DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS CARTOON FAN CLUB QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER Issue 2, I Summer 1997 ************************************************************************************** "What are you crazy? A man in a really nice camper wants to put our song on the radio. Give me a pen, I'm signing, you're signing -- we're ALL signing." -- Lenny (from the motion picture "That Thing You Do!" ) Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way, did anyone happen to see this fabulous movie? The more I watch it, the more I like it. If you haven't already seen it, you really ought to rent it, because it's quite good. Okay, now you're probably wondering why in the world I'm going on and on about a Tom Hanks movie in a newsletter that is supposed to be about the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon show. What on earth do the two have to do with each other? Simple. Two words: Good writing. And this newsletter issue is chock full of good writing! We've got two all new fanfic stories! We've got some -- how shall we say -- very interesting comments about our poll questions. Read them and weep (from laughing so hard!) We've also got some of your great ideas for a new D&D series as well as how some of you would have gotten our favorite bunch of misplaced teens back home. You guys are a talented lot -- and as for more of my thoughts on your literary prowess, you'll have to wait until next issue! Just to hint: we've been pondering a way to recognize the creme de la creme of the D&D cartoon fanfic, and we think we may have come up with something.... Also, thank you to all of you who wrote with your congrats about my recent wedding! (Les, you sly girl you! =)) It went very well, thanks for asking! And other than the severe writer's cramp I have from writing all those thank you notes, things have been great! So, on that note, read on and enjoy! Ta ta! See ya next issue! -- Amy Hodman (IllyanaAM@aol.com) ************************************************************************************** "You RESCUED Venger's sister?" -- Eric "She didn't tell me that part.." -- Sheila from the "Citadel of Shadow" episode **************************************************************************************DA-DA-DA-DUM!!!! THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST-EVER D&D CARTOON FAN CLUB POLL!!!! Well, here's what you've all been waiting for -- the results of the poll you all have been voting in over the last two-and-a-half months. Some questions you all pretty much agreed on, others no one seemed to agree on. Some of you made such hilarious/insightful/interesting comments that they just had to be included. So, read on, young adventurers! (note: not all percentages add up to 100%, as not everyone voted in every category) #1: WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER FROM DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS? Hank: 33% (4) Eric: 16% (2) Sheila: 16% (2) Venger: 16% (2) Tiamat: 8% (1) Other: 8% (1) (no one voted for Presto, Diana, or Bobby? Interesting.....) Well, that settles it. Everyone is just wild about Hank. Is it because female fans are mesmerized by his blue eyes and his Brad Pitt-like appearance? Or do fans admire his "take charge" attitude when he leads the group into one danger after another? Or do we appreciate the reality of the burden of leadership and responsibility that he must constantly shoulder? It may just be his really cool weapon, which explains the results of Question #2: #2: WHAT WAS THE BEST WEAPON ON THE SHOW? Hank's bow: 54% (7) Presto's magic hat: 23% (3) Sheila's invisibility cloak: 23% (3) Not only are you guys big Hank fans, you're also big fans of Hank's weapon -- and hey, who can blame you? Sheila's invisibility cloak tied for second on your list of favorites with Presto's unpredictable magic hat. No one voted for Diana's javelin, Eric's shield, or Bobby's club -- hmmmm. Odd. #3: WHAT GOT ON YOUR NERVES MORE? Uni's constant "baaaaahing": 31% (4) Other: 31% (4) the fact that they never, ever, ever got home!: 23% (3) Dungeon Master's vagueness and riddles: 15% (2) Hmmm...it looks as if Uni's "baahing" really gets on your nerves -- a lot. Charles Gray summed the sentiment up perfectly when he said "Someone once yearned for a 'Uni vs. Godzilla' episode." The "other" category also got a significant number of votes, and included everything in the annoying dept. ranging from the character of Eric (Rhonda Robinson: "Eric, for being such an arrogant, cowardly pain in the anatomy!") to the way the group always ended up empty-handed, no matter what (Mike Bugg: "The fact that they saved several kingdoms and were adopted by an emperor (Ramuhd), but they were always down to the clothes on