City of Gold

(2-hour special)

Stan and his new companion, Sergeant Jeff Cole are gliding through the vortex after their latest adventure when Stan discovers a problem with the TARDIS coordinate system. It appears the system is malfunctioning and no matter what numbers Stan punches into the computer, the coordinates come up random. A diagnostic tells Stan that he’ll need some pretty advanced spare parts to repair the system. This wouldn’t normally be a concern, but since the TARDIS is now randomly determining re-materialization points in space time, it could be a while before they land on/in a suitable planet/place. Jeff seems quite concerned, but Stan appears unfazed by the dilemma. They land in Venezuela, on the planet Earth in the year 1543. Upon landing, Stan notices that the power couplings for the TARDIS are also malfunctioning. Though the TARDIS’ link to the Eye of Harmony is functioning properly, the power couplings are unable to retain energy constantly as they should. This means that whenever Stan rematerializes anywhere, he will have to wait 24 hours before dematerializing again. This is also something easy to fix, but requiring technology that is obviously not found on Earth in 1543. Since they have to wait 24 hours, Stan and Jeff decide to take in the local scenery with a quick jaunt through the jungle. It’s not long before they are surrounded by Spanish conquistadors who ask them who they are and why they are here. Stan explains they are explorers who have gotten lost. The leader of the Spaniards, General Merida, decides to take Stan and Jeff with them, to protect them from harm. Not really having a choice, Stan and Jeff go with the Spaniards. On their travels, they discover from Merida’s lieutenant, Cristobal de Perez, that Merida is on a quest for El Dorado, the fabled City of Gold. Though the conquistadors’ numbers are at 11 men, they were at one time a group of over 100. They have fought many battles with the natives of the jungle while on their quest. The group is attacked by these natives shortly thereafter and all but Merida, Perez, Stan, Jeff and one conquistador are killed. They are taken to Manoa, which Merida knows is the native named for El Dorado. They arrive at the huge city, which indeed sparkles with gold-encrusted art and jewellery, and gold-plated architecture. They are told they will be sacrificed to the Serpent Gods. They are brought to a large pyramid at the centre of the city and a hooded figure appears from within, killing the remaining conquistador with some sort of psionic pulse. The hooded “god” then turns and proclaims Stan and Jeff to be aliens when Merida storms the pyramid and attacks the hooded figure. Merida is killed, but in the struggle, the hood falls off the figure revealing it to be a Silurian! The Silurians say they will kill Stan if he does not help them (they see him as knowledgeable in advanced technology). Stan agrees. Perez is locked up while Stan and Jeff meet the Silurian leader Droval and the head scientist Visthar. They say they have equipment at the heart of the pyramid that will awaken every Silurian hive on the planet. They wish to use it to re-take the Earth. They do not have enough power however. They have created a machine that can drain the life force from living beings, but since it cannot store the power, it is not a great enough source. Stan says he will aid them but that he will need his TARDIS. The Silurians arrange for the TARDIS to be brought to the pyramid. Once there, Stan pretends to help, but actually sets up a feedback loop to send enough power into the machine to blow up the pyramid and end the Silurian threat. Because he has to work quickly, Stan hopes he doesn’t overestimate and destroy the entire city (along with 100,000 natives!). Once finished, Stan sets off his trap, and he and Jeff are barely able to escape into the TARDIS as the pyramid explodes. (NOTE: This adventure is loosely based on the  “City of Gold” adventure module by FASA.)

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