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Chapter 4
For his part, the dungeoneer may not be able to see where he's going, but he is all too aware of the enclosed space and oppressive atmosphere. He can't help but wonder if he's walking into a trap; there is certainly nowhere to escape if he should meet anything coming up the other way. The sound of dripping, trickling water echoes off the walls as he slowly advances. Never mind completing his quest - just getting out of here alive would be a welcome achievement. "Are you there, guys?" he asks in a small voice, trying not to sound too afraid. "We're here, Toby," Bronwen reassures him. They can only keep their fingers crossed that nothing bad awaits him at the bottom.
"Toby, can you see the trolls?" asks Bronwen in a low voice. "No?!" The limited view beneath his helmet means he cannot see where the creatures are sitting, for the moment. "Ooh, OK. There are two of them. One is sitting next to the ledge you're on, so when you move further along, you're gonna have to pass right above its head. I don't think they've seen you, though. Try and go as quietly as you can." The team's view changes to show Toby's progress as he begins to tiptoe along the rocky shelf, with the nearby troll visible from the waist up on the right-hand side of their screen. It is gazing down at the stew and seems oblivious to the intruder. After a few paces, Toby kneels down to pick something up. "I found a fish," he whispers, putting it into his knapsack. Explaining this action to his teammates may have been a mistake. There is a grinding noise as the troll begins to lift its big stone head. "What's that...?" Toby asks worriedly. "Toby, just go!" replies Bronwen. As he takes a step forward, the massive club-wielding arm of the second troll swings into view, crashing heavily into the ledge. Toby almost loses his balance as the whole thing shakes violently with the force of the impact. When the club is subsequently pulled back, part of the wall crumbles away, leaving the shelf above extremely unstable. "GO!" shouts Bronwen again. Toby starts to walk briskly forward, past the head of the other troll which appears too surprised to react. A section of the path behind him collapses entirely, and it looks like more is about to follow. "Faster! RUN!!!" yells Bronwen, with accompanying cries from Megan, Louis and Pickle. The next part of the ledge appears on the viewscreen, with Toby still rushing along it. A second, unseen blow to the wall nearly throws him off his feet, and sends a network of cracks running through the section beneath him. He manages to stumble on, despite the vibrations that warn of an imminent landslide, and when the rock does begin to disintegrate and cave in, he always seems to be one step ahead of it. Spurred on by the screams of his teammates, he races through an opening at the end of the path just seconds before it all gives way.
"You're alright now, just keep going," says Louis. Everyone feels more relaxed, knowing that the trolls cannot possibly follow Toby into such a small passage. The dungeoneer is progressing confidently when something bursts through the wall and comes within centimetres of biting his head off. The advisors practically jump out of their skins, while Toby yelps and ducks away from it. There is a loud snapping sound as its powerful jaws, lined with dozens of sharp teeth, close around thin air. Within the blink of an eye it is gone again, disappearing back into the wall as suddenly as it popped out. "That looked like one of those Snapdragons!" says Pickle once he's recovered from the shock himself. The creature they glimpsed was red and scaly with a long neck, like a much bigger version of Snapper Jack's troublesome appendage and companion. "Indeed it was," confirms Treguard. "They often use tunnels such as these to prey upon unsuspecting travellers. As you can see, they're lightning fast; and I'm afraid to say they can usually be found in numbers." As if to prove this statement, a low growl rumbles along the passage from somewhere up ahead. Pickle gulps audibly. "I should make a dash for it, and try to avoid the side walls," says Treguard. It's not the most helpful advice the team have ever been given, as the tunnel is hardly wide enough to go anywhere else. "Straight down the middle, Toby, as quick as you can," says Louis. It sounds as if he is surrounded by dragons as he charges through the dwarf tunnel, but luck is once again on his side, and no others try to lunge at him.
