Rediscovery EP: The Dampened Diary of Olaudah Equiano

[The Ancient Warrior]

Author's Note: This is one of the episodes in my independent project.  If you have any complaints, first thing to do is to go see the episode directory here:
Legends: The Rediscovery

Episode 30px]

The camera maneuvers through a thick rainforest to stop in front of an ancient temple.  A giant stone head next to the gate of the temple begins to speak:
"LEGENDS OF THE HIDDEN TEMPLE! With your guide, Kirk Fogg! And here he is NOW!"

On this final word, Kirk appears from behind the Temple Guard door in the Dungeon and runs straight out into the foreground of the stage to greet the crowd. "Thank you! Thank you very much! Nice to see you! Nice to see you, Olmec! Welcome to Legends of the Hidden Temple.  The rooms are filled with lost treasures that are protected by mysterious Mayan Temple Guards.  Only Olmec knows the legend behind each of the treasures in his temple.  Which legend are we gonna hear about today?"

Olmec replies:
"The Legend of the Dampened Diary of Olaudah Equiano."

"Oh, the Dampened Diary of Olaudah Equiano!" Kirk says in response. "Well the legend is set, and one of these six teams will have the chance to retrieve the Dampened Diary.  Will it be:
"Sammy and Nicolette of the Red Jaguars?" the camera pans to each team in order?
"Jerry and Tracy of the Blue Barracudas,
"Kenneth and Christine of the Green Monkeys,
"Dan and Jennifer of the Orange Iguanas,
"Justin and Brandy of the Purple Parrots,
"Or Theo and Lacey of the Silver Snakes?"

"They'll have to pass some tough physical and mental tests," Kirk says, "but in the end, only one team will earn the right to enter Olmec's Temple.  But first, they must cross the Moat, and here's how they'll have to do it today:
"Each team is sitting in front of a dragon tunnel that goes across the Moat.  When I say go, one player from each team will crawl in one side of the tunnel and crawl the way across the Moat.  Then their partner'll crawl in and make his way through the dragon tunnel."
"As soon as the second player crawls out of the dragon mouth and steps onto the deck, it's his job to run over here and hit the gong!" He slams down on the Red Jaguars' gong to demonstrate. "The first four teams to hit their gongs will be going on to the Steps of Knowledge.  Hey teams? ARE YOU READY!"
The players all cheer and shout in response.
"Olmec, are you ready?" asks Kirk.
"Are you ready?" Olmec asks Kirk as a reply.
"I?m ready," he responds. "On your marks teams, get set, GO!"

The players crawl into the long, curved tunnels slicked with soap and water and begin to make their way across the Moat. ?There they go! They?re gettin? eaten by those dragons!? Kirk shouts as the challenge begins.  The girl on the Red Jaguars is noticeably held up in one of the curves, along with a couple other teams? first players.  About twenty seconds into the round, the boy on the Green Monkeys is the first player to make it across, the boy on the Silver Snakes only a couple seconds behind.  The girl on the Purple Parrots isn?t the fastest crawler, but she doesn?t get held up in any raised bumps in the tunnel, so she makes it out third, and the boy on the Blue Barracudas, after being a little held up in the curves of the path, comes out fourth.
?This is a tough match!? Kirk comments as the boy on the Orange Iguanas come out of the tunnel. ?We need four teams!? About ten to fifteen seconds later, the girl on the Green Monkeys comes out of the tunnel and runs over to hit her team?s gong. ?There?s one team! We need three teams! Who?s it gonna be?? The boy on the Purple Parrots makes his way out through the dragon mouth a few seconds later and slams down on his team?s gong. ?Purple Parrots, with a nice exclamation point! We?re still lookin? for two teams? three teams!? Following the footsteps of the girl on the Silver Snakes, the girl on the Blue Barracudas rings in. ?We?ve got our four teams! The Blue Barracudas?? the camera briefly shows each qualifying team? ?the Green Monkeys? the Purple Parrots? and the Silver Snakes! They?re all going on to the Steps of Knowledge!? The audience applauds for a few seconds. ?The Red Jaguars and Orange Iguanas gave it a great effort too.  They?re not going away empty-handed, we got a nice gift for them for playing, and here?s what it is.?
Dee reads the consolation prize:
"Look at the entertaining fun you?ll have when you strap on Moon Shoes.  Super excitement is yours when you bounce higher than ever! Don?t leave Earth without Moon Shoes, from Big Time Toys!"

