Rediscovery EP: The Smashed Statue Piece of Thutmose

[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 87px]

The camera swerves through a thick rainforest, and after multiple turns, it eventually stops in front of an ancient temple.  The eyes of giant stone head next to the temple gate light up red as he begins to speak:
"LEGENDS OF THE HIDDEN TEMPLE!"
The show's logo forms as two halves of a Pendant of Life come in from the sides of the screen and merge; the show's name appears above the logo as the camera pans across the entire temple.
"With your guide, Kirk Fogg! And here he is NOW!"

On this final word, Kirk emerges from a thick patch of jungle plants and shrubs, then runs into the foreground and up a wide set of steps to greet the crowd. "Thank you! Thank you very much! Nice to see you! 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 of his temple.  Which one are we gonna hear about today?"

Faint orange lights underneath Olmec turn on, and the camera cuts to a close-up of him as he replies:
"The legend of the Smashed Statue Piece of Thutmose."

"All right! Well, the adventure is set," Kirk says in response as the camera cuts back to him, "and one of these six teams will have a chance to retrieve the Smashed Statue Piece of Thutmose.  Will it be:
"DJ and Melissa of the Red Jaguars?" the camera pans to each team in order, their first names briefly appearing at the bottom of the screen?
"Erik and Rachel of the Blue Barracudas,
"Dan and Kristin of the Green Monkeys,
"Alan and Nicole of the Orange Iguanas,
"Brandon and Diana of the Purple Parrots,
"Or Jeremy and Jacqui of the Silver Snakes?"

"They'll have to pass some tough physical and mental tests," Kirk says, "and in the end, only one team will earn the right to enter Olmec's Temple.  But first, they?ll have to cross the Moat, and here's how they'll have to do it today?
"When I say 'Go,' one player from each team will grab onto the rod above them and climb hand-over-hand across the Moat.  Then, when he gets across and lands on the other side, it's his partner's turn to grab onto the rod and do the same thing."
"As soon as the second player jumps down onto the deck, it's his job to run over here and hit the gong." He hits the top button on the Red Jaguars' gong? which lights up red? to demonstrate. "The first four teams to hit their gongs will be going into the next round.  Are you ready, teams?"
The players all cheer and shout in response.
"Olmec, are you ready?" asks Kirk.
"Rock on!" Olmec replies.
"Okay," Kirk says in response. "On your marks, get set, GO!!"

The first players on each team reach for the rods overhead, then start to make their way across at a reasonable pace. ?This is tough! They gotta keep their grip on the rod and they can?t look down? they just gotta keep going across!? After about twenty seconds, most of the first players are reaching the end of the Moat, but the male Blue Barracuda is notably struggling, only about halfway across.  After thirty seconds, the male Red Jaguar and Green Monkey jump down onto the dock, allowing their partners to grab onto the rods and start.  The next player to make it across is the girl on the Orange Iguanas, a few seconds later.  At the same time, the female Purple Parrot loses her grip on the rod only a couple of feet away from the deck and lands in the water, being forced to go back and start over.
?This looks close!? Kirk remarks as the second players on each team except the Purple Parrots start to make their way across the Moat. ?I think it?s gonna come down to the wire, what do you think?? After 55 seconds, the girl on the Green Monkeys jumps down and runs over to hit her team?s gong.  The female Silver Snake hits her team?s gong 58 seconds into the round. ?We got two teams, we?re still looking for two more!? The girl on the Red Jaguars and the boy on the Orange Iguanas tie for third when they hit their teams? gongs at the 1:07 mark.
?That?s it! We got our four teams right here!? announces Kirk, and the camera cuts to him standing with the celebrating Red Jaguars around their lit-up gong. ?Red Jaguars just edged it out, and now they?re going over to the Steps of Knowledge, along with the Green Monkeys?? the camera briefly shows each qualifying team? ?and the Orange Iguanas? and the Silver Snakes! The Blue Barracudas and the Purple Parrots gave it a great effort, it was a tough match, but they?re not going away empty-handed.  We got a great gift for them both and here?s what it is.? Erik, Rachel, Brandon and Diana will each be receiving a copy of Planet 51 on DVD.