their backs and their weapons by the beginning of the next episode (Sorry I can't marry you, King Lawrence, but I will take six of your best warhorses, a month's provisions, and a bag of gold)"). #4: WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE EPISODE? "The Dragon's Graveyard": 31% (4) Other: 23% (3) "The Traitor": 15% (2) "The City on the Edge of Midnight": 15% (2) "Beauty and the Bog Beast": 8% (1) "The Time Lost": 8% (1) This was one of the questions that no one agreed on, as you can see from the closeness of the results, and the large amount of "other" responses. Some episodes got one or two more votes than others, but it's pretty evenly distributed. These results are actually proof of how well-written the series was -- so many great episodes to choose from, how can you really choose a decisive winner? #5: OKAY, IS IT JUST ME, OR DID IT SEEM LIKE HANK AND SHEILA HAD A THING FOR EACH OTHER? Yes: 85% (11) They were "just friends": 7% (1) No, they couldn't stand each other: 7% (1) Believe it or not, this was the question I was sure was going to be the most inconclusive, simply because the series really never gave us any clear "yes" or "no" answer (I don't know about any of you, but this bugged me immensely). The clear consensus of the fan club is that yes, Hank and Sheila did indeed have "a thing for each other", although everyone had varying reasons as to why they thought so. Mike Bugg suggested that perhaps the reason Hank and Sheila's relationship never truly developed on the show was because "Hank held himself back because as the leader, he couldn't afford to play favorites." Lesley Hickman gave another insight into the whole romance question on the show when she said, "Everyone loves Sheila! Eric only yells at her all the time 'cause he's jealous." Another member had a slightly different opinion on the subject. Charles Gray thought it could have been a combination of (a) and (c), saying that: "Sometimes Hank got a little too gung-ho for Sheila's taste.". Now, if only we can find out for certain -- hmmmm, where the heck did I put Mike Evanier's E-Mail address again? #6: WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE D&D EPISODE WRITER? Michael Reaves: 50% (6) Mark Evanier: 33% (4) Other: 17% (2) It appears as though we have a winner! Michael Reaves is pretty darn popular with you folks. Perhaps an interview is in order? Well? Whattya say? Hello? Bueller? Bueller? #7: WHO WAS THE BEST NON-REGULAR (ONE APPEARANCE) VILLAIN? Venger's "boss": 42% (5) Kelek: 33% (4) Other: 17% (2) Warduke: 8% (1) It looks like the more evil and the more powerful they are, the more popular they are. Venger's evil "master" from the first episode of D&D's last first-run season was the big winner, followed by unicorn horn-stealing wizard Kelek. Victoria Bishop also pointed out a great villain who I'd forgotten about but who certainly deserves his place on any "best villain" list: The Giant from Brooklyn fron the P-R-E-S-T-O Spells Disaster episode. How DID he get that New York accent, anyway? I used to live there, and I don't remember seeing anyone that looked like that there -- wait, what am I saying???? There were people even stranger looking than him there! (sigh) I sure do miss New York...it was never boring. #8: WHOSE VOICE IS MORE SINISTER, DARTH VADER'S OR VENGER'S? Venger: 77% (10) Darth Vader: 23% (3) This is a toughie, I know, but it looks as if everyone's favorite Evil Overlord of the Realm won out on this one, although Charles Gray made a fairly good point when he voted for Vader over Venger, asking "Who can be ominous in a dress?" You all had some pretty interesting reasons for picking one over the other, that's for sure. Here's some of the highlights: "Darth sounded like he was making an obscene phone call" -- Victoria Bishop "Darth. Venger has a cool voice, but for over all evil coldness, Darth definitely had him beat. Future poll question: Darth takes on Venger -- who wins?" -- Lesley Hickman "Venger's, because Darth Vader's heavy breathing annoyed me." -- Rhonda Robinson #9: WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT, WHICH IS MORE IRRITATING, THE EWOKS IN RETURN OF THE JEDI OR THE CLOUD BEARS IN "THE TRAITOR" EPISODE OF D&D? Cloud Bears: 71% (10) Ewoks: 29% (4) The Ewoks vs. Cloud Bears question received the most, well, how shall we say, FERVENT responses from club members. Some people talked about, well, others said that, aw heck. Read for yourself! "At least the Ewoks didn't even pretend to speak English." -- Victoria Bishop "The Cloud Bears, but only barely. Both proved the inadequacies of the bad guys (hey, if a bunch of teddy bears can beat them, how tough can it be?)" -- Mike Bugg "ALL creatures who speak broken English/baby talk in the series are equally annoying. UNI, Lizardmen, Cloud Bears, Bullywogs, etc...The Ewoks weren't half as annoying!" -- Lesley Hickman "The Cloud Bears (for once Eric and I agreed!) -- Rhonda Robinson And my personal favorite response (he actually chose both the Ewoks and Cloud Bears) =) "KILL THEM ALL!!! DIE DIE! DIE!