[The Ancient Warrior]

The four teams are now at the top of the Steps of Knowledge accompanied by Kirk. "The quest continues, and now it?s time for Olmec to tell us about the Dampened Diary of Olutah Ekiwano.  But pay attention, because your knowledge of the Legend can bring you a step closer to Olmec's Temple."
Olmec begins to tell the legend:
"In the late 1700?s, any West African people could be pulled out of their homes and taken on a voyage to the New World to serve as slaves.  And one day, a group of those people included Olaudah Equiano.  Olaudah was from the Nigerian village of Essaka, but when he was only eleven, he was dragged onto the slave ship.
"'Why are you doing this?' he objected. 'Can?t you just do the work yourself? You don?t need slaves.'
"'No questions!' the master of the slave ship yelled. 'You?re coming with us and you?re gonna like it!'
"But, none of the captives did.  The slave ships were tightly-packed, not very clean, and as a result, more than half of the slaves died before they reached the New World.  Olaudah was lucky, and in more than one respect.  His owner was Robert King, a merchant in Philadelphia who actually considered Olaudah an adopted son.  He taught Olaudah to write, and soon he kept a diary which he wrote in every day.
"'This might be the last day I have to serve King,' Olaudah wrote one day, sitting on the docks. 'He says tomorrow I?ll have the forty pounds I need to pay for freedom, but for now I?ll just finish scrubbing this ship.'
"So he stood up and turned around to finish cleaning the hull of the ship, but when he moved to the side, he accidentally kicked his diary into the Delaware River.  Years later, the Dampened Diary was fished out of the river, and eventually it came to rest in the Temple.  You must find the Dampened Diary of Olaudah Equiano and bring it back here."

"Okay, thank you Olmec," Kirk says after Olmec finishes telling the legend. "So where is the Diary?"
Olmec replies:
"The Dampened Diary of Olaudah Equiano can be found in the Dungeon." The camera zooms in on the Dampened Diary next to the Pharaoh's Secret Passage, then fades back to Kirk.

"Teams," Kirk begins, walking down the steps, "you're now standing on the Steps of Knowledge, and in a minute, Olmec will ask you a question.  If you think you know the answer, I want you to stomp down on the ancient marking in front of you.  If you're right, you're gonna move down to the next level, but if you're wrong or run out of time, I'll give the other teams a chance to answer.  The first two teams to make it to the bottom level will be one step closer to Olmec's Temple.  All right Olmec, we're now ready for your first question."

