Rediscovery EP: The Thorn Crown of Emperor Augustus

[The Ancient Warrior]

Author's Note: This is one of the episodes of my independent project, Legends: The Rediscovery.  More information on the project can be found by following this link.

Episode 7: The Thorn Crown of Emperor Augustus

The camera pans through a thick jungle to stop in front of an ancient temple. The giant stone head at the base of the temple breaks the silence:
"LEGENDS OF THE HIDDEN TEMPLE! With your guide, Kirk Fogg!"

Kirk comes down swinging on a rope. "Thank 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. Olmec, which legend are we going to hear about today?"

Olmec replies:
"The legend of the Thorn Crown of Emperor Augustus."

"Oh, the Thorn Crown of Augustus!" Kirk says in response. "So the legend is set, and one of these six teams will have the chance to retrieve the Thorn Crown. Will it be:
"Bryan and Stacey of the Red Jaguars—" the camera pans to each team in order—
"Daran and Lori of the Blue Barracudas,
"Tim and Amanda of the Green Monkeys,
"David and Alicia of the Orange Iguanas,
"Victor and Larissa of the Purple Parrots,
"Or Tony and Christine 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. First, they must cross the moat, and here's how they'll have to do it today:
"In front of each team a giant web has fallen above the Moat. One player from each team is already holding onto a long rope, and when I say 'go,' they'll swing out to the web and climb over it, then swim the rest of the Moat. Then their partner will go out to grab the rope, then go across the same way, but be careful— if your knees touch the water before you climb over the web, you'll have to go back and start over.
"When both players are across, run over and hit your team's gong." He slams down on the Red Jaguars' gong to demonstrate. "The first four teams to hit their gongs will go on to the next round, so teams— are you ready?"
The players all cheer and shout in response.
"Olmec, are you ready?" asks Kirk.
"ROCK ON!" Olmec shouts.
"Let's get started, then," Kirk replies. "On your mark, get set, GO!"

The teams all rush off at about the same pace— except for the girl on the Silver Snakes, who can't seem to swing close enough to her net. Larissa of the Purple Parrots falls off her rope just as the first players on the other teams reach their nets, but she gets out quickly and becomes the fourth player to get across (behind the first players on the Red Jaguars, Orange Iguanas and Blue Barracudas). The girl on the Green Monkeys is next, and her partner drops a bit far into the water when he swings out to the net. The first player from the Silver Snakes jumps down from her net just as the second player on the Red Jaguars hits her team's gong.
After the Red Jaguars ring in, the girl on the Blue Barracudas slips off of her net, and then the Orange Iguanas' second player gets across to gong in. The boy on the Green Monkeys team rings in a split second later. The Blue Barracuda girl just beats out the boy on the Purple Parrots for the fourth position.
"All right, that's it!" announces Kirk. "We've got our four teams: the Red Jaguars, Blue Barracudas, Green Monkeys, and Orange Iguanas. They're all going on to the Steps of Knowledge!" The audience applauds. "The Purple Parrots and Silver Snakes gave it a great effort too. We've got a great gift for them for playing, and here's what it is." Victor, Tony, Christine and Larissa will each be receiving a prize package provided by AND 1.

[The Ancient Warrior]

Before starting the second round, Kirk makes an announcement concerning the Moat round. "The judges ruled the Green Monkeys dropped too far into the water when they were swinging out to the net, but we didn't send 'em back like we should have," he explains. "That means Purple Parrots were fourth, so they're replacing the Green Monkeys at the Steps of Knowledge!" The audience cheers.
The four teams are now at the top of the Steps of Knowledge accompanied by Kirk. "Now, as we continue our quest, it's now time for Olmec to tell us about the Thorn Crown of Emperor Augustus.  Pay attention teams, because your knowledge of the legend can bring you one step closer to the Temple of Olmec."