--ummmm. Both are equally annoying." -- Charles Gray I hope you all enjoyed the poll, and I'm looking forward to running it next year! ************************************************************************************** QUESTION OF THE ISSUE... (or, just in case you haven't had enough of polls already)... This is the first in an on-going series of "poll-like" questions that will appear in each issue of the fan club newsletter. If you have a suggestion for a question, please write me at IllyanaAM@aol.com. Thanks! Oh, and please send in your answer to me via E-Mail no later than August 15th, 1997. The results will be printed next issue! UNI was the one character on the show that fans just haven't been able to agree on. Was he/she a vital part of the series? Or was he/she a grating, over "bah"ing waste of screen time? Here's your chance to vote to determine once and for all -- what do you think of UNI, and, most importantly, just what the heck IS UNI? (This is a 2-part question) PART 1: What do you think of UNI? (a) UNI was a very integral part of the series -- so much so that an entire episode ("Valley of the Unicorns") is devoted to him/her/it. UNI's constant presence was a reminder of the lives in the realm that the group was protecting against Venger -- and made them care about the place they were stuck in more than if he/she/it had not been a part of their group. (b) I think having UNI as part of the show was an interesting idea -- but he/she/it should not have been a constant member of the group. UNI would have been better had he/she/it been a guest-star in an episode or two, like Kelek, Warduke, Dekion, etc, were. (c) I think that the only purpose UNI served was for marketing and audience purposes -- using a "Cute Unicorn" in the show to get audiences who would not normally even try the show. So there! (d) I really could have cared less if UNI was a part of the show or not -- UNI added nothing to the show, nor did he/she/it take anything away. (e) I think that UNI's presence on the show was extraneous -- there was no reason for he/she/it to be a part of the group or on the show. In addition, that whiny "baaahing" really got on my nerves something awful! Ick. Gag. Ptooey! (f) I have another opinion about UNI. (Please explain in your response). PART 2: I've seen web pages, E-Mails, and fanfic all over the Internet, who have all tried to answer the most truly puzzling question of our time. Now it's your chance, tell us, please: What IS Uni? (a) UNI is male. (In your response, please tell me how you reached this conclusion -- I sure can't figure it out!) (b) UNI is female. (See (a)) (c) I don't know and I don't care -- so quit asking me about it already! ************************************************************************************** YE OLDE FANFIC CORNER This month we'll feature Part 1of "Lambs Among Wolves" by Victoria Bishop, and Part 1 of "The Curse of the Warduke" by Michael Bugg. You'll see subsequent parts of these stories in our future issues. And, of course, if you have your own fanfic you'd like to share in the newsletter, please write me and let me know! Thanks, and enjoy! ***** Lambs Among Wolves Part I by Victoria Bishop "Is everybody okay?" Hank Grayson brushed his pale blond hair, which at the moment was covered with soot, out of his eyes. "I think so," Sheila O'Brien replied, keeping a close eye on her ten-year-old brother, Bobby. "Are you alright, sir?" Hank helped the stocky man to his feet. "Yes, stranger," the man replied. He surveyed the group. "Thank you for your courage. If not for you, we surely would have lost our granaries to the fire. You are all very brave." "Brave or stupid," Eric Montgomery muttered, wiping soot off his face. "And still smoking," Diana Curry added, tearing the cape off Eric's back and smothering the burning embers. Presto Sydney, the sixth member of the group, was trying to repair his glasses, which had been damaged during the fire. He held them up, and was relieved to see both lenses were still intact, but he didn't make much progress in fixing the frames, because he could barely see what he was doing. "Presto..." Eric shot him an impatient look. Silently, Hank took the glasses from the young magician and straightened the frames for him. Once he had handed him back, he looked up to see that a tall man with the same golden complexion as the people they had saved was standing before them. "Hello," Hank said automatically. The man nodded curtly. His bearing