Here's our second fanfic story! Enjoy! ****** The Curse of the Warduke by Michael D. Bugg MdBugg@aol.com Part 1: The Sword and the Helm "Burn it down!" the man in the black helm roared over the din of chaos. "Burn it all down!" The hobgoblins that followed him grinned. They needed no encouragement--this, thought one, was what they had been born for. They set the small wood and thatch buildings of the village to the torch even as they looted what few valuables these simple farmers and herders had. Some of the villagers tried to fight, using their farm implements and a few spears and bows--they were put to the sword. Some tried to fight the spreading flames--they were cut down. Many more tried to run--they were slain without mercy. Only a few, mostly children, were able to escape to hide in the forest, where they huddled in terror, forced to watch the deaths of their loved ones. The man on the black horse, dressed in the piecemail armor of a mercenary warrior, watched all this with eyes that burned like the fires around him, the only feature of his face visible beneath his black, dragon-winged helm. A few of the villagers rallied and rushed him, screaming their defiance as they tried to impale him on their pitchforks, scythes, and spears. The man in the black helm drew his sword with the air of one without hurry and then galloped his stalion, half-mad with the smell of blood, towards the attackers. "Brave fools!" he shouted in challenge, and then he was among them. His horse's hooves trampled them, his sheild turned their pitiful weapons aside, and his sword wrecked havok among them. Wherever it struck, it left deep, frost-rimmed wounds. He impaled one man through the heart, and the man became encased in ice, like some bizare sculpture. At this, their courage broke and they tried to flee. The man in the black helm laughed and cut them down from behind like so many stalks of wheat. When he had finished with this sport, one of the hobgoblins, a grotesque parody of humankind nearly seven feet tall, approached, licking its chops in satisfaction. "We're finished here, Lord Warduke. These sheep didn't even put up a decent fight." "And the spoils?" asked the one addressed as Warduke, sheathing his weapon. "Not much, but enough for this work. We'll feast on mutton tonight!" "Good. Slaughter the herds, taking what you can carry. Then move out to the rendevous point." "Yes, lord!" the hobgoblin said, and left to relay the orders, leaving the Warduke to ride alone. Warduke looked around at the carnage he had just wrought, and if he could have, he would have smiled. "Soon. Soon, Young Ones, this will bring you to me, and I shall have the reward that you cheated me of the last time we encountered each other." Wheeling his stallion around, Warduke rode into the night, quite satisfied with his work. It wasn't often that the Young Ones (as they were quickly becoming known around the Realm) came to a city that they didn't steer around. Most had long ago fallen to Venger and now served as the homes of the many and various races that followed him. These were even more dangerous than the deeps of the wild, they had learned early on. On rare occasions they found a lone haven, generally a village too small for Venger to trouble himself with. It was with no small amount of thought, therefore, that they had decided to enter the Great Fair of Azar to spend the small sum of silver and copper that they had with them--gained in the small mountain town of Threshold from a crowd that had enjoyed Presto's attempts to pull something useful from his hat (a chicken and a dragon's head and they couldn't throw down the coins fast enough to keep the young magician working his magic). The money had been intended to hire a guide, but it had turned out that their eventual pathfinder had wanted payment other than coin. Now the Young Ones were glad that they had kept the coins tucked away. Even in a diverse crowd such as the Fair boasted, the Young Ones drew more than a few looks. Despite their well-tended armor, travel-worn clothes, and obviously magical weapons (more than one person eyed the golden bow, speculating on its value verses the risk in taking it), none was old enough to shave. Even the golden haired young man in the studded leather of a ranger who bore the bow and led the party was no few years short of adulthood. The boy who tromped along beside him, hefting a huge club in one hand and petting a tiny unicorn that trotted beside him with the other, could not possibly have seen more than a decade. Behind them, two girls--one a freckled redhead wrapped in a violet cloak, the other a chocolate-skinned beauty dressed