| Halloween Horror Nights Orlando attraction | |
|---|---|
    Image from mrfurious32821 on Twitter | |
| Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate | |
| Attraction type | Haunted House |
| Event | Halloween Horror Nights 32 |
| Park | Universal Studios Florida |
| Area | Production Central |
| Year | 2023 |
| Housed in | Soundstage 24 |
| Based on | Original/Dueling Dragons |
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Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate was one of the ten haunted houses that were featured during Halloween Horror Nights 32. It was located in Soundstage 24 along with YETI: Campground Kills.
History and Location[]
On July 28th, 2023, Universal announced that they would be featuring a haunted house based on the legacy Islands of Adventure attraction Dueling Dragons during Halloween Horror Nights 32. The house would take place before the events of the ride, and would feature two warlocks, Pyrrock and Blizzrock, being transformed into dragons and fighting to the death.
This house would be notable as it would feature a split path at the end of the house, something that hasn't been done since Hellgate Prison in 2004.
The house would be located in Soundstage 24 along with YETI: Campground Kills. Soundstage 24 is one of the larger soundstage facilities designed to be used as filming locations for movies and television shows.
The codename for this haunted house was Pineapple because of the scales of the dragons.
Description[]
No Matter Who You Choose, You Lose[]
Two warlocks of great power were turned into dragons after trying to take Merlyn’s spell book. Now you and your friends are caught in their epic battle. You must choose a path and a victor.
The great wizard Merlyn has been transformed into the Enchanted Oak, leaving a power vacuum. When two powerful warlocks invade his castle to steal his spell book, they are turned into dragons of fire and ice. Now guests are caught in the middle of their battle and are forced to choose a path and a victor. But beware, one never knows who will win in “Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate.”
Backstory[]
This house takes place right before the original rides' storyline after Merlyn had been turned into the Enchanted Oak. Two warlocks from the ride Blizzrock (an ice warlock) and Pyrrock (a fire warlock) travel to Merlyn's Castle and in order to fight for control over his now unguarded spell book, which is witnessed in the house. They would travel through The Fairy Forest, eventually reaching Merlyn's Castle. When both of them reached the spell book, it is revealed that Merlyn put a spell on the book. The spell turns them into dragons, and they continue the battle anyway while guests are going through the crumbling castle.
Experience[]
Queue and Facade[]
Once inside, guests turn left and continue down a passage. Banners hang from above, depicting the unfolding narrative. Merlyn’s disembodied voice explains the scenario, as well. Following a right turn, they are met by the wizard’s towering oak form. His carved face emits a bright green glow from within. Guests (or “adventurers” as Merlyn call them,) enter through the mouth and “begin their quest.”
Haunted House[]
Adventurers enter the forest and the battle has already begun. A troll leaps at the travelers from among roots and vines, as a victim can be seen laying on a tree as a ice blast hits them killing them. Adventurers keep moving forward as blasts of blue and red hit the trees as they are attacked on their right by Blizzrock. As they continue forward, the sounds of the battle grow louder as red and blue lighting can be seen on all sides as a wounded fairy leaps out at the adventurers on their right. As they continue forward, they find themselves being attacked by Pyrrock before exiting the forest.
The adventurers enter through the facade of Merlyn's castle being warned by Merlyn of the armies inside before another troll jumps out from the right. One of Pyrrock's dragon fingers are revealed through the castle's stone walls above on the left as the adventurers continue into the castle. Once inside, the adventurers find themselves in the middle of Pyrrock and Blizzrock both battling eachother with their magic on their way to the room containing the spellbook.
The adventurers enter the next room where Merlyn's Spellbook sits on a pedestal, glowing with magic. As they enter, the adventurers are caught between Blizzrock and Pyrrock once again as they attempt to cast spells on and retrieve Merlyn's Spellbook. Unbeknownst to the Warlocks, casting these spells onto the spellbook only triggers the countermagic spell that was set by Merlyn before his transformation into the Enchanted Oak. This countermagic spell is one that transforms those apposing it, into dragons.
The adventurers then enter another hall where they are attacked by Blizzrock on their right, who's transforming into his dragon form as his dragon claw swipes at us. The adventurers continue out into a fiery hallway full of charred human skeletons and remains where they are attacked by one of Pyrrock's Fire Demons on their left, and by Pyrrock in their dragon form as one of their claws also swipe at as.
The adventurers then enter another room of the castle that is destroyed. Frozen knights dangle above them as Blizzrock's Ice Demons surround the adventurers on all sides as they try to make their way deeper into the castle. Blizzrock attacks the adventurers on their left with their icy dragon breath as they continue forward only to be attacked by one of Blizzrock's skeletal soldiers as they exit out of the destroyed room.
