The hamlet was haunted so fable lay claim A home to a horror with no face or name The fore gners knew nothing of village s infamy Sent in their scouts to take conquest s inventory Fourteen days later not one had returned They must ve deserted with salt that they d earned The clerks were insistant - the papers must show As to what they had gotten and where it would go Several soldiers marched in holding true to the word That the pen s fortitude was more so than the sword s They moved all about looking round the small village Not looking for death but for goods to pillage Their leader he waited and sat all alone In the taut canvas lodging he d learned to call home He was losing his cool at the end of day two His hand-picked fanatics had failed him too! Pogo is the creation of Walt Kelly Mage is in no way to be considered original from the making of this ansi Holding pilum in hand he strode into the night And was merc lessly killed without showing a fight Back at the camp the commander was furious His men had been killed - as to HOW he was curious Formidable Imperial legionnaires Whose prowress at war would become legendary Masters of tactics and armed head to toe What then in the town could be killing them so He d risk no more men a grim lesson he d learned Archives be damned that small town would BURN! He stood on the hill overlooking the town The foul fumes of pitch wafted slowly around His cloak caught the edge of the night s errant breeze His men worked below with the semblance of fleas The barrels were scattered all ordered and neat In strategic locations the work was complete Trenches were dug for a precaution wise Palisades raised when - a sudden surprise! While still occupied all alone in the dark The village exploded in cinder and spark The single centurion standing aloft In the oily black smoke knew that all had been lost Donning breastplate and greaves he strode into the flame To confront the cruel beast which had caused him such pain The oily black form paced up blacker than black And the captain crouched down all prepared to attack The shadowy maw in the midst of no face Swallowed him up leaving nary a trace And so they were gone the entire brigade Lost evermore in the Shades of a Shade Ansi by Mage Lit by Cthulu