From
TES issue 29 (September 2004)
Series 3/4.
Level 1/2/3.
THE ARMOURED BEHEMOTH
This
silver-armoured warrior was one of the scare factors in series 3 and 4, and a formidable one. The creature appeared to be human, but its true nature was something never fully explained: "This warrior is a behemoth and less than human." -
Treguard. Possibly this particular enemy was indestructible, as
Velda indicated to James in series 3: "The thing cannot be destroyed; only damaged!" - Velda. Whatever its nature, the purpose of the armoured knight was primarily to scare dungeoneers out of chambers by clanking along after them, waving its large broadsword in a threatening manner. The creature was also sometimes to be seen guarding a
wellway or portal and, in
series 4, formed part of the challenge at the
Transporter Pad.
Prolonged scenes involving the behemoth in series 3 include the creature's pursuit of dungeoneer James in level one, through the valley and the
Vale of Vanburn, and Martin's meeting with the knight at the level one wellway. Martin had turned into a
ghost at this stage in his quest, and managed to frighten the behemoth away by saying "Oi! Boo!" The advisors and Treguard enjoyed this one.
The armoured behemoth was seen far less in series 4. Apart from the three times the Transporter Pad appeared in the programme, the behemoth was only in two other scenes. Early in the series, it was guarding the wellway to level two. Helen II had to outwit the creature by becoming invisible using a magic dagger of darkness. Then, near the end of the series,
Gundrada had a brief swordfight with the behemoth after Giles had released her from the stocks. Unfortunately, we never got to see what would have happened if Alistair or
Dickon had ended up on the creature's transporter platform in level three. Perhaps
Giles would have been the one to show us, but there just wasn't time.
Fear Factor: 6 Definitely a dangerous enemy.
Killer Instinct: 1 Really was only a scare factor or deterrent.
Gore Factor: 4 What really lurks beneath that armour?
Humanity: 7 Less than human, but just how much so?