Signs of the Times SUPERFIGHT: Introduction and First 16 Fights

INTRODUCTION

Years ago, I stumbled my way across a party game called "Superfight." Right on the box, it proclaims itself as "a game of absurd arguments." Basically, it's "Apples to Apples" with weapons. It's "Party Playoff" but wackier. In the game, you get a deck of cards and create your strongest, strangest, most ridiculous fighter and pit it against your friends' equally crazy creations, then argue about who would win in a fight. Or a spelling bee. Or a swimming meet. The possibilities are nearly endless, especially with a dozen or so expansion decks to throw into the mix. I laughed my head off many times with my family and friends playing this game.

But over the years, my "Superfight" collection has sat around gathering dust, unused and untouched in many, many moons. It turns out, not everybody wants to sit around several times a year and argue about whether Rambo could beat up a dentist in Sesame Street if neither of them had arms and it was snowing frogs. I've been a little sad about my all-but-forgotten game of preposterous hypotheticals for a while now... until the other day.

Yes, until the other day, when I had an epiphany. You know who would love to chat about insane situations and scenarios? You know who has sat around, night after night, listening to all of my stupid questions?

Bing AI - also now known by its professional name, Microsoft Copilot.

I could run all these idiotic proposals past my good buddy, the AI, and I bet it would absolutely LOVE to play along!

So, do you know what I decided to do - perhaps, as the last stand of my "Supercard" collection? I set up a 64-entrant battle royale bracket with a wide array of pop culture figures, fantastical locations, weird weapons and completely illogical objectives, and I ran them past Copilot to see who it determined would win.

Let's get crazy.

HOW IT WAS SET UP

I'm not going to completely bore you with every single thing I did to set up this tournament, but I will say that all of the fighters, attributes, challenges, locations and victory objectives are actual "Supercard" cards, directly from the base game or one of several expansion decks. Furthermore, let me assure you that I did my best to completely randomize the pairings. This occasionally led to some hilarious and ironic coincidences, like the Super Mario Brothers' attribute being "just ate a mushroom," a fight in the Sahara Desert being further specified as "150 degrees Fahrenheit," or Hermione Granger being saddled with the disadvantage "is really, really dumb." These were all selected at random and by none of my own personal biases. It is worth noting that any redundancy (such as "The Hunger Games" being a scenario and a location or "Canada" being a location and a fighter) were also true to the cards selected from the actual decks and are not a mistake.

I set this up like a March Madness basketball bracket - a round of 64, which was narrowed down to 32, then to 16, eight, four, and so on and so forth. The scenarios, locations and victory objectives of every round were selected ahead of time, then the winning fighter and their attribute moved on to the predetermined scenario already in place for the next round.

For the first round, I asked AI to describe who would win each fight in one paragraph, then doubled the length of the prediction for each subsequent round, all the way down to the championship.

LET'S GET IT ON!

This does remind me of an original experiment that we tried with the blog a few years back, where we had a handful of my friends pick teams of pop culture figures to duke it out in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. That was fun, but it was a lot of manual work and storytelling for me, plus, I had people basically trying to cheat their way to victory, which was annoying and not super fun. I figured that this would be a simpler way to do something way crazier and on a much broader scale. I knew that I wanted to do it, and I knew that it might get really weird. Actually, yeah. It's going to get really, really weird. I literally just said, out loud, to myself, "This is just insane. What am I doing?"

In fact, by the time this is all said and done, this may end up being one of the dumbest things I've ever done for this blog (and that's saying something!) - but I think I'm going to get a good laugh out of whatever ends up happening here in just a second. As I was prepping some of this nonsense, my wife kept looking over at me and asking what I was giggling about. I refused to tell her. But, if you're still reading this, at least now you've been warned.

With no further ado, let's start with the opening round - the Round of 64 - and see who comes out alive or otherwise less defeated than their opponents in... whatever it is that they're about to be asked to do. Enjoy!

*****

NORTHWEST BRACKET

MATCH 1

Fighter 1: Hermione Granger

Fighter 1 Attribute: Is really, really stupid

Fighter 2: Homer Simpson

Fighter 2 Attribute: Is wearing skis

Scenario: Pillow Fight

Location: On the moon

Winner Determined By: A game of badminton

AI Prediction: In this whimsical showdown on the moon, Hermione Granger, despite her usual brilliance, is inexplicably really, really stupid, while Homer Simpson is clumsily navigating the lunar surface on skis. The pillow fight itself is a chaotic spectacle of flailing limbs and feathers floating in the low gravity. However, the true test comes in the form of a game of badminton. Given Hermione's magical prowess, even in her diminished intellectual state, she might still have the edge in coordination and reflexes. Homer's lack of athleticism and the added challenge of skis make it difficult for him to compete effectively. Thus, despite the odds, Hermione’s inherent magical abilities and better physical coordination likely secure her the win in this bizarre lunar badminton match.

Winner: Hermione Granger

MATCH 2

Fighter 1: Canada

Fighter 1 Attribute: Can create a lightning field that shocks anyone within 10 feet

Fighter 2: The Smoke Monster from “LOST”

Fighter 2 Attribute: Can’t stop sobbing

Scenario: In pitch black

Location: Renaissance faire

Winner Determined By: Surviving the longest in a zombie apocalypse

AI Prediction: In the eerie darkness of a Renaissance faire, Canada, with its ability to create a lightning field, faces off against the perpetually sobbing Smoke Monster from "LOST." The pitch-black setting adds to the chaos, but Canada’s lightning field provides a significant advantage, creating a protective barrier against any approaching threats. The Smoke Monster, hindered by its incessant sobbing, struggles to maintain its usual menacing presence. When the scenario shifts to surviving a zombie apocalypse, Canada's strategic use of the lightning field to fend off zombies and create safe zones proves invaluable. The Smoke Monster's emotional turmoil and lack of practical survival skills ultimately lead to its downfall, making Canada the likely survivor in this apocalyptic showdown.

Winner: Canada

MATCH 3

Fighter 1: Wolverine

Fighter 1 Attribute: Can control machines

Fighter 2: Samurai

Fighter 2 Attribute: Has feet instead of hands

Scenario: Fighters are in a hot air balloon

Location: The North Pole

Winner Determined By: Rap battle

AI Prediction: In the frigid skies above the North Pole, Wolverine and a Samurai with feet instead of hands find themselves in a hot air balloon. Wolverine’s ability to control machines gives him an edge in maneuvering the balloon and maintaining stability in the harsh conditions. However, the true test comes in the form of a rap battle. Despite the Samurai’s unique physical attributes, Wolverine’s quick wit, sharp tongue, and extensive life experience likely give him the upper hand in crafting clever and cutting verses. The Samurai, while formidable in combat, struggles to keep up with Wolverine’s lyrical prowess. Thus, Wolverine emerges victorious in this unexpected and entertaining showdown.

Winner: Wolverine

MATCH 4

Fighter 1: Frankenstein’s monster

Fighter 1 Attribute: Took an arrow to the knee

Fighter 2: Neo ("The Matrix")

Fighter 2 Attribute: Has a towel

Scenario: Fighters are babies

Location: Ocean of gelatin

Winner Determined By: Boxing – punches only!

AI Prediction: In the surreal setting of an ocean of gelatin, baby versions of Frankenstein's monster and Neo from "The Matrix" face off in a boxing match. Despite Frankenstein's monster being hindered by an arrow to the knee, his inherent strength and resilience give him a formidable presence. Neo, armed with only a towel, relies on his agility and quick reflexes. However, as babies, their abilities are significantly diminished. The gelatinous environment adds an extra layer of challenge, making movement sluggish and punches less impactful. Ultimately, Neo's natural agility and adaptability, even as a baby, give him the edge in this gelatinous boxing match, allowing him to outmaneuver and outpunch Frankenstein's monster to claim victory.

Winner: Neo

MATCH 5

Fighter 1: The Kardashians

Fighter 1 Attribute: Are noobs

Fighter 2: Keanu Reeves

Fighter 2 Attribute: In stealth mode

Scenario: Sand storm

Location: Cage match

Winner Determined By: Worst president

AI Prediction: In the midst of a fierce sandstorm within a cage match, the Kardashians, inexperienced and out of their element, face off against Keanu Reeves, who is in stealth mode. The chaotic environment makes it difficult for the Kardashians to navigate, while Keanu's stealth abilities allow him to move undetected and strike with precision. However, the winner is determined by who would make the worst president. Given the Kardashians' lack of political experience and tendency towards drama, they are more likely to be seen as the worse choice for presidency compared to the calm, composed, and universally beloved Keanu Reeves. Thus, in this unconventional contest, the Kardashians are deemed the "winners" for being the worst potential presidents.