Olmec begins to tell the story:
"One of the first and wisest emperors of Rome was Emperor Augustus.  He transformed the huge land into an empire, and he found and defeated the men who did away with his uncle Julius Caesar, and before he became emperor, he was named Octavian— but was as ambitious as ever.
"When Octavian was seventeen, his uncle Julius Caesar was busy dealing with a war in Spain.  Poor Julius was losing, but Octavian had sent word that he would come to help.
" 'It's only a couple months away,' Octavian said to himself. 'No pressure.'
"But the voyage certainly wasn't easy— Octavian and his crew were shipwrecked, many of the crew fell ill, and those who survived had to sneak past enemy territory to get to Julius.
" 'You did all that just to see me?' Julius was surprised when he heard the tale.
" 'Nah, I came to fight, old man!' replied Octavian. 'Let's rock!'
"After the battle, Octavian was given a thorn crown by his uncle as a reward for his incredible act of bravery.  But when he became Emperor Augustus, the thorn crown disappeared— until now.  Your quest is to retrieve the Thorn Crown of Emperor Augustus and bring it back here."

"Thanks Olmec," Kirk says after Olmec finishes telling the story. "So tell us, where is the Thorn Crown?"
Olmec replies:
"The Thorn Crown of Emperor Augustus can be found in the Chamber of the Sacred Markers."

"Teams," Kirk begins, walking down the steps, "you are now standing on the Steps of Knowledge, and in a minute, Olmec will ask you a question about the legend.  If you think you know the answer, stomp down on the ancient marking in front of you.  If you're first, your step will light up, and you'll have three seconds to answer.  If you're right, you can move down to the next level, but if you're wrong or run out of time, one of the other teams will get a chance to answer.  The first two teams to make it to the bottom level will be one step closer to Olmec's Temple.  Olmec! We're now ready for your first question."

Olmec begins:
"Augustus lived in what ancient empire: Rome, Greece, or—?"
Daran rings in: "Rome."
"Correct," replies Olmec, and so the Blue Barracudas can move down one level.

Olmec now asks:
"Today, Rome is the capital of what country—?"
David buzzes in: "Italy."
"Correct," replies Olmec, and so the Orange Iguanas get to move down a step as well.

Olmec asks:
"What was Augustus's name before he became—?"
Daran stomps down first: "Octavian."
"That is correct," replies Olmec, and so the Blue Barracudas step down again.
"One more correct response and the Blue Barracudas are goin' to the next round," Kirk explains. "This match is heating up.  Next question, Olmec."

Olmec asks:
"Augustus was the first ruler of Rome to go by what title: Kaiser, Emperor, or—?"
Lori stomps down first and then confidently shouts: "Emperor!"
"That is correct!" Olmec yells in response, and so the Blue Barracudas go down to the final step.
"Okay, we've got our first team going to the Temple Games!" Kirk announces as the audience applauds. "We're still lookin' for one more team, but who's it gonna be: the Purple Parrots, the Orange Iguanas or the Red Jaguars? Next question, Olmec."

Olmec asks:
"Where did Augustus sail to help Julius in the war: Portugal—?"
Victor rings in early: "Uh… Portugal…?"
"Incorrect," replies Olmec. "The other two choices are—" But before he can finish, Alicia rings in: "Spain…?"
"That is correct," says Olmec, and so the Orange Iguanas get to move down another level.
"If the Orange Iguanas answer right again, they'll be goin' to the Temple Games," Kirk explains. "Red and Purple can still catch up.  Next question."

Olmec asks:
"Spain is one of two countries located on what peninsula: Iberia, Liberia, or Siberia?"
No one rings in for a second, but then Bryan stomps down first: "Siberia…?"
"Incorrect," replies Olmec, and then Victor stomps in: "Iberia…?"
"Correct," Olmec says, and so the Purple Parrots can move down one step.
"Red Jaguars can still catch up," Kirk says. "Next question."