"You're in a small circular room with three doors," says Louis. "Each door has a sign above it. The one on the left says 'WAY OUT', the middle one says 'DEAD END', and the one on the right says 'DON'T GO LEFT!'. There appears to be a scroll on the floor - can you pick it up?" Toby reads out the contents of the scroll. "Only one door is safe. Only one clue is true." The children take a moment to ponder this dilemma. "Well, I don't trust Lord Fear as far as I could throw him," says Pickle. "A door labelled 'WAY OUT' is bound to be unsafe. We all know how perverse he is - I wouldn't be surprised if the middle door's not a dead end at all." "Unless, of course, that's what he expects you to assume," replies Treguard. It's a valid point, and the elf sits on the floor looking nonplussed. "Yeah, it could be a double bluff," says Louis. "Maybe we're not supposed to overthink it. What if the one on the left actually IS the way out?" They can well imagine how tickled Lord Fear would be, if they died walking through a door that was clearly labelled 'DEAD END'. Megan points out the third possibility: "Maybe he's just playing mind games, and neither of them is safe. We could always avoid both and try the right-hand door. He hasn't told us anything about that one." Nobody feels confident enough to make a decision; it's so hard to second-guess what Lord Fear wants them to do. How can they know what to believe? It will be heartbreaking if they choose the wrong door and fail now, when they are right on the verge of reaching Marblehead, after coming all this way. Megan desperately regrets sending Toby into these caves in the first place - perhaps if they'd stayed on the path outside, they could have reached their destination by now. Of course, they'll never know. After lots of umming and ahhing, Treguard is forced to hurry them. "You'll have to decide something. It's not as if Toby can go back... even if it weren't against the rules, the path he took is gone now. And if he stays where he is, he'll soon starve." He can't resist adding: "Pick the wrong door, of course, and you may find he's trapped in here anyway." Rather than encouraging them, this added pressure simply makes the team even more reluctant to commit themselves. The prospect of Toby being stuck inside this mountain is horrifying, and would equal certain death for him, one way or another - if he doesn't run out of food first, there are hungry trolls and Snapdragons that are now aware of his presence (and they're just the known residents). It would be a very grim and lonely place to die, and no-one feels this more than Toby. "Don't leave me in here on my own, Meg!" Now more than ever, Megan feels a huge weight of responsibility for her little brother's fate. "No, we're gonna get you out," she assures him, knowing it's a promise she may not be able to keep. Bronwen, meanwhile, has been considering the problem more carefully. "Guys... I don't think the 'WAY OUT' sign can be true," she says. "How come?" asks Megan. "Well, we know that only one of the signs can be trusted, right? So if that's the way out, then the 'DEAD END' sign would have to be false. But wouldn't that mean there were two safe doors?" "And that doesn't make sense, because it said on the scroll there's only one," agrees Louis. "Clever thinking, Bronwen," says Pickle. "Go on!" She tries to apply the same logical reasoning to the other clues. "OK, so if the middle sign is true, and it really is a dead end, then the other two must be false." She thinks about this for a couple of seconds, then gets visibly excited. "But they can't both be false because they say the opposite thing! One says the left-hand door is safe, and the other one says it isn't." "So by a process of elimination... the third clue must be true!" says Louis. "But that just says not to go left," Megan replies disappointedly. "It doesn't tell you which door is safe." "No, but we can work it out!" exclaims Bronwen. "We know the other two signs are false. So the way out is really a dead end, and the dead end is actually the way out!" Megan's eyes widen. "Oh my god - you're a genius!" she grins, throwing her arms around Bronwen. "I knew it," grumbles Pickle in an I-told-you-so voice. "So-called 'DEAD END' turns out to be the only safe exit! Typical of his sense of humour." Treguard rolls his eyes and doesn't say anything; he knows if he admits that Pickle was right, it'll only go to his head. "We think the middle door must be safe, Toby," says Louis. "100% sure?" Louis glances at the team captain for confirmation. "I have every faith in my brilliant colleague," answers Megan. "Alright. Here goes nothing." Toby walks straight forward and vanishes through the ominously-labelled portal.
"Listen now, team," says Treguard. "This is the sea they call the Great Mire; and as I'm sure you've guessed, the palace on its shore is Marblehead, home of Lord Fear. To reach this point is no mean feat. All the same, the most difficult and dangerous part of your quest still lies ahead. Let's hope you've got what it takes." "OK, Toby - walk forward," says Megan. With his advisors watching through the Eyeshield, Toby follows a winding path to gradually descend from the mountains. "Be careful... keep away from the edge," whimpers Pickle, who isn't the biggest fan of heights. Finally back at ground level, Toby stands on the palace forecourt. In front of him is an entrance flanked by two of the square towers. They had expected the place to be heavily guarded, but surprisingly there is no sign of anyone around. Pickle can't help feeling suspicious: "Where is everybody? Surely one doesn't simply walk into Marblehead." Treguard, on the other hand, is quite used to seeing dungeoneers lulled into a false sense of security here. "Oh, he's bound to be watching - and no doubt his traps are already set." "Alright, you're outside the palace and there's a gate ahead of you. Just keep going forward," says Megan, ready to stop him if trouble appears. As Toby approaches the gateway, the portcullis mysteriously slides open. Megan tells him to wait a moment, just in case anyone comes out to challenge him, but it appears to be a plain invitation to step inside. "Eyes and wits, team," cautions Pickle as they proceed across the threshold. "Eyes and wits is what we needs..."
"Where am I?" "You're in a room with one exit in the far corner," says Bronwen. "Don't go forward yet - there are fireballs shooting across the room from both sides." The fireballs are being rapidly expelled from a row of four cruciform loopholes in each wall. Once every second, there is a loud whooshing sound as a pair of fireballs emerge, flying horizontally in opposite directions. The firing sequence is arranged so that the first fireball from the left coincides with the third from the right (and vice versa), with the even-numbered missiles similarly paired up. This alternating pattern, combined with the speed of the cycle, would make it very difficult to cross their path safely - even for a person who could see the danger with their own eyes. For Toby, blinded by the helmet and wholly dependent on his teammates' guidance, it is far too risky to attempt. "Is this the room Stiletta warned me about?" he asks. "Yes, I think it must be," replies Bronwen, turning to the relevant page of her notes. "The Fireball Run is what she called it. So I guess it's time to use this spell she gave us." Louis clears his throat. "Spellcasting: P-A-U-S-E!" As promised, both sides immediately cease firing. "OK Toby, you've now got a clear run across," confirms Bronwen. "Walk forward please." They suddenly hear a goblin horn, and before they know it, two of the savage creatures have entered the chamber and are creeping up behind Toby. "Ohh, hurry!" urges Bronwen. "Stop! Sidestep left!" "It's no good running for the door - they'll only follow him through!" says Treguard. "You must take action to throw them off his trail!" For a split second, nobody knows what to do. Then Megan turns to Louis and cries "Switch them back on!" "What?" he responds blankly. "The fireballs! Switch them back on!" Now he understands. Using the tiled floor as a reference, Louis quickly checks that Toby is beyond the firing line, then calls out "Dispel, S-U-P-A-E!" With the spell undone, a pair of fireballs are promptly released from the odd-numbered gun loops - each one slamming straight into an unfortunate goblin, vaporising them on the spot. Treguard can barely disguise his amusement. "Ooohh... nasty!" The team aren't sure whether to laugh or cringe. Feeling a bit queasy at the smell of burning flesh, Toby asks Bronwen to direct him towards the exit as quickly as possible.
