Rediscovery EP: The Yamato Arrow of Empress Jing?

[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 105

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 Yamato Arrow of Empress Jing?."

"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 Arrow.  Will it be:
"Nik and Kelsey of the Red Jaguars?" the camera pans to each team in order, their first names briefly appearing at the bottom of the screen?
"Ethan and Brenda of the Blue Barracudas,
"Leo and Emily of the Green Monkeys,
"Jay and Kendall of the Orange Iguanas,
"Matthew and Megan of the Purple Parrots,
"Or Quinten and Teresa 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'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? step? onto one of the steps in front of him and move, one at a time, until he makes it across.  But, if he takes too long, the step will sink and he'll fall into the water, and then he'll have to go back and start again.  Once the first player's across, it's his partner's turn to follow him."
"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 we ready, teams?"
The players all cheer and shout in response.
"Olmec, are you ready?" asks Kirk.
"I was sculpted ready!" Olmec replies.
"All right, then let's get started!" Kirk shouts in response. "On your marks, get set, GO!"

On ?Go,? all the teams except for the Blue Barracudas and Orange Iguanas (who do the opposite) send their female players to cross the Moat first.  The male Orange Iguana has a rough start? sinking at the first step for taking too long? while the other players make quicker progress and are all at the second or third step after the first seven seconds of the round.  Nobody else has to restart for a while; eventually the female Red Jaguar is the first player to get to the other side, requiring twenty-one seconds.
?Red Jaguars across, other teams right behind?? Kirk narrates as the Silver Snake joins the Jaguar. ?You gotta move fast, you gotta keep moving!? The male Orange Iguana has to restart again at the :23 mark.  Soon after, the other teams? first players make it across, allowing their partners to start.  Most of the second players progress at a fair pace, but the boys from the Red Jaguars and Purple Parrots each sink and have to go back about thirty-six seconds after the challenge began; the male Silver Snake soon follows suit, while the Blue Barracuda and Green Monkey safely progress onward from the third step. ?This looks tough, but I think we?re gonna get our first team in a moment?!? Sure enough, the male Green Monkey soon makes it to the deck and hits his team?s gong, placing first after forty-six seconds.  Shortly after, the male Orange Iguana finally makes it across.
?We still need three teams? here come the Blue Barracudas!? Kirk remarks right before the second player from the Blue Barracudas bangs her team?s gong at the :51 mark.  Soon after, the male Silver Snake has to restart once again, while the Red Jaguar and Purple Parrot are working on the fourth steps. ?Still waiting for two more teams?? Trying to make his way to the final step, the Purple Parrot sinks, having to restart fifty-nine seconds after the Moat crossing began.  The Orange Iguana has to do the same mere seconds later, putting the Red Jaguars and Silver Snakes in the lead out of the four remaining teams.  The Red Jaguar soon hits his team?s gong, in fact, at which point the Silver Snake is only moving on from the second step. ?Looks like it?s anyone?s game now? We need one more team!? He moves on at a decent pace while the other players follow and try to catch up, eventually being only one step behind him.  However, the Snake holds onto his lead, and hits his team?s gong a minute and twenty-one seconds after the start of the round.
?That?s it! We got our four teams!? Kirk announces, and the camera switches to him high-fiving the Red Jaguars around their gong. ?Red Jaguars stuck it out and they made it over with a flash.  They?re going on to the Steps of Knowledge, along with the Blue Barracudas?? the camera goes down the line to show each of the qualifying teams for a few seconds, with Kirk pausing to allow for applause? and the Green Monkeys? and the Silver Snakes! The Orange Iguanas and the Purple Parrots gave it a great effort.  We got a great gift for ?em and here?s what it is.? Jay, Kendall, Matthew and Megan will each be receiving a copy of Aliens in the Attic on DVD.

