Subject: D&D Cartoon On-Line Fan Club Newsletter Spring 1999 -- Part 2! Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 14:53:57 EST ANNOUNCING.... 1998 D&D CARTOON FAN FICTION AWARDS (they've got the Oscars, we've got the "Erics"!) Here's your chance to voice your opinion on which fan fiction D&D cartoon stories really rocked your world in 1998! All you have to do is copy and send in the E-Mail ballot below to nominate a story. The top 4 nominated stories in each category (ties will be broken by the order in which they were received) will appear in a special poll ballot in our next issue. All D&D fan fiction stories published in the newsletter or on a D&D Cartoon fan website are eligible, however, the story must have either been completely written or started in 1998. Also, only ONE story by each author will be eligible in each category. The winner of the "Eric" in each category will be interviewed in the Fall issue of the newsletter! (Okay, so it's not a gold statue, but we don't have a budget for prizes. So sue me). In case you need to refresh your memory, check out the D&D Fan Club page and the Fan Fiction page on Lesley Hickman's website at http://www.geocities.com/~zakiyah/The_Realm.html, Patrick Drazen's website at http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/2599/nikicavern.html, or stop by the Complete D&D Guide page at http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Studio/8697 for links to other D&D Cartoon fan fiction pages. So if you want to speak out on your favorite fan fiction, VOTE now! P.S. As I am the vote tally-er for this contest, I am not eligible, so my stories are also not eligible to be nominated (even if ya really liked them! Of course, if you hated them it doesn't matter anyway, so...enough rambling, let's get to the ballot!) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Your Name/E-Mail address: MY NOMINATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES ARE: (1) D&D Cartoon "Prequel" fiction: This category is for all fan fiction stories that take place within the D&D cartoon world or about its characters in the time continuity BEFORE the series started. This would include any stories about legends of the Realm or characters in it, as well as stories about the main characters BEFORE they arrived in the Realm. (2) D&D Cartoon "Current" fiction: This category is for all fan fiction that takes place DURING the current time continuity of the series and features any and all of the main characters or their allies in it. (3) D&D Cartoon "Sequel" fiction: This category is for all fan fiction that takes place AFTER the current time continuity of the series and features any and all of the main characters AFTER they would have either left the Realm or events that would occur after the current series would have ended. (4) D&D Cartoon "Elseworlds" fiction: This category is for all fan fiction featuring any or all of the main characters together in a setting different from that of the current continuity. Characters must bear some resemblance to or should be the same as the main characters in the series. Please copy and send this E-Mail nomination ballot to me at IllyanaAM@aol.com no later than May 10, 1999. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - D&D Cartoon Fan Fiction Corner This issue we have a brand new short story by Inle-Rah, as well as Part 1 of an all-new continuing story by Shawn Foster and the next installment of Jeanne Kalvar's "Breaking the Ties That Bind" and Mike Bugg's "City of Silver Fire"! Enjoy guys! DUNGEONS & DRAGONS VENGER'S REVENGE by Inle-Rah Rated PG This is a short story by Inle-Rah. While its content isn't very long, there's plenty of classic Dungeons & Dragons action, adventure, and humor to help rekindle your love of this great Cartoon among Cartoons!! Hope you enjoy it! (all characters based on the original series are used without the written consent of their owners.) The last of the suns set low on a dim, cloudless horizon...turning the valley into a pool of shadows that still held the dark and murky colors of the slowly retreating afternoon. The small pond was as calm as death...an expression Eric could have gone without applying to this particular situation. Even the surrounding trees that were always humming with insect-life now gave way to a silence that seemed quite unnatural. Presto was at that moment trying to conjure up a suitable campfire -- not because the others couldn't gather firewood, or even that it was cold that night -- just because his skills needed honing from time to time. He WAS a magician after all...why he always managed to fail at the tasks he tried was beyond him. "Oh Presto, give it up!? yelled Eric. "You know as well as the rest of us you can't get that hat of yours to do anything but cause trouble." "Well...maybe that's because I don't practice