1.

running from bugbears
turning corners, torch-lit halls
is that a roper?

2.

hard, high boots for me
extra chain mail for my horse
off to see Elfrin

3.

your little brother
always just dies and complains
I say he can't play

4.

the chest creaks open
three gems, gold, and--a potion.
do you drink it?

5.

dude has some long hair
and always brings his own dice
is he, like, twenty?

6.

fifteen shambling mounds
that's a lot of shambling mounds
as they say in Glarth

7.

the cave opens up
to a vast, underground sea
eerie dull lapping

8.

let me find the page
i know it's in here--aha:
elves get bonus throws

9.

the bloody dais
features gruesome bas reliefs--
an altar perhaps?

10.

grounded for three days
maybe i'll "hide in shadows"
and roll characters

11.

removing the gem
from the statue's single eye
lifts the portcullis

12.

quit talking funny
you sound like some kind of kook
just tell us what's there

13.

Vanessa peeks in
glimpses boys, maps, dice, candy
spotted, she runs away.

14.

you finally grasp
the dagger of Shub Natar
strength courses through you

15.

too many trolls
faster, they give chase--but wait:
my handy caltrops

16.

i roll the four-sided--
huh? fine, the tetrahedron
sor-reee mr. physics

Joshuah Bearman lives in New York. The preceding Haiku cycle is part of a larger, yet unfinished work. It is dedicated, in part, to Grimlor of Farsill, my friend, my companion, my Fighter/Magic User--killed by treachery and human frailty in the Antecavern (EL 13) of module G-2, better known as the Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl. He may be contacted: jrb74@columbia.edu.