Olmec begins:
?Was Olaudah Equiano taken to the New World to become a: Slave, Merchant, or???
Brandy stomps down first: ?A slave.?
?Correct,? Olmec replies.
?Nice job, Purple Parrots, step down,? Kirk says, and the Purple Parrots move down to the second step. ?Remember you?re gonna have to hit down hard on that buzzer to ring in.  Next question.?
Olmec asks:
?In the New World, slaves were imported from which of these continents: Asia, Africa, or Aus???
Justin buzzes in: ?Africa.?
?That is correct,? answers Olmec, and the Purple Parrots move down again.
?The Purple Parrots are already just one step away from the Steps of Knowledge? uh, the Temple Games,? Kirk says. ?But we?re lookin? for two teams.  Olmec, next question.?
Olmec asks:
?Was Olaudah?s village called: Omashu, Essaka, or Sokka??
Theo buzzes in: ?Sokka??? Theo?s partner gives him an odd look.
?That is incorrect,? Olmec replies.
Kenneth gongs in: ?Ee-saka???
?Correct,? Olmec replies, and the Green Monkeys move down to the second step.
?Okay, now the Green Monkeys are on the board,? Kirk explains. ?The other teams can still get on the board.  Next question Olmec.?
Olmec now asks:
?Of the following, which phrase best describes a slave ship: Large and stately, Cramped and filthy, or Small and clean??
Christine stomps down just as Olmec gives the third choice: ?Cramped and filthy???
?That is correct,? answers Olmec, and the Green Monkeys move down to the third step.
?We got a tie on the second-to-last step,? Kirk explains. ?But the other teams can catch up.  Olmec, next question.?
Olmec continues:
?Was Olaudah sold as a slave to: Don King, Robert King, or Martin Luther King??
Tracy rings in: ?Don King.?
?Incorrect,? Olmec replies, and some laughter from the audience is heard.
Brandy buzzes in: ?Robert King???
?That is correct!? Olmec shouts, and the Purple Parrots move down to the bottommost level.
?Okay, there?s one team going to the Temple Games!? Kirk announces as the Purple Parrots high-ten each other. ?We?re looking for one more team, will it be the Green Monkeys, the Silver Snakes or the Blue Barracudas? Olmec, continue.?
Olmec does so by asking:
?Was Robert King a merchant in: Baltimore, New York City, or Philadelphia??
Kenneth buzzes in and guesses: ?Philadelphia???
?That is correct!? Olmec yells, and the Green Monkeys move down to join the Purple Parrots on the final level.
?All right, there?s both teams!? Kirk says as he walks through the space between the two qualifying teams to stand behind them on the bottom step. ?The Purple Parrots! And the Green Monkeys! The rest of you guys can come down here.? The Blue Barracudas and Silver Snakes walk down two levels to meet with Kirk. ?These guys gave it a great effort too.  We?ve got a great gift for them for playing and here?s what it is.? Theo, Lacey, Tracy and Jerry will each be receiving a copy of How to Eat Fried Worms on DVD.
Kirk is standing behind the Green Monkeys and the Purple Parrots on the bottommost level of the Steps of Knowledge. ?These two teams?ll be playing for the right to enter Olmec?s Temple,? he says, ?and they?re gonna do it right after this!? The camera pans to show the people in the audience before fading to commercial.

[The Ancient Warrior]

Kirk is standing in front of the Mine Shaft with the team players on either side of him. ?Welcome back to Legends,? he says. ?Now the glory goes to the fastest and the strongest, so let?s hear it for the Green Monkeys, Kenneth and Christine!? The bushy-brown-haired boy and dirty-blond girl with glasses high-five as the audience applauds. ?And the Purple Parrots, Justin and Brandy!? The short-haired boy and the short girl with a braided blond ponytail high-five on cue.
?Okay,? Kirk says, ?you guys ready to play??
?YEAH!? The players reply.
?Okay, go get ready for the Temple Games,? Kirk says, pointing in different directions, and the players walk offscreen. ?In the Temple Games, each teams will be competing to win?" he opens a pouch and pulls out a small gold medallion to show to the camera? "Pendants of Life.  The winning team will need those Pendants to protect themselves from the dreaded Temple Guards as they make their way through the Temple.  There are three Temple Games.  Olmec, tell us about Temple Game #1.?

Olmec begins:
?Slaves were transported from Africa to the New World on slave ships.  You will have to make a much shorter voyage, but since slavery is no longer legal, you won?t be transporting slaves.  American traders often exchanged sugar for slaves.  When Kirk gives the signal, sail out from the dock and, without touching the water, jump out to leave the box of sugar on the African island.  Then, sail back and run back up the dock.
?The first player to leave the box of sugar and return with both feet on the dock? or the one that?s furthest along after 30 seconds? wins.?
?Just a quick reminder,? Kirk says when the camera fades to him. ?We?re not trying to promote anything illegal.  Let?s put 30 seconds on the clock.? The clock then appears in the bottom-right corner of the screen. ?On your mark, get set, GO!?
Christine and Justin row out to the islands, and Justin makes it first and drops off the box of sugar with 18 seconds left, just two seconds before Christine drops off her box.  Both players take a while to turn themselves back around, but Justin retains his lead and gets back up on the dock with three seconds left.
?That?s it!? Kirk announces as Christine reappears on the dock. ?Purple Parrots got back here first, that gives them a half Pendant of Life!? The audience applauds for a moment. ?The next game?s worth a half Pendant, the Green Monkeys can catch up.  Olmec, tell us about it.?

