And Now for Something Completely Different!

GLaDOS's Lament will not continue until the New Year. Instead, here's a poem of the rhyming sort.

The Ancient Hall
By Reogan

The ancient hall has long stood tall
A tomb of evils vast,
And not one breath disturbs their death
Since times long in the past.

I came from where the lands are fair
with fertile fields to sow
And yet, of late, I sit and wait
though still I've far to go.

So when I came, quite tired, near lame
I straight went for a drink
the tavern wench, who served my bench
said things to make me think.

An ancient tomb, of ancient doom
with treasure stashed below
With not a ward, or rotten board
or treasure traps, or foe.

A mere day's ride, I was inside
and stepped through yawning gate
And I supposed, when the gate closed
Twas just the wind- not fate.

Surprised was I, for twas no lie
that e'en beasts feared the crypt.
The air was clear, I felt no fear
for I was young and fit.

The tomb's deep rest was, to my quest
quite useless, merely a joke.
And so I smashed, and so they crashed
Sarcophagi all broke.

Amidst the dust, of coffins bust
I found a shining seam.
And at great length, expense of strength
the door revealed a gleam.

Down winding stair, soon I was there
and looked upon the hoard
with this, I thought, all could be bought
All joys I can afford.

There was no fear with Treasure near
Where jewels and gems abound
Twere just my need, my boundless greed
And one faint scratching sound.

It was not loud, and yet a shroud,
a pall, fell on the place.
The dust of stone, a gleam of bone
And terror on my face.

The rhythmic sound from all around
had risen to a shriek.
Through stone they rent, with one intent
A future grim and bleak.

And so I die, and now I lie
The fear still on my face.
And not one breath, disturbs my death
As guardian of this place.