TWELVE
"Here we are then," he said. " Sorry I can't do anything about the troll guarding the entrance, but I'm sure you can find a way round that."
"Thanks Smirkenorff." replied Nigel as he got off the saddle and walked down the dragon's back, proceeding to face the first challenge awaiting him at the Shadow Caverns.
There, the troll awaited Nigel and his team. Duane, terry and Andy were determined to get Nigel past without awaking the sleeping troll, but in doing so, Nigel unwittingly kicked a lose stone on his way to the entrance. That was enough to send the troll out of his slumber, and upon spotting Nigel he began to raise his huge axe!
"Oh no team," cried Treguard in despair. "With nothing to dend yourself with against the troll, you're doomed!" The troll had his axe fully raised in the air to attack Nigel, but then was suddenly interrupted when a fireball strcuk him alongside the cry of 'Chebugi'!
Gabriel had appeared out of nowhere, and then proceded to unleash a second fireball on the troll. The fireball found its target, and this time the troll disappeared without trace.
"Thanks." said a relieved-looking Nigel.
"Cut the crap dungeoneer, and let's cut to the chase instead." snapped back Gabriel. "I refuse to let the Opposition have the final laugh. Now, here's the score. You agree to help me or else you suffer the same fate as the troll."
"Gabriel is not one to be meddled with, team." wanred tregaurd, and at that point the team agreed to help him.
"Good." smiled Gabriel. "Even if I didn't kill you, I doubt you would have got much further anyway. Lord Wraith has been let loose on the dungeon and I want you to find him. When you do, call my name three times. By then I should have finished my little surprise gor that ghastly ghoul-ridden master of foul. Finally, I give you one more piece of information. You will need to play your cards right. Now go dungeoneer, and don't disappoint me or else I'll be disappointing you."
Nigel was hurriedly rushed through the entrance of the Shadow Caverns into the first chamber - the Level 2 Clue Room. On the table were a pack of playing cards, a compass, a jewel, a loaf of bread and a spy glass. The team decided to use the spy glass first. Through it they saw Lord Fear and Lissard in Marblehead.
"Lordnessss," said Lissard, "the kidsies have found their way into Level 2!"
" I know that Lissard, I'm not stupid!" retaliated Fear. "We'll need to beef up the causeway sequence, use the same numbers but have the odd numbers first in descending numerical order, followed by the even numbers in ascending numerical order. And instead of dots, let's use Roman Numerals! How about that, eh?"
"Excellent, your Lordnessss." smiled Lissard. Just then Morgaine's face appeared on the screen.
"I have some news for you, Lord Fear." said the witch.
"Tell me then." insisted Fear. "I don't have all day you know!"
"Hordriss and Sidriss have been caught trespassing in the Shadow Caverns." cackled Morgaine. "Which is why I transfomred the caves around them so that they are now completely lost."
"Well, what do you know." said Lord Fear. "That will teach the Powers That Be to interfere in the lower levels...." Just then Fear's automatic spyglass detection came into effect and Nugel was hurriedly rushed into putting the spy glass down.
The team directed Nigel to put the bread in his knapsack before deciding on which items to take from the table.
"I think we should take the compass for Hordriss and Sidriss." said Duane.
"And the playing cards," added Terry, "from what Gabriel said earlier."
Nigel agreed on what they both said and took the cards and the compass, before entering the next chamber.
They soon came to a huge cave. A black-robed prince sitting at a table blocked the way ahead.
"Welcome to your next challenge." the prince said. "You must play me, Isarion, and win to continue your quest. I just hope you remembered to bring a pack of playing cards with you...." Nigel showed Isarion the cards.
"I see you have some intelligence in you" he acknowledged."Take a seat, and let us begin." Nigel was guided to Isarion's table and nervously shuffled his pack of cards, knowing he had to win this or his quest in the dungeon was over....