like an amazon warrior from legend--chatted and giggled cheerfully, pointing out beautiful clothes and jewelry from across the Realm to each other. Bringing up the rear, a youth that could only be a magician--to judge by his flowing green robes and conical hat--swiveled his head so quickly that it seemed that it must surely snap his neck shortly. "Wow, this place is great!" he practically shouted. Beside him, a boy in the plate armor of a knight and bearing a shield with a griffon device looked around with a never-fading air of disdain. "Hmph! I've seen better." "Oh yeah?" The amazonian girl shot over her shoulder. "Where? Your TV set?" "Shut up, Eric. This place rules!" the young Barbarian added. "Yeah! Ih ay ulls!" the little unicorn bleated. The Barbarian's hand petted her mane lovingly. "Hey, let's check that out!" said the Ranger, shifting course through the crowd. The rest of the group folled him as he ducked under the shade of a cloth overhang from which came the beautiful notes of a harp. The harpist was dressed all in red, from her brightly shined boottops to the mask and cowl that covered the top half of her face. From beneath the cowl, a curled mass of platinum-blonde hair fell to the bottom of her leather vest. The flesh of her face below the mask and the long, slender fingers that played the harp was fair and unblemished. Her voice, singing softly and wordlessly in accompaniment to her harp, was high-pitched and lovely, and the tones that poured from her harp nothing less than liquid magic. When she finished her set, the overhang erupted with applause that drowned out the sighs of disappointment and handfulls of coin clattered at her feet. Most of the people left to find new entertainment as they saw her packing away her harp in a leather case--also crimson--until only she and the Young Ones were left. "That was beautiful," the redhead sighed, sorry that they had missed the first part of her show. "Thank you," the harpist said, her reed-thin lips spreading in a smile. As she spoke, she crouched and scooped the coins into a small sack. "I'm glad you liked it." "Liked it! We loved it!" said the young Barbarian. The harpist sketched a flourished bow with a carefree laugh. "The Scarlet Harper, at your service. Call me Scarlet; it's shorter." "I'm Hank. This is Bobby and Uni, Sheila, and Diana; the guy with the shield is Eric, and that's Presto," the Ranger said, gesturing to each in turn. Scarlet's eyes remained on Presto after he was introduced. "A wizard?" she asked. "Um, sort of," said Presto. "I'm working on it, anyway." "Be careful where you cast your spells, young wizard," Scarlet warned, pointing into the crowd beyond the overhang. The others followed her finger and saw seven men in chain mail and bearing swords. Their tabards were blue, and decorated with a white flame. Faces browned by the sun and scarred from battle scowled into the crowd, eyes darting suspiciously. "Why? Who are they?" asked Presto. "The Bearers of the Pure Flame," Scarlet told them, "the followers of Bishop Narius. They exist only to stamp out all magic, to destroy whoever it may touch, whether those people wanted it or not." Her lovely voice went cold and dead as ash. "Why are they here?" asked Hank, frowning. "Have you not heard? The Warduke is in this region. The Bearers were more than happy for the excuse to send soldiers." "Warduke? Isn't that the guy--?" started Eric. "--that tried to kidnap the Dungeon Master," Diana finished for him. "Dungeon Master? You know the Dungeon Master?" she asked, her voice suddenly heated, as if the name had set sparks to a gasoline spill. "Unfortunately," said Eric. "He's been our guide ever since we came to this Realm," explained Hank. "He told us how to find this wonderful place," added Sheila. "I . . . see," Scarlet said. She started to move away. "I have to go. I have another performance to give elsewhere. Goodbye." "Did we say something wrong?" Presto muttered to Eric, who shrugged. "Would you like for us to come with you?" asked Hank, eyebrows creased. "No thank you. I really must run. Goodbye." She practically ran for the crowd. Just before vanishing into it, she called back over her shoulder, "Be careful where you follow your guide." And then she was gone. They stared at the direction she had run for a moment before anyone spoke. "What was that all about?" Diana finally asked for all of them. A scream sounded from across the fair. "Take what you wish, and burn the rest!" Warduke shouted abouve the war cries of his hobgoblins. They were only too happy to oblige. The crowd broke into a terrified mob, trampling those who fell in their haste to escape