Pickle has never seen anything like it. "But what's this? A card game, master?" Treguard nods. "Yes, he had something similar at his previous residence - one of his favourite obstacles, so I hear, and not surprising given its success rate. He appears to have made some modifications, though... and that looks worryingly like a Frightknight timer." "Toby, you're in a room with playing cards on the wall," says Louis. "On your left is a 2 of Spades. After that, there are five pairs of cards and I think we're gonna have to choose between them. You're on a very narrow ledge, so make sure you stay near the wall. At the moment there's no ledge in front of you." "Yes; to get to the other side, you must Play Your Cards Right," explains Treguard. "Once you've identified the next card in the sequence, Toby must reach up and touch it. If you've chosen correctly, you can move on to the next ledge. But beware - get it wrong, or take too long, and the only way for Toby is downwards." "Alright. Reach up and touch the wall on your left," says Louis. When Toby presses the 2 of Spades, another section of the ledge slides out from the wall in front of him, allowing him to walk forward slightly. The cards above this new ledge are revealed to be a pair of Hearts - the 7 and 3, respectively. At the same time, the sword of the Frightknight in the bottom right-hand corner slowly begins to descend, as they saw before when tackling the Causeway in the mountains. It allows them no more than 45 seconds to move across and make their selection. "Take two paces forward." Once the dungeoneer is standing in the middle of the second ledge, Louis briefly confers with the team: "What do we think, 3 next?" "3 comes after 2," agrees Megan. Louis instructs Toby to take another step forward and press the 3 of Hearts. The Frightknight timer immediately resets, its sword returning to the highest position, and a third ledge becomes available under the next pair of cards. This time there is a large gap between the ledges. "Shuffle forward a tiny bit," says Louis, bringing Toby right to the edge. "Now take a giant step forward." The girls hold their breath, wondering for a moment if a proper jump was needed here, but he crosses the gap with no problems. They must now consider a choice between the 2 or the Ace of Clubs. The advisors are slightly surprised by these two options, having assumed it would be an ascending sequence. However, the clock is ticking and they must decide quickly what to do. "I would pick the 2," says Bronwen. "Last time it was one higher, so this could be one lower. I can't see why it would be the Ace." Megan gives an affirmative nod. "Touch the card to your left," says Louis. The 2 of Clubs turns out to be the correct choice, resulting in the 4 and Ace of Diamonds showing up as the next pair. This time when the new ledge appears, the one behind him simultaneously slides back into the wall. Once again the Frightknight's sword returns to the top. "OK, one pace forward... and then a big step." Toby makes it safely across another gap. "Go for the Ace?" asks Louis. "Unless it goes higher, lower, higher..." suggests Megan. "Mmm... no, I reckon it has to be consecutive numbers, like in Slam," says Louis. Megan gives him the OK to go ahead, so he directs Toby to the right-hand card. They've obviously chosen correctly as the next ledge slides out, the previous one disappears, and the timer automatically resets. After stepping across the latest gap, Toby halts beside the Ace of Spades, with a same-suited King as the alternative option. At this point, their view abruptly changes to a close-up of the final two pairs. "What was the last card??" asks a flustered Bronwen, no longer able to see it. "Ace of something?" "Ace of Diamonds," confirms Megan. "Should we pick the Ace again?" "But that's not consecutive," argues Louis. "Neither's the King!" she counters. "It can be, if the Ace is high as well as low." Megan realises he has a point. They're rapidly running out of time, so she allows him to try it. "Forward, Toby - and again. Press!" He touches the King of Spades. The penultimate ledge slides out, and the final pair of cards appears: Queen of Hearts or Queen of Clubs. Once Toby has been guided over, they frantically discuss how to choose between two cards of the same value. "Is he expecting us to just make a blind guess?" worries Bronwen. "The last one was Spades," observes Louis. "Maybe we have to match the colour?" Megan looks down at the notepad where she has scribbled down each of the chosen cards: 2s, 3h, 2c, Ad, Ks. "No wait, look - it alternates. Black, red, black, red, black. Go for the red Queen!" They realise with horror that the Frightknight's sword is just about to hit the red dot that marks its lowest point. Luckily, the card they want is right beside Toby, so all he has to do is touch the wall. He does so with a couple of seconds to spare, and the timer resets as the final piece of ledge appears. "Oh god! That was close," remarks Megan. "Too close," agrees Pickle. He doesn't like this game at all. "Nearly there now, Toby. Shuffle forward," says Louis. One more stride takes him onto the end block, and from there he can exit the chamber.
