Whatever happened to Elfstar? is a Fix Fic of the Chick Tracts issue Dark Dungeons
, written to be less fundamentalist and more nuanced.
Debbie Jameson, Marcia, Mike, and Gina Frost are playing a round of Dungeons & Dragons. But Gina, the game master, has it out for Marcie. When Marcie's character gets killed, she and the others deal with Gina's antagonism, Marcie's eventual suicide, and the reasons surrounding it.
Can be read here.
Whatever happened to Elfstar? provides examples of:
- The Cuckoolander Was Right: Brother Raymond is a typical example of The Fundamentalist who thinks that tabletop games are evil occult tools, but Debbie notes he at least has a point about some things:She's listened to Brother Raymond preach on about the occult powers of rock music and Dungeons & Dragons. And he's a crazy guy with a moustache ten years out of fashion, but some of what he says makes sense. He talks about power and, yeah, wasn't that what she was always after? Wasn't that why she let Marcie tag along after her those twelve long, precious years? Wasn't that what she never had, growing up with her father always at the corner of her eye?
- Driven to Suicide: As in the original tract, Marcie hangs herself from a ceiling fan, though her motivation is changed — instead of being upset that her D&D character died, she is far more distraught that her friends have alienated her and kicked her out of their group just for standing up to Gina's favoritism of Debbie.
- Dungeonmaster's Girlfriend: Debbie is a platonic version to Gina. Whereas Gina rigs the game so Marcie's character Black Leaf will die (and is indicated to have done this to Marcie's other characters), Marcie points out that "this never happens to Debbie". Gina does this specifically to drive Marcie away from Debbie, whom she wants for herself.
- False Friend: Gina Frost allows Marcie into their circle of friends and their D&D sessions, only to single her out because she doesn't want Marcie getting too close to Debbie. When Marcie breaks down because of the ostracisation, Gina kicks her out of the group and shows no sympathy when told she's suffering.
- Locked Out of the Loop: Mike is said to often be the only member of the group who is unaware of whatever trouble is happening with the rest.Mike is the only person who would ever ask what’s wrong. Mike is the only person, or so Debbie imagines, that doesn’t know exactly what’s going on and always has been, since Girl Scouts, since pinkie swearing, since…
- Killer Game Master: As in the original tract, Gina Frost springs a trap on Black Leaf, Marcie's character, even though Black Leaf would have seen it coming, then declares her dead without a saving throw, and ignoring a multitude of other problems that get in the way of the trap killing Black Leaf. The fic actually gives her a more realistic motive: she's only a Killer GM to that one player, because she's jealous and wants to drive her away.
- Munchkin: Mike calls Marcie one for trying to argue against Black Leaf's death... even though the GM, Gina, blatantly rigged the game so Black Leaf would die.
- Non-Indicative Name: Elfstar, despite the name, isn't actually an elf. Marcie actually brought this up only to get shot down.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Debbie decides to cut ties with Gina after her bullying leads to Marcie's suicide.
- Shout-Out: The group calls Gina Frost "Ms. Frost" after the X-Men character, outright mentioning it by name.
