The Trials of Tara (short story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Short Story|
|series = [[Virgin Decalogs]]
name=The Trials of Tara<br />or<br />''Would That It Were''<br />The Comedie of ''Count Grendel'', The Mafter Of ''Gracht''<br />With<br />The Life and Death of his<br />New Executioner |
|doctor=Seventh Doctor
series=[[Virgin Decalogs]]|
|companions=[[Bernice Summerfield|Benny]]
doctor=[[Seventh Doctor]]|
|featuring = [[Strella]], [[Reynart]], [[Zadek]], [[Farrah]]
companions=[[Bernice Summerfield]]|
|enemy= [[Grendel of Gracht|Count Grendel]]
enemy= [[Augmentio]][[Grendel]][[Kandyman]]|
|setting=[[Tara (planet)|Tara]], [[24th century]]
year=[[Tara]]|
|writer = Paul Cornell
writer=[[Paul Cornell]]|
|anthology= Decalog 2: Lost Property
publication=[[Decalog 2: Lost Property]]|
|release date = 20 July 1995
previous story=[[Where the Heart Is]]|
|prev = Where the Heart Is (short story)
next story=[[Housewarming]]|
|next=Housewarming (short story)
|}}
}}
'''''The Trials of Tara''''' was the fourth story in the anthology ''[[Decalog 2: Lost Property]]''. It was written by [[Paul Cornell]]. It featured the [[Seventh Doctor]] and [[Bernice Summerfield]].
 
== Summary ==
== Summary ==
''to be added''
The Doctor and Benny visit [[Tara (planet)|Tara]], with Benny dressing as a man. On Tara, things have changed. [[Reynart]] is missing and is assumed dead, [[Strella]] must marry, and [[Grendel of Gracht]] is plotting against her.
 
Strella sets up a series of competitions for any male who enters the castle; anyone who loses will be killed, and she will marry the final victor. Benny and the Doctor are required to participate, and they are joined by [[Augmentio]], a prince from another kingdom.
 
Meanwhile, Grendel has kidnapped [[Titania (The Trials of Tara)|Titania]], wife of [[Oberon (The Trials of Tara)|Oberon]] king of the fairies, in order to force Oberon to help him. He also has revived the [[Kandyman]], who has crashed on the planet, to help him.
 
The Doctor, Benny and Augmentio pass several challenges, then a troop of performing females arrive, and the Doctor suggests that the three "men" dress as women and participate in a performance with the Players. While Benny fails at being a convincing woman, the Doctor exposes Augmentio as an android. Augmentio confesses that his task was to marry Strella, then murder her. The Doctor adjusts his programming, and Augmentio returns to Grendel, freeing Titania and telling Grendel that he did not kill Strella. The Kandyman kills Augmentio.
 
Grendel and his men surround the castle, but the fairies, led by Oberon, appear, and the battle begins. The Kandyman kidnaps Strella for ransom. The Doctor and several of Strella's men, accompanied by the female Players, appear, and the Players reveal themselves to be Reynart and his men, who had been caught in a temporal trap. The Kandyman threatens to kill Strella, but Grendel's men won't let him and kill him. Grendel runs away and his army surrenders.


== Characters ==
== Characters ==
* [[Seventh Doctor|The Doctor, of Gallifrey]]
* [[Seventh Doctor]]
* [[Bernice Summerfield|Bernice Summerfield, friend to the Doctor]]
* [[Bernice Summerfield]]
* [[Grendel of Gracht|Grendel, Count of Gracht]]
* [[Grendel of Gracht|Grendel]]
* [[Augmentio|Augmentio, Prince of Throvald]]
* [[Augmentio]]
* [[Zadek|Zadek, Swordmaster to Strella]]
* [[Zadek]]
* [[Farrah|Farrah, Swordsman to Strella]]
* [[Farrah]]
* [[Kandy Man|The Kandyman, Executioner to Grendel]]
* [[Kandy Man|The Kandyman]]
* [[Strella|Strella, Queen of Tara]]
* [[Strella]]
* [[Oberon|Oberon, King of the Fairies]]
* [[Oberon (The Trials of Tara)|Oberon]]
* [[Augmentio|Augmentio, Prince of Thorvald]]
* [[Titania (The Trials of Tara)|Titania]]
* [[Titania|Titania, Queen of the Fairies]]
* [[Reynart]]/Appolonia
* Appolonia, leader of the Players
* [[Miranda (The Trials of Tara)|Miranda]]
* Miranda, servant to Strella
* [[Merrybone]]
* Merrybone, a soldier
* [[Claypole]]
* Claypole. a soldier
* [[First Witch]]
* The Taran Beast
* [[Second Witch]]
* The Players
* [[Third Witch]]
* Two Servants
* [[Archimandrite]]
* First Witch
* Second Witch
* Third Witch


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* Count Grendel rebuilt the Kandyman from its charred remains.
* The Doctor tells Benny that Strella resembles his friend [[Romana I]].