the warlord and his minions. "Hold it right there, Warduke!" a voice called. Warduke turned in the saddle and saw his quarry. The young Ranger stood atop a vacated stage, an arrow of golden light nocked in his bow and pointed at Warduke's heart. "Get him!" Warduke commanded his hobgoblins. Six rushed the Ranger, screaming as they raised their swords and spears. Hank released a volley of arrows, scattering them, but so intent was he on the six in front of him that he forgot to watch his back. "Hank!" shouted Bobby above the din. Hank whirrled and caught the hobgoblin's sword on his bow, the blow numbing his hands. The hobgoblin was prevented from pressing the attack as he was forced to whirl and parry the Barbarian's heavy club, which hummed with its own vitality. The hobgoblin's sword, forged of good steel by the best smiths of his people, shattered like so much rotten wood. With a yelp, the hobgoblin dove for cover behind some barrels of ale. "Thanks Bobby! Diana, you're up!" called Hank. The Acrobat appeared above Warduke as if she had sprouted wings and flown, striking at his sword arm with her magical javelin-staff. But his arm was no longer there, but drawn in towards his body so that she missed entirely and landed off balance. The pummel of his sword struck the back of her head, sending her sprawling to the ground. Warduke raised his sword for the finishing blow. "By-dark-of-night-and-light-of-day-I-cast-a-spell-too-blow-you-away!" Presto blurted, his fingers twiddling a mad dance over the hat in his other hand, which glowed with a soft light from within. The wind that he summoned from the magic hat did make the Warduke stagger back, but it also sent the inexperienced Magician flying back into a row of benches, where he toppled backwards into a heap. As fast as it had come, the wind died. "Foul wizard!" spat Vylar. The youngest of the Bearers, he was scarcely oder than those they watched, off to the side. "Do we interfere?" Bran asked his leader. "Not yet. Take care of the hobgoblins--permanently, of course. I don't wish for even one to escape us." "My lord," said Bran, raising his drawn sword. The rest echoed his words. "Vylar, you're with me. We're going to see if the opportunity comes to take one or two alive. We can draw the rest into a trap with the hostages." "The Demon-whelps will risk themselves for each other?" asked Vylar in surprise. "Of course, for fear that we will learn their powers and weaknesses from the captives." "You'd better thank me for this," Eric muttered at Diana's prone form as he took Warduke's blade on his sheild. He could actually feel the blows land! "I've got her," Sheila's voice said from thin air, and Diana's limp body began to slide away. "Wish I could turn invisible right now," Eric snarled as blow after blow continued to land on the forcefield which held Warduke at bay. Sheila drew back the hood of her cloak, reappearing. She made herself look at the bloody knot that was forming on the back of Diana's skull. Lord, she hated blood! It didn't look too bad though. Diana's eyes opened groggily. "You'll be okay," Sheila said. She wondered why Diana's eyes widened suddenly. She never saw the man who clubbed her. Neither did Hank. He and Bobby suddenly found themselves clear of enemies. Looking around, he saw some of the Bearers fighting them sword-to-sword. "Guess they're not all bad," he said. "But there are too many of the green guys," said Bobby. "They're going to get killed." He started to go in the direction of the fighting, but Hank's hand on his shoulder stopped him. "We can't take all of the hobgoblins," the Ranger said grimly, "but maybe we can take out their leader and scare them off. I need you to distract him." "Got it!" Bobby said with an almost cheerful grin as he ran off. Not for the first time, Hank wondered if he really comprehended the danger that they were all in. Pushing that thought away--I have to use him if we're going to stay alive--he ran to the side, looking for a good vantage point. If he was right, and Warduke's helm was magical . . . "Come and pick on me, you big nerd!" Bobby shouted in challenge, raising his club. "Young fool!" Warduke snarled, turning his back on Eric and galloping towards the young Barbarian, meaning to either trample him or cut him in half, whichever came first. Bobby's mocking grin never faded as he drew in the strength of the club, drew in the anger, the rage, until he couldn't draw in any more. It begged for release, demanded it, and Bobby couldn't hold it in. He directed it at the ground instead. The blow of his club shook the ground like the footstep of a god, opening deep cracks in the earth. The