and the gold-trimmed uniform indicated that he held rank among these people. "I am Todor vol'Garilesh, Captain of the Queen's Royal Guard. Her Majesty has seen the fire and received word of you help in extinguishing it and saving the Kingdom's food supply. Her Majesty requests that you appear before her in court that she may thank you properly on behalf of the kingdom of Khristobel." "Oh," Hank blinked, not certain what else to say. "If you will come with me," the Captain spun on his heel, leaving the teenagers with nothing to do but follow. Hank glanced at his friends and shrugged. They all set out after the Captain, following him up the winding path and past the high stone walls that encircled a castle built entirely out of pale rose-colored marble. Two large doors were opened before them and the entered a palace more opulent, more richly decorated than any place the had been during their entire stay in the Realm. A brilliant, pale metal ornamented every fixture, and vivid tapestries hung on the walls. Hank noted that out of the entire group, Eric was the only one not craning his neck in a vain attempt to see everything at once. "Don't tell me," he said to the Cavalier in a low voice. "Castles are commonplace for you." Eric shrugged. "This is the nicest one I've been it. MacArran castle is so damp and drafty." "MacArran Castle?" Hank's blue eyes widened. "My family's castle in Scotland. My grandfather is the Duke of MacArran." Hank was about to comment on this startling revelation, but he realized that they were entering the throne room. They were led down a thick indigo carpet, past several richly dressed people who obviously made up the kingdom's court. They were brought to the foot of a small staircase, which led up to a pedestal which held a throne built entirely of the sparkling white metal. A man of the foot of the staircase lifted his chin and then announced in a loud voice. "All kneel in the presence of Her Most Royal Majesty, Queen Sabra yil'Orszebet of Khristobel and Ruler of all the lands therein." The group obediently kneeled along with everyone else in the room, but none of them could resist the urge to glance up as the Queen emerged from a door at the opposite end of the hall. She was a stunningly beautiful woman, with the golden skin of her people. Skin which set off the thick, black mass of curls that fell to her waist. She wore a long skirt and scant bodice, which although it covered her magnificent curves, set them off rather than hid them. She wore jewels around her neck and waist, in her ears and on her fingers. Her elaborate headdress was made of gold and looked extremely heavy, although it seemed to cause her no trouble. Gracefully, she climbed the steps and seated herself on the platform. "Rise, young heroes," she commanded in a rich, sultry voice. Hank straightened first, and his friends soon followed. "My gratitude, strangers, for your help in saving our food supply. What may this grateful country give you in return." Hank blinked, then glanced back at his friends. "Uh...a reward isn't necessary, Your Majesty. We were just trying to help." "And so you have," the Queen's jet black eyes sparkled as she smiled at them. "Are although you request no reward, there shall be a feast given in your honor. I would be pleased if you dined with me, for you look like travelers who are very weary. As an expression of my gratitude, allow me to see you cleaned, well-fed and rested before you leave the grateful kingdom of Khristobel." Hank heard murmuring amongst his friends and was positive he'd have a mutiny on his hand if he refused. Not that he had any intention of refusing, seeing as he was just as hungry as any of them--their last actual meal had been nearly a day-and-a-half ago. He was about to accept, but Eric beat him to it. "Your Majesty is as generous and kind as she is beautiful. We accept with thanks." Hank's jaw wasn't the only one that dropped at Eric's formal speech. The Queen looked suitably impressed. She favored Eric with a dazzling smile, "You speak the language of court most favorably, traveler. I look forward to conversing with all of you over dinner." She clapped her hands twice and four servants appeared near the teenagers. "Take our guests and let them wash away the dust of their travels and the soot from the fire. Dress them in the finest clothes that my palace has to offer and see to it that their clothes are well cleaned." She rose from her throne. "I will see all of you at dinner." Sheila let out a sigh of contentment as she sank deeper into the porcelain tub of hot, sweet-smelling water. "Oooh, I don't think I ever want to get out of here..." "Me either," Diana agreed, squeezing the excess lather from her hair. "I wonder if the Queen would mind if we asked to