The Black Cauldron

**The Black Cauldron** is the fifteenth level in *Disney's Final Frontier* and its fourth Dark Age level. This entire level plays as one giant lap, but has a deeper story in the 2nd game. In order to unlock it, you have to beat Robin Hood.

## Party Restrictions

Your party expands as you play the level. From the start, your party begins with only 5 characters.

* Tod
* Artful Dodger
* Copper
* Bolt
* Simba Tumaini (officially stops aging fast at this point)

Later in the level, you get the rest of the main heroes joining the team.

## Main Attractions

Prydain has 4 points of interest in Disney's Final Frontier.

* The Horned King's Lair - Where the level begins and ends. It is also an important location where a life changing event for Tod Vulpes occurs.
* The Dark Forest - This is where most of your exploration of the level occurs. A secret passage also exists which leads to the very end of a special Reverse Castle.
* The Marshes of Morva - Here is where you can find The Witches' Cottage, the location of where The Black Cauldron was hidden.
* Reverse Castle - A castle that is literally upside down and embedded in the ground. This is where you'll find Journal Entry #15. It's easy to acquire if you find the secret passage. Failing to do so requires you to find the entrance in the crypt of the Horned King's Lair and start spelunking.

## The Black Cauldron

### Episode

4 (Arc and Part)
15 (Overall)

Tod, Simba, Copper, Dodger, and Bolt arrive within the dungeon of the Horned King. Through some early searching in the dungeon, they decide it would be best to split the team up to search the place. Tod and Simba manage to be the first to reach the drawbridge out, when they suddenly hear some loud shouting. Bolt, Dodger, and Copper were being chased by The Horned King's men while escorting two humans out of the dungeon. The group ends up in another battle to protect them and each other. The drawbridge is forcibly lowered during the battle, and the seven escape from the lair.

At safer cover, the two humans introduce themselves to Tod and Simba as Taran and Eilonwy. Tod even mentions Simba has grown rather well, and shows his reflection in the water to prove it. The team learn that Taran and Eilonwy are searching for The Black Cauldron so they can destroy it. Tod calls Tramp to tell him about the Black Cauldron and to get a hint on where to go. The fox learns, from Tramp's knowledge of the story, that they should head for The Marshes of Morva to retrieve it.

When the team finally arrives in Morva, they approach a strange cottage that looked like a tree exploded. Just like the story, the three witches, Ogroch, Orddu, and Orwen get sight of them "breaking in" and try to distract them with other things they have within the cottage. Taran, however, had no time for mind games, only for the three witches to state they only bargain and trade. In a cunning twist, Tod offers his Magic Band to the witches and explains its functions to the witches. Orddu accepts the bargain without question and gives the group The Black Cauldron, while also destroying the cottage itself. They learn the cauldron is indestructible, and the only way to stop its evil power is to send a living being into the cauldron and sacrifice themselves. Simba doesn't believe this and attempts to break it open with the Sword of Light, only to fail immediately. The witches laugh, only to realize Tod's Magic Band vanished, returning to Tod (*see Special Rule #2*).

*"Seems the deal has expired, as the wand chooses the Master, not the Master choosing the wand." ~Tod*

Simba continues to try to break the cauldron open out of stubborn stupidity, only to sprain one of his paws. As this happened, the group tried to figure out who should be sent into the cauldron, only for Taran to state he should do it. Tod accepts his brave offering, but they are stopped, captured, and detained by The Horned King's men, bar Bolt who Zoom Zoomed out of the way.

Now captured, they're brought to the lair with the Black Cauldron. The Horned King reveals himself and summons an army of Cauldron Born to take over the world. Tod struggles to escape, only to find Bolt arrive a few moments after The Horned King leaves. Tod and the others are excited to see him as Bolt explains how he escaped. Tod and the gang are freed and decide now is the time to stop the cauldron. Bolt starts to emergency call the rest of the heroes, while Tod explains that he has to stop the cauldron now, despite objections from Copper, only to be detained by Simba and Dodger. Bolt panics when The Horned King arrives back with Tod up on the high rise and finally gets his band to flash aqua. Tramp, Bagheera, and Marian arrive to help the team. Tod tells them to keep the enemy occupied while he jumps into the cauldron.

At this point, no attacks anyone can do can damage The Horned King, literally requiring the player to make Tod jump in. Once he does, Copper shouts Tod's name with tears in his eyes, before the entire room is enveloped with a green light. Tod is now nothing but a pile of ashes, dead inside the cauldron. Simba, in a fit of anger deals the first strike on The Horned King saying "He will pay for being indirectly responsible for Tod's death." The battle plays out in two different ways, one with Tod unrevived, and one with Tod revived.

**If no one Revives Tod during the Boss Battle:** The Horned King is sucked into the cauldron like in the movie when the fight finally ends. The team mourns the loss of Tod, until Figment arrives from Figonia. He reminds the team that no one is really gone forever, and casts a revival item into the cauldron, causing a flash of green light inside the cauldron. Tod reaches out in his new body and alive state, and the entire group from Figonia hugs the fox, all thinking they lost him for good.

**If Tod is Revived during the Boss Battle:** With one member sending a revival item into the cauldron to revive Tod, a flash of green light goes off inside the cauldron. Tod reaches out and grabs the rim of the cauldron in his new body and alive state. He is then helped out by Bolt and Copper. Tod tells everyone to stick to the plan and take The Horned King out. The end of the fight has all the team members combining their current strongest finishers and decimating the boss in a giant explosion, almost taking out the lair in the process.

*Strategy Note: Even if you learn a revive spell to save on items, the Raise line of spells will not be able to cure Tod of the "Dead" Status in this situation.*

Taran and Eilonwy state they need to head off on their own adventures just like the rest of the team. Tod wishes them luck and opens a portal back to Figonia. Bagheera tells Tod to see him at the Training Arena later that evening, Tod believes he was in a lot of trouble for sacrificing himself, but Bagheera laughs it off and told him "A Promise is a Promise." Tod immediately understood what he meant and nods.

## The Strange Castle Below

### Rewards

Journal Entry #15

This quest, strangely does not have a difficulty. All you need to do is search around Reverse Castle and on the 7th Floor, underneath the throne, you'll find the 15th Journal Entry. The story of Reverse Castle becomes rather strange, when Kion, Kiara, Kovu, Jasiri, and Madoa explore the place and find a mysterious girl, as well as finding out it was still lived in, as if it was being used as a hideout for certain characters. It is not explained until the latter portion of the game itself, leaving behind a really big mystery for the characters and the player.

## World Themes

* **Field Theme (Light):** Taran
* **Field Theme (Dark):** The Horned King
* **Battle Theme:** Escape from the Castle
* **Boss Theme (Default):** Generic Boss Theme 1 (Jailbait - Motorhead (Instrumental Cover))
* **Boss Theme (Tod Revived):** Generic Boss Theme 2 (It's Gonna Be a Long Night - Ween)