The Forbidden Valley

A story from the 1986 Dungeons & Dragons annual.

"Hurry, it's gaining on us," shouted Diana.

"I think we'll have to stop and fight," gasped Hank.

"You've got to be joking!" cried Eric. "I've no desire to become that monster's dinner."

In pursuit was a huge, extremely fearsome-looking ogre.

"Quick! In here!" shouted Hank.

They hid inside the entrance to a small cave.

Luckily for them, the opening wasn't large enough to allow the ogre to follow, although it was able to thrust a massive hand forward into the small gap. Bobby struck the wall above, and the creature's hand was buried in a hail of crumbling stone.

"Phew, that was close!" gasped Sheila.

"Nice handiwork, Bobby!" cheered Eric.

"I think we ought to stay here for a while until we're sure the coast is clear," said Hank. "I wouldn't want to run into that thing again."

"I do hope this place isn't occupied," said Sheila, looking around anxiously.

"But where are we anyway?" asked Presto.

"You are in the land of the Forbidden Valley,"answered a voice from behind him.

Presto turned round quickly to see the figure of Dungeon Master stood in the entrance to the cave.

"Forbidden Valley?" repeated Eric. "Then what are we doing here if it's forbidden?" he cried. "Let's go."

"You cannot go back no; that would lead to your certain death. You are here at my beckoning. I brought you here. I call upon you, my young adventurers, to carry out a particularly dangerous mission. It is one which, if successfully fulfilled, could work in your favour - in other words, it could lead you home. You see, Zakim, the evil magician, has developed a magic portal, one that is so powerful it gives easy access to all lands, both near and far. Venger now plans to use the portal in search for the legendary land of gold. However, there is one other item he needs first, and that is a map that will show him exactly where this golden land is. There is only one such map in existence. It is sacred, and as such is kept in the ancient Temple of All Knowledge at the foot of the Black Mountain. With the map, the gold, and the portal, Venger has the means to enslave us all. With this one aim in mind, together with Zakin and a formidable army of orcs, he is making his way to the temple. But you, my friends, must get there before him!"

The children looked at each other, and then towards Dungeon Master, but, already, he had gone.

"We've been set up again!" shouted Eric angrily. "Who does he think he is? Now you see me, now you don't."

"Calm down, Eric," replied Hank in a sharp tone.

"Well I don't trust him," said Eric bitterly. "I get the feeling we're being used."

"We must do as he says," returned Hank. "We have no choice, and perhaps the map will tell us where our home is."

But before Eric had time to reply he saw something coming out of the blackness from deep within the cave. The hairs on its back were raised and it snarled with teeth bared as it approached. It was a werewolf!

Then everything happened so fast! It flung itself savagely upon Hank, there was a dreadful struggle for several agonising moments, and then a blinding flash, as Diana's javelin hit the ground between them, and the beast, tripping over it, slumped to the ground stunned.

"Quick,let's get out of here!" cried Eric.

Hank had been badly bitten. Sheila helped him to his feet and they ran towards the daylight and the entrance to the cave. But Eric was running back towards them.

"What's wrong now?" gasped Sheila.

"Why don't you take a look for yourself?" returned Eric.

A group of some twenty tribesmen, all very tall with yellow-painted bodies and wearing reptile skins, had completely surrounded the mouth of the cave.

"Which is it to be?" Sheila put the situation to them. "The mongrel in here or the savages out there?"

At that precise moment there came a terrifying howl, and instantly their minds were made up - they would confront the savages. After all, they looked friendlier than the wolf, at least.

"Let's smile," said Eric, pulling his mouth into an enormous grin. "Say cheese, everyone."

Diana spoke. "Er, hello, nice day, isn't it?" She couldn't think of anything else to say.

One of the tribesmen, who appeared to be the leader, stepped forward.

"Can you give us directions to the Temple of All Knowledge?" asked Bobby.

It was obvious he didn't understand. He looked puzzled, frowned, but then smiled when Eric caught his eye.

The two groups stood and stared at each other with fixed smiles. The all at once, the tribal leader stopped smiling. He looked worried and then soon everybody else looked worried too. He pointed to the wound on Hank's arm and made a gesture that meant they should follow him.

They came to a group of simple mud dwellings set in a small clearing. They could see little children running about in the compound, shouting in a strange-sounding language. But as they approached the womenfolk dragged their children inside, staring suspiciously at the visitors.

They were taken to the largest of the huts at the very edge of the compound, inside which sat a figure wearing a fearful mask.

"Welcome, my young friends!" said a surprisingly gentle voice from behind the mask. "I was told to expect you." He slowly rose to his feet.

"He speaks English," whispered Bobby.

"I speak in many languages," came the reply. "Now I know that one of you is hurt. Will you step forward, so that I may help?"

Hank, taken by surprise, did so immediately. The masked figure examined the wound and uttered a few words in the strange-sounding language they had heard the children using.