[The Ancient Warrior]

When the camera cuts away from the consolation prize, Kirk and the four remaining teams are at the top of the Steps of Knowledge. "As the quest continues, it's now time for Olmec to tell us about the legend of the Smashed Statue Piece of Thutmose, but teams, pay attention, because your knowledge of the legend can bring you a step closer to Olmec's Temple."
Olmec begins to tell the legend:

"One of the greatest pharaohs of ancient Egypt was Thutmose, a military genius.  He conquered hundreds of cities and territories and added them into his own kingdom, and built scores of temples across the land.  He ruled over Egypt for over thirty years? but that could've been more than fifty years if it wasn't for his aunt, Hatshepsut.
" 'That woman needs to learn her place?'
"A woman had never been pharaoh before, but when Hatshepsut's husband died, she took his place, and disguised herself as a man using a long black wig and a false beard? and most statues of her were based on that.  Legend has it that one day, Thutmose stormed into Hatshepsut's palace to call her out.
" 'Aunt Hattie, you should be ashamed of yourself!' he said.  Hatshepsut was being fed a bunch of grapes by her servants when Thutmose barged in, and she stopped and got up from her throne.
" 'Aunt Hat? ahem? Aunt Hattie? Child, I think you have me mistaken for someone else.'
" 'Oh, come off it! You dressed up as a man so you could be pharaoh instead of me, you made your own DAUGHTER into your queen, and you won't even admit to it in front of your own nephew! I don't know you anymore.'
"Hatshepsut leaned in close to whisper to Thutmose:
" 'If I revealed myself now, they'd probably exile both of us.  What they don't know won't hurt them, deary.'
" 'Fine.  Be like that.'
"And he left the throne room, but he never forgave Hatshepsut for her act.  She ruled for more than twenty years, but when she died and Thutmose inherited the throne, legend has it the first thing he did was have all the statues of Hatshepsut destroyed.  The head of one of the statues made its way to the Temple.  Your quest is to retrieve the Smashed Statue Head of Thutmose and bring it back here."

"Thank you Olmec," Kirk says with a slightly disgusted expression on his face once Olmec finishes telling the legend. "So where is the Statue? Head?"
Olmec replies:
"The Smashed Statue Piece can be found in the Den of the Two Totem Poles." The camera zooms in on a statue of a pharaoh's head on the front railing in the Den of Totem Poles, then fades back to Kirk.

"Teams," Kirk begins, "you're now standing on the Steps of Knowledge.  In a minute, Olmec will ask you a question.  If you think you know the answer, 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." Kirk starts walking down the steps as he continues explaining the rules. "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:
?Thutmose reigned over ancient Egypt.  Are ancient Egyptian leaders called: Tsars, Kaisers???
DJ interrupts Olmec by stomping in: ?Pharaohs.?
?Correct,? says Olmec in response.
?Nice job, Red Jaguars, step down!? encourages Kirk, and the Red Jaguars move down to the second level. ?Next question.?

Olmec asks:
?Was Thutmose?s place at the throne denied by his: Aunt, Sister or Mother??
Jeremy rings in: ?His? aunt???
?Correct.?
?Silver Snakes, step down! Good job!? Kirk calls, and the Silver Snakes also move down to the second step. ?Olmec, next question.?

Olmec now asks:
?Was his aunt?s name: Cleopatra, Nefertiti or Hatshepsut??
Kristin buzzes in, but struggles with the pronunciation: ?Ha? Hap-shett-soot??
??Correct,? answers Olmec.
?Green Monkeys, step down!? The Green Monkeys join the Red Jaguars and Silver Snakes on the second level. ?Orange Iguanas can still get in this.  Next question.?

Olmec asks:
?During his reign, was Thutmose hailed as a genius in: Military tactics, Diplomacy and negotiations or Art and literat???
DJ hits the marking first: ?Um? Diplomatics???
?That is incorrect,? replies Olmec.
Kristin stomps down and guesses: ?War? um? Military skills???
There is a pause.
?That is correct.?
?Whoo! Just like that, the Green Monkeys are only one step away from the Temple Games!? Kirk remarks as the Green Monkeys walk down onto the penultimate step. ?We?re looking for two teams.  Next question!?