Olmec continues:
"In ancient Rome, warriors wielding swords often fought each other in contests.  What were these men called—?"
Victor buzzes in right away: "Gladiators."
"That is correct," replies Olmec, and so the Purple Parrots get to move down again.
"It's tied up on the second-to-last step," narrates Kirk. "Red Jaguars can still catch up, though.  Olmec, continue."

Olmec does so by asking this:
"Gladiator shows often took place in what large building in Rome: the Pantheon, the Colosseum, or the Circus Maximus?"
Victor buzzes in: "Colosseum…?"
"That is correct!" shouts Olmec, and so the Purple Parrots go down to the final step.
"That's it!" announces Kirk. "We've got our two teams, they're the Blue Barracudas and the Purple Parrots! Red Jaguars and Orange Iguanas, you gave it a great effort too.  You're not going away empty-handed, here's what we've got for you." Bryan, Stacey, David and Alicia will each be receiving a copy of RV on DVD.

[The Ancient Warrior]

"Now," says Kirk, "the glory goes to the fastest and the strongest, but before we continue, let's get to know our teams a little better. On the Blue Barracudas, we have Daran. How old are ya?"
"Thirteen," Daran replies.
"And I understand you're a real football fan," reads Kirk. "Tell me about that."
"I don't just watch my favorite teams every Monday night," says Daran, "I also play after school with my friends."
"Favorite team?" asks Kirk.
"Miama Dolphins," replies Daran.
"And your partner here is Lori," says Kirk. "And how old are you?"
"Thirteen," answers Lori.
"And you love swimming and reading, but you want to grow up to be a lawyer," reads Kirk. "Why's that?"
"Well… it pays a whole lot of money," Lori replies.
"Well let's see if you can win a whole lot here," Kirk says. "Let's hear it for the Blue Barracudas!" The audience applauds as Kirk goes to interview the other team. But wait, we've got the Purple Parrots, and this is Victor. And how old are ya?"
"Thirteen," replies Victor.
"And it says here you're into soccer on an international scale," Kirk reads. "Tell me about that."
"I watch the World Cup and all the European matches," Victor explains, "and I play with my cousins every time I visit them in Buenos Aires."
"Hold on, you've come all the way from Argentina?" Kirk says.
"No, but my parents moved here to the U.S. from there," explains Victor. "I was born here, but we go back to visit everyone every year around Christmas."
"Okay, and your partner here is Larissa," says Kirk. "And how old are you?"
"Twelve," replies Larissa.
"Now it says here that you're all about the movie biz," reads Kirk. "Tell me about that."
"Well I was cast as Juliet in the school play last spring," says Larissa, "and my friends call that the start of a beautiful career. I've always wanted to produce and direct movies, but I think I'm a little nervous about starring on the big screen."
"But I think if you get through this without getting nervous," says Kirk, "you're good to go to the movies. Let's hear it for the Purple Parrots!" The audience applauds again.

"Why don't you go get ready for the Temple Games," Kirk says, "while I tell you guys what's gonna happen here. Now, in the Temple Games, these teams will be competing to win Pendants of Life. The winning team will need the Pendants to protect themselves from the dreaded Temple Guards when they go to Olmec's Temple. There are three Temple Games, and Olmec… can you tell us about Temple Game #1?"

Olmec begins:
"Warriors in ancient Rome would often have to hone their skills. Here, you must sharpen yours by taking down a mob of warriors that has outnumbered you. When Kirk gives the signal, jump down from your platform and knock down one of the targets with your staff, then jump again and aim for another target. Once all of your targets are knocked over, you must then return to your starting platform.
"The first player to knock over all twelve targets and return to the starting platform— or the one that's furthest along in 60 seconds— wins."
The camera fades to Kirk. "The odds are stacked against them here," he says. "Let's put 60 seconds on the clock and get moving. On your mark, get set, GO!"
Daran and Victor jump off their platforms and their bungee cords lower them to ground level. They head in different directions to knock over their first targets, then Victor begins to move about randomly whereas Daran develops a strategic pattern. "You have to keep jumping or knocking a down won't count," Kirk explains to the audience. The boys have to go up to hit a few targets on raised platforms along the way. Both end up having to backtrack at some points, but they make good progress before the ceiling spotlights flash to indicate that time is up.
"Okay, that's it!" Kirk shouts. "It looks like Daran knocked over seven, but Victor got down eight! Purple Parrots get a half Pendant of Life!" The audience applauds for a second. "Daran, I thought you had a good pattern going, but it looks like Victor was just a little faster. Don't worry though, you and the BLue Barracudas can still catch up in the next game, it's worth a half Pendant. Olmec, tell us about it."