enough...ever think of that?" Presto shot back a response. "I'm getting the hang of it, watch this...Abraca-juren! Start a fire a-burnin'!" Presto reached into his hat and produced a small, red cube. With a sound of disgust, and the sound of Eric's howling laughter, he threw it over his shoulder and abruptly fell to the ground as the tiny cube exploded in a cloud of pure red flame. Eric clamored to his feet. "Presto! If you don't get that hat under control, I'm gonna..." "Patience, Cavalier!" "AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!! Will you stop doing that?" Eric protested at the sudden appearance of the Dungeon Master, who stepped through the smoke of Presto's latest conjuring. "Hey look, it's Dungeon Master!" exclaimed Bobby, as he emerged from the thick underbrush of the forest where he and the rest of the gang had been searching for firewood -- not that they thought Presto couldn't produce a fire, but only to be on the safe side. "We've been looking all over for you!" "What's going on, Dungeon Master? Everything is so quiet," Hank asked as he dropped the bundle of tree limbs he was carrying. "It is nature sensing a great evil!" Dungeon Master stated. "I hope this doesn't mean trouble for us. Those Cyclops warriors we fought today were bad enough! I was planning on a break for a change," Sheila said. "There is little time for that, I'm afraid. Venger has discovered a new and powerful weapon! It has strength that rivals even your magic weapons. You must find a way to stop him from using its power at all costs and obtain this weapon, for as it gives Venger greater strength, it also holds the key to send you home!" Dungeon Master pulled himself onto a tree stump. "Where is this weapon?" asked Diana, as she leaned on her staff. "Yeah, and how do we keep Venger from getting to it?" added Bobby. Uni neighed in agreement, then pranced over to where Dungeon Master was sitting. Dungeon Master reached down and stroked Uni's mane. "To find The Power, go to the cave of mirrors and enter the portal." He dropped down and pointed north before walking towards the other side of the stump, "But beware the reflection that is not a reflection." "Awh, now what did that mean?!?" Eric cried and threw his hands in the air. "He's gone again," Presto said. "Well, let's find that cave of mirrors," Hank exclaimed as he picked up his energy bow. "We have to get there before Venger does." "How are we going to find a weapon we don't know anything about?" Bobby asked. "Why doesn't Dungeon Master ever tell us anything...That's what I want to know...Hey wait up!" Eric yelled and ran to catch the others. Shadow Demon soared through the castle of Venger and slowly melted into the grim darkness that seemed to grow on everything -- in every direction. He saw what he had expected, Venger was watching the gang through a magic pool of what appeared to be water. "Fools. They don't realize that once I have the Power, their weapons will be mine!" Venger said. "And they will be unable to stop me this time." Diana used her staff to vault over an ancient fallen tree to the path on the other side. "Hey Hank, do you know where we're going?" she asked. "No, but Dungeon Master did point us in this direction. We should get there soon," ' I hope,' he added to himself. This latest challenge might prove too much for them if Venger gets the Power before they do. 'Well, we just can't let that happen!' he thought. "There's no way to know if we're going the right way or not," Diana argued. "Oh sure, ol' DM said go THIS way so we go THIS way...did any of you notice Dungeon Master never said go this way!" Eric shouted from the back of the group. "We can't just stop now," Hank answered. "Besides, I can see a mountain up ahead." The gang wandered towards the towering pile of rocks at the base of the huge monument. Dwarfed by the sheer size of the mountain, a small hut lay hidden under a growth of vines and bushes. It seemed deserted, and was falling in on itself. But nevertheless, a meek-looking old figure stepped through the door and waved them in its direction. "I wonder what it wants?" asked Sheila, rather absently. "I wonder if it knows where the cave of mirrors is at!" said Hank. "I wonder if you have any idea what you're talking about!" said Eric. "Look at it! Does that look like someone who can help us?" Eric turned around and walked in the opposite direction."I'm not going over there!" "Okay Eric, stay here. We'll be back for you...maybe!" Diana teased him. "Hey, look! It's coming over here!" announced Bobby. "I don't like the look of this..." muttered Sheila. She adjusted her cloak, thankful for its abilities. "Venger has sent his allies to trick us before." "Well...finally one of you agrees with me!" Eric walked back with an air of exaggerated dignity. Sheila looked at him with indifference. "Well