Dungeon Tales

DUNGEON TALES is a serialized epic fantasy show of kings, queens, princes, barons, pigmen, skeletal apparitions, and so much more... Though, I wouldn't say it's suitable for young children. It largely spans a single continent with occasional treks to lands which contain remnants of old, long forgotten magic. The story begins shortly after 'The Great War' ends. You are more or less thrown into this world and must piece together the history of the Etiaronian Empire, its royal family, and the perilous war which cost the Kingdom and its people so much. The PILOT episode commences by taking us to the edge of the world where the supernatural still exists. We follow a band of clerics and soldiers as they investigate mysterious occurrences at the outskirts of the Forbidden Lands. They suffer strange illnesses and disappearances as their leader, Lugus, bravely attempts to save one of his men while dealing with his mutinous associates. He traverses the Great Fall, a tremendous system of waterfalls, across bridges of bones and poisonous marshlands. He and his only loyal cleric witness their friend be taken by green apparitions, which assume the form of humans through the manipulation of matter and threaten their lives as well. Their fate is left a mystery. The tone suddenly shifts as we meet King Marcus Merick, Queen Thalia, and a number of their advisors as they wait in a baptistery with an adoring mob just outside. We learn they are waiting on their two sons, both of whom are late. The handsome Prince Callan chooses to play a risky stunt on his father, circumventing his plans to welcome the returning Argus, the Kingdom's most beloved warrior. Callan takes the opportunity to rouse the mob himself, taking Argus atop the city walls and giving an inspiring speech, all the while humorously outing his father for keeping everyone waiting. We then meet Prince Aiden, a troubled young man who abhors the stately duties of the royal family, citing the hypocrisy and insincerity of it all. He takes council with one of the King's most treacherous advisors, who manipulates and uses the prince. There is talk of a feast for the ages planned this very night to honor the return of 'the mighty Argus'. Barons, noblemen, and senators are gathering from every corner of the continent to pay tribute to the victorious King Merick as well, although we learn that not all gifts and gestures are as earnest as they appear. North of the Capitol, at the Oaktomb garrison, a mysterious one-eyed man is being prepped for a hanging. These lands, much ignored by the King and his ilk, are untouched by the Great War to the west but have suffered greatly as the Kingdom's first line of defense against another looming threat, which we soon discover. Argus has been inquiring about his brother, whom he expected would also be at the Capitol to greet him. The royal family gives him the troubling news his brother, Lugus, was murdered several months ago. Here we learn his death wasn't at the hands of the creatures we last saw him with, but his murder took place south of a town called Brightwyn. Argus, collecting himself from the immediate pain and learning the killers have yet to be found, asks permission to travel south and lead the investigation in search of those responsible for his brother's death. As the nobles gather, Callan and his friends discuss future prospects of marriage and what's expected of them. One of them asks his blessing to marry one of his sisters, the princess Leneine. Aiden happens to find them in the training room after being berated by his father for being a consistent disappointment. The feast is called to start as we meet the rest of the royal family and the King accepts his offerings. The mysterious one-eyed man is read his final rights, but just as he is about to be hanged, the military garrison has some unexpected visitors. Initially thought to be the one-eyed man's outlaw friends, it turns out to be a band of raunt pigmen, vicious creatures born of swine and dark magic. (In the history of the empire, the name 'raunt' began as a play on the word 'runt', where liters of swine and boars began to bear an entirely different evolution of the creature) The raunts want the one-eyed man but are refused and overrun Oaktomb. Argus visits Orbin, a nearby royal tomb where his brother was laid to rest. He barely thwarts an attempt on his life, uncovering a conspiracy that involves the death of his brother and the possible involvement of the royal family. The feast is an incredible affair, for the most part. A Thessian orator performs a song commemorating the final battle of the war, a marriage proposal goes disastrously wrong, the two princes find themselves at each other's throats and become physical, not to mention the discovery of an important detail pertaining to the succession of their father's throne.