Part 3
Pickle bounced in to the team room, whirled and placed himself upon the master's chair, the team followed Pickle in and sat down on the seats all except the quest dungeoneer who stood stiffly upright beside the view screen. 'Well now, what are your names and where do you come from?' Pickle smugly asked. 'My names Andrew Millar from Galloway and these are my friends' he said indicating over to his teammates. 'Mark Muir' said the first, 'Timothy Brown' said the second, 'Duncan McPherson' said the last. Even though Pickle is hardly the intimidating type, the team looked marginally scared, the Castle was a new seemingly dangerous experience for them. 'Well excellent, how old are you all?' Pickle directed the question to Andrew. '12 years old' he answered. Andrew had brown wispy hair and blue eyes, he stood no more than about 4'11", and was wearing a black T-shirt with some sort of logo on it, a pair of khaki combats and Nike trainers. 'Excellent' Pickle replied again, as he lifted himself of the master's chair and picked up the knapsack from the oak table. 'This is the knapsack, you will find food in the dungeon, when you do put it in here to strengthen your life force' Pickle learnt down and picked up the Helm of Justice, and placed it on Andrew's head. 'And this is the Helmet of Justice, it will restrict your vision so your team mates will have to be your eyes from now on, now turn round, face the door and step boldly into the dungeon.' Andrew stepped forward into the unknown.
The first room was of course the place of choice and as always Pickle had become over-excitable. 'It's the place of choice! It's the place of choice team! You must choose what your quest is for by walking through the corresponding door.' The team huddled and discussed what they would choose, one suggested the sword, Pickles pointed ears picked up on this and blurted out quite involuntarily 'Oh choose the crown, you should choose the crown!' and then realising his mistake quickly shut up and semi-curled up in the master's chair. But the intensity of Pickles comment had changes their minds. 'We'll take the crown' Mark told Andrew, the others nodded in agreement. Pickle felt slightly embarrassed by his outburst but pleased at the team's choice. It wasn't long before Pickle forgot his position and started aiding the team again who found it most helpful and fairly amusing. 'Oh no! I wouldn't trust him if I were you!' 'Oh take the potion! It's the most useful!' 'Step to the left! There's an Elf path there!' were a few of the comments Pickle blurted out. Oh fiddlesticks Pickle thought to himself, he really wasn't getting the hang of this. When it came to the question round, Pickle remained silent, it wasn't that he had learned to be quiet, he really hadn't a clue - Pickle had spent most of his elf schooldays chucking bits of blotted paper at Maisy, who always sat at the front of the class and answered all the teachers questions, swot! Pickle however managed year after year to gain very poor results - it wasn't that he was exceptionally dim; it simply boiled down to the fact he wasn't interested - he'd rather be on an adventure. Well Pickle sure had his adventure now!
Normally Pickle, and anyone who has the fortune of seeing a quest in progress would be completely engrossed by now, but Pickles mind kept wandering - why am I doing this? He thought, I should be helping Master Treguard, some companion I am. It was only the emergence of a new character in the game that stirred Pickles thoughts back to the quest. It was a woman who looked terribly powerful and quick to anger, she stood tall in pristine white robes, black tied up hair, pale skin and carrying a white wand of some description, Pickle leaned forward captivated by the images. The team felt most uneasy and continually glanced over to Pickle for reassurance, reassurance that was not forthcoming. 'Stand where you are human!' the woman in white bellowed. 'Who are you and what are you doing here?' Of course Andrew, prompted by his team answered and told her their quest. The woman looked amused. 'Really. is that all you seek for? She asked. Andrew answered with an affirmative. 'Excellent, my name is Warria but you may call me your majesty.' she continued. Huh! Who does she think she is! Pickle thought to himself. 'If I were to help you in your ahem, quest, would you be as gracious as to do me a favour? One which is extremely simple but can only be completed by a. dungeon of your capabilities.' She looked evil, there was evil in the air but this seemed quite innocent - the team discussed the proposition, and told Andrew to ask 'Her Majesty' what the favour was and what she could give them in return. 'I will give you invaluable magic to help you in your quest, all I ask in return is a sample of Merlin's cloak.' She replied with possibly the most vicious undertones possible - but it seemed all good to the team; a simple request, they looked to Pickle. 'I don't know if I trust her team' Pickle said never moving his eyes from the screen 'but it seems an easy task. I don't know, its your choice, make it a wise one' Again the team huddled and discussed what they should do, the generally consensus was - go for it! And so Andrew accepted the offer, Warria let out a victorious cackle and waved her arms around, clouds of dark blue smoke appeared, the team became afraid. 'Here is the magic I give to you. the spell G E O it will turn your opponents to stone! You may use it twice and twice only! If you fail to deliver your part of the bargain - I will turn you to stone! And the spell you have has no effect on me - so no smartness! My calling name is MARS! When you steal the cloth you must call it three times!' And with that she vanished. Pickle let out an involuntary 'gulp' and shuddered - oh my goodness, he thought, who is she and what does she want with Merlin's cloak? Pickle continued to watch in horror as the team progressed and turned enemies to stone - they were having the time of their lives! Pickle, placed on the extreme edge of his seat, thought he was going to wet himself.