Olmec then asks:
?In order to rule over Egypt, did Hatshepsut: Lock Thutmose up in a jail, Disguise herself as a man or Gain permission from???
Nicole gongs in: ?She? dressed up as a man!?
?Correct.?
?Orange Iguanas on the board!? comments Kirk, and the audience bursts into applause as the Orange Iguanas move down a step. ?This match is heating up! Olmec, next question!?

Olmec asks:
?In our legend, when Hatshepsut died, did Thutmose: Destroy all the statues of her, Throw all her supporters in jail or Have her cre???
Kristin cuts off Olmec this time: ?Destroyed her statues, or every statue of her.?
?That is correct!? Olmec shouts, and the Green Monkeys hop down onto the bottommost step.
?We got our first team going on to the Temple Games, and it?s the Green Monkeys!? Kirk announces as Dan and Kristin start celebrating on the bottom step. ?We?re still looking for one more team? will it be the Red Jaguars, the Silver Snakes or the Orange Iguanas? Olmec, continue.?

Olmec does so by asking:
?Did Hatshepsut rule over Egypt for more than: Ten years, Twenty years or Thirty years??
DJ steps in: ?Um? Twenty years???
?That is correct,? answers Olmec.
?Red Jaguars now one step away from the Temple Games,? says Kirk as the Red Jaguars move down to the third step, ?but it?s anybody?s game! Next question.?

Olmec asks:
?After Hatshepsut died, did Thutmose rule for over: Thirty years, Forty years or Fifty years??
After a moment, Nicole hits the marking first: ?Thirty years???
?That is correct.?
?Orange Iguanas coming from behind, they?re just one step away from Olmec?s Temple!? Kirk says as the Orange Iguanas join the Red Jaguars on the third level. ?Let?s keep going! Olmec, next question.?

Olmec?s next question is this:
?According to our legend, if Hatshepsut revealed herself as a woman, did she fear she?d be: Imprisoned, Done away with or Exiled??
DJ stomps in after a little hesitation: ?Exiled???
?THAT IS CORRECT!? bellows Olmec, and the Red Jaguars move around the Green Monkeys and onto the bottom step.  Kirk runs up the middle of the step before the teams start celebrating with one another, then turns around to face the camera.
?That?s it! We got our two teams right here!? he announces. ?It?s the Green Monkeys and the Red Jaguars! The Orange Iguanas and the Silver Snakes gave it a great effort, but came up a bit short.  But we got a great gift for them and here?s what it is.? Alan, Jeremy, Nicole and Jacqui will each be receiving a custom Legends of the Hidden Temple watch provided by Armitron.
When the camera cuts away from the consolation prize, only the Green Monkeys, Red Jaguars and Kirk are on the Steps of Knowledge. ?These two teams are gonna be playing for the right to enter Olmec?s Temple? right after this!? The camera pans out over the audience, then the show?s logo reappears and the camera fades to commercial.

[The Ancient Warrior]

When the camera fades in from commercial, the show?s title card is placed over a shot of the ship?s wheel in the Pirate?s Cove.  The pendant logo splits, the title fades into the distance and the camera segues to Kirk standing in front of the Pit of Despair with the two remaining teams.
?Welcome back to Legends!? he says. ?Now is the time where the glory goes to the fastest and the strongest, so let?s get to know our team players.  They were one-and-two in the Moat, and one-and-two in the Steps of Knowledge?? He starts on the left side of the screen, with the rather tall boy on the Green Monkeys, who has short brown hair, green eyes and freckles. ?On the Green Monkeys, we have Dan.  How old are you??
?Fourteen,? answers Dan.
?Now I understand you like to rollerblade and you?re into rock music,? Kirk reads off the index card in his hand. ?Do you play an instrument or? something??
?No, but? um? I?ve been to a few concerts.  I?ve seen Nine Inch Nails, Garbage, Mastodon? I really wanna see Metallica some day.?
?Ah, well very nice,? Kirk comments before moving on to Dan?s partner, a wavy-brown-haired girl with hazel eyes.  She is also wearing a green waterproof coat over her team shirt. ?And your partner here is Kristin.  How old are you??
?Twelve,? she replies.
?And I understand you like swimming and you run track,? Kirk reads, ?but you also write poetry.  Tell me about that.?
?Um,? answers Kristin, ?I wanna be a singer, and I?ve been writing my own songs for a few months now.?
?This is a musical team,? Kirk comments. ?Let?s hear it for the Green Monkeys!? The audience applauds for a few seconds, and Kirk turns to the right side of the screen to talk with the boy on the Red Jaguars, a slightly overweight boy with short dark hair and brown eyes. ?And on the Red Jaguars, we have DJ.  How old are you??
?Thirteen,? he replies.
?And I heard you do a lot of skateboarding,? Kirk says. ?Tell me about that.?
?Well, I skate with my friends every day after school? I?m a street skater more than vert??
?When you say ?vert?? what?s that??
?On a half-pipe.?
?Oh, all right,? Kirk replies, moving further to the right to talk to DJ?s partner, a blond girl with blue eyes and freckles, who is wearing a red waterproof coat over her shirt. ?And Melissa, how old are you??
?Thirteen,? says Melissa in response.
?And I heard you?re also on the swim team like Kristin over there,? read Kirk. ?Tell me about that.?
?Well? I?m best with the backstroke, but I can?t hold my breath underwater,? Melissa laughs. ?But I?m still fast.?
?This is an athletic Red Jaguar team,? Kirk says, moving back toward the center of the screen. ?Let?s hear it for ?em!? The audience briefly applauds for the Red Jaguars.