The other two advisors nod. "Mm-hm." "Alright, walk forward." She waits until he has passed beneath the archway. "Stop. Turn to your right. Now walk forward." He disappears around the corner. When they rejoin him, Toby is facing a darkened doorway. Whatever lies beyond is concealed in the blackness - yet the team have a horrible feeling they know what's coming, thanks to a telltale symbol above the entrance. Fixed to the keystone of the arch is a circular saw which is spinning ominously. The very sight of it, along with the nauseating sound effect, strikes fear into their hearts. Treguard sighs heavily. "I might have known he'd send you here. Any team making it to this point, after everything he's thrown at you, is bound to have him seriously worried. And if all else fails... well, I don't need to tell you about the Corridor of Blades. Some would call it the ultimate challenge." Pickle stares anxiously at the spinning blade; he looks as if he might be ill. The advisors aren't much happier - the Corridor of Blades has a formidable reputation, and they are all too familiar with the gory manner in which it has claimed the lives of many a dungeoneer. Toby himself had a sneaking suspicion of what awaited him upon hearing the rotation of the metal disc above his head, and now that it's been confirmed, every instinct tells him not to go in there. But his life force energy is finite, and perhaps being sawn in half would be quicker and kinder than starving to death. "Can I make a request?" asks Toby, almost saying "last request" by mistake. "Go on," says Megan. "If I'm going into the Corridor of Blades, can I please have loud, clear instructions? I don't want everyone shouting at once." They all remember the fiasco of the bomb room, not to mention their near miss in the Chamber of Levers. "Yes, that's a good point," says Megan. "It's probably best if just one person does the guiding." "I nominate you!" Bronwen replies immediately. "Seconded," adds Louis. He's done his fair share of navigating obstacles already, and besides, Megan is surely the most cool-headed in a crisis. The team captain laughs nervously. "I guess that's decided, then! Ooookay." She takes a deep breath. "Ready, Tobes?" He takes one of his own. "Ready as I'll ever be." It is with great trepidation that Toby steps inside the infamous Corridor.
"Toby, there's some food ahead of you. Walk forward," says Megan. He moves a few paces further into the corridor, but the team are then alerted to an even more pressing danger - a flash of metal in the distance, getting closer by the second. Crouching on the floor beside Bronwen, his eyes glued to the screen, Pickle speaks: "Guide him well, Megan...!" "Toby, DUCK!" she commands, as a giant sawmill blade comes whizzing along a groove in the right-hand wall. He stops and drops immediately, and it flies over his head with a high-pitched buzzing noise. Treguard is silently amused by the way Pickle and the three advisors automatically duck as well. No sooner has the blade gone past, than another has appeared at the far end of the tunnel, this time on the left-hand side. "Stay there. Right up against the wall," says Megan. She's aware that Toby's life force is now on condition red, but he cannot collect the food item without stepping into the wide path of the approaching blade. It's a shame that spells can only be used once, she thinks to herself. Stiletta's PAUSE spell would have come in very handy for getting through this! Thankfully the blades seem to alternate between the two walls, so the next one gives Toby an opportunity to move across. "Left! Get the food!" He quickly grabs the carrot which is lying on the travelator, and fumbles to get it into the knapsack, his nervous fingers refusing to cooperate. He is so preoccupied with this task that he barely notices Megan yelling at him to move right again. Suddenly hearing the urgency in her voice, he stands up straight and dodges to the side as a low blade comes speeding towards him. He may have left it too late. For one heartstopping moment, they think it's all over, with the blade looking sure to go straight through the middle of him - but somehow it skims past his left thigh, leaving him without so much as a graze. Having fully expected to see him dismembered in front of her eyes, Megan is quite surprised her brother still has all four limbs, yet she must recover instantly from the scare in order to direct him again. "Left-hand wall!" she shouts. Feeling understandably shaken himself, Toby is nonetheless quick to react, darting out of the way as another buzzsaw blade threatens to scalp him. "Right," says Megan, starting to sound a little calmer. Toby throws himself against the opposite wall and the latest one comfortably misses him. He waits for his cue to change direction, but this time a second low blade sweeps along the left-hand wall, and Megan firmly tells him to stay put. She keeps her instructions short and simple as they continue to hurtle down the corridor at a terrifying rate: "Left!" All of the blades are now just below waist height, forcing Toby to swap sides once more. Then, "Stay left." To everyone's relief, this one proves to be the last, and shortly afterwards the moving walkway grinds to a halt. Megan realises her hands are trembling when she nearly drops her pencil on the floor. Even so, she has successfully averted what could have been a grisly demise for the dungeoneer, and the others are glowing in their praise. Thanks to her, it seems the goal might finally be within their grasp. "There's a doorway alongside you now," she tells Toby. "Sidestep to your right."
