" The Tale of a Schiminey" by Benjamin M

Schiminey was by no means a normal goblin. He did his work in the caverns, sharpening the daggers, and curdling the soup, like that of the other goblins, but there was something different about him. Schiminey like many other goblins shared a burning desire for wealth. The seven deadly sins for humans was set only two about 1 for the goblin race: greed. Although Schiminey would not be noticed among his own people for being different, he was indeed unique when compared to the other goblins. The main characteristic that made him unique was his uncommon desire for adventure. While tightening the chains of a prisoner, or harvesting mushrooms from within those deep and treacherous tunnels, he would often ponder and collect his thoughts. “If I am to be like the other goblins simply living my life down here in the caverns then how will I acquire my enormous wealth?  If I am only to leave the caverns to raid the towns of the goods, then how will I acquire my enormous wealth? If all of the gold is to be shared among the goblins, then it is not mine. Not my enormous wealth.”

            Schiminey did not care much for the other goblins. They were loud and obnoxious, and stank of rancid meat, and unlike Schiminey they did not see the bigger picture. The picture filled with gold, and fresh bread, and the beautiful castle walls with his 27 servants. These were the intricacies of a true dreamer. One day Schiminey was walking through the deeps, feeding the leftover slop to the prisoners, mainly humans but some other races, when suddenly he thought of fantastic idea. He walked over to a skinny bearded man that sat with his head over his knees, his long grayish hairs dangling to the grimey stone floors. “Hey you!” Schiminey whispered loudly to the man, spit accidentally spewing from his mouth. The main slowly looked up, his blue eyes glimmered in the light created from the worms slithering upon the walls. “How’d you like to get outta here?”

            The mans expression did not change but he began to speak in a deep hissing tone. “You monsters killed my family. How am I supposed to trust you?” Schiminey’s enraged goblin smile, and short sharp teeth shone. “You can’t, but you’re going to die anyway so you might as well.” The man slowly stood up, his shackles ringing as they bumped into one another. “Alright get me out of here then!” he yelled. Schiminey threw down the bucket, and slop spilled across the floor. He reached for the key ring that was connected to the cloth belt of his waist, and pulled forward the correct key. The key fit into the hole and the tumblers clicked. Other prisoners seeing the act began to yell and beg. “Right here! Get me out!..Get me out!” Schiminey looked over to the others and smiled. “Sorry, but I can only take one for this to be believable”

            Schiminey unhooked the man from the wall that he was connected to, and motioned for him to follow. The other prisoners moaned, and groaned as the two walked down and out of the the lower tunnel. The mans bonds jangled as he limped at an unreasonable pace. “Alright Human.” Schiminey began “I need to get out of this place to acquire my wealth, however most of the races are not too fond of goblins. If I promise to get you out, you need to promise and help me out.”

            “Whatever you say.” the man responded. They headed from the deeps, into the forge, and through the twisted tunnels passing by the bioluminescent algae until they finally entered the great hall. Hundreds of goblins were working tirelessly here in an attempt to appease the goblin queen. The massively gigantic, colossal, and obese goblin queen was about the size of 20 horses put together. Though most of the goblins simply fed on mushrooms, and sometimes various meats, the tastes of the goblin queen were quite diverse when compared with the other goblins. She ate cheese, and potatoes, pies and tomatoes, but was especially fond of meat. She ate cows, and sheep, and sometimes pigs feet, but her favorite meat was human.

            She sat upon her throne, in the middle of the great hall, eating all day and night, in order to have the energy to give birth. The goblin queen was the only female of her species. Female goblins were only born once every hundred years. She spawned around three goblins a day, and these goblins were most often set to work in the mines.

            The other goblins scoffed, and snarled as Schiminey and the man walked down the great bridge in order to meet with the goblin queen. She was guarded by Beetle, and Deedle two unusually large and strong goblins, that stood at about 6 feet tall each. “Speak your business!” Deedle said while he pounded his staff upon the ground. “I wish to speak with the goblin queen!” Schiminey replied. The goblin queen preoccupied at the moment, tearing the leg off of a goat then looked down at Schiminey. “What do you want?” she said, sticking the festering piece of meat into her mouth, and chewing the bones whole. “I wish to be given permission to exit the caverns! This prisoner has been giving us trouble!” Schiminey said, yelling to make sure he was heard over the disgusting sound of spit mixing with bone and meat.

            The goblin queen stopped everything she was doing and looked down at Schiminey and the man. “Mmm… Human!” she licked her chops. “There is no need for you take him out of the caverns my child. I will simply eat him!” the goblin queen said in a delighted tone, throwing the goat across the great hall, and knocking a worker down in the process. She began to reach for the man, when Schiminey, jumped in front of him. “M’lady, I bid you not eat this human. He has consumed a great poison that will be unleashed into these halls If he is not taken out.” the goblin queen screamed. “Ahhh!” she said flailing her arms. “Beetle, take this wretched being out of the caverns at once!” Beetle pounded his staff to the ground. “Yes M’lady!” he said grabbing onto the man. Schiminey was forced to intervene once again. “I am sorry M’lady, but I am the one who saw the man concocting the poison… If I am not the one to take him out of the caverns, then the curse that he has set into our city will remain.” the goblin queen, being no smarter than any other goblin began to flail her arms again. “Do it then!” she yelled. She reached into one of her fat flaps, and pulled out a small piece of metal that would grant Schiminey temporary access to leave the caverns.

Schiminey bowed. “Thank you M’lady!” he said. Schiminey waved at the man to follow him, and they both found their way out of the cavern, unopposed.