?All right, now go get ready for the Temple Games!? Kirk says, pointing in different directions, and the players walk offscreen as Kirk faces the camera again. ?Now, in the Temple Games, each team is competing for?" 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 them from the dreaded Temple Guards as they make their way through the Temple.  There are three Temple Games, and Olmec? tell us about Temple Game #1.?

Olmec begins:
"Egypt is well-known for its pyramids, which archaeologists believe were made by pushing stones up a ramp.  In this game, you will need to build a pyramid of your own.  Behind you is a very slippery ramp.  When Kirk gives the signal, push the first layer of the pyramid up the ramp with your backs until you reach the top.  Place the layer there, and water will flow down the ramp as you slide back down.  Then, take the next layer and do it again.
"The first player to place all three layers of the pyramid at the top of the ramp, completely assemble the pyramid and slide back down? or the player that's further along after 60 seconds? wins."
"I didn't know they built pyramids like this!" Kirk laughs as the camera fades from Olmec to him. "So let's set the clock for 60 seconds." A countdown clock appears in the bottom-right corner of the screen, and Kirk gets out of the camera's way. "On your mark, get set, GO!"
Melissa and Kristin start pushing the largest bottom layers of their respective pyramids up the ramps as soon as Kirk shouts ?Go.? Both move at a decent pace, but Kristin is a bit slower than Melissa.  Melissa places the base of the pyramid at the top with 33 seconds on the clock, then starts sliding back down, with a small water flow following her.  Kristin follows suit five seconds later.
?It?s almost a mirror image!? Kirk remarks. ?Red Jaguars a little ahead, but can they keep it ahead?? On the second time going up, Kristin starts to fall behind even more? partly because she nearly loses her grip and slows down to be more careful, and partly because Melissa moves a bit more swiftly while bringing the middle layer of the pyramid up the ramp.  She places it with only four seconds remaining and slides back down.  Time runs out shortly before Kristin can reach the top of the ramp; a pattern of ceiling spotlights flashes to indicate the end of the game, and Kirk runs back onscreen.
?Okay, time?s up! Come on down!? Kirk says, calling the girls over.  Melissa and Kristin slide back down the ramps, landing at the bottom with a splash, and then get up and walk over.  Kirk tries to hold back a laugh as he looks at a particularly soaked Kristin. ?That was? That was a nice splash right there.  Green Monkeys got one layer out of the pyramid up at the top, but Red Jaguars got two, giving them the half a Pendant of Life!? The audience applauds for a few moments. ?Gimme a wet high-five!? Kirk and Melissa high-five before he continues. ?Green Monkeys can catch up in the next game, it?s worth a half Pendant.  Olmec, tell us about Temple Game #2.?

