, thash rite.” the corpulent lord answered. “10 thoushan gold.”

“Fine , put that in writing and we’ll take care of your wee problem.” Gegryck smiled, handing the man a paper, ink and quill.

Lord Stikypitts scribbled the sum and his scrawl across the sheet of parchment. Then affixed his ring seal to a blob of wax on the bottom of it.

Benn grabbed it up, read it and put it away in a pouch for safe keeping. Nodding to the lord, he turned and walked out of the filthy building.

“Gods, I feel like I need a bath now. That was truly disgusting.” Benn huffed as he headed off toward the mine on the outskirts of town.

Passing the livery where their horses were staying Gegryck glanced at it as they walked by. "Not gettin' the 'orses?"

Benn shook his head. "No, the mine isn't far, and the horses can't go into it. Besides, you look like you could use the exercise." He laughed.

"Wha? Sod you! I'm fit as a man can be!" Gegryck squawked, his dander getting up.

Benn smiled, looking at his brother out of the corner of his eye. "Temper, brother, temper. All the Kingdom of Flatulence knows the amazing strength of Gegryck Nevis. Your ego is getting the better of you."

Gegryck stopped his posturing and sulked at his younger brother's tone. "Foin, jes you wait brother, one day, one day I'll be very famous. An all the ladies will want to love me."

Just then an elderly man hobbled up to the two. Wheezing and gasping he tried to stammer out something.

"Calm yourself elder, what is your hurry?" Benn said, placing his hands on the old man's shoulders.

"You are, *gasp*, heading to the mines, *gasp, gasp*, yes? To kill the goblins? Yes?" The old man finally gasped out.

"Whatchit to ya?" Gegryck asked, putting his hand on his pistol crossbow.

"Be warned! 5 and 9 adventures have ventured to that mine, none have returned! None I say. The mine is haunted, I tell you!" the elder cried, gripping Gegryck's armor and shaking him.

Benn separated the two and pushed the old man away. "Calm yourself grandfather, we have heard all the stories. We shall be fine."

“You young fools, there is evil there I tell you spooks, goblins, evil!” He wheezed, collapsing onto a nearby bench.

“Let’s go before he gets riled up again,” Gegryck muttered, pulling at his brother's sleeve.

Moving quickly away from the old man, the two men headed out of town and into the woods along the road to the mine.

After traveling about an hour they came to the area where the mine was located. There were goblins sleeping around the opening, many goblins. Filth and reek were mostly what was to be found. The goblin stench of feces, the funk of unwashed dirty under shorts and rancid breath were overpowering. A noxious green mist floated near the creatures making the men’s eyes water and blink.

Backing away they hunkered down and tried to figure out a way to deal with the smell and all the monsters present.

“This is not what i expected,” Benn whispered. “I wonder if a magic missile would ignite the gasses and crisp them. I have a spell on a parchment we could use.”

“Try it! Aim for the opening. I should roast all those stinky little freaks.” Gegryck encouraged.

Benn rummaged around in his hip pouch and found the small bone scroll holder. “As far as I know, all I have to do is read it.”

“What? No spell components? Guano? Sulphur? Wax? Nothing?” Gegryck whispered back surprised.

“I don’t know, I’ve never used a spell scroll before. When I got it I was told I just had to read it and it would work.” Benn said shrugging his broad shoulders. “Here goes nothing.”

Unrolling the scroll Benn squinted at the odd magic language. Figuring out the sounds in his head he took a deep breath and spoke the words. "Klaatu barada nikto, Treguna Mekoides Trecorum Satis Dee, Wingardium Ala Peanutbutter sandwiches!”

Nothing happened and Gegryck looked at his brother like he was crazy. “What in all the Gods names was tha’? Are ye kidding me?”

Benn stared at the paper wide eyed, then looked at Gegryck. “I don’t know, I just read it!”

Suddenly the paper began to smoulder, sparks shot out of it and it began to whistle.

Awoken by the noise, the goblins began to stir and look about. Spotting the flashes and smoke they charged the brother’s hiding spot.