have our supper in here." Sheila laughed before dunking her head under the water so she could wash it with the jar of liquid a maid was holding out to her. "As far as I'm concerned, this bath is reward enough for saving that granary." The maid poured a generous amount of perfumed soap on her head and Sheila began to work it through her hair. "This is going to spoil me awfully." "Girl, don't even talk to me about tramping through the Realm right now," Diana ordered as she held her head down so a maid could rinse her hair out. That done, she leaned back against the tub. "I'm going to enjoy this for as long as I can." Sheila, her hair now rinsed as well, closed her eyes in contentment. "I'm never leaving this tub..." she repeated. "Perhaps we can persuade the ladies to come down to dinner," said a new female voice. Sheila's eyes snapped open as she and Diana regarded the older woman who just walked into the room. "I have selected several gowns for you to choose from, my ladies," the woman went one. "If it pleases you, I can have them brought in to be viewed while you continue to enjoy your baths." Sheila and Diana exchanged grins. "On with the show," Diana smiled at the woman. "I wonder if the guys are enjoying this as much as we are," Sheila said. "I have never been so embarrassed in my whole, entire life," Presto muttered as he tried to sink further into the water. "I can do that myself," Hank said to the maid who was attempting to wash his back for him. "Really." "My first real bath in months and I can't even enjoy it," Eric said under his breath. "I got it, it's okay," he took the sponge from the maid assigned to bathe him. Bobby didn't say a word, and hadn't since the maids had entered the rooms after they were in their wooden tubs. Out of the corner of his eye, Hank noted the four maids were now holding towels. "Uh...guys..?" No one answered him. Hank sighed. "Guys, we're going to have to get out sooner or later." "Fine," Eric replied calmly. "You first." "Thank you," Sheila said as one of the house servants held out an ornately carved, high-back chair for her. "Where are our friends?" Diana asked as, she too, was seated. "They will be here shortly, my lady," the young man replied with a bow. Then both servants retreated from the room. "I can hardly believe this!" Sheila said as she fussed with the skirt of her deep purple dress. Lightly, she touched her hair to assure herself that the red curls were still intact. "These plates look like they're pure silver," Diana checked her reflection in the plate set before her. She couldn't help admiring the way her bright amber dress flattered her complexion. She adjusted one of her gold earrings, which was so long that it nearly reached her shoulder. Abruptly, both girls stopped primping when the door opened and their friends were escorted to the table. The boys were as richly dressed as they were; Hank in blue, Eric in black, Presto in forest green and Bobby in burgundy. "You guys look great!" Sheila exclaimed, automatically fixing her brother's high collar once he was seated next to her. Bobby pretended to be absorbed in petting Uni, who had been staying unusually close to her young master's side since they'd entered the castle. "Thanks, so do you," Hank muttered as he was seated on her other side. Eric and Presto were placed on either side of Diana. "What's the matter with you?" she asked them. "I thought you'd be in a much better mood after being waited on hand and foot." "So did I," Presto replied. "Well, I can't help it," Diana decided that their bad mood wasn't going to ruin her high spirits. "I love it. We had maids to do everything we wanted." "So did we," Hank replied, his voice barely audible. Sheila and Diana exchanged glances and when realization hit, they burst into laughter. "Oh, shut up!" Eric scowled at them. "Oh, you poor babies!" Diana managed to gasp out. "Have your fragile male sensibilities been offended?" "Diana..." Presto's voice held a pleading not. "C'mon, Bobby," Sheila ruffled her brother's hair. "Don't look so mad. We're not laughing at you, we're laughing with you." "We're not laughing," Bobby waved her hand away. "Oh. Well then...I guess we are laughing at you," Sheila replied with a fresh burst of giggles. "I am glad to see you enjoying yourself, my friends." The group turned to see Queen Sabra smiling at them from the doorway. Hastily, Sheila and Diana swallowed their laughter and started to rise to their feet, as the boys had done. "No," the Queen motioned for them to sit back down. "No ceremony. That is one of the reasons this is a private banquet. So you and I need not trifle ourselves with such things as protocol." She seated herself at the head of the table. "Let us enjoy the meal without such worries." She made the