Six rooms later Andrew walked into Merlin's room, an old wizard with a kindly smile, Pickles bladder weakened even more - running and hiding from this whole event felt so appealing to him right now as was sobbing bitterly, but he had to remain in control, for Treguard's sake and his own. Merlin was as usual quite cheerful and helpful to Andrew, Merlin posed questions and the team attempted to answer! When Merlin got up to walk away, the team had to think fast. 'Andrew! Step on the edge of his cloak or something!' Timothy shouted through. Strictly following his teammates advice quickly jumped on the very end of Merlin's green and partially ragged cloak. 'RRIIPPP' the sound was enormous for such as small piece of material. 'Oh my! What happened?' Merlin twirled round to inspect the incident. 'Erm.. Tell him you stepped on his cloak but accident Andy' Mark called. 'And say you're sorry!' Duncan added. 'Sorry I accidentally stood on your cloak, I'm really sorry!' Andrew said in a somewhat unconvincing voice. 'Hmmm..' Merlin thought aloud 'Ok, no harm done be more careful in future! Can you pass me the bit cloth there so I can sew it back on?' he continued. 'Erm. No. It's completely ripped and er dirty, maybe you could use another bit?' Andrew improvised, again somewhat unconvincing but Merlin mistook this for a nervous disposition. 'Oh well, I suppose I have yards of it in the cellar I'll use that' Merlin turned and started out the room. 'MARS, MARS, MARS!!!' Andrew called. Once again blue smoke started to assemble in a circular pattern inside which Warria appeared. 'Excellent!' she snatched the piece of cloth and turned and semi-ran into the next room after Merlin. There followed a terrible wail. Then the terrible gong!! 'GONG' Pickle now sitting with his mouth opened wide had the sudden realisation that he had been drooling over himself, then had the not so sudden realisation that time had turned, Andrew was as still as Treguard had been. Pickle wiped the saliva off his top and turned to the team who also were still, frozen in place. All this was almost too much for a little friendly Elf like Pickle, who rose to his feet, but his legs gave way under the weight and he capsized, knocking his head on Treguards chair as he fell. Looked like it was going to be a quiet few hours at Dunshelm Castle.
Part 4: v.soon!
Pickle bounced in to the team room, whirled and placed himself upon the master's chair, the team followed Pickle in and sat down on the seats all except the quest dungeoneer who stood stiffly upright beside the view screen. 'Well now, what are your names and where do you come from?' Pickle smugly asked. 'My names Andrew Millar from Galloway and these are my friends' he said indicating over to his teammates. 'Mark Muir' said the first, 'Timothy Brown' said the second, 'Duncan McPherson' said the last. Even though Pickle is hardly the intimidating type, the team looked marginally scared, the Castle was a new seemingly dangerous experience for them. 'Well excellent, how old are you all?' Pickle directed the question to Andrew. '12 years old' he answered. Andrew had brown wispy hair and blue eyes, he stood no more than about 4'11", and was wearing a black T-shirt with some sort of logo on it, a pair of khaki combats and Nike trainers. 'Excellent' Pickle replied again, as he lifted himself of the master's chair and picked up the knapsack from the oak table. 'This is the knapsack, you will find food in the dungeon, when you do put it in here to strengthen your life force' Pickle learnt down and picked up the Helm of Justice, and placed it on Andrew's head. 'And this is the Helmet of Justice, it will restrict your vision so your team mates will have to be your eyes from now on, now turn round, face the door and step boldly into the dungeon.' Andrew stepped forward into the unknown.
The first room was of course the place of choice and as always Pickle had become over-excitable. 'It's the place of choice! It's the place of choice team! You must choose what your quest is for by walking through the corresponding door.' The team huddled and discussed what they would choose, one suggested the sword, Pickles pointed ears picked up on this and blurted out quite involuntarily 'Oh choose the crown, you should choose the crown!' and then realising his mistake quickly shut up and semi-curled up in the master's chair. But the intensity of Pickles comment had changes their minds. 'We'll take the crown' Mark told Andrew, the others nodded in agreement. Pickle felt slightly embarrassed by his outburst but pleased at the team's choice. It wasn't long before Pickle forgot his position and started aiding the team again who found it most helpful and fairly amusing. 'Oh no! I wouldn't trust him if I were you!' 'Oh take the potion! It's the most useful!' 'Step to the left! There's an Elf path there!' were a few of the comments Pickle blurted out. Oh fiddlesticks Pickle thought to himself, he really wasn't getting the hang of this. When it came to the question round, Pickle remained silent, it wasn't that he had learned to be quiet, he really hadn't a clue - Pickle had spent most of his elf schooldays chucking bits of blotted paper at Maisy, who always sat at the front of the class and answered all the teachers questions, swot! Pickle however managed year after year to gain very poor results - it wasn't that he was exceptionally dim; it simply boiled down to the fact he wasn't interested - he'd rather be on an adventure. Well Pickle sure had his adventure now!