Olmec continues:
?Like all American slaves, Olaudah Equiano had to pay for his freedom.  In this game, you must earn the money for him.  Before you stands a huge spider web with several cubbyholes around the outer edges.  Each of the holes contains a bag of gold.  When Kirk gives the signal, scramble up the web to an opening, smash through the cover and grab the gold.  Then, come back down with it and place it in your bin.  The higher the hole, the heavier the bag of gold inside.
?The first player to find all the gold? or the player that?s found the heaviest amount of gold in 60 seconds? wins.?
?Okay, it?s a gold rush out here,? Kirk says, ?so let?s put 60 seconds on the clock.? The clock then appears in the bottom-right corner of the screen. ?On your mark, get set, GO!?
Kenneth and Brandy launch themselves onto the nets and begin to climb toward the cubbyholes.  Brandy?s strategy appears to be getting the smaller bags of gold fast, whereas Kenneth goes straight to the heavier ones at the very top. ?Looks like they both got their own plans here,? Kirk comments as Brandy places the rather light sack of gold in the bin with 51 seconds left. ?It?s not about getting the most bags of gold, just the most gold.? Brandy has both bags from the side holes in her bin with 40 seconds left, and Kenneth gets his second bag from the top of the net in with 38 seconds remaining.  Brandy moves to the top of the web, and Kenneth sticks with the top of the net until time runs out as indicated by the ceiling spotlights flashing.
?Okay, time?s up!? Kirk says, running over to the scales.  Kenneth has all five sacks of gold from the top row in his bin, and is holding a smaller bag from the camera-left side cubbyhole.  Brandy has both smaller bags and four of the larger bags in her bin, and was about to start up the net to grab the last bag when time ran out. ?Let?s see who had the heavier weight.? When he removes his hand from the latch on the fulcrum of the scales, Brandy?s bin drops until the edge touches the studio floor. ?Purple Parrots did it, just by a little, I guess.  That gives them another half Pendant of Life!? The audience applauds again. ?The next game, the Green Monkeys can catch up, it?s worth a full Pendant.  Olmec, tell us about it.?

Olmec narrates:
?When Olaudah became free, he hoped that other slaves would also make their way to freedom.  In this game, you and your partner are a pair of slaves who must work together to reach freedom.  When Kirk gives the signal, climb along the wall and maneuver the chain along the slot until you reach the passage marked ?Freedom?.
?The first team to reach Freedom? or the one that?s closer to Freedom after 60 seconds? wins.?
The camera shows Kirk standing in front of the two giant boards and facing the camera. ?Green Monkeys need this to tie,? he reminds everyone. ?Let?s put 60 seconds on the clock.? The clock then appears in the corner of the screen. ?On your mark, get set, GO!?
The teams take off and both start moving along the board at a rather fast pace.  The Green Monkeys develop a good early lead, passing through the first of the two metal loops with 49 seconds remaining, two seconds before the Purple Parrots do so.
?This is a tough game to play,? Kirk comments. ?It takes a lot of coordination, have to talk with your partner, both teams doin? good so far!? During the second leg of the game, the Purple Parrots slip ahead and pass through the second loop with 35 seconds to go.  The Green Monkeys catch up somewhat during the last leg of the game, but it is too little, too late; the Purple Parrots free themselves with 19 seconds remaining.
?Okay, that?s it!? Kirk announces, running over just after the Green Monkeys set themselves free. ?By a nose, it?s the Purple Parrots! They?re excited, they got two Pendants, they?re goin? to the Temple!? Justin and Brandy high-five several times and then Brandy starts jumping up and down out of excitement.  Kirk then goes to talk to the Green Monkeys. ?These guys gave it a great effort too.  Here?s what we?ve got for them.? Kenneth and Christine will each be receiving a backpack provided by Eastpak.
Kirk is standing in front of the equipment for the third Temple Game with his hands on Justin and Brandy?s shoulders. ?These guys blazed through everything,? he says, ?and now we?re gonna see if they can retrieve that Dampened Diary right after this!? The camera zigzags across the stage and zooms in on the Dampened Diary on the terrace next to the Dampened Diary, then fades to commercial.