[The Ancient Warrior]

When the camera cuts away from the consolation prize, the four remaining teams, along with Kirk, are now at the top of the Steps of Knowledge. "As the quest continues," Kirk explains, "it's time for Olmec to tell us about the Arrow of Empress Jing?.  But teams: Pay attention, because it's your knowledge of the legend that can bring you a step closer to the Temple."
Olmec begins to tell the legend:
"One of the most powerful women in ancient history was Jing?, an experienced shamaness who was also the Empress of Japan.  After her husband died, she took his place at the Chrysanthemum Throne, but she feared that her people wouldn't accept a female ruler.  Jing? spent the first few months of her reign dressed as her husband, making sure nobody found out he'd died and not her.  But she soon realized she was pregnant with her late husband's child? Not exactly easy to hide! Legend has it that one day, Jing?'s advisor, Takeuchi, entered the throne room.
" 'Your Imperial Majesty-sama: Pardon the interruption, but you're needed to prepare for the Korean invasion.'
" 'I'll? ahem? I'LL be right there, Takeuchi-san.'
"Jing? mounted her horse and rode off.  She equipped herself with a longbow and enchanted arrows, and set out to meet the rest of the invasion force.  The Japanese fought valiantly, but suddenly, Jing? collapsed on the battlefield.  An arrow nearly struck her, but she warded it off with one of her own before her attendants carried her off to a cave.
" 'Your Imperial Majesty-sama, what's the matter?'
" 'Help me take off this armor? Hurry!'
"Her attendants did as she said, and realized that their 'emperor' was actually an empress? and now a mother.  After Jing? went back and finished the battle, she returned to Japan, where a vast crowd hailed the mother empress and her newborn son, who, according to legend, received one of Jing?'s sacred arrows as an heirloom, which later made its way to the Temple.  Your quest is to retrieve the Yamato Arrow and bring it back here."

"Thanks Olmec," Kirk says after Olmec finishes telling the legend, "but where is the? Ya-motto Arrow?"
Olmec replies:
"The Yamato Arrow can be found in the Viper's Nest." The camera zooms in on a feather-covered arrow resting on the middle jar on the altar in the Viper's Nest, then fades back to Kirk.

"Teams," Kirk begins, "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." Kirk starts walking down the steps as he continues. "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:
?Was Jing? empress of: China, Japan???
A stomp from Emily interrupts Olmec: ?Japan.?
?Correct,? says Olmec in response.
?Nice job, Green Monkeys, step down!? Kirk declares, and the Green Monkeys move down to the second step. ?Next question.?

Olmec asks:
?Because female rulers weren?t normal at the time, did Jing?: Rule jointly with her husband, Rule jointly with her advisor or Dress like???
Ethan cuts Olmec off this time: ?She? dressed like a man.?
?Correct.?
?Nice job, Blue Barracudas, step down!? Kirk declares, and the Blue Barracudas join the Green Monkeys on the second step. ?Next question, Olmec!?

Olmec continues:
?As a warrioress, was Jing??s weapon of choice: A spear???
Kelsey rings in early this time: ?A bow and arrows.?
?Correct,? Olmec answers.
?Red Jaguars, step down! It?s neck-and-neck!? Kirk remarks as the Red Jaguars also move down a step. ?Silver Snakes can still get into this, there?s plenty of time.  Next question, Mr. Olmec!?

Olmec now asks:
?According to our legend, did Jing? reveal she was a woman when: The Emperor of China offered his daughter?s hand in marriage, She was wounded in battle or She gave birth to her son??
After a moment, Ethan gongs in: ?When she? gave birth to her son???
?That is correct.?
?One more correct response and the Blue Barracudas are gonna be going on to the Temple Games,? Kirk explains as the Blue Barracudas walk down onto the third step. ?We need two teams.  Next question, Olmec!?

Olmec asks:
?Empress Jing? gave birth to her son during an invasion of which of these countries: Mongolia, Cambodia or Korea??
Kelsey stomps down and guesses: ?Korea???
?That is correct,? returns Olmec.
?Red Jaguars are now just one step away from the Temple Games!? Kirk remarks as the Red Jaguars join the Blue Barracudas on the second-to-last step. ?Silver Snakes, still plenty of time.  Next question!?