Throwing the scroll towards the oncoming goblins, they backed away as a huge flaming orb appeared and streaked towards the cave. Charring the onrushing goblins and setting the air on fire. It entered the cave and then exploded.

The world went blinding white as the gasses in the tunnel ignited. For miles around everything was flattened and turned into jam from the shock wave. Fires raged out of control, the air an inferno of stinky fire.

Then rumbling, what was left of the mountain over the mine collapsed in on itself.

Two shimmering figures appeared amongst the debris of the area.

“Benn? Are you sure that was a magic missile spell?” One asked, fading away.

“Ummm now that you mention it…” and the other was gone.

Ralltiir
Near the High Ontis mountains
14 ABY

The small farming community was situated at the base of the central continental mountain range and the start of a large marshy area that extended to the ocean. Small farms dotted the area, growing a rice-like grain that helped to feed the local area. Small herds of Nerfs and Batuuans slogged through the marshy fields, occasionally fertilizing the land.

"It's got to be stopped!" yelled one person.

"He killed six of my Batuuans, left them in pieces!” another woman exclaimed.

“Two children and their mother were slaughtered by this monster.” the town constable softly said. The group of people became very quiet at this.

Benn looked at his mother and cocked an eyebrow in query. She pursed her lips and then nodded.

“I’ll hunt it, the killer,” he said stepping forward. “I will need some help tracking this thing, but I’ll get rid of it for you.”

Everyone turned to look at the young man, some having to look up at him. Broad across the shoulders, exuding a calm strength, Benn put his hands on his hips and looked around.

“But, you are just a boy!” one older man laughed, getting some of his cronies to chuckle along with him.

“Yes, and I am also the one willing to go take care of this problem, unlike you.” Benn replied, looking the man in the eye. “This has been going on for how long now? Two, three weeks? And yet here you all stand doing nothing but complain! And this after the death of two children!” Benn looked around at the people, seeing fear and shame in their eyes.

The constable stepped forward. “Constable Joba Rethlorkin, I’ll help, I think I have an idea where the bastard has been hiding out,” he said, holding out his hand to Benn.

Benn nodded and shook the other man's hand. Adjusting his blaster he looked around. “Anyone else?” He asked, pointedly looking at the smartalec man from earlier. The man wouldn’t meet his eyes.

A local farmer named Quin, and a friend of Benns stepped forward. “Yeah Benn, sign me up. I’ll get my rifle and be ready to help you in a few minutes.”

Benn walked over and kissed his mother on the cheek and smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure I stay safe,” he said as he left.

Quin ran off to grab his rifle from his hover truck, then came back grinning. The trio headed off, Benn and the Constable in quiet conversation.

"Luck!" one of the townspeople yelled out.

Looking back the three smiled and waved.

The "hunt" turned out to be rather uneventful. Once the three were out of the town, and heading towards the forests at the base of the mountains, spoor from the monster they hunted started appearing everywhere. Dead animals, partially eaten, food containers and wrappers, tracks all over.

The constable pointed towards a rocky overhang about 95 meters from where they stood. "I have a feeling we'll find what we are looking for in there. The tracks all seem to head in that direction."

Benn unholstered his blaster and charged it. Quin chambered a round in his rifle, as Constable Rethlorkin pulled out a slug thrower and racked the slide back.

"I'll head over that way," Quin said, pointing off to the left. "I have a hunting stand over there, maybe I can spot something up there.

Benn and Joba nodded. "Should we take the cave straight on or?" he asked the constable.

"I can lead, just be careful with that blaster," the older man joked.

Nodding, he made sure the blaster's safety was switched on as they headed towards the caves.

Benn looked at the other man, eyebrows raised once they got close. "What the hell makes such a mess? This makes my bedroom look clean."

"I don't know, but whatever it is, it seems to kill just for the joy of killing, and it will eat anything apparently," Joba said, kicking a half eaten container of spoiled food aside.

Except for the bones and half eaten bodies of various animals.. The search in the caves was fruitless, so the two headed out.

Breathing in somewhat fresher air, Benn hoped the putrid smell of rotted meat, spoiled food and death wouldn't stay in his clothing.