Winner: The Kardashians

MATCH 6

Fighter 1: Abraham Lincoln

Fighter 1 Attribute: Armed with red turtle shells

Fighter 2: Pikachu

Fighter 2 Attribute: Knows Kung Fu

Scenario: In blinding light

Location: On the Titanic

Winner Determined By: Fastest lumberjack

AI Prediction: In the dazzling, blinding light aboard the Titanic, Abraham Lincoln, armed with red turtle shells, faces off against Pikachu, who has mastered Kung Fu. The chaotic environment makes it difficult for both fighters to see and navigate, but Lincoln's strategic mind and historical reputation for physical strength give him an edge. Pikachu's agility and martial arts skills, however, make him a formidable opponent. When it comes to determining the fastest lumberjack, Lincoln's experience with manual labor and his legendary height and strength likely give him the upper hand. Despite Pikachu's impressive abilities, Lincoln's prowess with an axe and his familiarity with lumberjack tasks make him the faster and more efficient lumberjack, securing his victory in this unique contest.

Winner: Abraham Lincoln

MATCH 7

Fighter 1: Katniss Everdeen

Fighter 1 Attribute: Horrible self-esteem

Fighter 2: Stay Puft Marshmallow Man

Fighter 2 Attribute: Is out of mana

Scenario: Fighters shot out of huge cannons at each other from one mile apart

Location: On the edge of a cliff

Winner Determined By: Pie baking contest

AI Prediction: In this wild scenario, Katniss Everdeen, struggling with horrible self-esteem, and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, who is out of mana, are shot out of huge cannons at each other from a mile apart on the edge of a cliff. The dramatic launch and the precarious location add to the tension, but the true test comes down to a pie baking contest. Despite her self-esteem issues, Katniss's resourcefulness and survival skills likely give her an edge in the kitchen. The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, while charming and iconic, might struggle with the finesse required for baking a perfect pie. Therefore, Katniss's determination and practical skills make her the likely winner in this deliciously unusual contest.

Winner: Katniss Everdeen

MATCH 8

Fighter 1: Willy Wonka

Fighter 1 Attribute: Is riding a hoverboard

Fighter 2: Super Mario Brothers

Fighter 2 Attribute: Just ate a mushroom

Scenario: Tornado

Location: Junkyard

Winner Determined By: Hide and seek

AI Prediction: In the chaotic setting of a tornado-ravaged junkyard, Willy Wonka, riding a hoverboard, faces off against the Super Mario Brothers, who have just eaten a mushroom. The tornado adds an element of unpredictability, with debris flying everywhere. Willy Wonka's hoverboard gives him an advantage in mobility, allowing him to navigate the junkyard with ease and find creative hiding spots. Meanwhile, the Super Mario Brothers, empowered by the mushroom, have enhanced abilities but must contend with the unstable environment. When it comes to hide and seek, Wonka's whimsical and inventive nature, combined with the hoverboard's agility, likely gives him the upper hand in finding the perfect hiding spot and evading detection. Thus, Willy Wonka emerges as the winner in this high-stakes game of hide and seek.

Winner: Willy Wonka

NORTHEAST BRACKET

MATCH 1

Fighter 1: Mr. Rogers

Fighter 1 Attribute: Can stretch like rubber

Fighter 2: Loki

Fighter 2 Attribute: Is a steam-powered robot

Scenario: Blizzard

Location: Giant bounce house

Winner Determined By: Best soldier

AI Prediction: In the midst of a blizzard within a giant bounce house, Mr. Rogers, with his newfound ability to stretch like rubber, faces off against Loki, who is now a steam-powered robot. The blizzard and bouncy environment create a chaotic and unpredictable battlefield. Mr. Rogers' rubber-like flexibility allows him to navigate the bounce house with ease, avoiding Loki's mechanical attacks. Loki, with his steam-powered enhancements, is formidable but somewhat hindered by the bouncy terrain and the cold affecting his steam mechanisms. When it comes to determining the best soldier, Mr. Rogers' calm demeanor, strategic thinking, and ability to adapt to any situation give him an edge. His kindness and resilience, combined with his new stretchy powers, make him a surprisingly effective soldier, ultimately outmaneuvering and outlasting Loki in this frosty, bouncy showdown.

Winner: Mr. Rogers

MATCH 2

Fighter 1: King Kong

Fighter 1 Attribute: Slows time when eyes are closed

Fighter 2: MacGyver

Fighter 2 Attribute: Is just cosplaying

Scenario: The floor is actually lava

Location: The Hunger Games

Winner Determined By: Raddest pro skateboarder

AI Prediction: In the intense setting of The Hunger Games, where the floor is actually lava, King Kong and MacGyver (who is just cosplaying) face off in a battle to determine the raddest pro skateboarder. King Kong's ability to slow time when his eyes are closed gives him a unique advantage, allowing him to perform gravity-defying tricks and maneuvers with precision. MacGyver, despite his resourcefulness, is hindered by the fact that he’s merely cosplaying and lacks real skateboarding skills. The lava floor adds an extra layer of danger, but King Kong’s massive size and time-slowing ability enable him to navigate the treacherous terrain with style and flair. Ultimately, King Kong's impressive skateboarding tricks and ability to adapt to the extreme environment make him the clear winner in this radical showdown.

Winner: King Kong

MATCH 3

Fighter 1: Terminator

Fighter 1 Attribute: Dying of dysentery

Fighter 2: Grim Reaper

Fighter 2 Attribute: Is buffering

Scenario: Fighters are wearing skinny jeans

Location: Death Valley

Winner Determined By: Golf

AI Prediction: In the scorching heat of Death Valley, the Terminator, struggling with dysentery, and the Grim Reaper, who is perpetually buffering, face off in a golf match while both are constrained by skinny jeans. The Terminator's mechanical precision is severely hampered by his illness, making it difficult for him to focus and execute his shots. Meanwhile, the Grim Reaper's buffering state causes him to freeze intermittently, disrupting his swing and overall performance. Despite these challenges, the Terminator's advanced targeting systems and experience with precision tasks give him a slight edge. Even in his weakened state, he manages to outplay the Grim Reaper, whose buffering issues prove too much of a handicap. Thus, the Terminator emerges as the unlikely winner in this bizarre and challenging golf showdown.

Winner: Terminator

MATCH 4

Fighter 1: Iron Man

Fighter 1 Attribute: Thinks the floor is actually lava

Fighter 2: Kirby

Fighter 2 Attribute: Breathes fire

Scenario: Ground is covered with banana peels

Location: Giant ball pit

Winner Determined By: Best bodyguard

AI Prediction: In the chaotic environment of a giant ball pit with the ground covered in banana peels, Iron Man, who believes the floor is actually lava, faces off against Kirby, who can breathe fire. Iron Man’s advanced suit and flight capabilities allow him to avoid the “lava” and navigate the slippery terrain with ease. Kirby’s fire-breathing ability adds an element of danger, but the banana peels make it difficult for him to maintain his footing. When it comes to determining the best bodyguard, Iron Man’s extensive experience in combat, advanced technology, and protective instincts make him the superior choice. His ability to quickly assess and neutralize threats, combined with his unwavering dedication to protecting others, ensures that he outshines Kirby in this role. Thus, Iron Man emerges as the best bodyguard in this quirky and challenging scenario.

Winner: Iron Man

MATCH 5

Fighter 1: Saber-toothed Tiger

Fighter 1 Attribute: Armed with Cupid’s bow

Fighter 2: Miley Cyrus

Fighter 2 Attribute: Is allergic to all animals

Scenario: Fighters swap sizes

Location: A dungeon full of dragons

Winner Determined By: The Amazing Race

AI Prediction: In the dragon-filled dungeon, a now tiny Saber-toothed Tiger armed with Cupid's bow faces off against a giant Miley Cyrus, who is unfortunately allergic to all animals. The size swap creates a unique dynamic, with the tiny tiger using its agility and Cupid's bow to navigate the dungeon and avoid the dragons. Miley, despite her size advantage, struggles with her allergies, making it difficult to focus and move swiftly. When it comes to The Amazing Race, the tiger’s quickness and strategic use of the bow to influence others give it an edge in completing tasks and navigating challenges. Miley's allergies and cumbersome size slow her down, making it hard to keep up. Thus, the Saber-toothed Tiger, with its clever use of Cupid's bow and agility, emerges as the winner in this fantastical race.