"OK; should I try the door?" asks Toby. "Yeah, see what happens." If the doors in Marblehead behave anything like the portcullises, it seems likely that this one will open by itself as he approaches. But Toby hasn't even made it that far when a dark figure materialises in the room. He stands upon the high shelf, pallid-faced and clad in black, with an ankle-length cloak. It's the leader of the Opposition himself. Bronwen gasps: "Lord Fear has just appeared on the ledge above you." "A-ha! If it isn't the guest of honour," says the master of the house, looking down upon him. "Hello Toby!" Toby looks up towards his voice, though he cannot see him. "Greetings, Your Lordship!" That certainly raises an eyebrow. Fear gives a little nod, smirking to himself. If there's one thing more enjoyable than dispatching a dungeoneer, it's killing off a cocky one. "Well. It's been a long road to get here, hasn't it, Toby?" he remarks. "And yet, here you are. Very impressive. You must have thought victory was in the bag. But no: it pains me to inform you that it's all been a complete waste of time. I'm only kidding of course... nothing gives me greater pleasure than telling you that. In fact, I'm glad you took the trouble to come all this way, because now I have the satisfaction of ending your quest personally. Ahahaha." By now he's grinning from ear to ear, not that either auricle can be seen beneath that signature fitted helmet. "What can they do, master?" Pickle asks fretfully. But Treguard merely shushes him. Lord Fear examines his long, polished fingernails. "Remind me, Toby, of the object you seek?" "I seek the Cup," he replies. "Ahhh, yes... that would be the Cup that's gathering dust in the next room. Well go right ahead - door's in front of you. I think you'll find it's locked. And guess who's got the only key?" He pulls out a jailer's keyring from beneath his cloak and gives it a shake, letting Toby hear it jingle. "What a shame, eh... tripped at the final hurdle! Ain't that always the way? Never mind. You can always just turn around and-- oh wait. Silly me; I forgot." He mockingly affects a pompous, theatrical tone: "The only way is onward. There is no turning back!" Treguard inwardly squirms a little. Does he really sound that ridiculous? "In other words, my bold adventurer, this is as far as you go," Fear continues. "Now I really would love to stick around and gloat while your life force ebbs away, but the fact is I'm a very busy man - this operation doesn't run itself, you know. So I've got a better idea." Suddenly adopting a strange, creepy accent, he points two fingers at the floor and hisses "Drukkna hann!" A moment later, water begins pouring into the room through small circular vents along each of the side walls, and quickly spreads across the floor. "In a few minutes this entire chamber will be filled with water," the sorcerer explains. "So unless you've got gills underneath that helmet, I'd say you're out of your depth!" He laughs maliciously. "Anyway, Toby - valiant effort, sorry it didn't work out for you. I'll leave you to drown your sorrows. Alright? Bye now!" With a cheery smile and a wave, he vanishes. Pickle is distraught at this turn of events. "Not fair - Toby is trapped! Can't he come back, just this once?" Treguard shakes his head. "I'm sorry. You know very well that's not how it works." The water is already up to Toby's knees, and rising steadily. "Are you sure there's no other way out?" he asks his teammates. "Positive," says Bronwen. They're at a loss what to do or say. After watching them flick through their notes for a little while, the Dungeon Master has to give them a prod. "If you're going to do something, team, you'd better do it fast, before it's too late." "Toby, do you have any ideas?" asks Megan. "Not really. All I've got left is this seed-looking thing." "Oh, the seed..." Megan says thoughtfully, having almost forgotten they still had it. "I don't know what you could do with it, though." "Water it?" Louis suggests half-jokingly. It's not as if there's any shortage of water here - Toby is almost waist deep in it. Megan rubs her chin; that's actually not a bad idea, and at any rate it's the only thing they've come up with. "Toby, try just dropping it in the water." He reaches out and lets the shiny mottled bean fall into the water with a plop. For a few seconds nothing happens - but then Toby begins to rise up, faster than the water level. It's only when his feet emerge that they realise what is happening. "It's turned into a beanstalk!" laughs Bronwen. Sure enough, a tall green plant is growing, with Toby stood upon one of its leaves. When this magic vine has reached its full height, the dungeoneer is level with the shelf that Lord Fear previously occupied. Those watching in the antechamber can now see this ledge from above, which leads to a surprising discovery - it's not empty. Right at the front is a grey paving slab with a decorated red flagstone on either side. "What's that?" Bronwen wonders aloud. There's a gasp of excitement from Pickle. "It's a transporter pad!" "Yesss!" grins Megan, realising what this means - they've potentially found a way of getting Toby out of there. "Can you take a big step forward, please? Be careful," says Bronwen. Toby steps off the leaf and onto the plain grey slab. "Now listen, Toby," says Treguard. "The transporter pad is simple enough to operate. Step right for one journey; step left for another. And whichever one you choose, don't forget to return to the centre square - or who knows where you'll end up." "What are the symbols on the red squares?" asks Megan. Toby looks down beneath the helmet. "There's a chalice on the left, and a sword on the right." "The Cup!" whispers Bronwen. Megan nods. "Go for the Cup, Toby." "It's not likely to be a trick, is it?" Toby asks warily - the devious door puzzle still fresh in his memory. She laughs uncertainly. "Hmmm. We can't be too sure, I suppose." "Well you don't have long to decide," Pickle points out. Water is still noisily flooding into the sealed chamber, and will soon have reached the ledge he's standing on. They agree to follow the symbol of their quest object. "Sidestep left, Toby, and then back to the middle," says Megan. There's an almost electrical hum as he does so, and he instantly fades from sight.
