THE DUNGEON AT THE HEART OF DAWN
SUMMARY
The episode starts in darkness, with Eric and Bobby (and Uni) in the Tower of Darkness, trying to find the door. Bobby knocks open the “door”, but misses, ultimately bringing down the whole tower.
The others are sitting around doing nothing, bored, waiting for Eric and Bobby to return. With them they have the Box of Balefire, that Dungeonmaster told them to go and get.
Bobby refuses to break open the lock on the box – saying that Dungeonmaster told them to bring him the Box, not open it! Eric wants it open (hasn’t he learned!) and
appeals to Hank, as leader. Hank isn’t interested, and eirc takes that as the freedom to do what he wants.
He breaks the lock, and pulls out the pin. Dungeonmaster appears at that moment, warning Eric in very stern tones to get away from the Box. But before Eric can replace the pin, the Box flies open, sending a blast of magic into the sky.
Only now does Dungeonmaster tell them what it was in the box: it is a message, they have released a signal to a being more powerful that any you have ever faced.
Shadow Demon reports back to Venger, who is not pleased at all with the news. This is someone Venger is also afraid of. He vows that he will survive the coming confrontation, and see those children punished.
Dungeonmaster instructs Hank to make a hole with the arrows, and they throw the box in then they burry it. Eric challenges Dungeonmaster and demands an explanation, only to be told that “We are running Cavalier, for our very lives!”. They don’t understand what has Dungeonmaster so worried.
Venger feels “it” arrive, a huge tower of swirling light, that moves across the Realm leaving lava and destruction in its wake.
Venger goes out to face whatever it is, and welcomes it as his Master! In a strange language, it seems to accuse Venger of failure, and though Venger tries to explain the creature is having none of it. It destroys his castle, and thinks it has destroyed him as well!
Meantime, Presto has been trying to get something useful from the Hat, to help them. But they are eventually found by the creature. Bobby wants to know who it is, but Dungeonmaster says “His name is not for your ears, barbarian, he is not life as we know it, he has many identities, on many different worlds, but all know him as evil!”
As No-Name approaches, Dungeonmaster transports them out of the way just in time.
But it weakens him. Worse the creature finds them again quickly, and Dungeonmaster has to transport them again. Eventually, they are transported back where they started, the ruins near the Tower of Darkness, and have nowhere left to run.
They are facing death, andEric thinks that everyone blames him, only to be told that “he asked permission” from Hank, so it is also Hank’s fault!
And it’s NOW that he says there is one chance – with the weapons. They give them without question. Dungeonmaster summons his power and uses the power if the weapons.
Dungeonmaster warns them that “the instant before he strikes, he will reveal his face. No matter what happens, you must not look apon it!” which Eric naturally does!
No-Name casts magic down on the group, and Dungeonmaster blocks it. But Evil is too strong, and finally, there is a huge explosion that leaves nothing but a smoking, melted crater behind.
But the kids have escaped; they are in a gloomy cavern, with no Dungeonmaster. They don’t know where they are, there are unfriendly noises nearby and the weapons don’t work!!
Dungeonmaster staggers into view, disappears then reappears. He explains that has used almost all of his power, and that of the weapons, to transport them to the underworld. No-Name believes them destroyed, but Dungeonmaster can only survive a short time.
He has to find the Dungeon at the Heart of Dawn at the centre of the Underworld, to replenish his magic, and the magic of their weapons.
Hank takes charge, giving them orders, and they move out.
Dungenmaster seems to know they are being followed, and returns to a weaken Venger, with news about the Heart of Dawn. Venger is confident that he is still strong enough to defeat Dungeonmaster and decides to follow them to the Heart of Dawn to get there first and have his revenge.
The kids help Dungeonmaster along, but at some cliffs there is a rock fall, and Presto falls over the edge and can’t get back up. The others can’t reach him, and he tells them to go with out him, and get Dungeonmaster to the Heart of Dawn. Hank reluctantly agrees.
The others go on, as they leave the lava pools, someone knocks a stone against the big monolith “gong” at it’s edge, summoning the giant salamanders. Diana stays behind by the pool to fight them off with a branch while the others go one once more.
Meanwhile, somewhere else in the Underworld, Venger is visiting some of his slaves, they look like gnomes and are mining rock. He has a task for them!
The remaining kids have reached a huge set of doors, and a set of stairs winding downwards. They are near, but still have to get past the guardian: a huge worm! When it attacks, it’s Eric that distracts the animal while the others go on.
As they reach the bottom, Dungeonmaster has almost faded away, and Hank has to carry him. They get very close, but Venger appears with Shadow Demon and the gnomes.
The kids and Dungeonmaster try to run, but one by one they are captured until it’s only Dungeonmaster left, but he falls and fades out again.
