Team 7: Chris, Nicholas, Gavin, and Simon from Ruislip.
The seventh quest of Series 6 was for the Sword and lasted 35 minutes.
Pre-Quest
Hordriss wants to seek positive alignment with the Powers that Be. He offers Sidriss's assistance for the next quest, thereby 'ensuring victory'.
Couldn't Hordriss do something really useful, like not sending Sidriss to help?
Level 1
From the Hall of Choice to the Level 1 clue room. The scroll reads: 'The ACME persuader. Tap to table top to make new friends'.
Spyglass: Skarkill reports that Elita is locked up. He has sold the key to Julius Scaramonger, who will sell it on to the Grimwolds. Lord Fear is pleased.
Lord Fear: "With her out of the way, there'll be nobody to ply their green monster with firestones, which means that our Red Death can move in on the action."
Chris takes gold and a mallet, leaving a bar of silver.
Treguard: "These are dangerous days. We certainly don't want a red dragon loose in the higher dungeons!"
Julius Scaramonger is drunk, having resigned himself to defeat against fellow tradesman, Ah Wok.
Chris asks him about the key, but Scaramonger says it is pre-pledged. He won't even accept gold for it.
Chris taps the ACME persuader on the table. A large mallet appears and strikes Scaramonger on the head.
Once he realises that Chris is responsible, he agrees to exchange the key for the gold.
Julius Scarmonger: "If you happen to come across a bloke called Ah Wok, you might try using that thing on him."
The Level 1 causeway. The team doesn't have the combination, but Sidriss appears at the other side to provide it.
Sidriss: "I've got to try and raise Smirkenorff. Elita's gone missing, so no-one's been feeding him."
A scroll lies on one of the incorrect floor tiles. Chris must collect it without stepping off the correct sequence.
The scroll reads: "Passport". It's the password for the blocker.
Into Wolfenden, where Chris finds Elita locked inside a large chest. He alerts her to the red dragon, so she rushes him to Smirkenorff.
- Elita: "Smirky, are you ignoring me?"
- Smirkenorff: "Why not? It may have passed your attention, but a certain someone has ignored me for days!"
- Elita: "You can sulk all you want, but get us to Level 2 first!"
He obliges!
Level 2
It's a short flight, as Smirkenorff is weak from hunger.
Into a clearing, with some clues on a boulder. The scroll reads: "Dress the part - or lose your head".
Spyglass: Greystagg's antechamber. She has refused Lord Fear's alliance and fortified the causeway to protect Witch Haven.
She tells Heggatty that they cannot harvest the Amber Forest without Lord Fear's permission. Since that is now out of the question, they are scouring the kingdom for witch-amber.
This was the first time a spyglass did not feature Lord Fear as the main protagonist. It only occurred on one other occasion, in Series 8.
They take a bar of gold and a wheat grinder, leaving behind an ornament.
On the outskirts of Witch Haven, they encounter Ah Wok. His special offer of the day includes a broomstick and a robe.
Ah Wok: "Make you look like witch. No-one notice you. No-one throw firebombs at you."
Since they cannot carry three quest objects, Ah Wok offers to take the mallet and reimburse Chris later if he sells it. The team decide they need the broomstick more and make the trade.
Sylvester Hands is waiting in the next chamber. He is glad to see a witch, and offers some amber for wart charming.
Hands: "I've even got warts on warts."
Chris makes up a rhyme, which causes some laughter. But there's an unexpected complication when the hood falls, revealing the Helmet of Justice.
Hands is immediately suspicious. The team somehow persuades him that all is legit. When he shuts his eyes to point out everything he wants charming, they seize the chance to escape.
Note - Chris is now "carrying" three objects!
Into the heart of Witch Haven, where Peggatty is hurling fireballs.
- Treguard: "You could try flying, but I don't suppose Chris knows how to control the broomstick?"
- Pickle: "You remember - we saw Heggatty do it? All she did was speak to the broomstick in a very firm voice, and it knew what to do."
Chris manages to fly across the chamber, guiding the broomstick by voice as he is guided himself.
Into one of the decorated Halls. Greystagg emerges, and is furious at Chris's disguise.
Greystagg: "Why are you conducting this ridiculous masquerade? Why you do insult the grey sisters with this ludicrous pretence?"
Once Chris agrees to surrender his accessories, she becomes more agreeable. It remains a difficult conversation, however.
Eventually, Greystagg hints at the impassable causeway. Chris then exchanges the witch-amber for the rights of passage.
Greystagg: "The Pooka's name is hidden on a hex tile. First, you must gain this information and then dispel it, whilst avoiding a fatal fall..."
The Level 2 causeway. As the Pooka approaches, they (again) collect a scroll from an adjacent tile. It says: "FALGO".
Gavin dispels, and the Pooka reverses its path and disappears.
The team cross the causeway successfully.
As they reach the exit, the view unexpectedly switches to Hordriss's antechamber.
Treguard! Can you hear me? This is an emergency!
How did it end? See the gripping series finale.
Hear from the team
In July 2000, advisor Simon signed the Guestbook
Brilliant!!! A website dedicated to the mighty show that was Knightmare! I had a fantastic few days when my friends and I were on the show, Season 6 finale. I heartily agree that Knightmare should return to our screens. Kids' TV could certainly benefit from the quality of a show that made people think whilst having a great time.