Louis describes the room as quickly as he can. "Right, you're in sort of large cavern with a pit in the middle. We can see the Cup, but watch out, 'cos Lord Fear is standing in the opposite corner." "This is it, team - the final encounter!" says Treguard. Hardly anyone in the antechamber dares to breathe. "Oh, it's you again," observes Lord Fear, not sounding in the least bit surprised. "You know, we really must stop meeting like this. But you're a bit like one of those cockroaches, aren't you, Toby? You just won't die!" There is a subtle increase in volume, a slightly terse quality to his voice, which indicates that he's really quite annoyed by this point. And that makes him more dangerous than ever. "Here you are in the Quest Chamber. Don't celebrate just yet," he says by way of introduction, crisply enunciating his T's. "There on your left is the object of your quest. They call it 'the Cup that Heals'. Well let me warn you, Toby - try to make a dash for it, and I'll blast you into so many pieces that no mystic mug is gonna do you any good!" "Don't move, Toby," Louis sensibly advises. "Wasn't planning to," he replies. "Good," says Lord Fear. "Now I'm sure you've come armed with some convenient little charm or potion, that you think you can use to defeat me. The Powers That Be must think I'm stupid. Have I got a surprise for them! Take a look at this." He points toward a sensor in the corner of the room, striking it with a blue ribbon of energy, and a buzzing, pulsating forcefield appears between the dungeoneer and himself, stretched diagonally across the Quest Chamber. "Hear that, Toby? It's a barrier of anti-magic. Fairly self-explanatory. As long as it's active, you can throw whatever you like at me - none of it will get through." Another flick of his wrist disables the forcefield again. "I can switch it on at any time. And don't think you can beat me to it, or try to catch me unawares. If you, or any of your little friends so much as whispers the word 'Spellcasting', the barrier will be triggered automatically!" He gives a triumphant laugh. This time he won't be so easily thwarted. What Fear doesn't realise is that for once, he needn't have bothered with such precautions. The advisors exchange worried glances; they don't have any magic left to use. Should they have? "What shall I do, guys?" asks Toby. Lord Fear answers first. "You do nothing! Have I not made myself clear? You've had your fun - now it's my turn. First, I'm going to put you in a cage like the little rodent you are. Then I'll decide the best way to dispose of you. How would you like to be toasted by a dragon? I thought about dropping you in the Great Mire, but I think it would lack a certain entertainment value. Perhaps I'll transport you to the goblin pens and let them rip off one limb at a time. Oh! And by the way - the confining spell is not only powerful, it's also cast-locked, so don't waste your time trying to undo it. Now, Toby, do you have anything you want to say before I snuff out your quest? D'you feel like begging for mercy at all? If so, now's your chance." Toby is beginning to feel distinctly uncomfortable. "Guys...?! Any suggestions?" They have none. All their clue objects have been used, and they have no way of calling for help. They aren't sure how they missed it, but it's clear they should have picked up a vital spell somewhere along the way. "I think we're in trouble," is all Louis can manage to say. "No pitiful whining? Tears? Desperate attempts to negotiate?" Lord Fear gives the dungeoneer one last opportunity to respond. "No...? Suit yourself." Things look hopeless as he prepares his final assault. "Emergency!" cries Treguard. "You must do something NOW or it's game over!" "Oh, Toby...!" whimpers Megan, covering her eyes as the enemy raises his arms to attack. The collective sense of despair in the room is overwhelming - what a truly cruel end to their quest, to come so near and yet so far. Toby braces himself, as Lord Fear intones "Crea cavea!" and aims at him with both hands. And then it hits him. Not the spell: the answer. Inspiration strikes a fraction of a second before Fear does, and quite out of the blue, Toby shouts out the single word "SPELLCASTING!" In a flash, the barrier of anti-magic crackles into life - not only blocking the spell, but reflecting it straight back at Lord Fear. The evil mage splutters with surprise and confusion, looking wildly from side to side as a set of bars unexpectedly close around him. It takes a couple of seconds for the team to absorb what's just happened; then astonishment gives way to hilarity. "Lord Fear has accidentally trapped himself in a cage!" hoots Bronwen, realising Toby cannot perceive the full extent of his actions. Toby's reaction is to snicker too, which earns him a dirty look from Fear before he turns his attention to breaking free from this prison. "Clustrum cassa!" Nothing happens; the bars remain firmly in place. This could be embarrassing. He quickly invokes a different unlocking spell, "In ex por!", which proves equally ineffective. The team seize their opportunity. "Toby, I think now would be a good time to grab the Cup," says Louis. "Where is it?" "Turn to your left. Now walk forward 'til I say stop." All the while, Lord Fear's increasingly shrill voice can be heard in the background, trying a variety of spells to no avail: "Nospirim!", "Veneficus libera!", and a final frustrated shriek of "ÁLÍESE!" At long last, Toby gets his hands on the precious quest object - a gold chalice with knobbed stem and two curved handles, displayed within a small niche in the wall. As he lifts it up, Lord Fear gives up trying to release himself and starts ranting at the boy instead. "I suppose you think you're very clever! You're going to regret that little stunt..." Louis hastily points Toby in the right direction, guiding him carefully around the pit. They might have redeemed the Cup, but they can't afford to get complacent - any mishaps on the way back could still render their entire quest null and void. Such a calamity would no doubt please Lord Fear, who's still hurling threats and curses at them. Halfway to the exit, Toby can't resist pausing to give him a cheeky wave. "See ya!" The look on the technomancer's face is priceless. His back stiffens and for several seconds he stares at the boy with a cross between mute shock and simmering fury. Then he resumes his tirade with increased vitriol. "You come back here, Toby! Don't you walk away when I'm shouting at you! Toby - I'll get you for this! You're one dead dungeoneer!" A loud, drawn-out bellow of "LissAAAAARD...!" is the last thing they hear as Toby strolls out the door.
