Quest of the Skeleton Warrior

Infobox Television episode
Title = Quest of the Skeleton Warrior
Series = Dungeons and Dragons


Caption = Dekion the Skeleton Warrior talking to Venger
Season = 1
Episode = 9
Airdate = November 12, 1983
Writer = Buzz Dixon
Episode list = List of Dungeons & Dragons episodes
Prev = Servant of Evil
Next = The Garden of Zinn

"Quest of the Skeleton Warrior" is the ninth episode of "Dungeons & Dragons." A skeleton warrior by the name of Dekion has found an artifact called the "circle of power" which Venger wants for his own. However, only one who is pure of heart can reach it. Venger has Dekion recruit the kids to retrieve the circle of power but they soon find that the tower it's kept in is guarded by their worst fears.

Plot

The adventure starts when Dekion, a skeleton warrior, calls Venger to inform him that he's found the "circle of power" the most powerful weapon used by the Celestial Knights. However, the circle is kept in the Lost Tower of the Celestial Knights. Since the tower can only be navigated by those who are pure of heart, they cannot get to it. Venger decides that they can get the circle if they can just get the kids to retrieve it for them.

Elsewhere, the kids are crossing a rickety rope bridge in a windy area. They meet up with Dungeon Master who tells them that a way to get back home is in the Lost Tower but it won't be easy. He then disappears and the bridge breaks. Fortunately, they manage to hold on and climb up the bridge to safety. They meet up with Dekion who attacks the group. They each try to ward him off and fail until Shelia manages to take his sword. Dekion then claims that he just wanted to talk.

The kids listen to his story: he was once a member of the Celestial Knights, a group that would ward off evil in the Realm. However, the rest of the Celestial Knights are gone and he has been put under an evil wizard's spell. He explains that the Circle of Power can free him and it's in the Lost Tower. The kids agree to help since they were told to go there to find a way home.

They make their way into the tower and soon find themselves confronted with strange statues. Shelia soon finds her cloak caught on a statue and becomes afraid when she sees she's being left behind. She frees her cloak but falls into a hole in the floor and finds herself alone in the middle of a desert. Fearful of being alone she curls up in fear.

Bobby runs back for her but the hole has closed and there is nothing he can do for her. With nothing more to do, the group continues on. Things are okay until Hank passes through an archway. The archway closes up and he is separated from his friends. Hank finds his magic arrows are useless and heads up a stairwell. Unfortunately, as he climbs, the steps begin to disappear. He runs up the stairs grumbling about his lack of leadership capabilities.

Presto tries to cast a spell to get rid of the wall but he and Eric are teleported into a swamp. Here Eric claims that he'd be afraid to be a nerd and soon finds his nose and ears enlarged to comical sizes. A group of ghosts steals Presto's glasses effectively blinding him. They then start mocking the pair for their inadequacies.

Meanwhile Bobby and Diana wander through a cavern of mirrored crystals. They are okay until Uni notices she doesn't cast a reflection in one of the mirrors. She then sees the image of a strange ogre-like creature that scares her away. Bobby and Diana look into the mirrors and see altered reflections: Diana is old and decrepit while Bobby is only a baby. They soon transform to match their reflections. After they are fully transformed, they are confronted by several ogres.

Hank continues his run up the stairs but soon finds that even the stairs in front of him are disappearing. He falls into a room where the Circle of Power is being held. When he takes it, he hears his friends calling for help. He sees them in a crystal ball. Realizing that he can't help them he condemns himself and claims he was afraid of failing them. He now realizes what the tower is doing and calls to the group to not be afraid. One by one, they overcome their fears and are transported to Hank.

The kids retrieve the Circle of Power and take it back to Dekion. However, before they can give it to him, Dungeon Master intervenes and explains that Dekion betrayed the Celestial Knights and caused them to be wiped out. Hearing this, the kids wonder what to do but are confronted by Venger. Venger attacks and takes the Circle for himself. Dekion demands that he be returned to his true self but Venger refuses. Venger then tries to turn Hank into a skeleton warrior but Dekion attacks him. Presto then figures out the meaning of Dungeon Master's clue and tells Hank to destroy the Circle of Power. Angered by the loss of the Circle, Venger leaves. Dekion, on the other hand is returned to normal. He leaves, vowing to return when he's found a way to return the kids to their home.

Trivia

* Dekion's story is similar to that of Darth Vader.

* Though the worst fears of the kids are revealed, Uni's never is.

* In one scene Diana claims to be too weak to hold her javelin but she is still able to carry baby Bobby.

* The ruins that Dekion waits in closely resemble Stonehenge.

* Eric's prediction that they'll never see Dekion again proves to be right.

Presto Spells

Spell: Abra kazao, abra kadation, I cast you away by teleportation!
Result: A telephone comes out of his hat.

Spell: Sim Sim Salim...
Result: Eric and Presto are cast into a swamp by pink smoke.

Spell: Abrakadavy, United States Navy
Result: Creates an aircraft carrier.

Quotes

Presto: I feel like someone is looking into my brain!
Eric: That shouldn't take too long!

Bobby: "This is like being trapped in a fun house."
Diana: "Except without the fun!"

Eric: "I'd settle for one night at home again!"
Uni: "Yeah!"
Eric: "Oh what do "you" know? This place "is" your home!

ee also

Dungeons & Dragons