"I want to try something," Benn offered. "I don't know how it works, but I can sometimes feel or sense things around me. I just have to concentrate on it."

The constable nodded and stepped back from the young man. "At this point? I'm open to anything."

Sitting down on a nearby rock and closing his eyes, he managed to slowly clear his mind of all the chaos around him. Slowing his breathing, he began to reach out to the world around him. The feelings, smells, sounds, everything, became muted. Soon he was lost in a swirl of shifting patterns. He "felt" Joba, standing by him, then as he expanded outward he "felt" Quin up in his tree stand. He felt the earth, the trees around him, everything seemed to be connected. Then he felt rage, anger, and pain. It wasn’t far away, and it was coming closer.

Coming out of his trance, Benn started to look around at the surrounding forest. Slowly, as if called, the killer appeared, It was huge, brutish, feral. Its eyes were a bright orange with black slits for pupils.

“There!” he yelled as the monster charged him. Without really knowing how he did it, he lept backwards from the attack, just avoiding the outstretched claws.

Joba swung around and began firing at the figure, the bullets impacted, blood and gore spurting and flying. The brute just kept on moving, howling as each bullet struck.

Benn aimed and began firing. The electric crackling sound of the bolts mixing with the sharp crack of the rifle filled the clearing. The smell of singed hair, burning flesh, spattering blood assaulting the senses.

Suddenly it was over. The thing lay splayed out, not moving. Blood leaking from numerous bullet holes, hair smoking and singed around blaster marks.

"I don’t think he will be a problem any longer,” the constable said, panting from exertion.

Benn glanced at him, then looked back at his target. The blaster shot was one in a million. It had caught the hulking brute right in the middle of the spine, paralyzing, but not killing it.

"Hey! You got 'im," Quin yelled out, a smile on his face as he approached the scene.

Grinning, Benn nodded and pulled out his knife. Reaching out to pull the brute's head back, he slit the killer's throat. Blood sprayed everywhere, causing the two others to jump back.

Saying a prayer of forgiveness to himself, he reversed the knife and drove it between the ribs and into the heart. The murdering beast shuddered once and died.

'"Urg, er, that is nasty," said the constable wiping blood from his boots. "You killed it, you deal with the mess."

The young man nodded and got out some synthecord from a belt pouch and bound the feet of the corpse.

Spooling it out, he looked around for a suitable tree branch to throw the cord over. Finding one he tossed the thin synthecord over it.

"Hey, help me lift him. The sooner we are done the sooner we can get home and eat". Benn said, grunting as he pulled on the rope.

The men grabbed the slack end of the rope, and between the three of them they hoisted the corpse off the ground.

It swayed in the breeze, blood slowly dripping from the gaping cut in its throat.

“Soooo….what now?” the old farmer asked, looking at the beast that hung before him.

“Well, um, I don’t know,” Benn said as he examined the beast. “The History museum would probably pay a good amount of credits for the body, but this one is full of holes now.” He bent down and examined the teeth and then the paws. “Hey! See here? It’s paw is infected, It can’t use it to make it’s kills. That's why it was killing easy prey.”

The other two men looked at the swollen front paw and saw that the area around one of the claws was red and inflamed.

“Well I’ll be damned. You’re right," Joba said. “Are you going to keep the head as a trophy?”

Benn shook his head and stepped back. “No, it was a noble beast that fell due to sickness. Killing it was a kindness. I think we should burn the body, or at least bury it."

Joba sized up the young man beside him. “You know people are going to want to take revenge on this thing for what it did.”

Benn started laughing. “What, are they going to beat the corpse with a stick? Will that bring back the woman and her children? It was doing what its species does, nothing more nothing less. No, we burn the corpse and call it a day well done.”

That night, as he looked up at the stars from his back porch, he thought about the beast he had slain. Was he in the right? Did he have the right to take a life, even of an animal? What if it had been a human? He believed that what he had done was for the best. He protected others. He was taught that by his mother since he was a small boy. Help others, protect others. Sometimes it will be difficult, in the end you will know. In your heart you will know.

Benn put his hands behind his head and smiled.