DAY OF THE DUNGEONMASTER
SUMMARY
The kids are running from some giant wasps. They go for Eric mainly; it seems he annoyed them by bouncing a rock off their nest. Only after the danger has been overcome, does Dungeonmaster appear.
Eric challenges him on his timing, and is told “There are many matters that require my attention, Cavalier. A Dungeonmaster’s life is not an easy one!”
Eric doesn’t believe him and adds that “If I were Dungeonmaster, I’d have it made!!”
Much to Eric’s and everyone else’s surprise, Dungeonmaster thinks it’s a GOOD idea! The Cavalier tries to back out, but it’s too late, and Dungeonmaster changes him into a Dungeonmaster too!
With that, their Guide tells them to travel east, and seek the Golden Grimoire in the City of Darkhaven, adding that “Knowledge will be Eric’s Shield” in this journey. Then he leaves them too it!
As they walk, they try to figure out what Dungeonmaster meant in his riddles, and finally decide that the Grimoire must be able to tell Eric how to send them home. But Shadow Demon is following them, and goes to report what he has seen and heard to his master.
Venger is pleased at the mention of the Golden Grimoire, and decides to follow them and take the book before they can.
Meantime Eric and the gang are getting used to their new situation. Eric tries to emulate Dungeonmaster, but doesn’t do it very well; he has trouble with spell (and thinking up riddles!). When Venger sees what has happened he is most amused, and conjures up a storm to test Eric’s temperamental power.
Venger is satisfied wit the test, and now knows that though Eric has power, he has little experience, and he goes off to Darkhaven, determined to find the Grimoire first.
The kids know that they have to get to the city as fast as possible, and Eric “whistles up” some transport; a giant bird that will carry them. But they have the misfortune to be attacked by a red dragon, and they have to abandon the bird mid-fight. As they fall, Eric’s magic fails once more, and Presto gets them out of the jam with a parachute to hold on to. Eric misses his rope and falls, only to be saved by some of Hank’s arrows.
They travel on, on foot, and finally make it to the huge city of Darkhaven. The doors are sealed with magic, and Eric uses his power to open them. They go inside the empty city, searching for the Grimoire. The get lost, and take a few wrong turns, but eventually Eric realises they are close and leads them to the Book Sanctuary.
Venger is lost too, but he guesses that since Eric has the power of Dungeonmaster, he might have the knowledge and would know where the Grimoire is kept.
The kids reach the Book Sanctuary, and Eric find the Grimoire and opens it. He reads from the book, and a portal opens to their home. He tells them that they have to leave their weapons, and Uni as well. Just as they move up to the portal, the door shatters and Venger is there.
The first thing he does is zap the portal, which starts to close. Then he grabs the abandoned weapons with magic, and then the Grimoire itself. Eric urges Hank and the others to get through the portal before it closes, but tell them that he has to stay and fight.
Venger offers him the chance to surrender, and survive, but Eric refuses.
As they fight, the others turn back from the portal and try and help. The first thing is to get their weapons back. Their efforts distract Venger long enough to save Eric. As Venger’s attention is drawn back to the others, Eric suddenly remembers Dungeonmaster’s riddle, and grabs the Grimoire. He grabs the book and holds it up, just as Venger fires at him.
The Grimoire absorbs the magic energy and starts to glow. Eric drops it and runs, as do the other kids. The portal is virtually shut, so they have no escape. Eric uses Dungeonmaster’s powers to transport them out of the city before the whole place explodes!
From a safe distance, they watch as the city destroys itself and, above, the angry shade of Venger appears, but dissipates harmlessly.
Dungeonmaster, the real Dungeonmaster, appears and congratulates them on their success. Tough Eric is pleased as the praise, he also wants to go back to being the Cavalier.
Dungeonmaster changes him back but reminds him that “once you are touched with power, you are never again quite the same”.
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INTERESTING INFORMATION
Scatter Count -
Presto Hat produces – a fan, a flying carpet
Goodies –
Baddies –
Walk-ons –
Monsters – Red Dragon
Groovy Objects – The Golden Grimoire (presumably destroyed)
Named Places – The City of Darkhaven
Starwars References – “Obi-wan Kenobi he is not!” Diana
Other References –
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The wasps dislike Eric the most!