"Listen, team - I only know one way out of Marblehead, and I'm afraid it isn't pleasant," Treguard says hurriedly. "You must direct Toby to the opening on the left." Megan does so, as goblin horns blare all around the fortress. "Step up, climb into it!" Tightly clutching his golden trophy, Toby makes his escape. They find him standing inside a long brick tunnel that recedes into darkness up ahead. "Oh, god, what's that smell?" he asks, sounding absolutely appalled. "It's a sewer pipe. I told you it wouldn't be pleasant," answers Treguard. "And worse still, you've no means of transport, so you'd better start running!" Hearing another goblin horn behind him, Toby takes this advice and runs like hell. Nobody has ever tried returning this way on foot before, and Treguard isn't sure if it's even possible, but there's no point in telling the team that. He just hopes Toby doesn't burn himself out too quickly, because it could be a long way back to Knightmare Castle. The sewer twists and turns as he progresses through it - Toby wonders if it was designed that way deliberately to slow down fugitives like himself. Suddenly the advisors see that he's being followed. A pair of goblins are swiftly pursuing him through the tube, accompanied by Lissard. It's hard to tell how closely they're trailing him. "Hurry, you've got company!" warns Megan. Breathing hard but full of adrenaline, Toby keeps running... then comes skidding to a halt just around the next bend. His heart sinks. "Is the tunnel blocked?" he asks, hoping the advisors can see something that he can't. His limited view beneath the helmet suggests there's some sort of grate right across the pipe. Toby's observation is unfortunately accurate; there doesn't appear to be any way through or past it. "No, no, no..." Megan moans desperately. They can't die NOW, surely! Their quest is all but complete! Treguard has an idea. "Quickly, Pickle - the Reach wand!" Unsure of what he has in mind, Pickle nevertheless scrambles forward and grabs the remote control off the Quest Table, handing it back to Treguard. This had better work, the Dungeon Master thinks to himself - it can only be a matter of seconds before Lissard and the goblins find Toby trapped in a dead end. As well as being a channel changer, the wand also has the ability to open things from a distance. Treguard points it at the viewscreen and a crosshair appears. Hoping the temperamental device won't let them down at such a critical moment, he aims at the grate and presses the button. It works! The crosshair blinks and the grate immediately vanishes with a dissolving noise, leaving Toby with a clear path ahead of him. The advisors all cheer. Then Megan urges the dungeoneer forward: "Leg it!!" He sprints off once again, now on the final leg of his epic journey. Another alarm sounds, but this one is different from the usual goblin horns. Some distance behind him, the trio of pursuers stand aside as they're overtaken by something that is moving even faster... "He's sending a Frightknight through the tunnel!" Pickle exclaims in horror. "Run, Toby - like you've never run before!" The Frightknight zooms along after him, sword raised, weaving effortlessly round the series of bends on its smooth castor wheel. Toby runs for his life. The whole team are shouting and cheering him on as he nears his destination - surely there isn't time for the Frightknight to catch up with him now. He enters a long, straight section of the tunnel. Treguard's antechamber is visible at the end, with Pickle now on his feet, beckoning urgently: "Come on Toby, you're nearly there!" Breathless terror turns to elation as Toby races across the finish line, safely delivering the Cup into Pickle's outstretched hands. Whoops of "Yesss!" and "Oh my god!" can be heard from his thrilled advisors, who pump their fists in triumph as Megan throws her arms around the others' shoulders. But there is one last danger to deal with before they can truly celebrate. Treguard leaps to his feet, grabbing the Staff of Light, and ushers Toby out of harm's way. The dungeoneer removes his helmet and goes to stand behind his teammates, who greet him with excited whispers of "Well done!" and a pat on the back from big sister Megan. Meanwhile, Treguard has rushed to the dungeon door where he stands with the staff held aloft in a two-handed grip. He sees the approaching Frightknight enter the home straight, waits until the moment it comes within range, then zaps it with a bolt of lightning from the staff. Further back in the tunnel, Lissard and the goblins shield their faces from the resulting explosion of twisted metal, before beating a hasty retreat. The four children (along with Pickle) cheer, laugh and applaud - that was better than fireworks, a spectacular finale to their quest! Toby thinks it's possibly the coolest thing he's ever seen. When the dust has settled, Treguard turns to see Pickle holding up the gleaming chalice, a gigantic smile on his face. "The Cup, master. I never thought we'd see it!" Treguard steps forward and takes it from him, exchanging it for the staff, which Pickle returns to its place in the corner. The elf also relieves Toby of the Eyeshield, helmet and knapsack, carrying them over to the Quest Table while Treguard speaks admiringly of their achievement - finally recovering the most sought-after prize in all the dungeon dimensions. "Well done indeed, team! You are not only champions, but your