GARDEN OF ZINN
SUMMARY
While searching for lunch, the kids are attacked by a sea-dragon. In the fight, Bobby is bitten, and passes out. Dungeonmaster appears, just in time, and tells them that he is unable to help, they need a natural remedy. They must find the foot of the Yellow-Dragon, from the Gardens of Zinn.
At Zinn, the Queen is in her palace, and her Shadow Stalker servants tell her that a Knight suitable to be her King is in the Realm. She is pleased, she must marry soon, or loose her throne. But the Knight must survive the Trial of the Worm, and the Shadow Stalkers head off to set up the test.
The Gang struggles through the undergrowth, with Hank carrying Bobby. When they stop, Eric finds some “unattended” food and tries to help himself. But the owner appears, a strange creature called Solarz. He offers them more food, and suggests they take Bobby back to his house for safety.
Once there, they decide that Sheila will stay with Bobby while the others go to Zinn; at the name, Solarz gets anxious and says that Dungeonmaster is wrong, and they will “only find evil in the garden of Zinn”. But he gives them directions, beyond the dark forest, beyond the valley of smoke.
Hank, Diana, Presto and Eric all leave, following Solarz’s directions. But eventually, they come to a fork in the road, and “Dungeonmaster” appears to point the way. Hank notices something is odd, and that Dungeonmaster is not talking in riddles. They challenge their Guide, but he has no answer, then another Dungeonmaster appears, and congratulate them on seeing through the imposter’s disguise.
The two Dungeonmasters duel; Hank can’t help as they don’t know which one is real! But the winner almost destroys the other, something the real Dungeonmaster would never do. Hank uses the bow, and the Phantom Stalker changes back to its original form, then escapes. Dungeonmaster tells them which way to go, but after they leave, he too changes into a stalker as well!
At Solarz house, Bobby is still ill. Searching for a blanket, shilea discovers a cape, sceptre and crown, but Solarz shouts at her. They belong to someone gone now, never to return.
The others have come to a dead end. Confused they debate, then strange vines-things appear. They try to retreat, but are surrounded and captured. They are being pulled into the sand when Dungeonmaster reappears. He refuses to help, much to the Young One’s shock. Only when the other Dungeonmaster appears do the kids realise both are fakes and they’ve been tricked. By then, it’s too late, and they are sucked under. Then Stalkers return to Zinn, to tell the queen that the trial is underway.
Back at Solarz house, Sheila is getting desperate and wants to try some of the potions in the house to help Bobby, but Solarz gets angry and shouts at her. Then he apologises and explains that it was the spell that makes him loose control. When Sheila wants to know more about the spell, he tells her sadly no one can help.
The others end up in the tunnel, and they realise it is huge and wonder what could have made it, as they have only found small worms so far. There is a noise in the distance, and Diana realises they haven’t met what REALLY made the tunnels! A giant worm appears and chases them into a dead end.
Diana decides the “saddle break” the worm, jumps astride it, and whacks it a couple of times. Fortunately, it decides to play along, and they can all hitch a lift, even Eric.
It travels fast and deposits them beside a large castle where they are greeted by the Stalkers who carry them off to see the queen.
Zinn welcomes them cordially, and is pleased that someone has finally survived the test of the worm. She tells them she needs a king to rule her kingdom with her, she points out Eric!
Initially, he says no, then she produces lots of jewels and a crown, and he waivers! When Diana reminds him about Bobby, he strikes a deal with Zinn, he’ll be her king if she tells the others where the yellow dragon is.
Zinn leads them to the garden, and gives them a piece of the yellowdragon plant that’s standing there. True to his word, Eric stays as the other leave to find Bobby. But in saying goodbye, Eric mentions Solarz, and Zinn is suddenly very worried. She sends her Stalkers off to stop the others getting anywhere near him, adding “once I have my king, my spell can never be broken.”
The Stalkers follow Hank, Presto and Diana, and try to kill them, the kids struggle to find a way of defeating Zinn’s servants. But the noise alters Sheila and Solarz, and he knows that it’s Zinn’s doing.
Back at the city, Eric is about to be wed and be coronated. But at the mention of all the heroic deeds he’s expected to do, he gets cold feet.
Meantime the others are still battling the Stalkers, but they are getting tired, and the stalkers seem impossible to catch, as they can turn from solid to smoke. Sheila rushes off to help, and Solarz goes inside to the potions and finds one that will be effective.
Just as the kids are captured, Solarz throws the potion at the stalkers and transforms them to stone. Sheila embraces him in thanks, a lets a tear of gratitude fall, then she rushes off to help Bobby, not realising she has started a transformation.
Bobby recovers, and suddenly a new person appears in the doorway, asking if he is well. Everyone stares at the handsome man, especially Sheila. He is Sir Lawrence the rightful King, who had been put under a spell by his sister, Zinn, so she could usurp the throne. They realise Eric is about to marry the evil sister! And now the spell is broken, the one who cast it becomes its victim.