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* This has been written in 'play format', with affected archaic language.
* This was written in "play format", with affected archaic language.
* The stories in ''Decalog 2'' have a common theme of homes owned or acquired by the Doctor. The home in this story is the land he owns on Tara.
* This story bears some resemblances with [[William Shakespeare|William Shakespeare's]] play ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' among others. The names, for example, ''Titania'' and ''Oberon'' are references to the same two characters in the very same play who also happen to be the king and queen of the faeries.
* Other plays referenced include ''[[Macbeth]]'' (the three witches), ''[[Twelfth Night]]'' (women disguising as men and vice versa) and ''[[Hamlet]]'' (plot of revenge).


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The Doctor previously was on Tara in [[DW]]: ''[[The Androids of Tara]]''.
* The Doctor tells Benny of his previous visit to Tara ([[TV]]: ''[[The Androids of Tara (TV story)|The Androids of Tara]]'') and his previous encounter with the Kandyman. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Happiness Patrol (TV story)|The Happiness Patrol]]'')
* The Kandyman previously encountered the Doctor in [[DW]]: ''[[The Happiness Patrol]]''.
 
== [[Seventh Doctor - Timeline|Timeline]] ==
* ''The Trials of Tara'' occurs after: [[NA]]: ''[[Sanctuary]]''
* ''The Trials of Tara'' occurs before: [[ST]]: ''[[Of the Mermaid and Jupiter]]''


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{Whoniverse|DEC2.php#story4|The Trials of Tara}}
* {{Whoniverse|DEC2.php#story4|The Trials of Tara}}
* {{Dwrefguide|who_dec2.htm#4|The Trials of Tara}}
{{dwrefguide|who_dec2.htm#4|The Trials of Tara}}
 
{{Decalogs}}


{{prose stub}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}


[[Category:Seventh Doctor short stories|Trials of Tara]]
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield sources]]
[[Category:VD short stories|Trials of Tara]]
[[Category:Seventh Doctor short stories]]
[[Category:Decalog 2: Lost Property short stories]]
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield short stories]]
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield short stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 24th century]]
[[Category:Short stories set in Mutter's Spiral]]
[[Category:Kandyman stories]]

Latest revision as of 22:28, 30 January 2024

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The Trials of Tara was the fourth story in the anthology Decalog 2: Lost Property. It was written by Paul Cornell. It featured the Seventh Doctor and Bernice Summerfield.

Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor and Benny visit Tara, with Benny dressing as a man. On Tara, things have changed. Reynart is missing and is assumed dead, Strella must marry, and Grendel of Gracht is plotting against her.

Strella sets up a series of competitions for any male who enters the castle; anyone who loses will be killed, and she will marry the final victor. Benny and the Doctor are required to participate, and they are joined by Augmentio, a prince from another kingdom.

Meanwhile, Grendel has kidnapped Titania, wife of Oberon king of the fairies, in order to force Oberon to help him. He also has revived the Kandyman, who has crashed on the planet, to help him.

The Doctor, Benny and Augmentio pass several challenges, then a troop of performing females arrive, and the Doctor suggests that the three "men" dress as women and participate in a performance with the Players. While Benny fails at being a convincing woman, the Doctor exposes Augmentio as an android. Augmentio confesses that his task was to marry Strella, then murder her. The Doctor adjusts his programming, and Augmentio returns to Grendel, freeing Titania and telling Grendel that he did not kill Strella. The Kandyman kills Augmentio.

Grendel and his men surround the castle, but the fairies, led by Oberon, appear, and the battle begins. The Kandyman kidnaps Strella for ransom. The Doctor and several of Strella's men, accompanied by the female Players, appear, and the Players reveal themselves to be Reynart and his men, who had been caught in a temporal trap. The Kandyman threatens to kill Strella, but Grendel's men won't let him and kill him. Grendel runs away and his army surrenders.

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor tells Benny that Strella resembles his friend Romana I.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This was written in "play format", with affected archaic language.
  • The stories in Decalog 2 have a common theme of homes owned or acquired by the Doctor. The home in this story is the land he owns on Tara.
  • This story bears some resemblances with William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream among others. The names, for example, Titania and Oberon are references to the same two characters in the very same play who also happen to be the king and queen of the faeries.
  • Other plays referenced include Macbeth (the three witches), Twelfth Night (women disguising as men and vice versa) and Hamlet (plot of revenge).

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

v • e
Virgin Decalogs
Decalog
Decalog 2:
Lost Property
Decalog 3:
Consequences
Decalog 4:
Re:Generations
Decalog 5:
Wonders
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