Olmec continues:
"When Thutmose earned the pharaoh's throne, he became well-known as a military genius.  In this game, you must take down the small army before you.  When Kirk gives the signal, load your slingshot and shoot a ball at one of the Assyrian soldiers sitting on the wall.  Then, load another ball in the slingshot and shoot again.
"The first team to knock down all four soldiers? or the team that knocks over the most soldiers in 60 seconds? wins!"
"Our teams are divided and now they will conquer," comments Kirk. "Let's put 60 seconds on the clock!" Kirk dashes out of the way to avoid being hit, and with a "bang" sound effect, the countdown clock reappears in the bottom-right region of the screen, and a red half-Pendant appears in the upper-right. "On your mark, get set, GO!"
?Bombs away! Off they go on the battle against Assyria!? The boys start shooting as soon as the signal is given, but there is a noticeable difference between the two? be it luck or skill, Dan manages to knock down his second-from-right target mere seconds into the game and knocks over the rightmost target with 46 seconds remaining; while DJ doesn?t have any targets knocked over by then. ?Green Monkeys doing great? just two more! Can they do it?? However, for much of the remainder of the game, nobody scores again? suggesting that Dan only got lucky? although both players come very close on several occasions.  In the last few seconds, DJ finally knocks his second-rightmost target over, but it?s too little, too late, as the ceiling spotlights flash and the clock reaches zero before he can get in another shot.
?That?s it! Let?s go check it out!? declares Kirk, reappearing onscreen and summoning the boys. ?The Red Jaguars got one of the soldiers, but the Green Monkeys got two! They win a half a Pendant of Life!? The audience applauds again. ?So now it?s all tied up, a half Pendant apiece, so we go to the third and final game, it?s worth a full Pendant.  Olmec, tell us about Temple Game #3.?

Olmec narrates:
"Thutmose's aunt Hatshepsut kept him from becoming pharaoh for many years, but legend has it that when he ascended to the throne, Thutmose had all the statues of her destroyed.  In this game, you must deface a few statues of your own.  One of you is suspended in a sack.  When Kirk gives the signal, swing your partner at one of the status and knock it over.
"The first team to knock over all three statues? or the team that knocks over the most statues in 30 seconds? wins."
The camera transitions to Kirk. "It's all tied up, a half Pendant apiece," he says. "Whoever wins this game goes to the Temple.  Let's put 60 seconds on the clock." The clock appears onscreen. "On your mark, get set, GO!"
?There they go! They gotta swing their partners out for the first one!? Kirk explains as Dan and DJ push Kristin and Melissa toward the middle ?statues.? Both teams knock over their middle target after only four seconds, then the boys wait for the girls to swing back to them. ?Now it?s tough, ?cause they gotta change direction? Red Jaguars just need one more!? Just as he says this, the Red Jaguars knock over their leftmost target with a full twenty seconds remaining? the Green Monkeys, in the meantime, did not properly aim, so Kristin did not reach either of the standing targets. ?Oh, can the Green Monkeys catch up?? The boys fail to properly aim on the next few swings, however, so the score stagnates.  In fact, neither team scores again for the remainder of the game, and when the ceiling spotlights flash to indicate that it?s the end, Kirk runs back onscreen and calls the boys over.
?Okay, time?s up!? he says as he runs onscreen. ?Green Monkeys only hit one statue, Red Jaguars knocked over two! They get the full Pendant, giving them two? I mean, a Pendant and a half, the Green Monkeys had a half.  The Red Jaguars are going to the Temple!? Kirk high-fives Melissa and then DJ, and then goes to talk with the Green Monkeys. ?The Green Monkeys gave it a great effort too.  We got a great gift for them and here?s what it is.? Dan and Kristin will each be receiving a $100 U.S. Savings Bond provided by Skechers.
When the camera cuts away from the consolation prize, only the Red Jaguars are there with Kirk; Melissa is still suspended in the sack, and Kirk has his hand on DJ?s shoulder. ?We?ll see if the Red Jaguars can make it through Olmec?s Temple, retrieve that Smashed Statue Piece of Thutmose,? he announces, ?right after this!? The camera zooms in on the Smashed Statue Piece in the Den of Totem Poles; the show?s logo then appears, and the camera fades to commercial.

