HALL OF BONES
SUMMARY
At the beginning of the episode, the kids are in a forest, being chased by some Simian Bats, but when they try to fight back, their weapons don’t work well, and they have to hide underwater.
Dungeonmaster appears and tests the weapons and tells them that “the mystic energy that powers your weapons is fading” and they must be recharged in a place called the Hall of Bones – a gigantic tomb, filled with this lands greatest heroes. Inside is the Skull of Power, which will recharge the weapons. There are told that a guide will show them the way, but will want payment and “In darkness look to the light”.
The kids go to a nearby town, where they decide to look of a guide. But they have no money, so Eric performs some atrocious standup “comedy” in an effort to help. Pretso tries to get some cash out of the Hat, but pulls other things out instead, such as a firebreathing dragon, inadvertently entertaining the crowd, who give them some gold.
In a tavern, they try to find a guide, but it all goes wrong (mostly thanks to Eric) and the kids are chased off. They end up at a dead end, when a mysterious woman appears and shows them a pass age under the town. Since she is carry a torch, they’re reassured by Dungeonmaster’s riddle and follow. But they soon discover she is a cohort of Venger’s, and end up trapped on a spider’s web over a bottomless pit!
Venger appears and takes the weapons, then leaves them to the woman who is really Lloth, Demon Queen of Spiders (who gets to eat them).
First on the menu is Uni, who uses her horn to cut the web and is just fast enough to send Lloth tumbling into the pit. The kids untangle themselves, and have no choice but to continue through the cavern, but they can’t find the way out. Fortunately, there is a rockslide that gives them an exit, but it was caused by Tiamat and Venger fighting.
Venger tries to use their weapons on the Dragon Queen, and is very surprised and annoyed when they don’t work, so he throws them away and runs. The kids collect the weapons and continue to the Hall of Bones. But their plans have been overheard by Shadow Demon.
They continue along the road, and meet Hector the Halfling, a “guide” who can show the way. For his payment, he says “for the time being, the pleasure of their company will suffice!” He leads them on to the mountains and finally to the Hall of Bones.
Inside they find the Skull of Power, that legend says “glows with the power of the heroes who are buried there”. They place the weapons inside and they are recharged, must to everyone’s relief.
Hector then demands payment, and metamorphoses into Venger. He wants the weapons! Once again, they think of Dungeonmaster’s riddle, and hide in the shinning skull of power. The ghosts of the realm’s heroes awaken to help them escape by protecting them from Venger, and they are magically transported to the Hall’s entrance. The heroes and Venger then fight, and the Hall is destroyed.
Pleased to be safe, with recharged weapons, the kids head off to look for another way home.
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INTERESTING INFORMATION
Scatter Count - 1
Presto Hat produces – A chicken and dragon instead of gold. Some carrots, as a test that it works.
Goodies – Um...?
Baddies – Lloth, the Demon Queen of Spiders. Hector the Halfling.
Walk-ons – Some generic Realmish Heroes.
Monsters – Flying Monkey-Bats
Groovy Objects – The Skull of Power
Named Places – Hall of Bones, Dragon’s Tooth Tavern in an Unnamed Town.
Starwars References – None!
Other References - Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (Hector the Cheshire Cat guide!)
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Hank calls the Bow an “Energy Bow”.
The whole fading power is very suspicious! Especially since Dungeonmaster says “I was afraid of this”.
The Hall of Bones is high in the mountains, and the only clue to the direction the kids are given.
Presto – chicken and a dragon rather than gold.
The Dragon’s Tooth tavern is the one they go to for a guide.
“The ol’ Cavalier knows what he’s doing.” Why do they believe him??
“Don’t you think we should at least get a guide that talks human” Why doesn’t Hank put his foot down?
And why do they keep listening to Eric’s suggestions in this one?
First appearance of the Orcs!! But not in Venger’s employ.
Strange woman with a torch was “sent by a friend” and has Yellow Eyes.
“Safe, on of my favourite words.” Presto
“Tiamat, you have met your master!” Venger. Could that mean Venger wants to control the Dragon Qeen rather than destroy her?
Hector the Halfling who usually wanders around with only his head visable – ie like the Cheshire Cat. All very odd.
After the forest is the “not so grand canyon”, then the mountains – must have been a very LONG journey. Was Hector way out ahead all the time? And Hector moves very fast, for someone so short.
Hall of Bones is very cold, as all good tombs are.
Hat’s test – Presto gets some carrots that Uni eats.
Realm Heroes include kings, knights warriors, and women! Within the Hall of Bones the powers of the Heroes are stronger than Venger, and it the source of their power. So to defeat them, Venger must destroy the Hall.
"I wonder where Venger recharges his batteries?" Bobby. Such a GOOD question!
Dungeonmaster’s last cryptic line – “When the time is right, you will find the way.”
Plot Hole – (at least I consider it a plot hole) - With their weapons running down on “charge”, how does Presto manage to pull that stuff out of his Hat in the town?
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ALTERNATIVES
Missing scene potentials – That long, long journey to the HoB.
What if Venger does want to control Taimat, rather than destroy her?
Perhaps if they travelled with a different guide.
And there is alway what would have happened if the Demon Spider had eaten Uni. We can but dream.
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FANWORKS
Chib Hector (coloured version) by Tann
Originally for the DDCC06
Lloth Wallpaper, by Wolfman
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Previous Episode: Eye of the Beholder
Next Epsiode: The Valley of the Unicorns