BEAUTY AND THE BOGBEAST
SUMMARY
The kids are crossing an area of hot lava, and they realise they are being tracked. They lay and ambush, but it’s only Dungeonmaster, with a clue to how they can get home. They must find the “River that Rains Upsidedown”, that will take them anywhere they with to go. He also warns them to beware of “the beauty that breathes the beast”.
They move off, but find a fork in the path and split up, Hank, Sheila Bobby and Uni going one way, Diana Eric and Presto head off the other.
Hank’s group have to fight their way through a thick forest, and meet a huge, metal Golem, that seems to be guarding something. It is angered by their intrusion and they defeat it by welding its legs together with energy arrows and it topples over, lifeless. They climb up on its torso and look out, to the desert beyond.
Diana’s group have found a peaceful river, and they stop for a while. Diana finds a fantastically beautiful flower, and Eric picks it. But it puffs out green smoke and he is magically transformed into a strange froglike-beast, much to the hilarity of the other two. When Presto fails to help change him back, Dungeonmaster appears and admonishes Eric for not listening to the riddle. But “the answer lies in what he hates the most” – some help! They go on, in search of a cure for Eric as well as the River.
Hank’s group is walking through the desert, under the hot suns, and decide they need some water. He uses the Bow to try divining, but it only creates a sand trap. They are sucked down into a cavern, and are surrounded by strange beasts (that are suspiciously similar to the new-look Eric) that call themselves Bogbeasts. These creatures explain that they are being terrorised by and evil creature called Kawamung, who has dammed the river and wants then to starve. The creatures tell the kids that legend says a great leader will fall from the sky to help them.
Diana’s group are also in trouble; they are being chased by a water serpent and are pulled underground too. They fall into the chamber where Hank and the others are, and Eric is greeted as a brother and their saviour!
At first Eric is unwilling to help (surprise), but they discover that this is the river that rains upside-down, and their way home! They have to get Kawamung’s medallion to take away his power. And that power should be able to transform Eric back as well.
Their first effort if disastrous, but Presto gets a frizbee out of the Hat (by accident) and throws it away in disgust – and it gets stuck in the dam’s machinery, destroying it.
The river starts to flow “upsidedown” and the kids jump on a passing log and float up, emerging in a lake in the amusement park. They’re HOME!
Only problem is that Eric is still a Bogbeast, and the Medallion won’t work. Unable to face being home looking like that, he turns round and dives back to the Realm.
The others look at each other, wondering what they should do.
Back in the Bogbeast cavern, Eric emerges from the water, faced with a future alone in the Realm. Not long after, the others appear back, not wanting to leave Eric behind.
The medallion starts to work once he is back in the Realm, since the Realm itself is the thing he hates the most.
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INTERESTING INFORMATION
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Scatter Count – none!
Presto's Hat produces – a
female bogbeast (or a bogbeast in a dress), a potion, a fire-breathing
bogbeast/dragon thing, a frizbee.
Goodies – The Bogbeasts
Baddies – Kawamung
Walk-ons – Chief Bogbeast
Monsters – The metal Golem, water serpent
Groovy Objects – That lovely but dangerous flower, the Bogbeast Sacred Scroll, Kawamung’s medallion.
Named Places – the River that Rains Upsidedown,
Starwars References – none
Other References – none
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“Nothing like a stroll over hot lava to cool the feet!” Dungeonmaster. He’s a very odd little man!
“Once a year, for only 60 seconds the waters of the mystical river flow up.” It will take them anywhere they want to go. Why don’t they come back next year?
“Beware of beauty that breaths the beast” – but Dungeonmaster must already know what was going to happen, but he still chastises Eric for not listening!
It’s Bobby and Diana that think they should split – and Diana who suggests going with Eric and Presto.
“Golem destroy intruders!” Golem.
Uni and Bobby ride on an energy arrow, and the arrows can weld metal together.
Diana finds the flower, but Eric picks it.
“You should see my mom’s garden back home.” Eric.
Presto tries to change him back with the Hat - A female version, tries a potion next – fire breathing thing with horns, last change is back to the bogbeast.
“I did not make this spell, therefore I cannot undo it. You must undo it soon, or you will remain a bog beast forever.” Dungeonmaster. This is another hint that he is not all-powerful and has limits.
Dungeonmaster pokes Eric on the nose.
The Bow tries to point out water, when asked.
Where did all the sand go that was sucked down with them?
Bogbeasts have Sacred Scroll!! – that tells of a leader that will fall from the sky, and lead them to victory.
Eric’s helpful suggestion. Instead of him leading the to victory – they should call the department of water and power!
Kawamung’s source of power is his medallion. And he has dwarf slaves making weapons
Arrow brings back the medallion, like a boomerang!
Medallion can make things disappear, and capture bogbeasts in crystal, as well as transforming one creatures.
Presto get a frizbee – that jams up the machery of the dam.
Diana jumps and rescues the others.
Magic doesn’t work in their home world.
Also, when the kids are back on Earth, with Eric still Bogbeastified, Uni is there too! It's the only time this happens! (Thanks Kimmy!)
Eric really thinks the others wont come after him! And he apologises!
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ALTERNATIVES
Why don’t they come back next year? Or is the mystic river just a one-shot deal? What would happen if they came back? (Reflection by Sealgirl)
And what if it was one of the others picked the flower – like Diana. She found it, after all. Or Presto – that would have been pretty funny too.
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FANWORKS
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Desert (photomanip) by Sealgirl
Bogbeast Valley (photomanip) by Sealgirl
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What if the others were too slow and the river stopped before they could return?
Life Is Beautiful by Random Scribbles.
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What if they come back the next year, what will they find?
Reflection by Sealgirl (Episode Coda)
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Next Epsiode: The Prison Without Walls
Previous Episode: In Search of the Dungeon Master
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