Winner: Saber-toothed Tiger

MATCH 6

Fighter 1: Forrest Gump

Fighter 1 Attribute: Can’t turn left

Fighter 2: The Illuminati

Fighter 2 Attribute: Armed with the Master Sword

Scenario: Raining swords

Location: The distant future

Winner Determined By: Talent show

AI Prediction: In the distant future, amidst a dramatic downpour of swords, Forrest Gump, who can’t turn left, faces off against the Illuminati, armed with the Master Sword. The futuristic setting adds an element of unpredictability, but the true test is a talent show. Forrest, with his charming simplicity and unexpected talents, might surprise the audience with his storytelling, running prowess, or even a heartfelt rendition of a classic song. The Illuminati, with their vast resources and the Master Sword, could put on an impressive display of power and precision. However, the talent show is about connecting with the audience and showcasing unique skills. Forrest's genuine nature and ability to captivate with his life stories and unexpected talents likely win the hearts of the judges and audience, making him the winner in this futuristic talent showdown.

Winner: Forrest Gump

MATCH 7

Fighter 1: Disembodied Head

Fighter 1 Attribute: Is a pacifist

Fighter 2: Sherlock Holmes

Fighter 2 Attribute: Is wearing diamond armor

Scenario: Ground is covered with poisonous snakes

Location: Burning building

Winner Determined By: The Hunger Games

AI Prediction: In the perilous environment of a burning building with the ground covered in poisonous snakes, a disembodied head who is a pacifist faces off against Sherlock Holmes, clad in diamond armor. The disembodied head's pacifism makes it unlikely to engage in direct conflict, relying instead on evasion and strategy. Sherlock Holmes, with his keen intellect and protective armor, navigates the dangerous terrain with calculated precision. The burning building and snakes add layers of danger, but the true test is surviving The Hunger Games. Sherlock's analytical mind, combined with his diamond armor, gives him a significant advantage in outsmarting and outlasting threats. The disembodied head's pacifism, while noble, is a severe disadvantage in such a ruthless competition. Thus, Sherlock Holmes, with his superior strategy and protection, emerges as the winner in this deadly and complex scenario.

Winner: Sherlock Holmes

MATCH 8

Fighter 1: Master Chief ("Halo")

Fighter 1 Attribute: Uses the Force

Fighter 2: Mafia Don

Fighter 2 Attribute: Has catlike reflexes

Scenario: Land mines

Location: Inside a volcano

Winner Determined By: Best at escaping a temple full of booby traps after stealing a sacred idol

AI Prediction: In the treacherous environment of a volcano filled with land mines, Master Chief, who can use the Force, faces off against a Mafia Don with catlike reflexes. The volatile setting adds to the danger, but the true test is escaping a temple full of booby traps after stealing a sacred idol. Master Chief's combination of military training, advanced armor, and Force abilities gives him a significant edge in navigating the temple's traps and obstacles. He can use the Force to sense and disarm traps, move objects, and enhance his agility. The Mafia Don's catlike reflexes are impressive, allowing him to react quickly to immediate threats, but they are no match for the strategic advantage and versatility provided by the Force. Master Chief's superior skills and abilities make him the best at escaping the temple, securing his victory in this high-stakes challenge.

Winner: Master Chief

*****

There we go! Those are our first 16 winners, and we're now half-way through this first round. In order for us to prevent this single post from becoming truly gigantic, we're going to call it there and start the second half of the first round in the next post: First Round, Part 2

How are you liking these fights so far? Were you surprised by any of the winners? Do you vehemently disagree for one reason or another? Let us know in the comments section below, find us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter (here and here).

Until next time.

FanX Flashback - Star Wars Voice Actors Panel Highlights (FanX 2023)

 

Beloved "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" voice actors James Arnold Taylor, Ashley Eckstein and Matt Lanter took the stage at FanX 2023, providing some fun moments for those in attendance. The panel was subject to a lot of topic restrictions, due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which was still in full swing at that time, which, in retrospect, just wasn't a whole lot of fun. However, the actors were able to express their gratitude to the fans, and JAT even got Matt to talk about "Timeless" for a second, which we loved.

Here are a few highlights from what was, all things considered, a fun little panel from last September:

Gratitude for fans:

James Arnold Taylor: [The responsibility of being a member of the "Star Wars" franchise is] not something that we take lightly. You know, there are so many amazing, talented voice actors involved in "Star Wars," from Jim Cummings – who’s here – to Corey Burton to Dee Bradley Baker, Tom Kane, Phil Lamar, Nika Futterman, on and on and on. Ashley Eckstein, Matt Lanter…

Ashley Eckstein: James Arnold Taylor!

JAT: Catherine Taber, uh… this guy, James Arnold Taylor. We don’t hold it lightly because we are huge "Star Wars" fans, and we are blessed to be a part of this. So, we’re just thrilled to be able to have you all come up to the table and say that and tell us your stories. We just thank you for that. [Audience cheers]

AE: And we know how much it means to you because it means that much to us, so thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your support. Thank you for sticking with us. [In the voice of Ahsoka Tano:] "You’re stuck with me, Sky Guy." [Audience cheers]

On the difference between live action and voice acting:

Matt Lanter: It's a whole different process: you're behind the microphone, your technique has to be pretty good or else you're not going to be heard very well, you have to bring out all the emotion [while] being kind of confined…

JAT: No looks, so Matt Lanter can’t rely on those hunky good looks. You can’t look into the camera because there's no camera – it's just a microphone! And then, you have to rely on being able to convey everything with just your voice. It is also, when you’re doing animation like "The Clone Wars," we did it just like this. We were in the round. We read together. We were in the room together. When you’re doing a video game, you’re alone in the studio. If you’re doing an animated feature film, you’re usually alone. So, each one of them has their own challenges. Each one is different. But you’re always, hopefully, conveying the right emotion and character and don’t get them confused. That would be bad.

AK: I will say – because we get this question a lot – a lot of people come up to us and they say, "How can I be a voice actor?" Well, voice acting is just acting, at its core, so I say, if you want to get into voice acting, get into acting. I started in theater, and then I actually went to film and television, and then I went into voiceover. So, the techniques are different, you know, like Matt said, but, at its core, it’s all acting.

ML: Yeah, just using different tools to bring a character to life. And, you know, there’s just different… You’re hindered by some things in live action, and the opposite goes for VO – but it’s all acting. You’re right.

Matt Lanter talks about "Timeless":

JAT: You’ve done a lot of time travel. What was your favorite episode? What was your favorite era?

ML: If I had been on a show where we time-travelled…

JAT: You were on a show where you time-travelled!

ML: We can talk about it, right? It’s done. It’s over.

JAT: Oh, I get it.

ML: …The whole "strike" thing…

JAT: [As Obi-Wan Kenobi] "You didn’t hear this." [Audience laughs]

ML: I had a lot of really fun episodes. I liked… We had a Nazi Germany episode that I thought was really fun. It was a great episode. My character was… That sounds really weird, I know: "The Nazi Germany episode was fun." My character got to fan-boy over Ian Fleming. […] But that was a fun episode for me. And also, behind the scenes – as a cast, as a crew – we just started to have a lot of fun in that episode, so it stands out for me.

*****

There you have it! For more FanX content, check out all of our other posts, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (here and here).

Until next time.

FanX Flashback - John Rhys-Davies and Alison Doody Panel Highlights (FanX 2023)

I was reminded late last night how weird FanX 2023 was. It was in the midst of that dang SAG-AFTRA strike, so none of the celebrity guests were talking about the things we all wanted them to talk about. It was three days of "What's your favorite color?" "What was your favorite subject in middle school?" "Did you have any pets as a kid?" Some guests handled the weirdness better than others, and some even kind of straddled the fence a little bit, when it came to mentioning movies and shows they had worked on in the past.

John Rhys-Davies and Alison Doody seemed to be a little bit looser-lipped than others during their Grand Ballroom panel, so we did get a little bit of insight into their time working together on "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."

Here are some of the highlights or otherwise noteworthy moments from their panel last September:

On concerns over the use of AI in Hollywood:
John Rhys-Davies: If we could get an agreement limiting the rights of copying us – getting some restrictions on the use of avatars based on us – it would provide a precedent for all of the other claims that would be made in the future… because artificial intelligence is going to take 20-50 percent of your jobs in the next 10, 15 years – by 2034, I believe. That prediction was made in 2016.