Hank, do we trust this creature?" "I don't think we have a choice. It may be able to help us...we have to try," Hank said and walked forward to meet the strange figure. "C'mon Uni," Bobby coaxed the unicorn to follow him. Uni gave a small 'maaaa' in response, but followed all the same. As the gang came closer to the figure they noticed it had a pendant around its neck. The pendant was inlaid with tiny mirrors, and they sent reflections of the moon's light cascading in every direction. It was dressed only in a leather tunic with a simple rope belt. The belt was hardly visible under the creature's scaly, wrinkled underbelly...which looked like it belonged to an ancient serpent, battered by time and the elements. The rest of it was far from reptilian. It resembled a badger with great wisps of bleached fur. It made its way along the rocky path and came to a halt directly in front of the gang, who stepped back in alarm. "You travelers are in need of assistance, says I," it said in a rather scratchy voice. "Why else would one of your kind approach the mountain of memory?" It laughed and settled itself on an invisible seat in midair and waited for the gang to address him before he spoke again. "I may be known as Laythor, the keeper of the cave of mirrors, but that it concerns you is a question I shall ask...hmmmmm?" Presto walked forward and said,"We're looking for the cave of mirrors to stop Venger from stealing a weapon. If he gets it, this Realm is in big trouble!" He stepped back as Laythor smiled. "Can you tell us where this weapon is?" Hank asked. "That is what I can do, but will I? Yes, I will, I will indeed!" With that, Laythor stepped onto the ground and whirled around twice before bounding off to his hut. The gang tried to chase after him the best they could. Laythor's hut was as one would expect from the sight of such a being. Objects were strewn about the dirt floor in cluttered masses. The walls in no better condition, had been covered with quite an impressive collection of animal skins. Few of these were from animals the gang had encountered before. Laythor rummaged through pile after pile in a desperate-looking search. Finally, he stood up, holding a silver key. "This is the one! Or...maybe not, NO this IS the one!!" he said, "THIS is the key to which the door belongs! The door to the cave of mirrors! After entry which I can give you, the weapon you must find!" He ran out of the hut and immediately turned left, and was gone. The gang stumbled through the door and looked around. "Well...now what do we do?" said Presto in a panicky voice. "Look, there he goes!" Hank yelled, and pointed towards a huge door covering a small opening in the mountainside. It had been partially overgrown with moss, weeds and strange flowering plants. Laythor dove into the opening and was engulfed in darkness. The gang walked over to the cave entrance and peered inside. When their eyes had adjusted to the fleeting light, they once again caught a glimpse of their elusive guide and plunged forward in pursuit. "So much for hospitality," Eric groaned. "Which way did he go?" Just then, an eruption of smoke and fire knocked them to the ground. When the gang looked up, they saw a shadowy figure approaching them. When it stepped into the light, there was no mistaking its identity...Venger! He walked over to them and looked down on them with an air of superiority, then spun on his heels and slowly paced back and forth. "So, you wish to try and stop me from reaching the Power. Well, foolish ones, that will be your undoing!" Venger said as he unleashed a series of fireballs. Diana extended her staff and vaulted through the air as one of Venger's blasts struck the ground where she had been only seconds before. Presto and Eric ran for cover behind an outcropping of rocks. "Use your hat, Presto, use your hat!" Eric said, and pulled the hat from the magician's head and threw it at him. "Call an army or something!" "Uh, OK I'll try...Hocus-mokus, abra-ca-pokus, we need Venger to lose his focus!" Presto cried and reached towards the hat. It coughed out a cloud of thick smoke directly into his face. "He said Venger's focus, not ours! Oh, that stupid hat!!" Eric said in between gasps. Venger was riddling the interior of the cave with magic bolts as the gang tried to fight back, but he was determined to have the Power. Hank let loose a barrage of arrows, all of which Venger abruptly shrugged off. "Hank...look out!" Sheila yelled, as Venger sent a blast plummeting to the ground at the Ranger's feet. Hank dove away just in time. "I'll take care of this guy...YAAAAHHHH!!!!" Bobby cried and raised his club high in the air. When it struck the cave floor, it opened a great crevice that enveloped Venger and sent him head over heels into a dark oblivion. "Hurry, he might be back!" Diana said. "This way...This