Olmec?s next question is this:
?Empress Jing? was also believed to have had spiritual powers.  Did this make her a: Medicine woman, Sorceress or Shamaness??
Hesitantly, Kelsey stomps down again: ?Shame? uh? Shamaness???
?That is correct!? Olmec shouts, and the Red Jaguars move down to the bottom step.
?We got our first team going on to the Temple Games; it?s the Red Jaguars!? Kirk declares as Kelsey and her partner high-five multiple times. ?We still need one more team, who?s it gonna be: the Blue Barracudas, the Green Monkeys or the Silver Snakes? Olmec, continue.?

Olmec does so by asking:
?During the battle, did Jing?: Collapse, Have a psychic vision or Become abandoned by her own troops??
Emily rings in after a couple seconds: ?She? collapsed???
?That is correct.?
?Green Monkeys now one step away from the Temple Games!? Kirk declares as the Monkeys move down to the third step beside the Blue Barracudas. ?Silver Snakes, still plenty of time.  Next question.?

Olmec then asks:
?Was the word ?Yamato? originally the name of???
Ethan interrupts Olmec: ?The? arrows? The empress?s magic arrows.?
?That is not one of our three choices,? returns Olmec. ?Did ?Yamato? originally refer to: Empress Jing??s son, The first capital of Japan or The largest temple in Japan??
Teresa hesitantly rings in: ?The? um, the first? capital of Japan???
?Correct.?
?Silver Snakes on the board!? Kirk announces, and the audience cheers as the Silver Snakes move down to the second step. ?This could be a comeback.  Olmec, next question!?

Olmec asks:
?Was the Japanese Emperor?s throne called the: Lotus Throne, Violet Throne or Chrysanthemum Throne??
Ethan rings in again: ?The Lotus Throne.?
?Incorrect.?
Teresa steps in: ?The? Chrys? Chrysanthemum Throne???
?That is correct.?
?It?s a three-way tie on the second-to-the-last step!? remarks Kirk as the Silver Snakes reach the third step. ?Next correct response goes on to the Temple Games! Olmec, next question!?

Olmec asks:
?Was Jing??s advisor named: Kobayashi, Takeuchi or Mitsubishi??
Teresa gongs in: ?Takeuchi?!?
?THAT IS CORRECT!? bellows Olmec, prompting the Silver Snakes to jump down to the fourth and final step beside the Red Jaguars.  Kirk quickly reappears onscreen, runs up onto the bottom step between the two teams and turns around to face the camera.
?We got our two teams!? he announces as the players begin celebrating with one another. ?The Red Jaguars and the Silver Snakes? what a comeback!? He pauses to high-five the boy from the Silver Snakes. ?The Blue Barracudas, Green Monkeys, gave it a great effort, it was close.  They?re not going away empty-handed, we got a great gift for them and here?s what it is.? Ethan, Brenda, Leo and Emily will each be receiving a custom Legends of the Hidden Temple watch provided by Armitron.
The camera cuts back from the consolation prize, showing only Kirk, the Red Jaguars and the Silver Snakes at the bottom of the Steps of Knowledge. ?These two teams will be playing for the right to enter Olmec?s Temple,? he declares, ?right after this!? The camera pans over to a cluster of foliage draped over the upper-right corner of the Room of the Ancient Masks and zooms in on a small lizard perched there.  The show?s logo then appears and the camera fades to black for commercial.

[The Ancient Warrior]