Presto gets a fan (battery operated, presumably)
“No doubt about it, I gotta get a new hat.” Presto.
Dungeonmaster knows how to operate battery-powered fans.
“Where we you when we needed an exterminator?” Eric
When Dungeonmaster “accepts” the Cavalier’s “offer”, Hank needs clarification!
“I shall give you all my power, to use as you will.” Dungeonmaster to Eric. Lucky old Eric!
Presto in background – “I wouldn’t trust Eric to do card tricks.”
After Eric is changed, he doesn’t feel any different, but that will change with time.
Eric is naturally more taken with the nice, new threads that his new responsibilities!
His new powers suddenly manifest as lightning from fingers. And he gets laughed at.
There is a universal balance.
The Golden Grimoire holds “the key to everything you seek”.
Eric points out that they are going the wrong way. For once. He does it quite sensitively!
When they ponder Dungeonmaster’s riddle Eric struggles to explain it.
Presto and Bobby don’t know what a Grimoire is, and Eric sets them straight – it is a book of magic.
Venger has a very nice castle this time, and a huge underground(?) area. Also there’s a two horned statue of Venger – he doesn’t seem like the kind of man to need statues!
“How amusing, the young Cavalier now masquerades as Dungeonmaster!”
Eric recognises it as the work of Venger instantly. He just “knows”.
Diana is missing as they cross the energy bridge
Eric “whistles up a 747” – or the realm equivalent, a huge bird to ride.
“bird brain airlines”. Presto. Is he jealous?
Diana is at front for the bird, and Eric at back , facing the wrong way.
They have travelled a long way – half way across the realm is how P puts it.
And darkhaven itself is HUGE. It’s doors are sealed by magic, and only Eric (Dungeonmaster) can open them - the Club wont help.
“Eric! You talked just like Dungeonmaster!”Sheila.
“There’s no need to be insulting”. Eric
It’s a very odd city, it has mazes, and underground rivers.
Venger is here too (what kept him?) and blasts his way through the roof.
The Grimoire is kept in the Book Sanctuary.
Venger gets lost too, and he wanders around blowing up doors.
“How will we find them?” Shadow Demon.
“Leave that to me?” Venger. HOW??
“What’s Dungeonmaster got that I haven’t got?” Eric.
“Style!” Diana.
The Book Sanctuary is huge too.
What is that strange symbol?
Fire is burning above the book.
Uni would not survive in their world, so has to be left behind. But Eric’s magic will protect her.
Eric he has to say, and fight, because he’s Dungeonmaster, which sounds quite silly to me – when has Dm ever done any fighting? Or maybe he knows something they don’t!
“Only one of us will survive this fight, and it ain’t gonna be me!” Eric to Venger.
“You think this a game?? I assure you, this is no game!” Venger.
One of the books behind Eric probably says “Pinocchio”!
The section when they escape is very cool!
“But you were willing to lay down your life for you comrades” Dungeonmaster, to Eric
“Wow, I must be nuts!”
“Don’t think this hasn’t been fun, cos it hasn’t” Eric
Eric actually hands back his power. Eric!!
“But remember, once you are touched with power, you are never again quite the same.” Dungeonmaster to Eric. If that’s not a cue for a continuation, I don’t know what is!
Dungeonmaster winks to camera. He really does know something we don't!
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ALTERNATIVES
“No doubt about it, I gotta get a new hat.” Presto. That sounds like a good line to have as an opening to make Presto Dungeonmaster for a day!
Is Presto jealous?
Why does Venger have a statue?
Why is Darkhaven shut?
Why did Dungeonmaster send them there – why didn’t he go himself (esp since magic is obviously needed to get at the book)?
What were they doing/talking about during that long, long trip?
Why did it take so long for Venger to get there? Did the Nightmare get tired?
How did Venger find the kids?
Why wouldn’t Uni survive? (And why didn’t they think of that earlier!)
And why did they think leave their weapons lying around would be a good idea!!
What was Dungeonmaster doing while they were in Darkhaven? Did he really have no power?
“Touched by power”… Hmm…
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FANWORKS
He tries so hard, but he can’t quite remember the words.
Remember, Remember by Sealgirl (Episode Coda)
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Previous Episode - The Traitor
Next Episode - The Last Illusion
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