[The Ancient Warrior]

The camera fades in with the show's logo placed over an overhead shot of Kirk and the Red Jaguars standing in front of the Temple's stairs.  The pendant splits, the title fades into the distance and the camera segues to a lower-to-the-ground view. "Welcome back to Legends!" Kirk says to the camera before turning to face the players. "You two have proven yourselves worthy and now you've earned the right to enter Olmec's Temple.  But first, here's some information to help you retrieve the Smashed Statue Piece? of Thutmose."
Olmec begins to give the rundown:
?You could start by running up to the Room of the Ancient Masks! Push in the correct mask, and pass into the Pit of Despair.  There you must choose your next path.  You could race up into the Observatory, read the instructions on the far wall through the telescope and follow the instructions to open the door to the Central Dock.  Assemble the ship, and pass into the Den of Totem Poles, where you can grab the Smashed Statue Piece of Thutmose.  Next, you might climb down or try to enter the SHRIIIINE? of the Siiiilver Monkey.  Assemble the statue, and you may be headed toward the Pirate?s Cove! Place the torch in the correct holder to go back, or? spin the ship?s wheel to enter the Graveyard of Ships.
?Stand on the correct grave to go upstairs? but beware the Temple Guards that may be haunting the graves? or plow through the wall and into the Viper?s Nest! Reach into the snake jars and find the key, and you?ll enter the Bamboo Forest! If you escape, you might have a chance to enter the Lost Treasury.  Place the correct artifact on the altar, and if the correct door is unlocked, you can crawl back into the Pit and finally climb through the Cave, race down the stairs and back through the Temple Gate.  The choices are yours and yours alone!? Olmec pauses momentarily. "You won 1 ? Pendants in the Temple Games.  Who's going first??
"I am!" calls DJ, raising his hand.
"Very well, DJ!" 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 Smashed Statue Piece of Thutmose.  Hidden inside the Temple are three secret passages that may lead you into the Bamboo Forest, along with 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 Melissa's turn to enter and try her luck.  Hidden somewhere in the Temple is the other half of your Pendant.  If you can find it and you're carrying the other half, you will get an extra life.  If you can reach the Statue Piece, all the doors of the Temple will instantly unlock, and the Temple Guards will vanish.  Return through the gates with the Smashed Statue Piece in three minutes, and you will both be handsomely rewarded? and here's how!"
?   For just getting into the Temple, they're both going to get a Schwinn Mesa mountain bike.
?   If they can grab the Statue Piece within three minutes, they're going to get a sports package provided by Regent.
?   And if they can get the Smashed Statue Piece out of the Temple before three minutes is up, they'll both be cruising to the Bahamas! Three days of fun sailing aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line Seaworth, with two pools and volleyball and basketball courts, and other fun activities for the whole family.  Norwegian Cruise Lines? it's different out here.

The camera cuts back from the grand prize to show Kirk and the Red Jaguars one last time before the run. "Let's see if we can get the Red Jaguars on that cruise!" Kirk declares before turning to DJ. "DJ, get you into position.  Mouthpieces in.  Olmec, lower your gate!"
Olmec groans gutturally as the gate falls; the faint lighting pointed up at his chin is turned off.
"Put three minutes on the clock." The countdown clock reappears onscreen, this time set for three minutes. "On your mark, get set, GO!"

