ADVENTURE TIME

In this age of heroes – which began in December 1995 - the score is Dungeon 9, Humans 4. Now let’s see what further challenges await our bold adventurers in the Dungeon depths.

The next dungeoneer is called Toby. His quest begins in a small room with two doors. There is a table between the doors, upon which Motley is standing.

  “Hello, Helmet Face,” Motley grins. “Welcome to the Knightmare Dungeon. It’s pretty scary, isn’t it? Are you sure you wouldn’t rather go home?”

  “No thanks, I’m fine,” Toby replies.

  “Well, don’t say I didn’t give you the chance,” Motley says with mock severity. “Now, listen up. From where you’re standing, facing me, turn widdershins ninety degrees. Now turn right by half a circuit, then it’s time to freeze!”

With that, Motley freezes stock still on the table, like a living statue. He has said all he is going to say.

  “Well, team, you’ve had your clue,” Treguard prompts the team. “Now make your exit as quickly as you can!”

By turning left ninety degrees and then right by one hundred and eighty degrees, Toby finds that he is facing the right-hand door. He exits through this, into the level one clue room. Here there is a table containing a firestone, a bar of silver and a small mirror. Toby is directed around the back of the table. As he begins to examine the objects, the wall behind him starts to metamorphose into a very ancient and powerful face.

  “Don’t touch yet, Toby,” Treguard warns. “All these things must be earned.”

  “Turn, intruder,” the wall monster commands. “Turn and face me, for I am the Brangwen she, and none passes here without pleasing me. I have three mysteries, and here is the first. It runs much smoother than any rhyme; loves to fall, but cannot climb. What is it?”

  “Water,” replies Toby, when his teammates have worked out the answer.

  “Truth accepted,” returns Brangwen stonily. “Here is my second. I turn around in continuous circles, but always travel straight ahead. What am I?”

The team discuss this for some time, and finally venture an answer.

  “A ballerina,” Toby says, somewhat dubiously.

  “Falsehood,” Brangwen almost chuckles. “A wheel was the truth I sought. Here is my third. You see me in the ocean and in the sky; sapphire, navy and royal am I.”

  “Blue,” Toby replies at once, before his teammates can mess it up for him.

  “Truth accepted,” says Brangwen. “Two is the score, you may learn more. Fire will feed the wyrm. Remember, the first step is clapping, but it is not the next step. The quest is for the Talisman, yet you may not hold it. The walls await me.”

Brangwen disappears. Toby picks up the firestone straight away, and he suggests to his team that the mirror might be better than the silver, because it is unusual. They agree, so Toby takes his two objects and is directed out. The next room contains a large pit, from which a green reptilian head protrudes.

  “Ah, a dungeoneer,” Smirkenorff remarks languidly. “Greetings, insignificant human. What is your name, and what do you bring me?”

  “My name is Toby, and I bring you this firestone,” Toby replies.

  “Delightful,” Smirkenorff approves, licking his scaly lips. “Leave it on the ledge, if you will. I’d probably crush you if I tried to eat it now.”

Toby puts the firestone down, and then takes a few steps back before staring expectantly up at the dragon.

  “Ah, there really is no such thing as a free lunch, is there?” Smirkenorff sighs. “All right, then, listen up. You’ll need to find the portal to reach level two. When you get to a dead end, it’ll be there somewhere, if you know where to look. The password for this level is eminence. Now, be on your way, and make room for a hungry dragon.”

As Smirky begins to enjoy his meal, the advisors direct Toby out. He finds himself in the chamber of Queen Kalina. The sorceress smiles softly when she sees him, and beckons him over to her throne.

  “This is Kalina, team, the supposed ruler of the first level,” Treguard chuckles sardonically. “Don’t take any notice of her airs and graces, but make sure you get what you can from her.”

  “Hello there, young man,” Queen Kalina greets Toby regally. “And just who might you be?”

  “My name’s Toby, and I’m looking for the Talisman,” Toby replies.

  “I am Queen Kalina, the ruler of all in level one,” Kalina proclaims. “And, let me assure you, there is no supposition about it, as some would have you believe. Now, before you leave my chambers, you must present me with some lovely thing.”

Toby hands the small, delicate mirror to her, and she accepts it gracefully.

  “Thank you, my dear,” Kalina simpers. “In return, I have spell for you. Its name is WELL, and it will reveal something you need desperately. The second step is finger snapping, but it is not the next step. Now, you are dismissed.”

Toby’s advisors direct him out. He emerges into a red room that is dominated by a silver wall. As the team watch, the wall grates forward and forms a colossal face, completely blocking the exit.

  “Password!” the blocker demands.

  “Eminence,” replies Toby.

Once the blocker has disappeared, the advisors direct Toby out. He now stands in a small cave that is completely devoid of anything, including doors.

  “Problems, problems, team,” Treguard chuckles. “You appear to have reached a dead end.”

However, the advisors are not flummoxed; they know what to do.

  “Spellcasting:” declares the spellcaster. “W-E-L-L.”

A stone wellway appears in the corner of the room. Toby is taken over to this and he climbs inside, allowing him to descend into level two.

It’s a flying start for Toby, but how long will his luck hold? Read the next Adventure Time to find out.