When the camera fades in from commercial, the show?s title card is placed over a shot of some interlocking bamboo shoots in the Bamboo Forest.  The pendant logo splits, the title fades into the distance and the camera segues to Kirk standing in front of the Cave with the last two teams.
?Welcome back to Legends!? he says. ?Now the glory goes to the fastest and the strongest? so let?s hear it for Nik and Kelsey of the Red Jaguars!? The audience briefly applauds for the skinny, slightly-taller-than-average boy with short blond hair and brown eyes, and his straight-black-haired, brown-eyed partner. ?And Quinten and Teresa of the Silver Snakes!? The black boy with dark eyes, short hair and teeth framed by braces, and the girl with brown eyes and curly brown hair, high-five as the audience cheers for them.
"All right! Girls, go get set up for the first Temple Game," Kirk says, pointing in different directions. "Guys, you can go get set up for the second Temple Game." The players walk offscreen as Kirk faces the camera again. "In the Temple Games, each team is competing to win?" he opens a pouch and pulls out a small gold medallion to show to the camera? "these Pendants of Life.  The winning team's gonna 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:
"Empress Jing? was a fierce warrior, and she was always prepared for battle as she marched in.  In this game, you will need to suit up while moving towards the battlefield.  When Kirk gives the signal, climb the mountain using the rope in your hands.  When you reach a piece of armor, grab it and put it on, then keep climbing.  When you reach the top, turn around and climb down the other side."
"The first player to reach the ground on the other side of the mountain wearing all the pieces of the armor? or the player that's further along after 60 seconds? wins."
The camera segues over to Kirk standing in front of the mountain. "It's a tough two-part game, but I think our players can handle it," he remarks. "Set the clock for 60 seconds?" With a bang, a countdown clock appears in the bottom-right corner of the screen, and Kirk takes a few steps to the side as the camera pans out to show the girls at the starting line. "On your marks, get set, GO!"
Kelsey and Teresa start at the base of their respective mountains, and grab and put on the breastplates of their respective armors within seconds.  After this, the two begin the actual climb. ?There they go, they gotta climb up and put on the rest of the armor while they?re climbing! This is tough!? Shortly after the climb begins, a significant gap between the two players appears? Teresa is already wearing the right gauntlet by the :47 mark, while Kelsey is still trying to put on the same armor part. ?Silver Snakes a little ahead? can the Red Jaguars catch up?? Sure enough, Kelsey gets the first gauntlet on her right arm seconds later, but then Teresa gets started with her third part of armor, the left gauntlet.  She moves on with a full forty seconds to go, and starts in on the final climb to the summit.
?Red Jaguars are a little behind, but she?s still hanging in there?? Kelsey makes her way up to the top of the mountain just as Teresa puts on the shoulder pads at the summit.  With 32 seconds to go, Teresa finishes putting on the armor and makes a break for the other side of the mountain. ?Silver Snakes got all the armor! Now she?s gotta turn it around and head on down the other side!? Kelsey completes her armor with 27 seconds to go, but it doesn?t matter? Teresa touches base at the finish line with twenty seconds on the clock.
?That?s it! Let?s check it out!? announces Kirk, running over to Teresa at the base of the mountain.  Kelsey touches the floor a few seconds later. ?That was a close match, but the Silver Snakes were just a little faster, so they get the Pendant of Life!? The audience applauds as Kirk and Teresa high-five, then the narration continues. ?The Red Jaguars can catch up in the next game, it?s worth a half-Pendant.  Olmec, tell us about Temple Game #2.?