At that moment, Eric is about to be squashed by the worm with no place left to run; Diana’s branch is gone and she’s backed against the wall; the rocks are giving way under Presto’s feet…
Dungeonmaster phases back in and crawls to the pool of magic.
Venger hauls Hank off the floor, telling him that his time has come! But Hank sees Dungeonmaster heading to the pool, and Venger tries to stop him, but just misses.
Scared, the gnomes run, and Dungeonmaster re-emerges from the pool in a glowing crystal, with his powers fully back to normal.
He transports each the other Young Ones to him, and when they return they find their weapons have been fully recharged.
Venger tries to attack once again, but Hank uses the recharged Bow and stops him.
Dungeonmaster and the kids decide to return to face No-Name in the world above, whatever the outcome, and Dungeonmaster challenges Venger to come with them, and returns his power.
They arrive back, fully prepared to face No Name, but he’s gone, and it’s all quiet – No-Name has gone.
Venger tells them to expect no gratitude, and he will not rest until he has destroyed them all, then vanishes.
The kids and Dungeonmaster are left, but they know that some day, No-Name will return!
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INTERESTING INFORMATION
Scatter Count - 1
Presto Hat produces –
Goodies –
Baddies – Udar the Goblin
Walk-ons –
Monsters – Giant Salamanders, the Worm,
Groovy Objects –
Named Places – The Underworld, Dungeon at the Heart of Dawn
Starwars References –
Other References –
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Eric and Bobby (and Uni) are in the Tower of Darkness - What did they have to do in there – and why them in particular? Did they volunteer???
The others are positively bored by the whole thing, and are sitting around doing nothing!
There is a little Hank and Sheila moment, presumably once Bobby is away!
Bobby is almost squashed by a rock – and Sheila is the only one who reacts.
Whatever Presto has been cooking doesn’t smell to good, and he throws it away to be eaten by Uni.
“What can one little peek hurt?” Eric. When will he learn!
He appeals to Hank as the leader!
“Yes, sir, master Ranger, sir!” sounds like Yogi Bear to me!
Dungeonmaster’s appearance, just after Eric has pulled the pin out raises big questions about how much he can do, and how much he can foresee!
Dungeonmaster closes the box, and give Eric a really NASTY look.
Now he tells them what it was in the box – a message, they have released a signal to a being more powerful that any you have ever faced! Why didn’t he warn them then?
“And now he knows we are here”. – but what does that actually mean? He knew Dungeonmaster was there anyway?
“He is returning!” Venger can sense the presence of the creature.
“No matter what happens, I will survive to see those accursed children punished!” Venger
“Hold it right there captain shortness!” Eric. But Bobby stops. “Not you, the other one!”
“We are running Cavalier, for our very lives!” Dungeonmaster,
Dungeonmaster is looking Very Grim!
They are being very arrogant about their successes.
“Your looking at old pros here. We’ve beaten everything the Realm has dished at them from 5 headed dragons to one horned Vengers!”
“Everything except triple eyed, double fanged flying purple people eaters!” Presto
But Bobby got one of those last week!
The opened Box has summoned Venger’s master!
It speaks a language we don’t understand. Hissing snarls, guttural.
“No! Dungeonmaster WILL fall before me!”; “But I have not failed! I have earned no punishment!” Venger.
Venger’s castle is destroyed (No wonder he needs so many of them!)
Presto has been trying to get something useful from the Hat and there is a pile of junk beside him – how long has he been trying?
Junk includes - highway safety flares, battery powered emergency radio (with no batteries), Ranger Fred’s guide to survival in the Amazon?
“Give it up, nothing in that Hat is gonna help us!” Eric.
“His name is not for your ears, he is not life as we know it, he has many identities, on many different worlds, but all know him as evil!”; “the ruler of many universes, but his goal is to rule the entire cosmos with evil!”
Transporting the kids and himself uses up a lot of Dungeonmaster’s magic.
The big bad finds them very quickly. No chance for Dungeonmaster to recover.
Eric falls off- it almost looks like Hank gave him a nudge! Hank’s nearest!
Why does he fall, there doesn’t seem to be a cause. He just tips backwards.
Eric lands on his backside again.
They return to the ruins near the Tower of Darkness.
Bobby scared- about the only time he admits it – Sheila tries to help.
“What’s gonna happen – barbeque city, that’s what’s gonna happen!” Eric (as tactful as usual!)
“I know hwat your all thinking – it’s my fault, I’m the one who opened that box!” Eric.
“No Cavalier! You asked and were given permission! Yes?” Dungeonmaster to Hank
That’s a bit of a cop out for Eric!
“Never abandon your leadership, Ranger, nor your hope!”
And it’s NOW that he says there is one chance – with the weapons! They give them without question.
