Ye Flask

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Current revision as of 18:07, 29 February 2024

Ye flask in yon dungeon.

Ye flask is a Florence flask (or round-bottomed flask) that has appeared in every game in the Thy Dungeonman series.

Its importance in each game varies somewhat. After playing a comparatively minor role in the first and second games, obtaining it is the ultimate goal of Thy Dungeonman 3.

[edit] Ye flask's history

Graphics shmaphics... for sooth!

Ye flask is introduced in the Strong Bad Email video games, wherein Strong Bad describes what he would be like if he were in several different types of video games, one of which is a text adventure. Ye flask is mentioned as an example of the quirks of the text adventure genre — attempts to get ye flask resulted only in the message, "You can't get ye flask", even though it is explicitly mentioned as part of the surroundings by the game, leaving the player wondering why on earth they can't get ye flask, because, as Strong Bad says, the game certainly is not going to tell.

Ye flask later becomes part of the Thy Dungeonman games. It is somewhat of a fixation for the character Thy Dungeonman, as he has been searching for it for years in hundreds of dungeons.

[edit] Thy Dungeonman I

You can't get ye flask!

Thy Dungeonman first meets ye flask in the first Thy Dungeonman game. In it, ye flask looks as if it can "quaff some serious mead". Just like in video games, ye flask is (at least at first) impossible to obtain. However, there is at least an explanation for why the player can't get ye flask, so the player isn't left wondering why on earth they can't get ye flask; it is firmly bolted onto to a wall (which is bolted to the rest of the dungeon which is probably bolted to a castle). However, upon trying the third time to get ye flask Thy Dungeonman is able to unbolt it, which results in the collapse of the dungeon because it was a "load-bearing flask". Notably, it is called "a FLASK", "the FLASK", "yon FLASK", and "a load-bearing FLASK" in this game—but never "ye flask".

[edit] Thy Dungeonman II

HEY WAIT! Give us that back!

Ye flask plays a very minor role in Thy Dungeonman II. For the first two times the command "GET YE FLASK" is used, the game says "Ye wish! If there was a flask in this game, we'd know about it.", but every time the player tries to get ye flask after that, the game proclaims, "You pluck up the flask and examine of it. HEY WAIT! Give us that back!", and the player earns two points. Getting ye flask is not necessary to win the game.

[edit] Thy Dungeonman 3

You unbolt ye flask and hold it aloft.

In Thy Dungeonman 3, the entire game is based around trying to get ye flask, which resides in a mysterious dungeon. It is impossible to grab ye flask without a proper flask-grabbing glove, because otherwise Thy Dungeonman is simply transported back to the crossroads at the beginning of the game.

Upon getting ye flask and winning the game, it becomes Thy Dungeonman's favorite companion and drinking flask. He ends up choosing it over maidens several times, and lives a fulfilling life with his ye flask friend by his side.

In the beginning of the game there is another instance of ye flask being referred to without the "ye" attached; it is called "a flask".

[edit] Other References

Get ye flask of oil

He'd better run!

In the first bonus email for strongbad_email.exe Disc One, E-mail Birds, Strong Bad begins playing a text adventure game similar to the Thy Dungeonman games, called Text Quest, after answering three emails in a row. Before playing, Strong Bad says "I hope I find some scrolls. Or maybe a flask." Also, although the game makes specific mention of two daggers, when Strong Bad types "get dagger" the game asks "What is 'dagger'?", a forerunner to the original ye flask joke in video games.

The phrase "Ye Flask" is seen in an animated form in web comics. A character in The Animated Adventures of Thy Dungeonman, Ye Flask is seen being chased by the word Dennis.

In the Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People episode 8-Bit is Enough, Strong Bad can find ye flask at the Peasantry Inn. If clicked, Strong Bad will be unable to reach it for unspecified reasons. He can also talk to The Innkeeper about it, but he answers with phrases such as "You can't get ye flask." or "You probably WISH you could get that."

In Trogdor!! The Board Game, the item "Ye Flask of Dennis" allows burninated peasants to add to Trogdor's health. It recharges when Trogdor visits the lake.

In Disk 4 of 12 - Vampire's Castle, Strong Bad tries to get a Flask of Oil by typing "get ye flask". Pom Pom dresses as The Cheat's rendition of ye flask of oil from Vampire's Castle in a Fan 'Stumes 2022 Easter egg.

[edit] Trivia

• In Early Modern English, "ye flask", as Strong Bad pronounces it in video games, would actually mean "you flask". "Ye" was occasionally used to mean "the", representing the word þe using the letters available to printers, but this was still pronounced as "the".
• Several elements of the first Thy Dungeonman game are inspired by the game Vampire's Castle. Ye Flask is inspired by the "Flask of Oil" item, but in Vampire's Castle, the flask is a minor item that can be easily picked up and is not directly connected to winning or losing the game.