The adventurers then enter a dark catacomb of skeletal prisoners hanging from walls or laying on the ground. They are then attacked by one on the left and continue forward as they exit out into the open and are attacked by the skeletal armies of both Pyrrock and Blizzrock on both sides. In front of these adventurers sat both Pyrrock and Blizzrock fully in dragon form breathing fire and ice on the adventurers below them.
The adventurers enter the final room of the house where they are met with a split path with the words "Choose Thy Fate" on the wall and have the option to choose the fire or ice path. After selecting a path, these adventurers are attacked by either a Frost or Fire Demon depending on their decision on their way to finding Merlyn's Spellbook. In one path, Pyrrock or Blizzrock would reappear one final time in warlock form holding Merlyn's decapitated head to attack with their full power having obtained all of the secrets and power found in Merlyn's spellbook, while in the other, Merlyn congratulates the travelers and the protectors of the realm for saving the kingdom and completing their campaign!
Settings[]
- Enchanted Oak
- Fairy Forest
- Merlyn's Castle
Scareactors[]
- Blizzrock x various
- Pyrrock x various
- Merlyn
- Trolls x2
- Fairy
- Blizzrock's Frost Demons x3
- Pyrock's Fire Demons x2
- Dragon Claw
- Blizzrock's Skeleton Knights x2
- Pyrock's Skeleton Knights x2
Quotes[]
- "Good morrow, traveler. I am Merlyn. Wizard of the realm! I have been cursed. The Lady of the Lake's beauty bewitched me. As I drew close to her shores, she transformed me into the enchanted oak. I entreat thee to aid our peaceful kingdom. Madness. The dark and greedy powers of fire and ice assemble their opposing armies. In my absence, those seek to obtain the unguarded spell book. Only you can brave the terrors ahead. These two opposing warlocks: Pyrrock, with the consuming power of fire, and Blizzrock, with the powers of the hate frost, race to obtain my mighty spell book. They battle each other and their summoned armies on their way to the castle, leaving destruction in their wake. Go forth before my spells are uttered by undead lips. Gather your courage travelers, and choose thy fate!" - Merlyn
- "Adventurers, your quest has already begun! While the warlocks battle, get to the castle, retrieve the spell book, and free me from my eternal bondage. Beware of the traps I have set. Now go!" - Merlyn
- "The armies are inside the castle. The royal family has been devoured!" - Merlyn
- "The trap is sprung! Your pathway has been destroyed! Find a way back.. move with haste!" -Merlyn
- "Press on you fools, into the shadows beneath the keep!" - Merlyn
- "Heed me, if you continue on this path, you must face the dragons' wrath..."- Merlyn
- "Past this point of no return, your only choice is freeze or burn. Choose thy fate!" - Merlyn
- "Protectors of the realm, you have saved the kingdom!" - Merlyn in the good ice ending
- "Weary traveler, your campaign is complete! You have triumphed!" - Merlyn in the good fire ending
Pictures[]
![Dueling Dragons T-Shirt Design [Back]](/wiki/File:ChooseThyFateTShirtDesign.jpeg "ChooseThyFateTShirtDesign.jpeg (263 KB)")
Videos[]
Soundtrack[]
Trivia[]
- The ride's name and concept were based on the Dueling Dragons roller coaster that was originally (in the section of Merlinwood, which is part of The Lost Continent), at Islands of Adventure before it was renamed and rethemed to Dragon Challenge and eventually replaced with Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade). The dragon's colors also match the ones that were on the original ride.
- In the story for the house, Merlyn casts a spell called "The Fury of Poseidon" while battling the Lady of the Lake, referencing another discontinued Islands of Adventure attraction that was also in the Lost Continent.
- This took place before the ride's original story in the queue line, after Merlyn was turned into the Enchanted Oak.
- Guests got to choose a path at the end of the house to determine which ending they get.
- While there's only two paths for guests to choose from, Fire and Ice, there are technically 4 endings. The "good" ending features a rescued Merlin congratulating us on succeeding in our quest, while the "bad" ending features Merlin beheaded by either Pyrrock or Blizzrock, depending on if you chose the Fire or Ice endings. The good and bad endings would change sides in between cast changes (roughly every 45 minutes).
- Merlyn's spellbook can be seen open and the words glowing and Oddfellow's symbol can be seen on the left page and symbol of The Collector from The Darkest Deal haunted house can be seen in the spellbook as well.
- A shield from Dragon Forge could be seen in one of the rooms.
- Another shield features the logo of Terra Cruentus.
- This year, the Art and Design team would hide frogs in each of the houses as an Easter egg for fans to discover. This house would actually have two frogs, one red and one blue and donned in wizard hats to honor Pyrock and Blizzrock, hiding across from each other in the woods surrounding Merlyn’s castle.
- In Merlyn's spellbook room on the shelf of books features one of the Necromicons from the Evil Dead Franchise.