It is crucial that we hold out and get some sort of control over our image, and that becomes a precedent… [Audience applauds] …It becomes a precedent because you are not immune to this displacement that’s going to take place. We’re living in a momentous moment in history, but our technology has outstripped our ability to adapt to it, at this moment. We’ve left a demon out of the bottle, and I’m not sure if we’ll ever be able to control it, and we certainly cannot put it back.

On whether they have ever gone on the Indiana Jones Adventure ride at Disneyland:
JRD: I did it – we did it about 30 years ago, and, um, the first few times I went there, they broke down. I never actually got to do it. [Audience laughs] But I did take my daughter there, I think about … 10 or 11 years ago, 12 years ago, and it was working. She was quite impressed, actually – probably the only time she’s ever been impressed with me.

Alison Doody: I haven’t, but I… some years ago, I actually went and I saw the show [at Disney World}. I was sitting in the audience, watching the show, and people were looking at me and going, “[Imitates curiosity and confusion].” Everybody loved it, but I have only gone and watched the show once, but I haven’t gone and done any of the rides. I would like to do that, though. [To John:] We should do it together.

JRD: Very scary. “Don’t look into the eyes of the idol!” [Audience cheers]


Alison’s thoughts on Elsa from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”:
AD: [Elsa gave] the wrong grail to the bad guy, and without her getting rid of him, he would have shot all of them. [Audience cheers]

JRD: You mean, the irresistible charms of Indiana Jones persuaded you to halt, briefly, on the path of evil? [Audience laughs]

AD: And… I landed softly, so I didn’t die. [Audience laughs] I kept saying that on set, actually, after it said, “And… cut!” I kept saying, “I’m alive! I’m alive!” They kept saying, “No, you’re dead.” [Audience laughs]

On what may have happened to Elsa in “The Last Crusade,” if she actually did survive:
AD: She hung around for quite a while and then got a little bored. I thought the knight looked particularly bored. He had longevity, but it didn’t look like much was happening there. She took off and she’s going to come back, if they have another [movie].

JRD: You know, actors create characters in their imaginings. We see the script, and then we start thinking about it. We create a task. We create a parentage, a lineage, relationships, and that character lives in our imagination. Do you find that, as well?

AD: I do, but I just wish she wasn’t as nasty as she was because – it’s very strange – I really do get type-cast as the nasty priss. Even in my last film, I was particularly nasty. I keep thinking, “What? Why? I’m a nice person. Let me play a nice [character].”

JRD: Well, it’s all right for her! I got cast [in “The Lord of the Rings”] because they saw my inner dwarf!” [Audience laughs and cheers]

On the SAG-AFTRA strike, the legacy of Indiana Jones, and Sean Connery:
AD: “[Seeing the finished product of a film] on the large screen, [it’s] so impressive. And that’s why, again – even for everybody that’s involved, from the actors, the writers, directors, producers, the caterers, the crew – that’s why we’re really emphasizing how important it is for everyone to get sorted with this strike that’s going on. I truly believe that – when you see that film that’s lasted for over 40 years, and people [who watched] it as children […] are now watching it with their children or their grandchildren – that everybody […] who’s been a part of that journey and made it so special [deserves] to be treated in a way that they can continue to be in the industry.

For me, I was quite young when I got the role [of Elsa]. My agent even said to me, “You’re not going to get this. You’re in your early 20s and you’re Irish, and they’re looking for a 29-year-old Austrian.” And I said, “Well, just wait and see. I was so blessed to have been a part of that. So, to be a part of that franchise, and I think that character [Indiana Jones] who, as a main character, I think, is one of the best movie heroes because he’s a normal guy. He’s someone who makes mistakes. He messes up, but he has perseverance, and he’s a good guy. He takes the audience on such an incredible journey, which is full of action and amazing stunts. And the storyline, I think, is very, very good in our movie because it talks about father and son and their disagreeable past, and they talk through that on this journey and they forgive each other. So, I think that was a very strong element that appealed to me, watching it. [Audience cheers]

JRD: Can I ask you a question? What about the alpha male in the picture? [Audience laughs, likely assuming that he is referring to himself] Have you ever encountered a greater alpha male than Sean [Connery]?

AD: Sean. Oh, Sean. God rest his soul. He was truly unbelievable, wasn’t he? And he actually, in a lot of our scenes, improvised. So, one of those funny, quirky little one-liners – [Imitating Connery in the film] “She talks in her sleep.” […] And, you know, when… [Imitating Elsa] “I’ll never forget how wonderful it was.” [Imitating Connery] “Why, thank you.” [Audience laughs] It all was Sean. He was a true professional. All male. All male.

JRD: I’ll tell you what: I’ve seen some alpha males, in my time, but Sean was, I think, the most alpha that you could ever imagine. He had a charm and a dangerously seductive quality about him that no man that I’ve ever known or worked with has ever quite matched. You knew he was a man, and girls from 12 to 94 all looked at him… Those wonderful eyes just crinkled up slightly here, and those thin lips sort of pursed together in a wee smile, and you could just see women falling over.

*****

In case you missed it, I got a chance to do an exclusive interview with John Rhys-Davies at FanX 2023. You can read about his memories of working with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square here.

What's your favorite thing about Indiana Jones? Do you agree with us that "Last Crusade" is one of the greatest movies ever made? Let us know in the comments below, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (here and here). And, of course, for everything else FanX-related, as we ramp up for FanX 2024, keep it right here.

Until next time.

The Legend of Var-esh: The Seige of Saurothax

In a realm where the whispers of ancient dragons still lingered in the air and the land bore the mark of their majesty, there lay the kingdom of Saurothax. It was a place where the sun cast golden hues upon the towering spires of the dragonborn stronghold, and the night sky held the promise of ancestral stories written amongst the stars. Here, the House of Drakonar reigned with a wisdom and valor that echoed the dragons of old, their scales a testament to the legacy they protected. But as the wheel of fate turned, dark whispers of treachery and power began to weave a tapestry of impending doom, setting the stage for an epic adventure that would test the mettle of a prince and the heart of a kingdom.

THE PROUD HISTORY OF SAUROTHAX

The history of Saurothax is a tale woven from the threads of ambition, magic and the indomitable spirit of the dragonborn. Saurothax was not merely a kingdom; it was a testament to the dragonborn’s resilience and their deep connection to the ancient dragons.

Saurothax was nestled in the heart a vast expanse of fertile land, bordered by the Serpentine Mountains to the north, the Tranquil Plains to the south and Leswill Forest to the west. The region was known for its natural beauty and strategic location, which made it a coveted political center.

The rise of Saurothax was marked by the unification of disparate dragonborn clans under a single banner. It was King Drakonar’s ancestor, Highlord Vexithar, who first forged alliances with neighboring realms and established Saurothax as a dominant force. The kingdom’s power grew not through conquest but through diplomacy and mutual respect.

The ancestors of Drakonar had ruled Saurothax for nearly five centuries. Each generation passed down not only the crown but also the sacred duty to uphold the dragonborn’s values and safeguard the kingdom’s prosperity. One of the greatest responsibilities of all was to protect a magical artifact known as the Scales of Tar-ell - a legendary suit of chainmail crafted from the scales of an ancient dragon that had protected the land for a thousand years.

The Scales of Tar-ell were first obtained by Saurothax during the reign of Queen Vysaria. Legend has it that she was chosen by the spirit of Tar-ell, the ancient dragon, to bear the scales as a symbol of her right to rule and protect the land. The scales were said to be imbued with Tar-ell’s essence, granting the wearer unmatched prowess in battle and wisdom in governance.

Saurothax had come under attack every several generations by political and neighboring factions, who sought to gain possession of the scales, which they believed to hold the key to untold magical power and the ability to bend the will of dragons. With tremendous feats of strength and on the wings of a nearly unparalleled military force, the kingdom was able to defend itself time and time again.

And so it was that King Drakonar and his family continued the mighty reign of Saurothax for many years. The history of Saurothax is a chronicle of triumph - the story of a kingdom that rose to greatness through unity.

THE ROYAL FAMILY

A wise and just ruler, King Drakonar carried the weight of tradition and honor upon his scaled shoulders. His decisions were tempered by centuries of dragonborn lineage, and he ruled with a steady hand. His eyes held the wisdom of ancient texts, and his voice resonated through the castle halls during council meetings. Drakonar’s love for his people was unwavering, and he sought to maintain peace in the realm.

The passionate and strategic counterpart to Drakonar, Queen Sylthara was a tempest of fire and ice. Her crimson scales shimmered with intensity, and her laughter echoed like distant thunder. She danced through courtly affairs, weaving alliances and unraveling plots with equal grace. Sylthara’s counsel was sought not only by her husband but also by the courtiers who admired her intellect and feared her wrath.