[The Ancient Warrior]

Kirk stands in front of the Temple's stairs with his hands on Justin and Brandy's shoulders. "Welcome back to Legends," he says to the camera before turning around to talk to Olmec. "Olmec!" he shouts. "The Purple Parrots have proven themselves worthy and earned the right to enter your Temple.  But before they go, can you give them any information about the Temple to help them retrieve the Dampened Diary of Oloodah Equiano?"
Olmec begins to give the rundown:
?You could start by climbing through the Crevasse and climbing down into the Mine Shaft.  Throw enough rocks into the bucket to lift the slab, then race into the Crystal Cave.  Pull down the correct icicle, and you could choose to go up into the Dragon?s Lair, or into the Junction of the Secret Shafts.  If you escape, you might have a chance to enter the Switch Inferno.  Hit the right actuator to go upstairs, or plow through the wall and into the Dungeon, where you can grab the Dampened Diary.
?There, climb up the Pharaoh?s Secret Passage into the Dark Overlook, and correctly place all three torches to open the door? to the Shrine? of the Silver Monkey.  Assemble the statue, and you may be headed for the Knights? Barracks.  Place the sword in the correct sheath, and you could advance into the Laser Light Room.  Find the right combination to unleash the power of the laser, and run across the Bridge.  Then, pass through the Room of Temple Gongs, race down the stairs and back through the Temple Gate.  The choices are yours and yours alone.? Olmec pauses for a second here. "You won 2 Pendants in the Temple Games.  Who's going first??
"I am," answers Brandy.
"Very well Brandy," replies Olmec as Kirk hands out the Pendants of Life. "When Kirk gives the signal, you'll race through the gates into the Temple and make your way towards the Dampened Diary.  Hidden inside the Temple are three ventilation shafts that let out in the Junction of the Secret Shafts, as well as Temple Guards assigned to protect three specific rooms.  You can trade your Pendant for an extra life and go on, but if you're caught without a Pendant, you'll be taken out of the Temple? and then it'll be Justin's turn to enter and try his luck.  If you can reach the Dampened Diary, all the doors of the Temple will instantly unlock, and the Temple Guards will vanish.  Return through the gates with the Dampened Diary of Olaudah Equiano in three minutes, and you will both be handsomely rewarded? and here's how:"
?   For just making it into the Temple, they?re both going to get a camping gear package from Outdoor Products.
?   If they can grab the Dampened Dairy in 3 minutes, they?re also going to get XBOX 360 game packages.
?   And if they can bring the Diary out of the Temple before 3 minutes is up, they?ll both be going to Krystal Cancun! Krystal Cancun, the resort for beach lovers, with excursions to Mayan ruins.  It?s rich in history and rich in pleasure.  Krystal Cancun, for a prize package totaling $13,196!

"Cancun, all right, let?s get the fired-up Purple Parrots to Cancun!" Kirk says, excited. "And now Justin, what?s your strategy?"
"Well," Justin explains, "we?re gonna try to stay on the bottom as long as we can, and hopefully all the doors?ll open and we can get the Diary and come back out and win."
"Hopefully that?ll work out," Kirk says. "Let?s get Brandy out in front.  Put your mouthpieces in.  Let?s set the clock for three minutes." The clock then appears in the corner of the screen. "Lower the gate, Olmec!"
Olmec moans as the gate lowers, and then the blue lights on him are turned off.
"On your mark, get set, GO!"