Olmec continues:
"Empress Jing? was a crack shot with her bow and arrow, but in this game, you'll have to show your shooting skills with cannonballs.  When Kirk gives the signal, put a cannonball between your legs, grab the trapeze, swing out over the grid and drop the ball into the grid.  Then, swing back, grab another ball and try again.
"The first player to drop a cannonball in all nine holes in the grid? or the player that's dropped cannonballs in the most holes in 60 seconds? wins."
"The Red Jaguars can tie it up here? let's see if they're a sharpshooter," Kirk comments as the camera segues over to him standing in the middle of the Temple Game equipment. "Let's put 60 seconds on the clock?" The countdown clock reappears in the bottom-right corner of the screen, and a silver half-Pendant appears in the upper-right corner as well as Kirk dashes to the side and out of the players' paths. "On your marks, get set, GO!"
Nik and Quinten swing out over the grids using their trapezes, but Quinten misses on his first try and has to swing back, Nik drops his first cannonball in the bottom-right hole of the Red Jaguars? grid. ?Red Jaguars got that one? first try, nice!? On the second try, however, Nik misses the grid, but Quinten lands a ball in the center-left hole of the Silver Snakes? grid before swinging back (:49). ?Silver Snakes scored that time, it?s all tied up!? The boys swing out again, with Nik slightly faster than Quinten by now.  Nik also scores in the grid again, but only by landing a second ball in the bottom-right corner (:43).  On the other hand, Quinten completely misses a few seconds later.
?So far Red Jaguars are blazing!? Kirk comments as Nik drops a third cannonball in the grid, this time in the bottom-center hole with 35 seconds left, just before Quinten misses again. ?Silver Snakes really need to catch up!? The next couple of shots consist of Quinten improperly timing the drop, however, but eventually he scores again in the bottom-center hole with 21 seconds remaining. ?This game is tough; you gotta find the right timing to get it in one of the holes, and it?s not how many balls you get in the grid, it?s how many holes!? Nik scores once again with fifteen seconds to go, this time in the center-right hole. ?Red Jaguars just got another! How about the Silver Snakes?? With time ticking down, Nik lands one more ball in the bottom-left hole of the grid; shortly after, the countdown clock reaches zero and splinters, the half-Pendant disappears from the screen and a pattern of ceiling spotlights flashes to indicate that time is up.
?Time?s up! All right, let?s check it out!? Kirk announces as he runs back onscreen.  He gestures for the boys to join him, and they leave their trapezes and do so. ?All right, let?s see?? The camera first focuses in on Quinten?s grid as Kirk gestures to it. ?Silver Snakes filled one, two holes?? The camera then switches to Nik?s grid. ?Red Jaguars got one, two, three? four holes! They get the half-Pendant of Life!? The audience cheers as Kirk and Nik high-five. ?So now it?s all tied up, a half-Pendant apiece, but this next game is worth a full Pendant.  It?s the third and final game, so Olmec? tell us about Temple Game #3.?

Olmec narrates:
"Empress Jing? was a fearless warrior, and she knew that defense was just as important as offense.  Legend has it that she blocked shots with her own arrows, but in this game, you will only need to avoid getting hit.  Before you lies a path with six arrows.  When Kirk gives the signal, one player from each team will try to run out and grab one of the arrows on the path, bring it back and place it in their bin.  The other player will try to throw shots at their opponent.  If you're hit, you must drop the arrow, go back and begin again.
"The first team to retrieve all six arrows? or the team that's further along at the end of 60 seconds? wins!"
"Our teams are divided and now they will conquer," Kirk comments ambiguously. "Whoever wins this game goes to the Temple.  Let's put 60 seconds on the clock?" The clock reappears in the bottom-right corner of the screen, along with two half-Pendants? a red one, in the upper-left corner, and a silver one in the upper-right? as Kirk takes a few steps back and out of the camera frame. "On your marks, get set, GO!"
Kelsey and Teresa dash out, crossing a painted line on each of their raised walkways on their way to the first arrows. ?They?re into the battlefield, now the other team can hit them out and make them start over!? From a few feet away on each side, Quinten and Nik each aim at their opponent?s partner, but within seconds and without getting hit, Teresa manages to get the first arrow back into the safe zone and places it in her bin. ?Silver Snakes just got their first arrow? nice dodge!? Similarly, Kelsey gets the first arrow in her bin with fifty seconds on the clock, while Teresa heads out to grab her second arrow, further down the walkway.  She grabs it with 48 seconds on the clock and starts to run back, but Quinten manages to hit Kelsey with a ball as she runs out to grab the second arrow. ?Red Jaguars gotta go back, Silver Snakes just gotta come back with the arrow and they?ll take the lead!? Sure enough, Teresa gets her arrow in the bin with 43 seconds left, but soon after Kelsey manages to successfully bring her second arrow back as well.
?This is a close match! You gotta be fast, you gotta dodge your opponents?? Kirk commentates as the game nears its halfway mark, with Teresa placing the third arrow in the Snakes? bin with :31 to go while Kelsey heads out again to grab her team?s third arrow.  She grabs it and runs back? as she approaches the safe zone, she dives toward the ground to duck under one of Quinten?s shots and then gets back up to run the last bit before the safe zone (:21).  In the meantime, however, Teresa is hit by Nik as she approaches the fourth arrow, and is forced to restart. ?Silver Snakes have to go back? Red Jaguars have to go back? suddenly it?s all tied up!? With about ten seconds left, the girls both make it to their fourth arrows and rush back, but Quinten makes one last ball connect as Kelsey tries to come back. ?Oh, Red Jaguars got hit! Silver Snakes? can they get it in time?? Sure enough, Teresa makes it back to the starting line and drops the fourth arrow in her bin with two seconds left.  Just as she starts to run out again, and just before Kelsey can restart, the countdown clock reaches zero and explodes, the Pendants disappear from the screen and a pattern of ceiling spotlights flashes to mark the end of the game.
?That?s it, time?s up!? Kirk announces, calling the players over as he reappears onscreen and grabs both teams? bins, bringing them together. ?Let?s start with the Red Jaguars.  They got?? he pulls the arrows out of the bin while counting? ?one, two? three arrows.  Silver Snakes got one, two, three? four arrows!? The audience starts to cheer, but Kirk continues on. ?They get the full Pendant, giving them a Pendant and a half? the Red Jaguars had a half.  The Silver Snakes are goin? to the Temple!? Teresa and Quinten high-five several times while Teresa jumps up and down, and Kirk also gives her a high-five as he makes his way over to the Red Jaguars. ?The Red Jaguars? it was a close match all the way through, but you?re not going away empty-handed.  Here?s what we?ve got for you?? Nik and Kelsey will each be receiving Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Optimus Prime and Megatron action figures.
The screen wipes to show Kirk and the Silver Snakes in front of the raised walkways used in the third Temple Game. ?We?ll see if the Silver Snakes can make it through Olmec?s Temple and retrieve the Ya-motto Arrow of Empress Jing?? right after this!? The camera pans out and then zooms in on ship in the Central Dock.  The show?s logo reforms over this shot, and the camera subsequently fades to black for commercial.