slightest motion with her hand, and seven footmen approached the table. They set a bowl of delicious-smelling, thick soup in front of each of everyone, and then retreated. "Enjoy, my friends." Diana looked down at the table, and when she saw no cutlery, she hesitated, unsure how to proceed. A quick, covert glance across the table told her that Sheila and Hank were having the same problem. There was a slight movement at her right as Eric raised the bowl to his lips and to a small sip. The Queen was watching him as well, and smiled approvingly. "Does the keeshtok meet with you satisfaction, sir?" "Very much so, Your Majesty," Eric returned the smile. "It is excellent." Diana looked at Hank questioningly, but the Ranger merely shrugged almost imperceptibly and picked up his own bowl. "And may I ask your names, my young friends?" the Queen said once she saw everyone was becoming more comfortable in her presence. "My name is Hank, Your Majesty," Hank said. "Mine is Sheila, Your Majesty." "I'm Bobby," Bobby said, forgetting about the 'Your Majesty' entirely. "I'm....um...Presto, Your Majesty." "My name is Diana, Your Majesty." Queen Sabra nodded to each of them as they introduced themselves, then turned to Eric. "Your Majesty, I am Eric Stephen Montgomery," he said with such formality and calm dignity that it startled all of his friends. The Queen's eyebrows rose slightly. "You pronounce your name with a great deal of pride, my Lord Montgomery." "The Montgomerys are a very proud family, Your Majesty." "Mmm..." The Queen smiled at everyone around the table before turning her attention back to Eric. "One can not help but notice that you do not seem surprised to be addressed as Lord. Are you are Lord, my friend?" "I'm a manner of speaking, Your Majesty. My grandfather is a Duke, and since my father's death, I am naturally next in line to the title." All of Dungeon Master's pupils stared at one another in shock. They all knew Eric's father wasn't dead--he'd mentioned the man several times. 'That's going a bit far, Eric,' Hank thought, but didn't say anything out loud. No one did, in fact, which was unusual. Hank decided that Eric's newfound dignity had something to do with the fact that no one was contradicting him. "Is that what all of you are?" The Queen's eyes skipped from Hank to Eric and back. "Young nobles from another world out adventuring?" "No, Your Majesty," Hank replied. "Eric is the only one." "There is no recognized nobility in the country we come from in our birthworld," Diana added. "Everyone is equal." "Then how is it that you are a noble?" The Queen looked at Eric skeptically. "Other countries do recognize such rank, Queen Sabra," Eric replied, shooting a quelling glance in Diana's direction. He was enjoying having the attention of a Queen--and an extremely beautiful Queen, at that--and had no intention of letting his friends take away any of the limelight he'd acquired. "My families ancestors come from such a country." "Ah. And the rest of you? Have you such all such ancestors?" "Not that I know of, Your Majesty," Hank replied, reluctant to get into the subject of his own genealogy. "Not for me, either," Diana said. Presto merely shook his head, most of his interest was concentrated on the roast fowl that had been set in front of him as the second course. "My full name is Robert Niall O'Brien," Bobby announced, ignoring Sheila's whispers to remain quiet. "And the O'Briens are descended from some of the greatest musicians and dancers in our world." Queen Sabra turned to him in surprise. "Is that a fact, Master O'Brien?" she asked. "I apologize, Your Majesty," Sheila looked ready to crawl under the table. "No need, my dear, I assure you. I find your brother's proclamation most interesting." She leaned forward slightly to better address the brash boy. "And what of you, dear boy? Are you following your ancestors path? Do you play or dance?" "I don't dance," Bobby wrinkled his nose in distaste. "But I play the drums." The Queen seemed amused, but smiled kindly at him. "Then I'm sure you will enjoy watching the musicians and dancers that are to entertain us later." Bobby returned the Queen's smile, even though the prospect wasn't something he looked forward to all that much. "But what of your sister? Does she dance or play?" "I play a little guitar, Your Majesty," Sheila replied shyly. "And I've had some dancing lessons, but I'm afraid I'm not very good. Diana is the one with that talent." "I'm sure you dance very prettily, my dear," the Queen reassured Sheila. "But your modesty is a pleasing trait." Then she turned to Diana. "And what have you to say of your friend's praise." Diana swallowed her mouthful, and then replied. "Are you enjoying the entertainment, my Lord Eric?" Queen Sabra asked as