King Drakonar and Queen Sylthara raised three righteous children in the hallowed halls of the Saurothax stronghold - three young dragonborn who were revered and respected by all in the land.

Var-esh, the brave and determined heir to the throne, bore the legacy of his parents with both pride and trepidation. His bright, yellow eyes mirrored the sunrise above Saurothax, and his sword arm was swift. Var-esh yearned for adventure beyond the castle walls, and his heart beat in rhythm with the dragon’s wings. His military training and exemplary courage made him a shining example of what a dragonborn could become.

The daughter of the royal family was named Princess Vyrith. Diplomacy flowed through her veins like molten gold. Her scales shimmered like polished emerald, and her words held the weight of treaties and alliances. Vyrith danced between rival factions, her laughter masking the turmoil within. She knew secrets that could topple kingdoms, and her loyalty to Saurothax was unwavering.

The youngest of the royal siblings, Raxarion’s scales were still unmarred by the passage of time. His curiosity led him to hidden chambers, dusty tomes, and forbidden corridors. Raxarion’s bravery was fueled by innocence, and he often wandered into danger with a grin. He could often be found wandering the castle and unearthing the secrets of bygone eras. The citizens of Saurothax loved Raxarion like their own child and would protect him at any cost.

The three royal children were raised in righteousness. Var-esh and Vyrith matured before the collective eyes of their kingdom and Raxarion was like a crown jewel of youth and happiness. The three grew as close as siblings could, under the watchful eye of their community, often sneaking away to the nearby sanctuary of youth, Leswill Forest, where they ran and played and grew strong during brief moments of privacy.

PROTECTORS OF THE THRONE

King Drakonar could often be seen flanked by his most loyal steward, Thaxum - a lifelong friend of the king whose scales bore the scars of countless battles. His eyes held the castle’s secrets—the hidden passages, the forgotten spells, and the whispers of ghosts. Thaxum’s loyalty to the royal family was unyielding and he guarded their nobility with passion.

The head of the royal guard was named Saruiv. It was thanks to his dutiful training that Saurothax rose to the peak of military might in the region. His blade had defended Saurothax for centuries, fighting side by side with Drakonar and his forces for many great battles.

Ildraxis, the "Sage of Saurothax," was the keeper of ancient lore. His scales glimmered like moonlight on water, and his eyes held the secrets of forgotten civilizations. Ildraxis whispered prophecies to the wind, and his counsel guided the royal family. Yet even he could not predict the storm that brewed beyond the castle walls.

THE SEEDS OF BETRAYAL

Years prior, Saruiv had been a candidate for the position of the King’s Hand, a role that would have placed him at the zenith of power and influence within the kingdom. But King Drakonar, valuing wisdom over martial prowess, chose Ildraxis, the sage, for the position. This decision, meant to balance the council with intellect and foresight, was perceived by Saruiv as a slight against his honor and capability.

As time passed, the sting of this rejection festered. Despite valiantly defending the kingdom for many years, Saruiv’s heart grew bitter. He watched as Ildraxis whispered counsel into the king’s ear, guiding the fate of the kingdom with words rather than swords. Saruiv’s pride, once his shield, became his prison.

It was during this period of silent brooding that Saruiv was approached by a faction of evil wizards. These dastardly sorcerers, cloaked in the enigma of their origins, hailed from the Arcane Isles, a cluster of storm-wracked islands said to be the cradle of sorcery. These isles were home to the Order of the Obsidian Eye, a cabal of magic-users who delved into the forbidden arts, seeking dominion over life and death. They offered Sauriv a vision of a new order - one where strength and might were rewarded above all. They promised him a kingdom to rule, with the scales of Tar-ell to armor him.

The proposed attack on Saurothax was driven by a prophecy found in the Chronicles of the Shattered Veil, an ancient tome that spoke of the Scales of Tar-ell, which the wizards believed they could use to usher in an era where the arcane ruled supreme, bending the will of nations and the course of history to their desires.

Blinded by his desires and the seductive promise of retribution, Saruiv succumbed to their whispers and laid in wait to launch the overthrow of the kingdom.

THE SEIGE OF SAUROTHAX

In the twilight of Saurothax, the dragonborn kingdom once radiant with the glory of King Drakonar’s reign, a shadow crept over the land. The royal family, pillars of strength and wisdom, sensed the stirrings of discord. Whispers of treachery wound their way through the castle’s stone halls, carrying rumors of an impending attack.

When the day of reckoning arrived, Saruiv’s betrayal came not as a sudden turn but the culmination of a long-brewing storm within his soul. His treachery was the proverbial key that unlocked the gates of Saurothax - the linchpin that allowed evil to infiltrate the castle like a dark tide, as the wizards flooded in and washed away the legacy of the unprepared dragonborn defenders. The mission was a tapestry of triumph and tragedy, the devilish and contemptible spells weaving destruction through the once-mighty stronghold.

The royal family, caught unawares, was scattered like embers in the wind. King Drakonar and Queen Sylthara were slain in cold blood by the hand of Saruiv himself. The king and queen were vanquished while defending their ancestral home, their valor echoing through the ages. Fighting off the terror that beset them, the children hastened away through the fear and the flames, away from the destruction and death.

Princess Vyrith fought valiantly alongside her parents. Her emerald scales glimmered as she wielded both blade and wit, rallying the castle guards against the onslaught. But the wizards’ magic was relentless, and Vyrith found herself separated from her family. As she snuck away into the darkness and shadows, she glimpsed her mother’s fiery demise and her father’s shattered resolve. Vyrith was last seen as she snuck through the secret passages, wounded and heartbroken, her footsteps echoing in empty corridors.

Young Prince Raxarion also vanished into the chaos. His laughter turned to screams as the wizards’ spells tore through the castle. Some who were present have whispered that Raxarion was captured, while others say that he escaped through forbidden portals. The truth was elusive and his whereabouts remain unknown.

In the midst of the anarchy, Var-esh bolted toward a secret passage known only to the royal bloodline, the corridors of his home now a labyrinth of peril. He miraculously eluded capture, his scales blending with the shattered shadows as he slipped unseen past the forces of evil that haunted the hallways. Amidst the cacophony of battle, the eldest prince found himself in a desperate bid for life. Unaware of the fates of his kin, Var-esh crept beyond the walls of the stronghold, through the dark of the night and into the embrace of Leswill Forest.

INTO THE FOREST

Var-esh’s flight to Leswill Forest was a harrowing journey of instinct and memory. He navigated the treacherous terrain under the cloak of night, guided by the stars that shimmered above the canopy. His heart raced with the fear of pursuit, but also with the determination to survive - for himself, for his family, and for Saurothax.

Leswill Forest, a sanctuary of ancient magic and lore, cradled Var-esh in its verdant arms. The forest was a living tapestry, woven with enchantments from a time when dragons ruled the skies and magic flowed like rivers. Its trees stood tall and proud, their roots delving deep into the earth, tapping into wellsprings of arcane energy. The air hummed with the whispers of the forest spirits, and the foliage shimmered with an ethereal glow, casting an otherworldly radiance upon the woodland paths.

What made Leswill Forest so magical and mysterious was its connection to the ancient dragons, the original guardians of the realm. The forest was a nexus of ley lines, channels of raw magical power that crisscrossed beneath the soil. These ley lines pulsed with the essence of Tar-ell, the dragon whose heart lay hidden within the forest’s depths.

Most importantly, Leswill Forest was safe for Var-esh because it recognized his royal dragonborn lineage. The forest’s magic responded to his presence, cloaking him from prying eyes and guiding him to shelter. The trees themselves seemed to bend to shield him, and the creatures of the wood provided him sustenance. In Leswill Forest, Var-esh was not perceived as a fugitive; he was the offspring of the ancient protectors, and the forest was his ally.

Var-esh found himself alone in the forest, the weight of his ancestry heavy upon his shoulders. But in this mystical refuge, Var-esh found solace and strength. The forest, a maze of memories and magic, whispered secrets of survival to the prince.

Engulfed in his mourning, Var-esh’s attention was captured by an ethereal green mist coiling around his boots. Its tendrils curled like fingers, urging him onward. With a mix of trepidation and curiosity, he allowed the mist to guide him through the sacred trees.

The path ended at a towering brass door, its surface etched with the visages of dragons from the bedtime stories of his childhood - legends now tangibly before him. At the heart of this metallic fresco pulsed an image of a relic known as the Dragon’s Heart, a gem infused with the life force of Tar-ell, the venerable dragon guardian of Saurothax. Var-esh recalled from the lore of his youth that only a champion of true valor could claim the Dragon’s Heart, a symbol of unyielding strength and virtue.