“Is it all some kind of test? You are going to save us?” Diana. Dungeonmaster doesn’t answer
“Listen carefully my children – the instant before he strikes, he will reveal his face. No matter what happens, you must not look apon it!”
He might as well have given Eric a direct order to do exactly the opposite!
“What’s that thing waiting for?” Presto.
“Yeah, what Is he? chicken?” Eric.
Blast comes down and he departs, leaving a smoking, melted crater behind him!!!
The kids weapons , but they don’t work!!
Presto turns to Hank first.
Dungeonmaster used almost all of his power, and that of the weapons, to transport them to the underworld.
They are in by the “Plains of Fire”; and must cross them to get to the centre, where the Dungeon at the Heart of Dawn is.
Did Venger know about the Dungeon at the Heart of Dawn?
Hank takes charge, giving them orders, and they move out. It’s Diana he turns to to take the lead.
Dungeonmaster seems to know they are being followed.
The first rock fall is presumably caused by Venger
Presto seems to have found the only ledge there is!
King Kong – “remember, just before he came crashing through the jungle” Did Hank watch it watch Diana??
Eric recognises the giant salamander as giant salamanders – how ??
Diana stays to fight them off, with a branch.
The creatures that are Venger's slaves are likely to be Goblins (thanks Kimmy)
The Goblins live somewhere in the Underworld, they have yellow eyes with red pupils, and are mining rock.
They are also the slaves of Venger.
The gnome leader is Udar.
Venger has not been to see them for a long time.
Udar suspects the v is not as powerful as he used to be, “not powerful enough to enslave us”.
The Guardian of the tower is a huge Purple Worm (thanks Kimmy!)
Hank has to carry Dungeonmaster.
Udar has a helmet that shoot red fire. Nice!
Hank stays to stop Venger. He fails – “Stop the others, this one is mine!” Venger to Hank.
Bobby and Uni stay, and Sheila and Dungeonmaster go on.
The Club is actually destroyed by Udar – just the handle left.
They chase after Sheila, grabbing the cloak and ripping it.
Veneger hauls Hank off the floor.
Venger only just misses Dungeonmaster!!
The transfer of power scares away Udar.
Dungeonmaster re-appears in a glowing crystal, his powers back up to full.
Dungeonmaster almost forgets Eric and Hank reminds him.
Is Hank actually worried it’s already too late for Eric?
Is Dm giving Eric a little payback for opening the box in the first place?
“I guess this is what heaven’s like” Eric.
Venger is stopped by an arrow from the recharged Bow.
“You have won nothing, we are doomed to hide forever in this accursed underworld, while he whos name cannot be spoken, rules the realm!’
Dungeonmaster returns his power!
Dungeonmaster taunts Venger about being afraid to return, and he joins them.
Venger stands next to Eric and Bobby.
Dungeonmaster says “Prepare yourselves, my children” – is he including Venger in that??.
Venger tells them to expect no gratitude, and he will not rest until he has destroyed them all.
No name is really gone – “to wreak terror and destruction on other worlds. Still we may have little time… until he returns”!!!
They are standing on a small island amid lava and fire, but the rest of the Realm seems ok
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ALTERNATIVES
Why was it just Eric and Bobby who go to the Tower of Darkness?
"Gimme a break, Eric!" – what has happened to make Hank so sick of “leader” tag?
Why did Dungeonmaster appear at THAT particular moment
What would have happened if Dungeonmaster had told them about the Box sooner – and why didn’t he.
“And now he knows we are here”. – but what does that actually mean? He knew Dungeonmaster was there anyway?
“No matter what happens, I will survive to see those accursed children punished!” Venger. But he doesn’t, not really…
What was Venger’s deal with No-Name?
Why does Eric fall?
“Never abandon your leadership, Ranger, nor your hope!”
Is this was what it’s all about – this pep-up for Hank?
Could Dungeonmaster have used the weapons in a different way?
Eric looks at No-Names’ face – there should really be some consequences (esp after Dungeonmaster’s warning)!
Eric recognises the giant salamander as giant salamanders – how ??
What’s with those earth Gnomes? Why can Udar blast red light out of the horns of his helmet?
How does the Heart of Dawn work?
What would have happened if Venger had got there first?
What would have happened if someone else got there first?
Why did No Name leave?
What will happen when he returns?
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FANWORKS
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Bobby vs the purple-people-eater – by NEILG (Originally part of the DDCC06)
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No Name Wallpaper by Sealgirl
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What Hank should have said/done after they returned from the Underworld.
Choice Words (R) by Sealgirl (Episode Coda)
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What might have happened if Dungeonmaster hadn't reached the magic first.
Interlude by Sealgirl (Alt Ending)
(Part of the Extended Season 3)
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Eric waits for the inevitable. Alone.
The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Sealgirl (Alt Ending)
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Previous Episode - The Child of the Stargazer
Next Episode - The Time Lost
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