?There goes DJ! Up into the Temple!? Kirk declares as DJ runs up the stairs; he enters the Room of the Ancient Masks with 2:54 on the clock and promptly begins to push in the masks around the room. ?He?s fast, he knows where he?s goin?!? After pushing in all three masks, however, the only door that opens is the one leading down into the Cave (2:45).  DJ hesitantly climbs down and moves over to the upper crawl tube; the door does not open after he hits the actuator (2:33).  He then moves further downward and pushes the actuator for the lower crawl tube leading into the Pit of Despair, but as he does so, something tugs at his feet?
?TEMPLE GUARD!? shouts Kirk, and DJ looks over his shoulder as the guard?s headdress comes into clear view of the camera (2:22). ?He?s gotta give up his Pendant and move on!? DJ hands over his Pendant of Life with a little hesitation, allowing the Temple Guard to let go of his ankles.  He then crawls through into the Pit of Despair with 2:13 to go, and immediately heads over to the Lost Treasury door to test it.  However, it doesn?t open, even after DJ hits the actuator twice (2:04). ?He said he didn?t wanna, but he?s gotta climb!? DJ starts climbing the left wall of the Pit; once high enough up the wall, he would be able to pull himself up onto the flat ledge on which he can access the other doors leading left from the room.  He hoists himself up onto the ledge with 1:45 remaining, at which point he goes over to the Observatory door to hit the actuator.  The door opens, and DJ heads up the staircase.
?Go DJ!? cheers Melissa. ?C?mon!? She pauses and looks over at Kirk uneasily.
?Into the Observatory,? Kirk says as DJ walks over to the telescope, ?where he?s gotta read the writing on the far wall and do what it says to open the door!? DJ spends a few seconds focusing the telescope (1:36); after this, he reaches for the model of Venus on the stage-left altar in the front of the room and the model of Saturn on the right altar, and pushes down on the two.  However, nothing happens (1:27). ?Did a door open? He might wanna try that again!? After a couple more seconds, DJ presses down on Saturn and Jupiter, both on the right altar.  This opens the door leading into the Central Dock, and DJ climbs down the ladder, entering the room with 1:15 on the clock.
?Melissa?s cheering him on, he?s right next to the Smashed Pieces of the Statue of Thutmose!? DJ looks around the room, then grabs one of the masts from the back of the room and puts it in place on the ship (1:10).  He then goes back for the other mast and places it in the ship as well, then searches for the crow?s nest. ?He?s gotta hurry if he wants that cruise!? DJ fully assembles the ship with 53 seconds to go, then climbs down into the Lost Treasury.  However, before he can get started on the objective, the second Temple Guard jumps out of the corner of the room and captures him with 46 seconds to spare.
?Oh, Temple Guard! Go Melissa!? Kirk remarks, sending Melissa into the Temple.  She starts by going up into the Room of the Ancient Masks with 37 seconds to go, then climbs down into the Cave and passes into the Pit of Despair with 22 seconds on the clock. ?She?s gotta make up a lot of time now, I don?t know if she?s gonna make it!? Melissa makes her way up the wall in the Pit at a good pace, pulling herself onto the ledge with seven seconds left.  She runs up into the Observatory and goes over to the ladder leading downward, but time runs out.
?Augh, time?s up! Time ran out on her, she got caught in the Observatory!? laments Kirk, DJ now by his side. ?They both made it a great effort, the Red Jaguars did a good job, but they still get the mountain bikes just for playing, and we gotta get outta here.  Join us again next time for another great Legend of the Hidden Temple! Buh-bye!? Kirk and DJ wave to the camera; transition scenes include a shot of the Lost Treasury, a first-person walk across the beams in the Pit of Despair to get to the Observatory and Melissa?s return to the foreground while the credits roll.

[The Ancient Warrior]

Episode Summary
Episode 87px]

Name of Artifact: The Smashed Statue Piece of Thutmose
Season: 3
Layout: 1 (11 overall)
Result: Failed acquisition
Team: Red Jaguars
Pendants Won: 1 ?
Location of Artifact: The Den of Totem Poles



Well, this was a terrible follow-up to the season premiere.  Not only was the legend a very close ripoff of one used from the original show (possibly more so than several of the Season 1 episodes)? the carbon-copy Temple Games used in the original show didn't bother me, since the ideas worked well? but otherwise this wasn't an exciting episode by any means.  The pre-Temple Run rounds weren't terrible? some were actually very close? but I thought it was pretty bad of the producers to take this infamously difficult Temple design and reuse it outside of a possible second Tournament of Champions.  DJ was a slow-moving and slightly hesitant player, and this cost the team a lot of time.  Melissa was a little faster, but not fast enough; in the 44 seconds she had, she only managed to make it to the ladder leading downward from the Observatory.

Trivia and Records:
Season 3 had a handful of legends that were essentially retellings of old legends from the original show; this was the first of them, nearly completely ripping off "The Metal Beard of the Egyptian Queen" from the last season of the original show.  This Temple design was likely an exact copy of "The Lion-Skin Cloak of Hercules" from the Season 2 Tournament of Champions, and of "The Dried Apple Half of William Tell" in the final season of the original show.

[The Bandit King]

Nice work. All seasons of fics need a "bad" episode every now and then to keep things fresh, and this was a good read.

[The Bamboo Forest]

Yay for the new diagram.