"Drink this." He handed him a small flask containing a bright blue liquid. With the flask at his lips, Hank hesitated for a moment, then decided the strange liquid was his only hope, and closed his eyes and swallowed. It tasted awful. But then, as the children watched, the nasty cut was miraculously healed before their eyes.

"Gosh, thanks," said Hank.

"Presto, ask him how he did it," Eric urged.

"Ask him yourself!" whispered Presto in reply.

Eric opened his mouth to speak, and the mask loomed at him. He gulped hard, but couldn't summon up enough courage to say anything. Eric felt very uncomfortable and then Sheila spoke.

"You said earlier that you were told to expect us," she said. "Well, who told you - if you don't mind me asking."

"Dungeon Master told me of your mission," said the voice behind the mask.

"Dungeon Master!" said the children together. "You know Dungeon Master!"

"Yes, we are well acquainted," was the reply.

"Who are you?" asked Hank boldly.

The mysterious figure explained, "My name is Kabull. I was banished to this desolate place, the Forbidden Valley, many years ago following an argument with the evil Venger."

"Venger! We know him too," gulped Eric. He felt quite weak at the mention of his name.

"But you are powerful, why don't you fight back?" Hank asked him.

"I did fight back, but I saw my family and friends reduced to slavery at his hands. That was too high a price to pay for my honour, and so I surrendered, in return for the freedom of my people. I met Venger's demands in full. But Venger did not keep his part of the bargain, and many are still his prisoners."

"In that case, we've got no chance," muttered Eric.

Kabull continued his story. "But I promised myself that one day I would have my revenge - and at last that day has come," he said. "I have heard of Venger's wicked plans and I will help you all I can."

"Well, er, thanks for the offer but..." Eric began.

"Ssh! I can hear something," said Diana.

Suddenly, ten or twelve orcs burst into the hut, seizing Kabull and the children and dragging them outside.

There was Venger, sitting upon a great black horse. He looked menacing with his huge bat-like wings spread open.

"I do hope we're not interrupting anything," he sneered, showing his hideous fangs.

Zakim, the evil sorcerer, was at his side, and behind them stood an army of fifty orcs who looked intimidating, to say the least.

"We were just talking about you," replied Bobby, struggling to free himself from the grasping hands of the orcs who held him.

"Were you, indeed?" returned Venger. Nightmare, his winged black horse, snorted and stamped the ground. "I welcome you to my domain, foolhardy ones, but I wonder what brings you to these parts?"

Kabull spoke. "It is fitting that you have come, Venger. Now I can have my final revenge."

"But not before I have mine!" Venger shouted, and with an ultimate show of his power, a bolt of lightning shooting from his outspread fingers struck Kabull and the mask figure was gone.

Venger, turning to the children, said, "And as for you, my interfering brats, you are banished forever to a land of tormented dreams where you shall sleep for an eternity." Slowly getting down from the huge black mare, Venger walked over to Diana and, gripping her shoulders with cold fingers, said, "But, perhaps I will spare you."

Then before anyone could do or say anything, Zakim put the others into a deep and deathly sleep.

Diana tried to fight, but it was no use, they held her fast.

"We are soon to triumph, Zakim," said Venger, jumping onto his horse like some giant bat.

They marched through the small village. Its frightened inhabitants fled in all directions, and its humble dwellings were burnt to the ground.

When Venger was well out of sight, Kabull reappeared. (Venger had not got rid of him; with accurate timing, Kabull had simply made himself disappear - the effect being the same.)

"Children, wake up quickly!" cried Kabull.

"I thought you had gone," cried Bobby, as the masked man woke him.

"Venger thought that too!" answered Kabull. "But I was one step ahead of him. I know that little trick of his very well, so I made myself disappear just seconds before he was to do so."

"Where are we?" Eric mumbled.

Kabull shook Hank roughly, waking him from a bad dream. "Hurry, there's not much time. They've taken Diana."

"How did you wake us?" asked Bobby, being the most alert of them all.

"It's easy when you know how!" replied Kabull. He smiled beneath the mask. "Quickly, now we must keep together."

"Are we really awake, or are we still dreaming?" asked Sheila, as Hank dragged her after him.

Once out of the village the terrain became extremely rough and after two hours of hard walking they came into the shadow of the great Black Mountain, a desolate place of barren hills, scorched vegetation and black ash.

"There's Lake Tapusa," said Kabull, pointing to a vivid green lake lying still and deep within the black hills. "The temple we seek is not far from here."

All at once the waters of the lake changed from green to red and the sky from blue to orange, and in dark silhouette was the terrifying outline of a dragon.

"We are unlucky, it's Tiamat," said Kabull, "the Queen of the Dragons."

"That's all we needed," cried Eric, hiding behind an outcrop of black rock.

"It's got five heads!" shouted Bobby.

Sheila urged Presto to think of a spell. "Come on, Presto, think of something - anything!"