is where Laythor was going." Hank said, and proceeded down the tunnel. Venger rematerialized at the edge of the crevice and watched the gang race towards the interior of the cavern. "They think they have won, but they have succeeded only in sealing their doom!" With that, he disappeared in a flash of light. "Come on, he went this way," Bobby said. Uni followed him the best she could. The gang traveled towards the inner depths of the cave trying to catch their strange guide. Laythor was running through the passages faster than they could possibly keep up, but soon the cave opened to reveal a gigantic room shaded in utter darkness. "So, found me you have...and the Hall of Reflection as well!" Laythor stated. The entire hall was covered end to end with dying clumps of moss and ferns. Among these clumps small snakes and insects were burrowing away from the sudden appearance of Laythor and the rest of the gang, who lit a torch to find their way around the dark passageways. In the light they saw a wondrous sight, indeed. Every wall was ornamented with a dazzling mirror -- each framed in gold and jewels. As they walked into the room, they noticed that only two of the vast collection of mirrors had cast their reflection, and of those, only one cast in color. "What's wrong with these mirrors, Laythor?" Sheila asked, stepping back from a sinister-looking grayscale representation of herself. "The gateways of the Realm, these are," answered Laythor,"Anywhere you wish to be, take you there they will." "Well what are we waiting for?!? Let Venger have the Power, let's go home!!" Eric said, and proceeded towards a mirror. "Take you home they will not, lest the Realm is home to you!" Laythor said. "What? Oh No!" Eric threw down his shield, "That's just great!" "Take it easy, Eric, we're almost there," said Diana. "Which of these gateways leads to the Weapon?" Hank asked Laythor walked towards the mirrors and stared from one to the next for a long time. Finally, he turned with a lost look on his face. "A single clue I do not have, but this will be my answer to you...Choose!" He returned to the entrance and vanished once again. "Well, now what do we do?" Bobby paced in front of the mirrors following the natural color reflection when suddenly he bumped into the Dungeon Master. "What is your delay, young ones?" he said. "Did the Keeper not show you the way?" "No, he didn't, Dungeon Master, all he said was, 'Choose'," Diana quoted. The Dungeon Master pondered for a brief moment, then looked up at the gang. "The way is simple, enter the mirror with the reflection...but beware! One is false!" With that, Dungeon Master turned and started to walk away. Eric jumped in front of him before he could disappear. "Oh no you don't! We need to know which one it is!" Eric folded his arms and stood gazing down, awaiting Dungeon Master's response. "All right cavalier, choose the reflection that is without color." Then he turned a corner and was gone. "Well that wasn't so hard, was it?" Eric proudly marched toward the colorless mirror. The rest of them followed, trusting the words of the Dungeon Master. As soon as they emerged on the other side of the mirror, they were blinded by the light of hundreds of torches that lined the interior of the room. Each burned in a multitude of unnatural colors, and their light illuminated the center of the room which held a massive mirror seemingly held up by large stone hands that grew from the rock floor. "That must be The Power!!" yelled Bobby. "Yes, it is indeed, young barbarian." Dungeon Master was already in the cave, standing right behind them. "Dungeon Master, how can we stop Venger from getting this weapon?" Hank said, looking around the room, which seemed to be undependable. "Forget that! How do we use it to get home!" yelled Eric. At that moment the gang noticed their weapons had lost all color. They were as gray as the strange reflections in the portal mirror they passed through. "Hey, what's wrong with our weapons?" Sheila said, as she unhooked her cloak from around her neck. "This doesn't look normal." "That is because you failed to listen to the Dungeon Master. He told you to beware the reflection that is not a reflection...you have walked right into my trap!" What had appeared to be the Dungeon Master now grew to resemble an all-too familiar shape. "Venger! This is not good!" Presto said, and ran behind a veil of hanging moss. "What did you do to our weapons, Venger?" Hank asked as he walked as close as he dared. "I did nothing...they are in capable hands." He pointed to The Power as six zombie warriors emerged holding the true magic weapons. They lined up before Venger and awaited his commands. "Now, foolish ones, I shall have my revenge!" The zombies attacked with incredible speed. The gang's shadow weapons were useless to them. As such, they