Olmec continues:
"Augustus had to sail through thousands of miles of sea to reach his uncle and the war in Spain. Fortunately for you, your voyage will be much shorter. When Kirk gives the signal, row from the dock to the island, then get out to mount your flag. Then, turn the boat around and pull yourself back to the dock. If at any point you touch the floor, you must begin that leg of the trip again.
"The first player to mount the flag and return to the dock— or the player that's furthest along after 30 seconds— wins."
"Okay then, let's put 30 seconds on the clock and set sail," says Kirk. "Ready, set, GO! Von boyage!"
Lori and Larissa sail out from the dock and mount their flags quickly. Turning the boats around, however, uses up a bit of time. After this the girls pull back in to the docks really quickly, but Lori gets back and appears next to Kirk first with 3 seconds left on the clock. Larissa appears only a second later.
"It was a close one," comments Kirk, "but Lori got here first. The Blue Barracudas get the half Pendant of Life!" The audience claps again. "So we've got a tie so far, a half Pendant each. We go to the third and final game, it's worth a full Pendant. Olmec, tell us about Temple Game #3."

Olmec narrates:
"Along the way, Augustus had to complete many objectives to reach and to help Julius Caesar in the war. Here, you will follow his voyage. Before you is a wall with four targets representing four of the steps on his journey: Pass through the Mediterranean Sea, Land in Spain, Cross enemy territory, and Victory. When Kirk gives the signal, load the slingshot and fire a cannonball, which your partner will catch and stick on the first target. Once you've covered a target, your partner will climb up and you can aim for the next one.
"The team to cover all four of their targets first— or the team who's covered the most targets in 60 seconds— wins."
"This one's for the Temple!" Kirk says. "Let's put 60 seconds on the clock. Ready, aim, FIRE!"
Daran and Victor each load their own slingshots and take aim at the targets labeled "Pass through the Mediterranean Sea." Both cannonballs slip right out of their slingshots before the slingshots are released, then the boys slowly reload.
Lori catches a ball and covers "Pass through the Mediterranean Sea" on the third try, but it takes Victor five tries to get Larissa to catch the ball and stick it on the first target. However, Daran keeps missing Lori in the meantime, but Lori and Larissa eventually both cover "Land in Spain" and Larissa then sticks a ball to "Cross enemy territory" about ten seconds later. A few seconds later lights flash to signal that time is up. Kirk then runs over to give the summary.
"Well, Blue Barracudas covered up to 'Land in Spain,' but Purple Parrots got 'Cross enemy territory,' " Kirk announces. "Purple Parrots get the full Pendant of Life!" The audience applauds. "That gives the Purple Parrots a Pendant and a half, the Blue Barracudas had a half. The Purple Parrots are going to the Temple!" Kirk says, summing up the Temple Games in a few words. "Blue Barracudas gave it a great effort though. They're not going out empty-handed, we've got a great gift for them." Daran and Lori will each be receiving a $100 U.S. Savings Bond provided by Nestle. "Victor and Larissa, great job, but it's not over yet. Now we're gonna see if you can make it through Olmec's Temple."