earthquake brought Warduke's gallop to an end as his horse tried desperately to keep it's balance, and Warduke's arms flailed wildly, like a tightrope walker about to fall. Hank had his shot, and he took it. His arrow flew true, catching Warduke's black helm and tearing it from his head. "NO! MY HELMET!" the man that was Warduke cried. Hank stared, and so did Bobby. Underneath, they saw a man's face, lined and scarred with years beyond measure, a few cloudy wisps all that was left of his hair. "That's Warduke?" asked Bobby incredulously as the old man fell from his horse, which galloped off. "This guy?" He didn't look evil, or threatening; he just looked used up. "So it would seem," Hank said, walking over to stand over him. "So it would seem." The old man glared up at him, looking as if he was about to say something, but the only sound that emerged from his throat was a death rattle. "Eww!" muttered Eric, turning away. That was how he saw the Bearers trying to carry off the girls. "Hey!" he shouted, running at them. They blinked in surprise as he plunged into them, using his sheild as a battering ram. The one holding Diana dropped her. "Diana, run!" Eric shouted, smashing the hand of the person that reached for her against the edge of a wagon. She tried to rise, but staggered groggily to her knees instead. "Run! Get out of here! NOW!" To his amazement, she obeyed, half-staggering, half-crawling towards the others. "Let her go!" Eric shouted at the guy holding Sheila, slung over his shoulder like a sack of grain. She didn't seem to be moving. His right arm searched for a weapon. He felt something cylindrical, like a sword hilt, and lifted it. "Put her down or I'll . . ." His voice trailed off as he saw what he had in his hand; the neck of a dragon wood carving, no more than two feet long. "Or you'll what, witch?" sneered the guy who had dropped Diana. He reached for Eric, and Eric batted his hand away with the dragon carving. "Or I'll . . ." What the HECK am I doing? he asked himself just as a heavy arm closed on his throat from behind, cutting off his wind. "Hank," Diana groaned as she entered the street, leaning heavily on her javelin. "Diana!" he cried out, running to her, catching her as she fell. "Are you all right?" "Where's Sheila?" Bobby demanded, joining them. Presto came up behind him, shaking his head as if to clear the cobwebs away and dusting off his hat before putting it back on. "She's been taken," Diana said, her voice tight with pain as she furtively rubbed the back of her skull. Her fingers came away with drops of blood. "The hobgoblins?" asked Hank, sitting her down on the remains of a counter top. His eyes scanned the ruins of the Fair, but he caught sight of only a single hobgoblin, and that one was clutching a bag filled with something as it fled to escape a crowd of Fair-goers, who chased it armed with everything from knives and staves to swords and spears. "No," said another voice from behind him. Hank half-turned and saw Scarlet approaching them, her crimson outfit merely a darker shade of the flames behind her. A long dagger that looked to have seen some recent use was in her hand. She stopped and looked at them with hard eyes. "It was the Bearers." "The Bearers? Why? What do they want with my sister?" demanded Bobby. He looked on the verge of exploding. Hank placed a restraining hand on his shoulder, lest the boy Barbarian go charging off in a rage. Scarlet didn't answer immediately. Instead she looked at the ground beside Warduke's body, covered with a carpet from a nearby stall. Something was missing. "Hey, where did the sword go? And the helmet?" asked Presto, looking around as if he expected them to appear. Scarlet didn't answer that either. Instead she murmured in a voice too low for them to hear her clearly, "Damn you, Dungeon Master." End of Part One ******** ************************************************************************************** CASTING CALL! Predicting the quality of live action films based on superheroes and fantasy characters has become almost a flip of the coin -- sometimes the movie is done amazingly well (the Batman series, Superman, the Mask) -- others, well, let's not name names, but others have not lived up to their potential (or their box-office projections, for that matter!) Seeing all the films that are currently in development that are based on comic book superheroes or fantasy characters, I've been wondering lately who'd be the perfect actors/actresses to portray the members of our favorite realm-wandering group. (Before anyone asks, no, I haven't heard anything about them actually doing an D&D movie based on the