turned and retreated through the portal from which they came. "Now, they are harmless to me...I will now have the enchanted weapons. Bring them to me." The warriors dredged towards him, holding out the gang's only means of defense. Suddenly, Presto ran from behind the moss and grabbed his hat. Then he flung himself into the portal entrance and disappeared. "No! Get him! Bring back the Magician's hat. I must have all of them!" Venger was in a fit of rage. But even as he spoke, the zombies were already racing towards the portal. Presto had barreled through the opening and dashed behind a pile of rocks. "Okay hat, if ever I needed you to work, this is it!" "Magic of the Realm, hear my call, give me the strength, might above all, heed this spell, bring the power unseen, I summon Tiamat, The Dragon Queen!" The ceiling of rock towered thousands of feet into the air, but all exploded with such force that it shook the foundations of mountains miles away. Fire erupted from the ground and threw the gang to the floor with tremendous energy. The portals, walls, the entire cave in fact, were destroyed in the decimation that followed Presto's spell. Venger stood shocked as he turned to face the magician. "Fool. You have done nothing but ensure my victory!" Then Venger stopped short. There came a great rolling thunder as Tiamat broke through the clouds and descended upon the remains of the Mountain of Memory. She landed with a great impact. "Venger! You have met your final challenge!" The coughing voice of the Dragon echoed in the room even without the walls. "No, it is you that shall perish, for I have THE POWER!" As Venger shouted, he unleashed all the magic he could muster from both the gang's weapons and the magic mirror. The blast was sufficient to send Tiamat crashing against the far side of the cavern. She climbed out of a huge hole in one of the few remaining walls and used all five breath weapons in unison. Venger shielded himself against the attack and once more sent the Dragon hurtling with another massive blast. Meanwhile, the gang stood frozen in terror as the two titans battled. They crouched down low to a boulder as Tiamat stood up to her full height. "So, Venger, you call upon The Power of the Realm to aid you. We shall rid this land of it...And you!" With a strong whip of her gigantic tail, Tiamat smashed the mirror into a thousand shards of light. The zombies were no more. "Arggh! NO!!" Venger cried out as the mirror was destroyed. He dropped the enchanted weapons and ran towards the mirror that now lay in pieces. Tiamat reached down and snapped her jaws in a frantic attempt on his life. The force of evil dodged quickly as the Dragon gave him no time to mourn his loss. "Another time, Tiamat...and for you as well!" He pointed towards the rocks where the gang was hiding. He soared into the sky and vanished. Tiamat shook the ground as she approached Presto. "You have summoned us here; again we fight Venger. The next time we are disturbed, it will be your death as well!" A clap of thunder sounded as the Dragon Queen opened a portal back to the Dragon's Graveyard. The gang walked over and reclaimed their weapons. Uni ran into the desolate rubble of the cave and barreled into Bobby's legs, causing him to crash to the ground. "Maaaaaaaaa!" she neighed in excitement as Bobby carried her out of the entrance. "Where were you Uni?" he asked. "Oh that Unicorn is scared of her own footsteps Bobby, you know that." Eric commented. "She would never have stayed around while Tiamat was here." "Well I for one agree with her. Lets get out of here!" said Hank. He walked over to the small hut to see about Laythor, but the building had been covered completely by a landslide. "Oh poor Laythor! I wonder if he was in there!" said Diana. "I'm sure he got out in time..." Sheila said slowly... "Got out in time I did, but lost are my mirrors that for many years I have guarded!" "Laythor, you're alive!" the gang cried together, and ran to meet him. "We thought you were a goner," said Bobby. "No, but gone I will be, for my home is no more," he said sadly. "Travel will I, seek a new home and mountain." He turned and began hobbling towards the road. "Wait, why don't you travel with us for a while?" Sheila stopped him short. "We can help you find a new home." "After all," whispered Eric to Hank, "We did blow up his old one..." Hank looked at him, rather annoyed. "No, thanks are to you for your good nature, but alone I shall go...Farewell my friends! And good luck on your journeys!" And with that, he stepped into the underbrush of the forest floor and was gone. The gang gathered themselves together and prepared for a long journey of their own. From atop a tall stone tower (the tallest standing) the Dungeon Master watched them as the suns of the Realm rose to their highest point in the sky. THE END...