victory is unprecedented. Though many before you have tried, none have ever been successful in retrieving the Cup." The team are visibly delighted to have earned a place in the history books, grinning at one another like Cheshire cats. Bronwen is particularly glad they chose the right dungeoneer: "Yay, Toby!" "And now to get you a more tangible reward," adds Treguard, picking up his remote control wand from the table and stepping to one side so that all may have a clear view of the screen. A quick press of the button reveals Hordriss the Confuser, seated at a rectangular table which is covered in books, scrolls and inkwells. He is busy writing with a quill, apparently copying information from one book to another. Treguard loudly clears his throat to attract the mage's attention. Hordriss looks up. "Treguard... and Pickle!" he says with some surprise. His eyes widen further when he notices what Treguard is holding. "Can it be... the Cup that Heals?!" "None other!" confirms the Dungeon Master. Surveying the others gathered in the antechamber, Hordriss recognises the helpful dungeoneer who treated him with such respect when they met in Level 1. "Toby!" he exclaims, dropping his quill on the table. "Your quest has been a success? My congratulations to one and all! You join an elite few whose names make up our roll of honour. Now... the glory you have won is reward enough, but allow me to provide you each with a small memento. I think you'll find the symbolism appropriate." He raises his hands and commands "Revelanti!" Blue lightning shoots from his fingers, passing through the screen and striking a small wooden podium on top of the Quest Table, where four trophies materialise - each modelled on the distinctive shape of a Frightknight. These will certainly bring back a few memories! Toby sits down next to Bronwen, and the four children lean forward to pick up their trophies, beaming with pride as they examine them. "This is a strong blow to the Opposition," remarks Hordriss. "Yes... if you'll excuse us, Hordriss, I think we should see how he's faring," says Treguard. Receiving a nod of assent, he changes channels on the screen, bringing up a view of Marblehead where Lord Fear is still trapped inside the cage of his own making (and not very happy about it). He seems to have abandoned the incantations in favour of a manual attack on the bars, and is attempting to generate fireballs with his right hand forming a sign of the horns. A series of futile sparks leap from his fingertips, like a lighter that just won't ignite. He's beginning to wish he hadn't made this charm so foolproof - it's apparently resistant to everything. "Lord Fear!" calls Treguard, in his most authoritative voice. The technosorcerer glances up and narrows his eyes at them. "Come to gloat, have you?" Treguard has barely opened his mouth to reply when a very smug Pickle jumps in first: "Yes, actually!" He laughs unsympathetically at his enemy's predicament; it's no more than he deserves. "How d'you like the taste of your own medicine?" Fear just scowls at him, so Pickle gladly rubs it in further. "Look what we've got..." he teases in a sing-song voice, waving his hands around the Cup like a gameshow assistant showing off tonight's star prize. "And if you think that hurts - just you wait 'til the elves take their revenge for what you've done!" This threat is greeted with a predictably scornful response. "Do yer worst!" he sneers. "If you think a bunch of pointy-eared tree-huggers are gonna get the better of Lord Fear, you're in for a disappointment. And as for you, Treguard...! You and your little helpers might have won this battle, but the war is far from over. And from now on, the gloves are off. When I get out of here, anyone who's not on my side will find that life in the dungeon just got a whole lot more unpleasant." "I'm sure they will... when you get out," Treguard answers with a smirk. He takes great pleasure in pointing the remote control at Lord Fear and hitting the off switch. Turning their backs on the screen, the residents of Knightmare Castle walk over to the smiling team. "You'd better put this somewhere safe, Pickle," says Treguard, handing the Cup to his assistant who duly hides it behind his throne. While he's there, Pickle fetches the Staff of Light and gives it to Treguard. The Dungeon Master warmly addresses the four children for the final time. "We salute you, Toby, Megan, Louis and Bronwen. You faced many perils on the path to victory, but I can promise you a safe journey home. Farewell!" He slams the staff on top of the wooden podium, creating an orange ball of energy that expands into a blinding flash of light. When it fades, the children have gone, magically transported back to their own time. Gazing sadly at the three empty seats, Pickle gives a wistful sigh. "I'm really going to miss them. But what a way to start the season - one-nil to the Powers That Be!" "Yes; it makes a change for us to be in the lead," says Treguard. "Somehow I doubt it'll last - the Opposition will be sure to strike back harder than ever, and our secret way won't stay secret for very long. All the more reason to press on while we have the momentum." He strides across to the staircase, still holding the staff. "Well? Ready for the next round?" Pickle stands up straight, an eager glint in his eye. "Ready, master." "In that case... enter, stranger!"
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