[The Ancient Warrior]

"Olmec!" calls Kirk. "The Purple Parrots have proven themselves worthy and now have earned the right to enter your Temple. But before they go, can you give them any information about your Temple to help them retrieve the Thorn Crown of Emperor Augustus?"
Olmec begins to give the rundown:
"You could start by running up the stairs to the Vault. Turn the wheel to open a door which may take you into the Great Chasm. Here you could choose to swing across the gap and climb up into the King's Storeroom. Smash the clay pots to find the key that will lead you into the Chamber of the Sacred Markers, where you can grab the Thorn Crown of Emperor Augustus. Match the symbols on the right to those on the left and pass into the Room of the Ancient Warriors. Place yourself in the correct armor to open the door to the Shrine of the Silver Monkey. Assemble the statue there and you may be headed toward the Room of the Secret Password. Find the tablet with the correct inscription, and shout it out to open the door to the Pharaoh's Secret Passage.
"Slide down the tunnel to the Quicksand Bog, where you could smash through the stone wall and into the Dungeon of the Lone Column. Reach into the column to find the key, or knock it over and you'll enter the Junction of the Secret Shafts. Race across the room and you'll gain entry to the Tomb of the Headless Kings. Attach the skull on the altar to its proper king to release the doors. Then, pass through the Great Chasm, climb through the Ledges, 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 1½ Pendants in the Temple Games. Who's going first?"
"I am!" shouts Larissa eagerly.
"Very well, Larissa," replies Olmec as Kirk hands out the Pendants of Life. "Good luck to both of you."

"All right then," Kirk says, beginning to explain the rules. "When I say 'go,' you'll race through the gates into the Temple and make your way to the Thorn Crown. Careful though— inside the Temple are many locked doors and dead ends. But there are three old shafts somewhere in the Temple. If you can find one and it's open, you can jump in and slide down to the Junction of the Secret Shafts. Also there are Temple Guards assigned to protect three specific rooms. If you enter one of those rooms, the Temple Guard will jump out and grab you, but 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 it'll be Victor's turn to enter and try his luck. Now, you have a Pendant and a half, but hidden somewhere inside the Temple is the other half of your Pendant. If you can find it and you're carrying the other half, you'll get an extra life. If you can reach the Crown, all the doors of the Temple will instantly unlock, and the Temple Guards will vanish. Return through the gates with the Thorn Crown of Emperor Augustus in three minutes, and you'll both be handsomely rewarded— and here's how!"
• No matter what happens, Victor and Larissa are each guaranteed a Regent sports package.
• If they get to the Thorn Crown within the time limit, they'll also win matching $1,000 Toys 'R' Us gift cards.
• If they can bring the Thorn Crown of Emperor Augustus out of the Temple before three minutes is up, they'll each win a five-day vacation in Italy!