she seated herself on a cushion next to the young Cavalier. "Very much, Your Majesty," Eric replied, still half-surprised at feeling so comfortable in her presence. "Perchance you could turn your attention from it long enough to speak with me?" she smiled. Eric was caught off guard. "I...certainly, Queen Sabra. With pleasure." "Come," she rose again. "We can talk in more privacy there," she nodded to a quiet corner of the ballroom. Eric stood immediately, and on pure instinct, offered her his arm. He could barely suppress a triumphant smile when she took it. He returned Hank's look of inquiry with a somewhat smug one of his own. Once the were settled on the comfortable pillows in the corner, Eric asked. "What is it you wished to talk about, Your Majesty?" "How is it, Lord Eric. That the offspring of a noble travels with those who are not, and yet do not defer to him?" Eric hesitated a moment before answering, partly because he didn't completely understand her wording at first. "Well...I..." he racked his brains for the proper words. "As Diana said, Your Majesty, such things have been abolished in my country." "How is it that you are a noble, then? Being born there." "Actually, I wasn't. I was born in the country where my grandfather is a Duke, but my family lives in both countries. I was raised in the States--that is, the country without nobility." "And yet you can retain your status?" "I've never heard otherwise." Queen Sabra smiled warmly. "Then you are, in a sense, descended from a king." "A king's cousin, from what I've always been told." Eric would have preferred admitting being part of an immediate line, but there was only so far he could go. 'Besides, she seems impressed enough with that.' "Your modesty does you credit, Lord Eric." Eric nearly choked on his drink. Modesty was certainly something he'd never been accused of before. He felt compelled to add. "But he was a king centuries ago." The Queen leaned forward, looking very interested. "Tell me what you know of this king." Eric was only too happy to oblige. He found a sudden interest in history that would have astonished his teachers. Hank thanked the maid who led him to his bedchamber, and assured her that he didn't need any help in preparing for bed. He took a few minutes to look around the richly decorated room as he yawned and stretched his way to the bed. It looked soft and warm and very inviting. Hank felt his eyes beginning to close before he had even changed out of his borrowed garments. He was amazed that he had managed to stay awake for the festivities after dinner and wonder if he had dozed off for a few minutes as he'd noticed Presto had done. He hoped Queen Sabra hadn't noticed--it would seem terribly ungrateful after how well she had treated them. 'I doubt she noticed, though,' Hank decided with a smile as he pulled on his now-clean dark green leggings to sleep in. 'She was too busy talking to Eric all evening.' He smiled as he climbed into bed, ignoring the matching shirt and his olive-colored leather tunic. Leaning back, he sank down into several plush pillows, and all thoughts of Eric and the Queen left his mind as he snuggled contendly under the covers and immediately fell into a deep sleep. 'Why am I cold? I'm not supposed to be cold.' Hank thought to himself. He distinctly remembered falling asleep in a warm, soft bed heaped with covers. After spending months of sleeping outdoors, it was not a fact that one forgot about easily. 'This is lousy! My one night in a warm bed and I dream about sleeping outside on stone. Cold, damp stone. Ugh. And on top of everything else, something itches.' Hank forced himself awake so that the unpleasant dream would go away, and when it didn't, he sat up. Or tried to. A wave a nausea immediately threatened to overwhelm him, and he was assaulted with a headache of icepick intensity. When he was able to think clearly again, he realized that he was indeed on a stone floor. 'What happened?' He looked around. 'A cell. How did I get into a cell?' Absently, he scratched at on of the itchy spots--his shoulder. Glancing down, he frowned at the sight of a rather tattered woolen tunic. 