cartoon -- although it seems like a "no-brainer" idea for a great movie to me -- great, well-developed characters, good story with endless possibilities, and the opportunity for some amazing special-effects with the weapons, Venger, and especially Tiamat -- movie studios, are you listening?) You know something? It's HARD! I've only been able to come up with two people for roles -- the rest are just too darn difficult! Assuming that the movie would feature the kids around the same age they are in the series (or perhaps a bit older -- maybe late high-school for the older members of the group and junior-high for Bobby), here goes: *Hank - Many of you may not know who the heck I'm talking about, but fans of the late TV series My So-Called Life will immediately recognize the reason for my choice of JARED LETO. Besides his physical similarity to Hank (blond hair, soulful eyes that express a million things without saying a word), Jared has proven his immense acting range already -- from a brooding high-school student in My So-Called Life to Olympic runner in Prefontaine. Okay, he may be a little old (25), but he played high-schooler Jordan Catalano with such amazing skill, I think he'd be perfect for the heroic yet burdened-with-the-responsibilities-of-leadership Hank. *Sheila -- The only person I could possibly think could ever play this role -- or at least play it as well as this person -- is Romeo and Juliet's CLAIRE DANES. With her shoulder-length red hair, expressive eyes, and almost-ethreal appearance, Claire is an absolute perfect fit for the role of Sheila. Claire plays teenagers in crises better than any other actress I've ever seen, and what bigger crisis could there be then to be stuck in some bizzare world where nothing makes sense, with almost no way to get back home and with a younger brother to take care of? In addition, Claire has already proven that she has great chemistry with Jared Leto when they starred together in My So-Called Life -- a must in at least my vision of the movie, where Hank and Sheila's attraction to each other in the series would be further addressed and developed. As for everyone else -- I HAVE NO IDEA! Eric is by far the hardest to "cast" -- Donny Most did such a great job of making the character his own, it's really hard to imagine anyone else playing him. I also wonder what Peter Cullen (who did the voice of Venger) looks like -- he voiced Venger so perfectly, I DEFINITELY could not imagine anyone else playing him -- although maybe they could pull a "Darth Vader", where one actor "plays" the character (David Prowse) and another does the voice (James Earl Jones). SO, fellow casting directors, what do you think? Do you have an actor or actress in mind who'd be a perfect Diana, Eric, Presto, or Bobby? Howasabout a Terry? A Dungeon Master? Venger? The voice of Tiamat? Or do you have another idea for Hank and Sheila? Or do you agree with me? Or do you have a synopsis of a "script" for the movie? I wish we could get a hold of anyone who could make a D&D movie a reality -- if anyone has any ideas, perhaps we can compile all our ideas and send them off to someone involved with movies to see what happens? (ED Note: I recently read a rumor on-line that another 80s cartoon, Galaxy High, was being considered for development with a big-name director (the person who posted it said that they read it in one of the major movie magazines) -- if that Galaxy High rumor is indeed true, maybe the D&D Cartoon going to film isn't all THAT strange of a possiblity after all!) Who knows? Oh, I know...I'm rambling again. Sorry -- it's turning into a rather bad habit. Send your ideas to me under the subject heading "D&D Newsletter Casting Call" as either an E-Mail or as an attached file in text format to IllyanaAM@aol.com if you'd like me to post your ideas in the next issue. Please get them to me by August 15th, 1997. ************************************************************************************** HOMEWARD BOUND Remember that lovely poll from last issue? (Yeah, the one whose results are at the top of this newsletter? Yeah, THAT one.) I've gotten several responses from people -- some are commentary, some are actual stories -- and starting this month, I'll begin posting them for everyone to enjoy! Here's a few to start out: HAL DAVIS sent me this response to the never-ending question of how our favorite adventurers got home: "Of course well all would like to see a "Journey Home" episode that raps up all loose ends. I'm not sure if I can write a brief synopysis but I think the following needs to be addressed. 1. Explain why the "kids" were needed and why this group of individual were chosen. 