"Sounds good, let's see if they get it all!" Kirk says, excited. "By the way, Larissa, tell us what's your strategy?"
"We're just gonna try and bust through to the Room of the Markers as fast as we can," explains Larissa. "And if we can't get right in from that big pit, we'll find another way."
"And you're going first, do you think you can do it on your own?" asks Kirk.
"I hope so," Larissa replies with a smile.
"Well let's see if you can," Kirk says. "Let's lower the gate, Olmec!"
As the Temple Gate drops, Victor and Larissa put in their mouthpieces.
"And then let's set the clock for three minutes," says Kirk. "Ready, GO!"
Larissa races up into the Vault and slowly turns the safe wheel. When she spins it one time around, the door to the Great Chasm slams open— and the safe opens to reveal the first TEMPLE GUARD! Larissa hands the Guard her Pendant, then heads into the Great Chasm and swings across the big gap. She tries the doors into the Chamber of the Sacred Markers and the King's Storeroom, but neither opens and so she has to jump of the ledge and go through the door into the Tomb of the Headless Kings. (2:36) Larissa grabs the skull and tries placing it on the camera-right skeleton first, but nothing works. She then tries the other skeleton— but the door up into the Chamber of the Sacred Markers doesn't open, so she has to go into the Junction of the Secret Shafts, where she meets the second TEMPLE GUARD!
Victor races up the stairs into the Vault with a good 2:08 left and only a half Pendant in hand. He jumps right down into the Great Chasm, and then races through the Tomb of the Headless Kings. "Oh! And he passes up the half Pendant!" shouts Kirk. So Victor tries to go back and find it, but he can't seem to locate it (it was around the neck of the camera-right king), then he heads into the Junction of the Secret Shafts again and races across the room to enter the Dungeon of the Lone Column. (1:22) Victor then reaches into the column and takes out the key, but he can't open any of the golden doors in the back of the room with it. Knocking the column over doesn't open anything either. Victor stands around confused and tries to go back into the Junction of the Secret Shafts.
"Forward! You have to go forward!" shouts Kirk as Victor crawls into the Junction of the Secret Shafts again. "Bust through the wall!" And so Victor goes back into the Dungeon of the Lone Column and runs through the breakaway wall into the Quicksand Bog. (0:54) He crawls over to the entrance to the Pharaoh's Secret Passage and, with much difficulty, climbs up the slippery tunnel to get into the Room of the Secret Password. (0:39) Victor immediately looks around for the hidden tablets, and he removes his mouthpiece to shout out the first password: "LONG LIVE OLMEC!" It's not right, but maybe the password is: "KLAATU BARADA NIKTO!" It is, and Victor races through the newly open door into the Shrine of the Silver Monkey— only to be caught by the third Temple Guard with a short 21 seconds left.
"NO!" shout Kirk and Larissa at the same time. "That's the third Temple Guard, he's only got a half Pendant," Kirk explains, "it's all over. The other half Pendant was in the Tomb of the Headless Kings, around the skeleton's neck. Too bad you didn't see it. But you still get the Regent sports packages, and I know you had a great time here. Join us next time for another great adventure of the Hidden Temple!"

[The Ancient Warrior]

Episode Summary
Episode 7: The Thorn Crown of Emperor Augustus

Name of Artifact: The Thorn Crown of Emperor Augustus
Season: 1
Layout: 2
Result: Triple seizure
Time Remaining: 0:21
Team: Purple Parrots
Pendants Won: 1 ½
Location of Artifact: The Chamber of the Sacred Markers




The Purple Parrots seemed like good players, but they had to deal with a tough Temple design with the artifact in the center room, and had only one-and-one-half Pendants to help them. Cute-as-a-button Larissa (who reminds me of Amanda from the original show's episode "The Mussel Shell Armor of Apanuugpak") went first, and she made good time going through the rooms. At first she tried to beeline straight to the artifact, but it's not like it could hurt her team too badly with a Temple configuration like this. Fortunately, she also had a good concept of what to do in each room. Unfortunately, she met two Temple Guards very early, in the Vault and the Junction of the Secret Shafts, and from the latter she was removed fifty seconds into the run.

Victor came next, and although he seemed to have a looser concept of the room objectives, it was probably still good enough to pass. Although he did get a little confused in the Dungeon of the Lone Column when he couldn't go up into the Shrine of the Silver Monkey from there, he still made it from one room to the next at a decent pace. Unfortunately, when he met the third Temple Guard in the Shrine of the Silver Monkey with 21 seconds left, he still had only a half-Pendant and so the game was over. The other half Pendant was pretty well hidden (it was around the neck of the camera-right Headless King,) but even if Victor had found it and gone on, it would've been a close grab of the Thorn Crown. All around, a brutal design that asked too much of these players.

Trivia and Records:
The Purple Parrots in this episode were actually the fifth team at the Moat. The Green Monkeys, who placed third, were later disqualified when it was decided they should have been sent back. (Something like this only happened twice in the original show: "John Henry's Lost Hammer," in Season 1; and "The Applewood Amulet of Emiliano Zapata," in Season 2.) This is also the only episode in which an artifact is located in the Chamber of the Sacred Markers, and the longest of the three Season 1 Temple Runs which were ended early by a third Temple Guard— the team lasted for 2:39 before Victor was taken out of the Temple.