Normally Pickle, and anyone who has the fortune of seeing a quest in progress would be completely engrossed by now, but Pickles mind kept wandering - why am I doing this? He thought, I should be helping Master Treguard, some companion I am. It was only the emergence of a new character in the game that stirred Pickles thoughts back to the quest. It was a woman who looked terribly powerful and quick to anger, she stood tall in pristine white robes, black tied up hair, pale skin and carrying a white wand of some description, Pickle leaned forward captivated by the images. The team felt most uneasy and continually glanced over to Pickle for reassurance, reassurance that was not forthcoming. 'Stand where you are human!' the woman in white bellowed. 'Who are you and what are you doing here?' Of course Andrew, prompted by his team answered and told her their quest. The woman looked amused. 'Really. is that all you seek for? She asked. Andrew answered with an affirmative. 'Excellent, my name is Warria but you may call me your majesty.' she continued. Huh! Who does she think she is! Pickle thought to himself. 'If I were to help you in your ahem, quest, would you be as gracious as to do me a favour? One which is extremely simple but can only be completed by a. dungeon of your capabilities.' She looked evil, there was evil in the air but this seemed quite innocent - the team discussed the proposition, and told Andrew to ask 'Her Majesty' what the favour was and what she could give them in return. 'I will give you invaluable magic to help you in your quest, all I ask in return is a sample of Merlin's cloak.' She replied with possibly the most vicious undertones possible - but it seemed all good to the team; a simple request, they looked to Pickle. 'I don't know if I trust her team' Pickle said never moving his eyes from the screen 'but it seems an easy task. I don't know, its your choice, make it a wise one' Again the team huddled and discussed what they should do, the generally consensus was - go for it! And so Andrew accepted the offer, Warria let out a victorious cackle and waved her arms around, clouds of dark blue smoke appeared, the team became afraid. 'Here is the magic I give to you. the spell G E O it will turn your opponents to stone! You may use it twice and twice only! If you fail to deliver your part of the bargain - I will turn you to stone! And the spell you have has no effect on me - so no smartness! My calling name is MARS! When you steal the cloth you must call it three times!' And with that she vanished. Pickle let out an involuntary 'gulp' and shuddered - oh my goodness, he thought, who is she and what does she want with Merlin's cloak? Pickle continued to watch in horror as the team progressed and turned enemies to stone - they were having the time of their lives! Pickle, placed on the extreme edge of his seat, thought he was going to wet himself.
Six rooms later Andrew walked into Merlin's room, an old wizard with a kindly smile, Pickles bladder weakened even more - running and hiding from this whole event felt so appealing to him right now as was sobbing bitterly, but he had to remain in control, for Treguard's sake and his own. Merlin was as usual quite cheerful and helpful to Andrew, Merlin posed questions and the team attempted to answer! When Merlin got up to walk away, the team had to think fast. 'Andrew! Step on the edge of his cloak or something!' Timothy shouted through. Strictly following his teammates advice quickly jumped on the very end of Merlin's green and partially ragged cloak. 'RRIIPPP' the sound was enormous for such as small piece of material. 'Oh my! What happened?' Merlin twirled round to inspect the incident. 'Erm.. Tell him you stepped on his cloak but accident Andy' Mark called. 'And say you're sorry!' Duncan added. 'Sorry I accidentally stood on your cloak, I'm really sorry!' Andrew said in a somewhat unconvincing voice. 'Hmmm..' Merlin thought aloud 'Ok, no harm done be more careful in future! Can you pass me the bit cloth there so I can sew it back on?' he continued. 'Erm. No. It's completely ripped and er dirty, maybe you could use another bit?' Andrew improvised, again somewhat unconvincing but Merlin mistook this for a nervous disposition. 'Oh well, I suppose I have yards of it in the cellar I'll use that' Merlin turned and started out the room. 'MARS, MARS, MARS!!!' Andrew called. Once again blue smoke started to assemble in a circular pattern inside which Warria appeared. 'Excellent!' she snatched the piece of cloth and turned and semi-ran into the next room after Merlin. There followed a terrible wail. Then the terrible gong!! 'GONG' Pickle now sitting with his mouth opened wide had the sudden realisation that he had been drooling over himself, then had the not so sudden realisation that time had turned, Andrew was as still as Treguard had been. Pickle wiped the saliva off his top and turned to the team who also were still, frozen in place. All this was almost too much for a little friendly Elf like Pickle, who rose to his feet, but his legs gave way under the weight and he capsized, knocking his head on Treguards chair as he fell. Looked like it was going to be a quiet few hours at Dunshelm Castle.
Part 4: v.soon!