A voice, ancient and resonant, permeated the air, speaking in the hallowed tongue of the dragonborn: “Var-esh, son of Drakonar, rightful heir to the throne of Saurothax… Enter and prove thy worth.”

The tranquility of Leswill Forest was shattered by a cacophony of thunder, a heralding boom that seemed to vibrate the very soul of the earth. As the door creaked open, a cascade of radiant, golden luminescence spilled from the chamber within, beckoning Var-esh to his destiny.

THE JUDGMENT OF VAR-ESH

Deep in the center of Leswill Forest, amidst relics that murmured secrets of a forgotten epoch, Prince Var-esh found himself in the Sanctum of the Dragon’s Heart. The chamber, a hallowed archive of dragonborn lore, was a tapestry of history carved into stone. Here, Var-esh discovered the rite of passage that lay before him: the Attunement Trial - a sacred test of harmony between the aspirant and the Dragon’s Heart. The room, adorned with ancient dragon effigies and enigmatic runes, thrummed with the power of the artifact. Its radiant aura enveloped the chamber, casting a celestial glow upon the pedestal that cradled the Dragon’s Heart, as if the gem itself was the beating heart of the forest.

With determination etched upon his countenance, Var-esh returned to the depths of the forest to gather the sacred materials required for the ritual. He sought the rarest of herbs whose fragrances held the essence of the earth, dragon scales that shimmered with the resilience of his ancestors, and enchanted crystals containing the raw magic of the ley lines. With each item secured, Var-esh felt the ancient bond between him and the land strengthen.

Returning to the chamber, Var-esh positioned the materials at the base of the pedestal. As instructed by the ritual, he chanted an ancient incantation in Draconic, a language that flowed like a river. As the words left his lips, the four braziers that inhabited the corners of the chamber ignited with dragonfire, a testament of the arcane magic that surrounded him.

From the depths of the sanctum, a voice resonant with the wisdom of ages burst forth: "Thou hast acquitted thyself with honor, Var-esh. Advance now to the hallowed Trial of Courage."

The chamber shifted, reality bending at the will of the trial. Var-esh suddenly faced his deepest fears - illusions of loss, defeat, and betrayal. Each fear took form, as tangible as the stone beneath his feet. 

The first illusion conjured the harrowing moment of Saurothax’s fall, where Var-esh saw his family succumb to the wizards’ onslaught. The visceral pain of watching his parents perish, their cries echoing in his ears, tested his resolve to its core.

Another fear manifested as the crumbling walls of Saurothax, with its people looking to him in desperation. The weight of his perceived failure to defend his home and uphold his family’s legacy bore down upon him, threatening to crush his spirit.

The specter of Saruiv, once a trusted guardian, now a symbol of treachery, haunted Var-esh. The fear of being betrayed again, of misplaced trust, gnawed at him, challenging his ability to lead and inspire loyalty.

A more personal fear took shape as his own reflection, questioning his worthiness to wield the Dragon’s Heart. The uncertainty of whether he could live up to the expectations of his lineage and fulfill his destiny as the protector of Saurothax plagued him.

The final fear was the overwhelming force of the Dragon’s Heart itself. The illusion presented the artifact as an uncontrollable torrent of power, threatening to consume him and corrupt his noble intentions.

With every confrontation, Var-esh’s resolve hardened; he would not flee, nor would he succumb to despair. Var-esh confronted these fears with the courage of his ancestors. The illusions clawed at his spirit, but his belief in his path rendered them harmless. He acknowledged the pain of loss but held onto the love and teachings of his family. He faced the specter of failure, reaffirming his commitment to Saurothax’s people. He looked betrayal in the eye, understanding that trust is not given lightly but earned through actions. He challenged his self-doubt, recognizing that worthiness is not inherited but forged in the fires of adversity. And he embraced the burden of power, vowing to wield it with wisdom and restraint.

THE WISDOM OF TAR-ELL

In overcoming these fears, Var-esh proved his heart’s purity and his spirit’s resilience, earning the right to stand before the Dragon’s Judgment and claim the Dragon’s Heart. As he stood in the heart of the chamber, the air thick with ancient power, the spirit of Tar-ell, the dragon protector of Saurothax, coalesced before him. The dragon’s form was majestic, scales shimmering with the wisdom of ages, his eyes deep pools of celestial fire. Tar-ell’s voice reverberated around the chamber, a sonorous rumble that seemed to penetrate Var-esh’s very soul.

"Var-esh of Saurothax," Tar-ell said with a voice that shook the earth like the thunder of the gods, his tone a blend of authority and curiosity. "You stand before me, a prince without a kingdom, a scion of a lineage as ancient as the stars themselves. Your heart has been weighed, your courage tested, and your spirit found resilient in the face of darkness.

"Yet, power is a tempestuous ally, and the Dragon's Heart is not a burden to be borne lightly. It demands strength, yes, but also wisdom, compassion, and a will uncorrupted by the seduction of dominion.

"Tell me, Var-esh, heir of Drakonar, what drives you to seek the Dragon's Heart? Is it vengeance that fuels your quest, or is it the love for your people and the desire to restore what was lost? Speak truthfully, for my judgment shall not only decide your fate but that of all Saurothax."

Var-esh responded with an unwavering gaze and the conviction of his noble heritage. "Great Tar-ell, my heart yearns not for retribution but for justice. I seek the Dragon’s Heart to heal the wounds of my land, to unite my people, and to forge a future where the shadow of tyranny cannot reach. My sword shall be wielded for protection, not conquest. I shall be guided by the wisdom you have imparted upon us, not by the whims of unchecked power."

Tar-ell regarded Var-esh, the ghost of a smile playing upon his draconic maw. "Your words ring true, young prince. The essence of Tar-ell shall stand with you, not as a weapon, but as a beacon of hope. Go forth, Var-esh, with the Dragon’s Heart as your ally, and let your actions reflect the purity of your intent."

With a final, approving nod, Tar-ell breathed a gout of dragonfire upon Var-esh, a baptism of flame that left him unscathed. The Dragon’s Heart, responding to the judgment, pulsed with renewed vigor, its power now bound to Var-esh’s soul.

Thus, the judgment of Tar-ell was passed, and Var-esh emerged from the trial not only as a prince but as a champion of his people, the bearer of the Dragon’s Heart, ready to face the challenges ahead.

THE NEW DAWN OF THE DRAGONBORN

As the dawn’s first light pierced the veil of night, Var-esh, now the bearer of the Dragon’s Heart, emerged from the protective embrace of Leswill Forest. The ancient woodland, a silent guardian and ally, bid farewell through the rustling of its leaves. Var-esh paused at the forest’s edge, his gaze cast upon the hazy horizon where his kingdom once stood proud.

Var-esh's silhouette was outlined against the awakening sky, the Dragon's Heart glowing softly around his neck. The prince took a deep breath, the morning air filling his lungs, mingling with the essence of Tar-ell that now coursed through his veins.

With a determined stride, Var-esh began his journey across the rolling hills that led to the remnants of Saurothax. His armor clinked softly with each step, a reminder of the legacy he carried and the future he sought to forge. The Dragon's Heart, once a legend spoken of in hushed tones, was now his guiding star, its power a beacon of hope for the dragonborn people.

The spirits of his ancestors walked with Var-esh, their presence a comforting cloak upon his broad shoulders. The trials he had faced within the forest had not only tested his courage but had also reaffirmed his purpose. Var-esh was no longer a prince in exile; he was a champion of his people, a beacon of justice in a world shadowed by treachery and loss.

Var-esh now stood at the cusp of destiny, his heart alight with the fire of dragons, and his will unbroken. The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but the prince was ready to meet them head-on, the Dragon's Heart his compass in the quest to reclaim Saurothax and restore its glory.

And so, Var-esh ventured forth...

A-Town D&D Landing Page

A-Town D&D Landing Page

This landing page provides links to all of the AI-assisted stories in the A-Town D&D universe. Venture forth!

