Page 1635 - Dungeons & Ponies, Part 10
6th Jan 2022, 6:00 AM in Intermission 15

Author: GreatDinn

Guest Author’s Note: “We hit ten pages, so time for a double! And also, the introduction of the Dungeon Master.

I honestly find the Dungeon Master to be a really interesting character in the series proper. He’s integral to the plot, and the unfinished final episode, Requiem, had some really interesting revelations about him that you can actually get some glimpses of throughout the series. It’s actually some phenomenally subtle storytelling for an era where the plots were about as thick as instant ramen stock.

I will say that, given the inspiration is explicitly Yoda and Obi-Wan, they capture that vibe perfectly. Sometimes moreso in the animation than in the dialogue itself.

Speaking of: Since this is a static medium, and no one actually has to say these out loud (though I absolutely did) I felt like I could get away with giving him a rhyming tic. Felt a little closer to actually being riddles than this particular episode got (and some of the ‘riddles’ flat out won’t work in text form…like the one from this episode).

It’s a dangerous game, giving characters speech tics as a DM, but sometimes, they can be a lot of fun! Any good stories about a character with a tic?”

DM: Ahh, I remember now. A wizard of his power has many enemies, and so must keep his true name secret, for protection.
Twilight Sparkle: So you did read that book on Onomancy I bought you!
Spike: Yyyeah, totally! It was very inspirational. For this.
Twilight Sparkle: Ha! I told you it was a good gift, Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash: Uh-huh. So what do we call him then, Spike?
Spike: …Dungeon Master…?
Applejack: Seems like that might get a touch confusin’…But ah s’pose it ain’t no stranger than the names we’re usin’. So where’s this Dungeon Master fella anyway?
DM: He’s right behind you.
Rarity: Oh, what an adorable little potato creature!
DM: He’s, uh, also human, like you.
Rarity: O-oh. Well, it’s a lovely drawing anyways, Spike.
DM: Hail and well met, oh heroes most kind. If answers you seek, then questions I’ll mind.
DM: …what? Wizards are quirky!
Applejack: Ah think Ah got a question for him. He’s a mighty wizard, right? Any chance he could send us back home?
DM: To send you back from whence you came, I’d need to know your home world’s name!
Applejack: Uh. It’s…Equestria?
DM: To which Equestria shall you go? Is that name truth, or just what you know?
Applejack: Well, uh. Hrm. This is like that thing with Starlight an’ the time travellin’, ain’t it? A wrong answer an’ we’re stuck worse’n a frog in a well.
DM: Your guess is correct, my wise Cavalier. Without more specifics, you’d best stay here.
DM: But you saved my dear student, so I shall be nice. I’ll find your path home…for a reasonable price.
Applejack: You coulda just said that first.