'Okay. I don't think I even want to know how this happened. What in the world is going--Presto?!' In the dim light of the cell, he spotted his friend's prone form and he began to crawl towards him, having decided that standing was still out of the question. "Presto?" he gently shook the magician, who was clothed in the same garments. Presto moaned slightly. "Presto, it's--" Hank paused for a moment and closed his eyes, waiting for another wave of nausea to pass. "It's Hank." Finally, the hazel eyes flickered open and Presto looked up at Hank, trying to focus without his glasses. "Don't try to sit up," Hank cautioned him immediately. "It might even be a good idea not to move." "Is this what a hangover feels like?" Presto asked in a hoarse voice. "Only a really, really bad one." "Were we drinking?" "I don't think so," Hank replied. Silently, he added, 'I think we were drugged.' "I didn't know hangovers were supposed to make you so cold. I've heard of chills, but--" "You're cold because you're in a freezing cold cell, Presto." "Oh," Presto closed his eyes. A moment later, they snapped open again. "What am I doing here?" Hank ran his hands through his hair as he looked around their prison again. "I have no idea, and--" he squinted in the dimness, wondering if he didn't see something else in their with them. It was a small lump, not big enough to look very dangerous. "Hank?" Presto asked, concerned by his friend's silence. With the lack of light or his glasses, the young magician had to rely on only his hearing. "Just a second," Hank said, moving towards the small lump. As he got closer, he realized it was the youngest member of their group and he went towards Bobby as fast as his hands and knees could take him. "What? What is it?" Presto demanded. "It's Bobby?" Hank replied, carefully turning the boy over. "Is he okay?" Presto managed to prop himself up on his elbows, but decided not to go any further until his head stopped spinning. "Bobby?" Hank leaned over the silent boy. "Bobby." "Go 'way," Bobby muttered. Hank smiled with relief. "Can't, pal. Wake up, okay?" "Hank?" Bobby asked in a voice barely more than a whisper. "Right here, so's Presto," Hank scrutinized the cell for a sign of anyone else, but could see no one on. "I feel sick," Bobby swallowed hard. "I know," Hank said sympathetically. "Just don't move for a little while, okay?" "'Kay," Bobby let out a slow breath. "What happened?" Presto asked. "Was the castle attacked?" "Ever heard of a Mickey Finn, Presto?" Hank asked with a rueful smile, absently smoothing Bobby's tousled hair. Presto frowned. "No. What is it?" "It's when someone slips something into your drink to knock you out." "But why?" This from Bobby. "We helped them. We saved all their food." "Yeah," Presto agreed. "What do they have against us?" There were a few seconds of silence. "And WHAT AM I WEARING?!" Hank nearly laughed out loud at Presto's indignant tone. "Clothes more suitable to a prisoner, I guess." "Oh man, I don't like this," Presto sounded more fearful by the minute. "Me, too," Bobby said, barely understanding what the magician had said. "Me three," Hank added, helping the boy to sit up. "I think we have to--" he broke off as the cell door opened. A huge hulking figure was framed in the doorway, and instinctively, Hank shifted closer to Bobby. "On your feet," came the order in a harsh tone. 'Great.' Hank got unsteadily to his feet, using the wall for balance and helping Bobby as much as he could. "Presto?" "I'm okay," Presto said, sounding anything but okay. "Where are we?" Hank demanded with as much bravado as he could muster under the circumstances. He immediately regretted the question as the huge man walked further into the cell, backing the trio against the wall. 'That is the ugliest person I've ever seen!' Presto thought irrelevantly. "Questions are not a good idea here, boy," the man said to Hank. "Questions only shorten the life of a slave." "But...but we were guests of Queen Sabra," Presto protested. The man snorted in contempt. "As if Queen Sabra would associate with the likes of you!" He looked them all over. "I am your Taskmaster--Boaz. You will refer to all the other overseers as Master." Hank squeezed Bobby's shoulder to keep the hot-tempered young Barbarian from saying anything and gritted his own teeth against the words that immediately sprang to mind. 'Don't aggravate them until you find the others and a way out,' his common sense told him. "I will show you to your tasks. Follow me," Boaz said, turning and walking out of the cell. Hank was puzzled by the seeming lack of concern over an attempted escape until he saw several other men, all at least equal to Boaz's seven feet, waiting outside for them. As they stepped out into the hallway, he spotted Sheila and Diana being led down the hall in front of them. Sheila glanced behind and when she saw her brother, she immediately turned to go to him, but was pushed along by one of the guards. Hank glanced down at Bobby and when he saw the boy obviously struggling not to call out to his sister, he put a reassuring hand on the small shoulder. He looked behind for a sign of Eric or Uni, but couldn't see anyone else. As he was propelled forward by a hard shove, and separated from Bobby, Hank felt real fear begin to rise. 'Dungeon Master, where are you when we really need you?' End Part I Thanks to Rhonda for the assists.