2. Of course the Venger, Dungeon Master, Tiamat, & Venger's boss connections. 3. Storyline cannot mimic the "Star Wars" trilogy plot. I do not want to see Venger "saved". 4. As a teenager I was attached to the characters for some oddball reason. That's why I liked the show as much as I did. I would like to see one of the characters sacrificed to enable to rest to go home. No necessarily to die for the other to live, but perhaps one would have to stay behind. Who better than a reformed Eric. 5. A final "good vs evil" showdown with Tiamat providing the last minute save. 6. We need to begin the "Journey Home" episode with a flashback to the last episode then a "5 YEARS LATER" title. To make the story truely interesting the characters need to be "darker", more seasoned, but with a lingering passion for "good" and with just one last feeling of hope to return home. We also need a teenager Bobby with a fully grown Uni. The other's twenty something. Eric much darker but with courage - no longer a rich spoiled kid, a man with a mission - As angry at Dungeon Master as Venger. Perhaps an incident between DM and Eric leading to no help from DM for years. And DM wondering if Eric will turn into a Venger. The weapons need to be super Charged but Venger more powerful as well. Hank with a goatee would be cool as well as fully devoloped Presto (a muscled magician). 7. The final battle needs to be a battle raging on both worlds involving many "guests" and several new characters." CHARLES GRAY wrote: "Eric figures out a away to convince the bad guys that they would be better off if the kids leave, taking the weapons so they can't be used against them. Also, it gives Venger a chance to avoid another humiliating defeat." Also, if you have sent me your own story and have not gotten a letter back from me asking you about it, you may want to try sending it again, in text-format, please. My E-Mail got a little wacky for a few weeks and some things got all messed up when I tried to read them. I'll post them as soon as the next issue rolls around. AND.... NOTES FROM THE "NEW SERIES MEETING".... HAL DAVIS wrote: "As for as a new show goes. "Give me the old characters or give me death", but make them older, wiser, and more experienced. Bobby and Presto were "too young" in the original series." MARYANN ROBBINS brought up an especially interesting idea when she wrote: "I'm not really for a new D&D series, seeing how old shows like G.I. Joe, Transformers and soon to be Ghostbusters have been destroyed. Nowadays, animation companies (except Disney) don't have the budgets to do a show as good as D&D was. However, if a new show was done I think it should have the same characters and continue the story. (Then they could save money by re-airing the old episodes). I doubt they could get the voice actors together again, but Katie Leigh, Peter Cullen and Frank Welker are still working. Most importantly they need the same writers. Michael Reaves has done an excellent job with Gargoyles and Batman. A new D&D cartoon should have a darker edge like those cartoons, going along the lines of the "Dragon's Graveyard". I just don't think anyone anymore could sell a cartoon called Dungeons and Dragons with all the anti-violence, anti-cult atmosphere out there. It might need a title change and to break ties with the game. I do know that animation and studio executives like to recycle ideas. Maybe if we all could organize a whole story for a new show we could pitch it to some animation companies. A lot of the top people in animation today worked on the show. Margaret Loesch is head of Fox's Children's Line-up, Lee Gunther has an animation company (Gunther-Wahl). However Jim Graziano's Graz Entertainment is now defunct. Maybe we could pitch the idea of a new show to them." Comments? Questions? Thoughts, anyone? I'm starting up a "Letters Page" starting with the next issue, so if you have any thoughts, please write me an E-Mail with the heading " ANOTHER RIDDLE! YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDIN' ME!" ... or, more simply put, "DUNGEON MASTER'S LETTERS PAGE/D&D Newsletter" to my attention at IllyanaAM@aol.com. Please also be sure to let me know if it's okay to reprint your letter in the column. IN FACT, please let me know with any submissions (stories, informational pieces, poll comments, etc.), if it's okay to reprint your words of wisdom in the newsletter -- just so I don't have to keep bothering you and asking all the time! ************************************************************************************** DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS "ELSEWORLDS" Our marvelously