Kabull, who had remained amazingly calm, said, "Magic is of no use. Tiamat has magical powers which are far greater than ours."

On outstretched, bony wings, the huge monster descended. Standing on its hind legs, it was of gigantic proportions, with five different coloured heads writhing and twisting in all directions.

Bobby ran forward and, only narrowly escaping its sharp claws, he shook his club defiantly. The beast was annoyed and, letting out an angry cry, turned a huge head, breathing deeply. Bobby ran as flames of fire shot out towards him. Then as a warning to them all, a blue head lunged forward and an electrical bolt hit the ground at their feet, sending shattered pieces of rock high into the air.

"I've heard that Tiamat is a lawful dragon. I will try to speak to her," said Kabull.

"You're kidding?" shouted Eric as he ran from the black head that snaked around him.

When Kabull started to speak to the dragon, the five heads, turning towards Kabull, listened intently and then the largest head answered him in a deep, throaty voice. Kabull, turning to the children, said, "She has agreed to let her pass. She believes our story."

"What did you tell her?" asked Bobby, incredulous at the news.

"The truth," answered Kabull.

Tiamat withdrew, taking two enormous steps backwards, and the children ran past her as quickly as possible, fearing that she may change her mind.

High up on the eastern slope they could see the Temple of All Knowledge with its sculpted columns of pale stone. Then Dungeon Master appeared before them, saying, "You will find victory out of confusion."

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Bobby.

"He's talking in riddles again," whispered Sheila in dismay.

Taking a jewelled pendant from his neck and handing it to Eric, Dungeon Master said, "Take this pendant, its magic can cause one's enemies to turn and fight one another."

"I am not wearing this!" Eric protested.

Disregarding this remark, Dungeon Master continued. "But, I must warn you - it is very dangerous in the hands of a beginner, and should only be used by one who is in a calm state of mind. If you should misuse it then you will start to fight among yourselves."

The word 'dangerous' was enough for Eric. "Sheila, you have it! Look, it suits you! It matches your eyes," he said, placing the large emerald necklace over her head.

Kabull spoke. "I have heard tell of such things - they are known as 'Jewels of Confusion'. I believe that Dungeon Master wishes us to use the pendant as a means of destroying the friendship that exists between Venger and Zakim."

"Yes - that's it! Remember, he said, You will find victory out of confusion," he recalled.

"Come on, there is little time left," said Kabull.

Meanwhile, Venger had reached the temple some hours before. He had found the map and, with Zakim, was discussing the finer details of their evil plan. "We shall need reinforcements," commanded Venger.

Outside on the terraces, in great numbers, orcs stood guard over the entrance to the temple. Kabull and the children approached cautiously. It was decided that Sheila should go ahead, 'invisibly', of course.

Slipping silently and unseen amongst the orcs, she trod on their toes, kicked, and pinched them as she passed. Accusing each other of these actions they started to argue among themselves and, in the riotous confusion that followed, Kabull and the others got past without being noticed. Eric managed to get himself a black eye but the others were unhurt.

"I do hope this trinket works," thought Sheila as she slipped into the room where she could hear Venger and Zakim talking. Sheila looked into the dark face of the emerald and, trying desperately to clear her mind of the panic she felt, shouted aloud, "Venger and Zakim, I wish to speak with both of you!"

Immediately they looked towards Diana, who was tied to an ornately sculpted statue, obviously thinking that she had said this. But in truth, Diana was herself equally surprised. A violent argument ensued: Venger swore that Diana had spoken these words and Zakim swore that the voice was that of the statue. Venger summoned his bodyguards and Zakim his also, and the result was complete chaos. Hank, Eric, Presto, Bobby and Kabull all joined in the fun.

Sheila quickly untied Diana, who took her directly to the sacred map. But an elaborate stone carving was not what they Sheila had expected. "Well I suppose we'll just have to memorise it," said Sheila as she read the words:

In the west, there is the Serpent Sea,
In the east, a land where all a free,
In the south is all land of gold,
And, in the north, your home, behold!

Upon reading the last line all hope had faded and she said angrily, "Why does everything always speak in riddles here? What use is this to us?"

"Hank was always good at geography. I wonder if he knows where the Serpent Sea is?" suggested Diana. "Let's go and ask him."

But Sheila was less optimistic. "Diana, do you think we are ever going to find our way home?"

"Of course we are, now let's go and help the others," Diana replied. But their help wasn't needed. It was all over. Venger and Zakim had fled, and Kabull and the boys were congratulating each other on their fighting skills. Diana explained about the map, and later, when Kabull left them, they were still puzzling over it.

Criticisms: Nightmare is described as winged when it does not have wings. There is no mention of Uni. Why does the narrative bother with the redundant explanation of how Kabull evaded Venger's lightning bolt when Kabull then explains it to the heroes in the following paragraph? Why does Bobby need to state that Tiamat has five heads when she was one of the fisrt creature he met in the Realm?