?There she goes! Down into the Temple!? Kirk shouts as Brandy slides down into the Crevasse.  She goes immediately to the actuator for the lower crawl tube, only to have her feet pulled out from under her by a TEMPLE GUARD! Brandy hands over her Pendant, then goes to try the upper crawl tube.  Neither crawl tube opens, so she has to climb up into the Room of Temple Gongs. (2:41) She begins by hitting the rightmost gong and then moves stage-left.  The second gong she hits lights up purple, and the door leading to the Bridge opens and Brandy goes on in.
?This is a gymnast-in-training,? Kirk comments as Brandy hits the actuator for the door leading into the Laser Light Room. ?Let?s see if those skills help out here.? Brandy begins aligning the sections of the metal column, and with 2:06 remaining, the whole puzzle is put together, and a laser beam appears in the dome.  Only the door to the Dragon?s Lair opens, and Brandy immediately climbs downward.  She grabs the horns from the front of the room one at a time and puts them in the holes in the dragon head hanging around the door connecting the room to the Laser Light Room.  The doors leading into the Knights? Barracks and the Crystal Cave open, and Brandy, sticking with her plan to stay on the bottom floor as long as possible, goes down into the Crystal Cave to meet the second TEMPLE GUARD!
?Oh, go Justin!? Kirk shouts as the Crystal Cave Temple Guard grabs Brandy?s shoulder. Justin races up the stairs of the Temple with a full Pendant in hand and 1:33 on the clock. ?These guys could go all the way, they were first in the Steps of Knowledge, they won all three Temple Games.?  Justin slides down into the Crevasse, climbs up into the Room of Temple Gongs, runs across the Bridge, climbs down from the Laser Light Room and descends through the Dragon?s Lair and sets foot in the Crystal Cave with 56 seconds left.  He pulls down all three stalactites, but the door leading into the Junction of the Secret Shafts doesn?t open.
?That door?s not opening,? Kirk says when Justin runs over to the door connecting the Crystal Cave to the Junction of the Secret Shafts and tries prying it open.  After a few seconds, Justin decides to climb back up and go left from the Dragon?s Lair into the Knights? Barracks. (0:32) He puts the sword in the middle sheath, which opens the door to the Shrine of the Silver Monkey where he meets the last TEMPLE GUARD!
?Okay, there?s that last Temple Guard!? Kirk says as Justin hands over his Pendant. (0:19) ?Now he?s just gotta put the monkey together and do the torches and he?s got it!? Justin grabs all three parts of the monkey, puts the base in position, and holds the other pieces in his hands over the railing when time runs out.
?Oh, and at that time they were only two rooms away!? Kirk comments, with Brandy just stage-right of him. ?It was a good effort, Brandy cleared out a major path.  But they still get the camping gear, and we gotta go.  Let?s join us again next time for another Legends of the Hidden Temple! Buh-bye!? Justin appears from offscreen a few seconds later to meet with Kirk and Brandy.  The camera focuses on a cheering audience, the Dampened Diary and the Purple Parrots torch at the end of the Moat as the credits roll.

[The Ancient Warrior]

Temple Run Summary
Episode 30px]

Name of Artifact: The Dampened Diary of Olaudah Equiano
Season: 2
Layout: 2 (6 overall)
Result: Failed acquisition
Time Remaining: N/A
Team: Purple Parrots
Pendants Won: 2
Location of Artifact: The Dungeon



A typical Purple Parrots episode? the team dominated just about everything until the Temple, but came up short there.  Generally following the frontrunner's path precisely is a good move, but not when that entails meeting a dead end.  Brandy's strategy was specifically to stay on the bottom floor for as long as possible.  That meant that she would meet the first Temple Guard in the Crevasse and then be forced up into the Room of Temple Gongs, and that she would enter the dead-end Crystal Cave, where she was taken out.  Justin went in and followed Brandy's path to the letter.

To make matters worse, Brandy wasn't exactly the fastest contestant, so by the time Justin met her dead end, a little less than a minute remained.  He did realize he had to climb back up and continue left from the Dragon's Lair, but it was too little, too late.  Time ran out not too long after Justin handed his Pendant of Life to the third guard in the Shrine of the Silver Monkey.

Trivia and Records:
This is the first episode in which the Blue Barracudas, the Green Monkeys, the Purple Parrots and the Silver Snakes are the four teams which qualify for the Steps of Knowledge.