creative DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP, Victoria Bishop, made this great suggestion for our newsletter! Read on: * DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS "ELSEWORLDS" is sort of inspired by the DC comics Elseworlds series. It's where writers take the characters (heroes, villians, whichever characters they like) and set them in different times and eras. That sort of thing. For example, you could set the group in Victorian England, make Hank the detective trying to find Jack the Ripper, and Eric a young lord who helps; Bobby a street urchin, etc. Let's face it, wouldn't Hank have been a better Robin Hood then Robin Hood? Who REALLY shot down all those mobsters on St. Valentine's Day? How would the gang have fared during the French Revolution? Would Eric have lost his head? The Children's Crusade of the Middle Ages would have gone alot better if the kids had been there, wouldn't it? What about the Civil War? What if they had been in Pompeii when Vesuvias erupted? What sort of rock'n' roll band would they have made in the late '50's? It would be up to the author whether the kids know who they are and have to figure out how to act, whether they only have residual memories of one another or whether they always fit into that world and just bear a striking resemblance to "the gang." * SO, fabuolous idea, huh? I think so! In fact, I'm working on my own little ol' idea as we speak! If you're also interested in doing a D&D "Elseworlds" story and having it appear in the newsletter, please write me a quick E-Mail describing your idea. There's no deadline, really -- I can keep printing them as I get them. The only thing I ask is that you send a COMPLETE story -- I think having too many stories continuing in every newsletter may get a bit confusing. Also, in all fairness to everyone, I can only print one story per subject in each six-month timespan (or, approximately every two issues). So if three or four people pick the same time period/historical person/historical event, I'll only be able to reprint the first one I receive for that first six-month period. (And, of course, I will be happy to reprint the others sometime down the road after that two issue timespan...got it? Good.) Please send them along either in E-Mail form or an attached text-only file. Also, please write me a quick note letting me know that I have your permission to print the story in the newsletter, along with any introductions you would like to appear along with it. Have fun! ************************************************************************************** TRIVIA CONTEST ANSWERS! Here are the answers you've been waiting for from last issue's Trivia Contest. And congrats to Rhonda Robinson, who answered all nine questions correctly! (1) SHEILA and BOBBY were the two characters who were brother and sister on the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon. (2) TIAMAT was the name of Venger's dragon nemesis. (3) ERIC was the character who was granted Dungeon Master's powers once during the series. (4) SHADOW DEMON was the name of Venger's "sidekick". (5) KARENA was the name of Venger's sister, and she appeared on the CITADEL OF SHADOW episode. (6) JOSEF MUELLER (I think that's the correct spelling, anyway -- they never really did spell it on the show) was the name of the WWII pilot that the group helped get back home on "The Time Lost" episode. (7) QUEEN SOLONARA was the queen who was protecting "The Treasure of Tardos". (8) WILLIE AAMES (voice of HANK) and ADAM RICH (voice of PRESTO) were the actors who played brothers on the 70's TV series EIGHT IS ENOUGH; and actor DONNY MOST (voice of ERIC) starred in the 70s series HAPPY DAYS. (9) "THE TREASURE OF TARDOS" was the episode where Dungeon Master says to Venger, "Rise, my son." 70s FLASHBACK TRIVIA BONUS -- BONUS POINTS in the next letters page (in otherwords, we post your name) if you can remember the names of the characters that Willie Aames and Adam Rich played on EIGHT IS ENOUGH, and the name of the character that DONNY MOST played on HAPPY DAYS. And just for the fun of it, what live-action show did Willie Aames co-star in with Scott Baio while D&D was also running on network TV?) ************************************************************************************** COMING IN ISSUE #3 -- shipping to your E-Mailbox in September! * Part 2 of "Lambs Among Wolves" and "The Curse of Warduke" in the Fanfic Corner! * "Casting Call" -- what did YOU think? * What IS Uni -- you, the readers, will hand down the definitive answer! * The first D&D ELSEWORLDS stories (I hope, anyway!) See ya in 90 (days, not weeks or months, silly!)