Dungeons and Dragons

The Die Master

Chapter 2: The Fall of Tiamet

Hank launched an energy arrow from his Energy Bow at Tiamet's pale ice-attribute head head. It shrieked with pain as Tiamet's red, center, fire-attribute head sent searing flames at the Ranger. Luckily, Eric was nearby, and had the presence of mind to block the flames with his Griffon Shield.

Tiamet's ice head recovered and quickly froze an area of the ground. This was followed by a shriek as Sheila suddenly reappeared on the surface of the ice after slipping on it while under her Cloak of Invisibility. Uni brayed in panic as she began to slip and slide over the slippery surface. Tiamet's blue lightning-attribute head then launched a thunder bolt at Sheila. However, this was promptly deflected by a swing of Bobby's Thunder Club.

Tiamet's green head spat poison at Diana. This didn't seem to phase her much, because she used her Javelin Staff to flip and dodge it with ease.

Tiamet's center head then menacingly turned to Presto. Presto quickly waved his hand over his Hat of Many Spells frantically and said, "Okay, er, cold! Cold! I need something cold! Come on!"

Presto reached in and pulled out an ice-cube. He moaned in frustration and threw it in anger. The ice-cube just happened to land at Tiamet's feet. All of a sudden, it exploded, dousing Tiamet with icy mist. The dragon roared in anguish at the wave of cold that was washing over him. When the mist cleared, Tiamet was frozen solid.

"What was that? A liquid oxygen bomb?" Eric asked incredulously.

"Awesome Presto!" Bobby cheered.

Presto just blinked and said, "I can;t believe I actually did it."

Eric quickly changed the subject, "Well I've got a bone to pick to Dungeon Master! He didn't tell us that we'd run into Tiamet when he pointed us in this direction."

"For once, you're right Eric," Dianna remarked, "You'd think he would have known about this and warned us at least."

"Warned us nothing, he shouldn't have even sent us this way!" Eric complained, "We have it bad enough, the last thing we need is to go on suicide missions like facing Tiamet."

"Shut-up, Eric, we won didn't we?" Bobby said.

Hank quickly readied another energy arrow and said, "It's too early to celebrate Bobby, look!"

The ice encasing Tiamet was beginning to crack, and it soon burst apart as Tiamet's five heads breathed their attacks. Tiamet looked very angry now. He snarled, "Fools! Do you really think that your pathetic moves can defeat me. I laugh at your futile attempts. There is none in this Realm that can-."

CRASH!

A huge bolt of lighting suddenly crashed down in their midst. When the bolt dissipated, where it hit then stood a wizard in a red robe with seven crystals orbiting around him.

"What?" Tiamet said.

Mallacar folded his arms and said, "Tiamet, it is about time that you were put in your place, permanently."

"Who the heck is that guy?" Eric said.

Mallacar grabbed a red 4-sided crystal and said, "Die of Attack!" He threw it, and it came us as a 2.

"2 times the power for me," Mallacar said as he began to glow red.

He then grabbed an orange 6-sided crystal and said, "Die of Paralysis!" He threw it, and it landed on 2. "You are paralyzed for 2 minutes!" Mallacar announced. A beam of orange light shot out and hit Tiamet in the chest, freezing him in place.

Next came a yellow 8-sided crystal. "Die of Weakness! A three! Feel the third level of weakness!" A yellow beam of light shot out and hit Tiamet in the chest. Although still paralyzed, Tiamet was heard to groan as strength began to leave his body.

A green 10-sided crystal. "Die of Blindness! A seven! I curse you with blindness for seven minutes!" A green beam of light hit Tiamet's five pairs of eye, turning them all blank and white.

A blue 10-sided crystal. "Die of Defense! An eight! My defense is eight times as strong!" Mallacar declared as he began to glow with blue light.

"Enough!" Tiamet roared as the effect of the orange crystal wore off. "I do not have to see you to destroy you!" he roared, and his five heads all launched attacks in different directions. Mallacar didn't move a muscle as attacks crashed down around him. Before long, one of Tiamet's fire balls were headed straight for him.

"Get out of the way! Move!" Bobby cried out to the wizard.

"Be silent!" Mallacar said, and he quickly threw out an indigo 12-sided crystal. "Die of Reflection!" he shouted. This time the number was 8.

"Excellent, now your attack is reflected, and multiplied by 8!" Mallacar declared.

The fire ball hit an invisible shield that surrounded Mallacar. It then grew to the size of Tiamet himself, and then crashed into the dragon with massive force. Tiamet was blasted backwards and driven painfully into the ground.

Mallacar effortlessly floated over to the dragon, and then cast his a violet 20-sided crystal. "Die of Draining!" The result was a 4. "Good. I shall now take a fifth of your energy for myself!"

Mallacar raised his hands as violet energy flowed from Tiamet and into his body. Tiamet groaned as his green head crumbled to dust.

Mallacar laughed darkly and said, "Hmm, I'm afraid you just aren't yourself without all five of your heads, so I think I'll just put you out of your misery." Mallacar then raised his hands. While speaking a strange chant in some ancient language, he charge one hand with fire and one hand with lightning. He thrust both hands down, and with a mighty blast, Tiamet was obliterated into dust.

Diana looked toward the others and said, "Did you guys see that?"

"Of course we saw it! How could we possibly miss some guy destroying Tiamet single handedly!" Eric exclaimed.

Mallacar's laughter interrupted the would-be conversation. "Yes indeed, I am quite impressive. After all, I created this world."

"What?" Hank gasped.

Mallacar shook his head with a smile and said, "Your shocked reaction amuses me. Yes, I am the creator of the Realm of Dungeons and Dragons, and it was I who, through my faithful servant Dungeon Master, led you through my Realm to test you, and train you."

"What! You mean Dungeon Master and you were just messing with us the whole time!" Eric shouted angrily, "I should have known! We'll never get out of here!"

"But why are you training and testing us for?" Shiela asked curiously.

"Because I've waited so long to find a worthy group of opponents!" Mallacar shouted, "And you are them! You've gained so much experience! You've beaten many of my faithful servants, not to mention disrupted my oppressive regime over this world, but that only shows your strength! You even defeated Venger in the Dragon's Graveyard! You are ready to face me! NOW! And I will not take no for an answer!"

Mallacar then grabbed his green crystal and threw it.