The spell does indeed backfire, and Zinn transforms just before the end of the ceremony. Eric takes one look and runs.
The kids accompany Lawrence back to Zinn and he asks Sheila to marry him but she refuses, and continues with her friends. Finally, Dungeonmaster appears and congratulates them, but Eric doesn’t trust him, and gets turned into a blue nosed baboon for his trouble.
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INTERESTING INFORMATION
Scatter Count – 0 (boo)
Presto Hat produces – ?
Goodies – Solarz (Sir Lawrence)
Baddies – Queen Zinn
Walk-ons – None
Monsters – green sea-dragon, Shadow Stalkers, the Giant Worm of Zinn
Groovy Objects – The Yellow-Dragon plant
Named Places – Zinn, Dark Forest, Valley of Smoke
Starwars References –
Other References –
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How to get lunch – Realmstyle - Bobby and Eric chase a bird-lizard (it looks like a pterodactyl) and Sheila, Hank and Presto are just sitting around watching them! Diana has been fishing, and catches a green sea dragon.
Eric does have expensive tastes – fillet of sole, shrimp cocktail, caviar.
Dungeonmaster can’t help – “It is Natures doing and his magic can’t undo it. It requires a natural remedy”. The only cure is a foot of a yellowdragon.
Zinn is to the north of where they are.
Once Bobby is injured, Hank goes into serious leader mode “forget about your stomach Eric! Lets go!”
Queen Zinn is waiting for a worthy Knight to be her King - “And he carries a magic weapon given him by Dungeonmaster” She’s pleased as she needs a king soon, or the spell will be broken, and she will loose her throne. Why?
Solarz offers them the food, as he has more and Presto blushes!?
Eric doesn’t think they should trust Solarx – judging book by its cover again, and thinks he’ll will sell bobby and Sheila to Venger.
“What’s the name you give me when I got this shield?” Eric is the one who challenges the fake Dungeonmaster.
The vines that trap them are “like steel”
In the tunnels, Eric arrives last, and in a heap, as usual.
Is Presto scared of worms?
Solarz has studied much about magic, but is “no wizard”.
What in the world possesses Diana to try to “saddle break” the worm? That really needs a bit of explanation!
Zinn can use magic as well, she zaps out the treasure chest
The Gardens of Zinn only make a very brief appearance.
When Diana reminds Eric about Bobby, she doesn’t exactly look cut up about staying!! They just leave Eric with a “you sure you want to stay!” from Hank.
He is called by his title only in the ceremony.
“Do you promise to be her king for eternity, …and to protect the kingdom from dragons and barbarian invaders, and to perform the ritual dance with the serpent of fire, to battle the giant two headed orge…” No wonder Eric gets worried!
The stalkers are impossible to catch as they can turn from solid to smoke.
Sheila is amazed at Sir Lawrence.
When Lawrence explains about the spell and his sister, he sounds really peeved!
It’s a very odd spell!
“Poor Eric” – Diana, about his unfortunate bride to be. Is she being smug or amused??
What is it with the rulers of Zinn and marriage??
“Well spoken, Sheila” –Dungeonmaster. Not thief here – I don’t think it’s ever actually used by Dungeonmaster except in the titles.
“If you’re the real Dungeonmaster, then I’m a blue nosed baboon.” Unfortunately for Eric he is holding Dungeonmaster’s crystal pendant at the time!
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ALTERNATIVES
Zinn needs a king soon, or the spell will be broken, and she will loose her throne. Why?
What if Eric had been right and Solarz did sell Bobby and Sheila to Venger?
Why do both Zinn and Lawrence know so much about magic?
What if Hank had been chosen instead of Eric? (All the Prettiest Things by Random Scribbles)
Or Presto, even!
What if they reached
Solarz too late, and Eric didn’t run away and so ended up married to
Zinn? And what would have happened to Solarz? (All That Glitters (R)by Sealgirl)
What if Sheila had agreed to marry Lawrence? Or at least been a little closer to saying yes than it appeared in the cartoon (Shooting Hearts by Fayzalmoonbeam (link to ff.net)).
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FANWORKS
Zinn Wallpaper by Wolfman
Zinn (photomanip) by Sealgirl
The Garden Of Zinn (photomanip) by Sealgirl
The Valley of Smoke (photomanip) by Sealgirl
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What if Hank had been chosen instead of Eric?
All the Prettiest Things by Random Scribbles
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What if Sheila had agreed to marry Lawrence? Or at least been a little closer to saying yes than it appeared in the cartoon
Shooting Hearts by Fayzalmoonbeam (link to ff.net)
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What if Eric didn’t run away and so ended up married to
Zinn?
All That Glitters (R)by Sealgirl
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Previous Episode - The Quest of the Skeleton Warrior
Next Episode - The Box
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