The Legend of Var-esh: The Seige of Saurothax

Var-esh: Ashes to Ashes - Part 1

Var-esh: Ashes to Ashes - Part 2

Var-esh: Ashes to Ashes - Part 3

Grunkaylo and the Protection of Direwatch

The Illusionist

The Rings of Saturn: Fall of House Namarra - Part 1

The Rings of Saturn: Fall of House Namarra - Part 2

The Rings of Saturn: Fall of House Namarra - Part 3

The Rings of Saturn: Fall of House Namarra - Part 4

The Rings of Saturn: Fall of House Namarra - Part 5

The Rings of Saturn: Fall of House Namarra - Epilogue

WrestleMania 40 Preview: What We Think Should Happen

For years now, we've been incorrectly predicting the results for upcoming WWE WrestleManias. Last year, for instance, we infamously spent 30 minutes talking about how every single title should change hands, only to be surprised (but should we have been??) when Roman Reigns cheated (yet again) to ruin Cody Rhodes' championship dreams. Here we are, a full year later, and Roman still has his title and will be squaring off against Cody in a rematch that lit social media on fire for the past few months.

If you're not up-to-date with the current WWE product, first of all, that's a shame, and second of all, we're not going to spend much time trying to catch you up before WrestleMania Night 1 graces our TV screens tomorrow night. Suffice it to say, "pro wrestling is cool again," as "The Final Boss" Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson has been saying for the last several weeks.

Here's what we'd like to happen at WrestleMania XL:

LA Knight shines on the big stage

Ideally, we would have wanted The Megastar to have had a title opportunity, perhaps against Logan Paul for the United States championship, but WWE had other plans and simply put LA Knight up against AJ Styles in a 1-on-1 match. Not the best way to reward the hottest good guy that the company had to offer for the majority of the year, but it is what it is. Give LA Knight the win, then put him up against whoever walks away with the US title this weekend.

Randy Orton's last big run?

When Randy Orton takes on Kevin Owens and Logan Paul for the United States championship, there is a great likelihood that Logan will drop the belt after completing his service as the celebrity attraction for the year. Honestly, Logan has turned himself into a really impressive part-time talent, so good for him. Hate him, but congrats. We don't have too much of a preference between Orton and Owens (they're both great), so if those are the options we've got to choose from, why not give Randy another good title reign before he rides off into the sunset?

Karrion Cross finally gets a big win

Karrion Cross and his Final Testament need to defeat Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits in the upcoming Six-Man Tag Team Philadelphia Street Fight. Cross hasn't had a big break since rejoining the company and a victory at WrestleMania would add some credibility to his villainous faction, which hasn't legitimately struck fear into their opponents during their brief time together.

Dirty Dom initiates the downfall of the Judgment Day

The seeds of distrust have been planted amongst the Judgment Day - and we're not too sure what, exactly, is going on with Dominik's sudden friendship with Legado del Fantasma. We imagine that the uncertainty will only deepen when Dom teams up with Santos Escobar to face Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee. We would love for this to signal the impending breakup of Judgment Day, but, whatever happens, as long as we get to see Rey put a whooping on his eternally irritating son, we're all right with it.

Jimmy and Jey Uso beat the heck out of each other

It isn't a secret that Jimmy and Jey Uso have wanted to face each other in a singles match at WrestleMania for their entire lives. We grew sick of the Usos about a year ago with all the cheating to win by the Bloodline, so we're kind of over this and don't really care what happens. Most likely, especially since this match will most likely come before The Rock and Roman take on Cody and Seth, we assume that Jimmy will beat Jey and possibly even put him out of the picture as a potential ally for Cody on Night 2. We just want the twins to punish each other.

Gunther (unfortunately) retains

The hallmark of WWE over the past three years has been giving people unprecedented title reign lengths. Gunther is one such beneficiary, now having held the Intercontinental championship longer than anyone else in the history of the company. We love Sami Zayn (most of the time), but putting Sami in the match over Chad Gable felt like a mistake and, if anybody's going to beat Gunther, maybe it doesn't have to be Sami. Also, some bad guys are going to win this weekend. When we look at all of the championships being defended this weekend, it seems most likely that Gunther be one of the wrestlers who gets to keep their belt.

Jade Cargill makes an impression

Jade Cargill was a huge name in AEW (WWE's top competitor) before she jumped ship a few months ago. It's a near absolute certainty that she, Naomi and Bianca Belair pick up the W against Damage CTRL this weekend. WWE will use Jade to draw curious eyes to the product, then make her look really good in her match. It's going to happen. All we can hope is that she ends up making AEW regret letting her walk.

R-Truth beats Damien Priest and Finn Balor and the tag titles get separated

It's probably time for the Judgment Day to let go of their tag team titles. If it were ever going to happen, this would be the time. And we heard a rumor that both sets of championships will be defended in the match - like, one team will climb the ladder and grab one set of belts, then another team will have the chance to climb up and grab the other pair. We're not 100% sure that this is really happening, but that would be so glorious. The RAW and SmackDown! tag titles were unified last year by the Usos (which was stupid), and they've inexplicably remained unified ever since. It's time to split them back up and send them back to their respective shows... and there is no better person to take the titles away from Finn and Damien than R-Truth himself. Yes, he who was repeatedly beaten by those who he mistakenly, confusedly thought were his teammates. It's got to be R-Truth and The Miz. That would be hilarious and the fans would go bananas for it.

The other titles should probably be won by Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne or even Austin Theory and Grayson Waller (if they want to keep the titles on a pair of bad guys).

Drew McIntyre wins a championship in front of actual human beings

Drew McIntyre arguably carried WWE through the ThunderDome era during COVID-19. Unfortunately for him, that meant that we won a world championship in 2020 in an empty arena. We've always felt bad for him about that. Drew has been doing great stuff as a heel lately, including some absolutely brilliant work on the microphone. ("I prayed for this... and it happened.") Seth "Freakin'" Rollins has admitted to legitimate injuries and probably should have dropped his belt a few months ago, but he's medically cleared now and will be fighting in two matches. There's a great chance that Seth could get beat up so badly against Roman and The Rock in Night 1 that he's barely able to compete on Night 2. It would be very, very surprising if Seth was still the champion, come Monday morning.

Damien Priest unsuccessfully cashes in his MITB contract

With Dom potentially screwing things up in his match against his deadbeat dad and Finn and Damien possibly losing their tag team championships in the massive ladder match, Damien could be feeling some pressure to get momentum swinging back in his favor. What a better way to do that than to try to cash in his Money in the Bank contract in the aftermath of Seth vs Drew? And what a better way to throw the Judgment Day into chaos than for Damien to cash in and lose? We'd love to see it.

Bayley gets the ultimate revenge

As the winner of the 2024 Women's Royal Rumble, Bayley got the opportunity to face the champion of her choice at WrestleMania. One of the highlights of the Road to WrestleMania was Bayley picking to face her former ally, Iyo Sky. Bayley was great as a heel - she made us actually like her as a heel - but we'd love to see the confetti rain down on Good Guy Bayley after picking up what would arguably be the biggest win of her career.

Mami defeats The Man and leaves Judgment Day

Fans can't help but love Rhea Ripley, despite her alignment with a generally disliked faction. Yes, Rhea has arguably become one of the biggest stars in wrestling today. In the other corner, we have "Box-Checker" Becky Lynch, who seems to win just about everything, from the Elimination Chamber all the way down to the NXT Women's championship, simply to say that she's done it all. There is no obvious reason for Becky to win a belt right now. Plus, having Rhea retain while the rest of Judgment Day fails around her would be a great reason for her to break away from those bozos for good.

The Final Boss sets up an epic finale in Night 2

Having Dwayne Johnson come and presumably announce that he was stealing the main event title match of WrestleMania, completely out of nowhere, was a major swing and miss by the company. Thankfully, they acknowledged (no pun intended) the mistake and allowed the #WeWantCody phenomenon to right the ship. At first, we were thrilled to think that Seth and Cody would beat Roman and The Rock on Night 1, FINALLY (no pun intended) leading to a match where Roman couldn't get bailed out by his cousins. But the more we thought about it, we realized that that's probably not going to happen. First of all, if you've got The Rock for one or two nights this weekend, why wouldn't you use him both nights? He'll be involved during Night 2 in some fashion - and it will probably end with him handing a bloody weight belt to Mama Rhodes.

The other great thing about this outcome is that Cody Rhodes will have to overcome every single obstacle in his path, literally beating his way through every member of the Bloodline, to take the title off of Roman.

Cody finishes the story

And that's what we're hoping happens during the last match of the weekend. Cody has got to finish the story. And it will be so, so sweet when he gets that three-count after potentially single-handedly taking out every member of Roman's posse.

But hey, we've been wrong before. So when Roman's music hits as the screen fades to black, we will just put our faces in our hands and cry our salty little Cody Crybaby tears and we'll plan on regrouping in another year.

Ugh.

