The Box (Dungeons and Dragons)

Infobox Television episode
Title = The Box
Series = Dungeons and Dragons


Caption = Zandora stands newly freed from her box.
Season = 1
Episode = 11
Airdate = November 26, 1983
Writer = Jeffery Scott
Episode list = List of Dungeons & Dragons episodes
Prev = The Garden of Zinn
Next = The Lost Children

"The Box" is the eleventh episode of "Dungeons & Dragons." The kids accidentally come across a box that Dungeon Master identifies as "Zandora's Box." This box will open doorways to new dimensions wherever it is opened. Dungeon Master sends them to find Zandora, who may be able to help them get home. The kids set out, but soon find that Venger isn't happy about their discovery.

Plot

The Adventure starts on a peaceful day in the realm. The kids are complaining about a horrible stench that Eric is covered in after trying to capture a skunk-like creature. Suddenly, there's an earthquake, which creates a large rupture in the ground. While most of the kids manage to escape, Hank falls into the crevice. When the kids go to save him, they find he's safe and there's a box nearby. Dungeon Master comes and explains that it's Zandora's box.

Zandora was a sorceress that was a friend of Dungeon Master. Venger had trapped her within the box and now only the kids can free her. He gives the kids a map and marks off where they need to go. The kids head out but Shadow Demon sees what they're doing and tells Venger.

The kids take the box but are attacked by bullywogs. The bullywogs manage to drive the kids away from the box and climb in. The kids open box again and find that the bullywogs are gone. Diana figures out that the box leads to other dimensions when placed on specific locations in the realm. Eager to have Zandora to send them out, they continue their journey.

After a while, the kids come across their destination: Skull Mountain. They place the box where they were told and find that a staircase has appeared on the bottom of the box. Figuring that they have to search for Zandora, most of the group goes in while Eric and Presto wait behind.

The staircase leads to a strange room with a chessboard-patterned floor. The room is empty save for a clock. The clock sounds the hour and the black tiles disappear. The kids fall into a huge cage where they find themselves confronted by a giant wasp-like creature. Presto and Eric go in after them but find that Shadow Demon has closed the box. The stairs then give out and they fall into the holes themselves. Fortunately, Hank manages to get rid of the wasp and sends up a rope arrow to get kids back up the box. Bobby manages to force the box open with his club and the kids escape.

The kids soon learn that the mountain they saw was nothing more than an illusion and continue their quest. At last, they reach their destination and manage to get the box into position. Bobby opens the box and Zandora is freed. As reward for their aid in freeing her, Zandora takes them to a natural bridge and opens the box. Unfortunately, the bridge begins to crumble. The kids enter the box but have to leave Uni behind.

Inside the box, the kids fall into a ride cart and go back to the amusement park. Unfortunately, Venger follows them in. He attacks the kids but when they try to stop him, they find that their weapons won't work. Venger starts to wreak havoc on the park. The kids decide that the only reasonable thing to do is to go back to the Realm where they can fight Venger.

Venger returns to the realm and demands that the kids give him their weapons or he'll destroy their world. Zandora takes the weapons and puts them into the box. Angered, Venger blasts Zandora sending both her and the box away. Venger enters into the box and finds that it leads to Tiamat the Dragon. However, the force of Venger’s attack destroyed the bridge, which was the only place that could lead to earth.

Trivia

* Zandora's Box is a play off on Pandora's Box.

* Second time the children have actually made it back to earth.

*The clock part is remisent of The Twilight Zone

Presto Spells

Spell: Abracadabra quick as a wink. Give me something to fight Eric's stink.
Result: Gets a gas mask.

Spell: Hocus Pocus, alicastop, give me some stuff to make that bug, bug off!
Result: Turns the single bug into two.

Quotes

Eric: (after finding a chest) "It's probably filled with untold riches!"
Dungeon Master: "Undead "witches" is more like it!"

Shelia: "We're trapped! In "another" world!"
Eric: "What else is new?"