*****

Will you be watching WrestleMania this weekend? Do you have any predictions or thoughts on what is about to come to pass? Let us know by leaving a comment below, finding us on Facebook or following us on Twitter (here and here). And don't give us any Night 2 spoilers because we're going out of town and may not be able to watch it live. Lovely.

Until next time.

WWE 2K24 Preview: Time to Finish the Story

As professional wrestling fans all know, we have officially entered the Road to WrestleMania - and we are also just days away from another entry in the "WWE 2K" video game series. After surpassing expectations two consecutive years (a sadly impressive accomplishment for annual sports games these days), WWE 2K24 looks to be bigger and better than ever.

The roster looks to be pretty up-to-date, despite the initial, pre-DLC exclusion of a couple characters that returned to or debuted in the company within the last couple of months, but, overall, it's looking pretty decent. Thankfully, as far as the roster breakdown is concerned, the amazingly helpful website The Smackdown Hotel has done almost all of the hard work for us, which is great. We'll run through who's in and out this year, for posterity's sake, then get to a few questions about what we'd like to see in this year's game and beyond. Let's get to it.

Who's out?

• Legends
• Brie Bella
• Brock Lesnar
• Goldberg
• Mr. McMahon
• Nikki Bella
• Zeus
• No longer with the company
• Aliyah
• Commander Azeez
• Dana Brooke
• Dolph Ziggler
• Edge
• Elias / Ezekiel
• Lacey Evans
• Mace
• Madcap Moss
• Mansoor
• Matt Riddle
• Mustafa Ali
• Rick Boogs
• Shanky
• Shelton Benjamin
• Titus O'Neil
• Top Dolla

Current main roster superstars who didn't make the cut

• Authors of Pain - Akam & Rezar (recently returned)
• Andrade El Idolo (recently returned)
• Elektra Lopez
• Naomi (recently returned)

Notable missing NXT superstars

• Ava
• Charlie Dempsey
• Gable Steveson
• Kelani Jordan
• Kiana James
• Lash Legend
• Lexis King
• Lola Vice
• Meiko Satomura
• Oba Femi (current NXT North American Champion)
• Oro Mensah
• Sol Ruca
• Tatum Paxley
• Xyon Quinn

Who's in? (* = DLC)

• Main Roster
• Bronson Reed
• Carlito*
• Chelsea Green
• CM Punk*
• Isla Dawn
• Jade Cargill*
• Kairi Sane*
• Maxxine Dupri
• Nia Jax*
• Pat McAfee*
• Tegan Nox
• NXT
• Brooks Jensen
• Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo
• Dragon Lee*
• Duke Hudson
• Fallon Henley
• Joe Coffey
• Josh Briggs
• Lyra Valkyria*
• Mark Coffey
• Sanga
• Thea Hail
• Wolfgang
• Legends/Other
• Bubba Ray Dudley*
• D-Von Dudley*
• DDP*
• Dude Love
• Dusty Rhodes
• George "The Animal" Steele
• Headbanger Mosh*
• Headbanger Thrasher*
• Honky Tonk Man*
• Ken Shamrock
• Lex Luger*
• Mankind
• Michelle McCool*
• Mr. Perfect*
• Muhammad Ali
• Post Malone*
• Ravishing Rick Rude
• Ricky Steamboat
• Sandman*
• Sensational Sherri*
• Stardust
• Superstar Billy Graham
• Terry Funk*
• The Fiend Bray Wyatt
• The Great Muta*
• The Iron Sheik*
• Theodore Long (Manager)
• William Regal
• Managers/Non-playable characters
• Cathy Kelley
• Jimmy Hart*
• Mick Foley
• Miss Elizabeth
• Paul Bearer

By the Numbers

At the time of posting, The Smackdown Hotel hasn't posted updated roster comparisons and, to be honest, we don't really feel like doing the math ourselves.

Roster take-aways

Overall, things are looking pretty good this year. It's a bummer that a few wrestlers debuted or rejoined the roster too late to make the cut, but we're sure some creative nerd out there will make a great Create-A-Wrestler to fill any serious gaps. There are a couple of the legends that we don't really care about, but it is nice to see a few old faces like the Dudley Boyz and Lex Luger. Also... Teddy Long!! Holla holla holla!!

What else is new?

A LOT. We'll hit you with some highlights and stuff that's getting us excited:

• One of the most hyped aspects of this year's game is a handful of new (or returning) match types: special guest referee, ambulance, casket and gauntlet matches.
• Showcase of the Immortals - 21 historic WrestleMania matches
• Throwable weapons!
• Facepaint gradually fades during matches? Awesome. Love that level of detail.
• Seven real WWE referees will appear in the game. Charles "Little Naitch" Robinson better be there!
• Super finishers (three stacked finishers) are new and, allegedly, nullify an opponent's "Resiliency" ability, which will be amazing. Always hated having some jabroni kick out of multiple finishers at 2 1/2.
• GM Mode:
• Four new GMs: Teddy Long, Paul Heyman, William Regal and Ted DiBiase
• A new playable brand: ECW
• The ability to trade superstars between brands mid-season (nice!)
• New promo types: Tag team call-out (AMAZING), Class change, Training
• Two new MyRISE stories
• Universe Mode:
• Double title matches and "Loser Leaves Town" matches? What?!?
• Create a Sign?!?!?

WWE 2K Q&A with A-Town

• Who will you play with first?
• Probably Cody Rhodes or John Cena. Maybe both. LA Knight is awesome, too.
• Who don't you want to play with at all?
• The less I see Roman Reigns, the happier I will be. I also won't ever willingly play as the Viking Raiders or most of Judgment Day. Eww. Definitely not Damian Priest.
• What is your go-to match type?
• Extreme Rules. Sometimes, I don't even need the weapons. It's just a nice safety net if things get crazy.
• What is your favorite game mode?
• I love GM Mode. I wish that there was more incentive to spend lots of time there, but there's really not quite yet. I spend most of my time in MyFaction, but that's such a grind. I hope to the high heavens that there's not another trophy for winning 100 Faction Wars matches. Please, please no.
• What is your least favorite game mode?
• I'll just come right out and say it: I hate MyRise. You get to do some goofy things sometimes, which can be interesting, but story mode is always the weak point of any 2K sports game.
• Is there anything you wish you could change or improve about these games?
• I was playing a lot of GM Mode in 2K23 recently and there were a few things that were bugging me. I really wish that you could do a triple-threat or four-way tag team match. I wish that injuries weren't quite so frequent. I hate that you get penalized for putting two big wrestlers in a match together - like, if you did Drew McIntyre vs Roman Reigns, it would say the fans don't want to see that, which is completely false. In MyFaction, I wish you weren't basically encouraged to play with one really good wrestler and three chumps. Why should I spend my time trying to get good "cards," only to never use them? There's just not a whole lot of incentive to have a stacked faction from top to bottom, sadly. Like I said, I hope hope hope that they don't make me grind out 100 wins in Faction Wars again because I've done that two years in a row now and it's one of the most tedious, repetitive things you could ever dream of doing. Oh, here's something - I wish that the "Statistics" feature on the main menu actually kept an accurate track of my wins/losses and superstar usage, because (I think I finally figured it out) I believe it's only tracking online games, which I rarely ever do. That would be nice.
• Make up a new tag team that does not currently exist:
• I think The Miz and Grayson Waller would be an amazing real-life tag team.
• Give us brand new champions for every single main roster belt:
• RAW:
• Men's Heavyweight Champion: Drew McIntyre (and he wins it in front of a packed stadium of actual fans)
• Women's Champion: Raquel Rodriguez (as a heel)
• Intercontinental Champion: Karrion Cross
• RAW Tag Team Champions: #DIY
• Smackdown:
• Men's Heavyweight Champion: Cody Rhodes
• Women's Champion: Tiffany Stratton
• United States Champion: LA Knight
• Smackdown Tag Team Champions: Tyler Bate and Pete Dunne
• Inter-brand Women's Tag Team Champions: Zoey Stark and Shayna Baszler
• Who are you most looking forward to beating up?
• Dominik Mysterio (always), Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso

The Bottom Line

We're looking forward to it. It's going to be fun. As we were attending Smackdown! in Salt Lake City a couple weeks ago, we realized that it was about time for a roster update, so it will be nice to slap a fresh coat of paint on the game and take it for a spin around the block. It's just nice to have a multi-year stretch where we're actually excited about getting a new game, which can't be said about most other sports franchises.

While we've got you here, you might as well take a look at our other WWE content by clicking here. You can also leave a comment on this post, follow us on Twitter (here and here) or find us on Facebook... if you smell... what The Underground is cooking.

Until next time.