[The Ancient Warrior]

As it fades in after the commercials, the camera features the show's logo placed over a close-up of a plastic lizard attached to the wall between the Den of Totem Poles and the Central Dock.  The Pendant of Life splits and the title shrinks before the camera segues to Kirk standing in front of the Temple's stairs, with the Silver Snakes to his right. "Welcome back to Legends!" he says to the camera. "Teresa and Quinten have proven themselves worthy and now have earned the right to enter the Temple.  But first, Olmec's gonna give them some information to help them retrieve the Ya-motto Arrow of Empress Jing?."
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 with 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.  Turn all the faces forward; that may take you below or lead you into the SHRIIIIIIINE of the Silver Monkey! Assemble the statue, and you might be headed into the Pirate's Cove! Place the torch in the correct holder to go back, or spin the ship's wheel and enter the Graveyard of Ships.
"Stand on the correct grave to go upstairs? but beware the Temple Guard that might be haunting one of the graves! Or, plow through the wall and into the Viper's Nest, where you can grab the Yamato Arrow of Empress Jing?.  Next, climb into the Bamboo Forest! If you escape, you might have a chance to enter the Cannon Room.  Load the three cannonballs into the cannon, and if the correct door is unlocked, you can crawl back through the Pit and finally climb through the Cave, rrrrace down the STAIRS and back through the Temple Gate.  The choices are yours and yours alone!" Olmec pauses for a second. "You won 1 ? Pendants in the Temple Games.  Who's going first?"
"I am," says Quinten, raising his hand for a moment.
"Very WELL, Quinten!" 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 Yamato Arrow.  Hidden inside the Temple are three secret passages that may lead you into the Bamboo Forest, 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 it'll be Teresa'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 Arrow, all the doors of the Temple will instantly unlock, and the Temple Guards will vanish.  Return through the gates with the Yamato Arrow of Empress Jing? 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 skateboard provided by Vans.
?   If they can grab the Arrow in three minutes, they're also going to get a five-piece drumset, complete with cymbals and provided by Schafer and Sons.
?   And if they can get the Yamato Arrow out of the Temple before three minutes is up, they'll both win a San Diego getaway! They'll be staying at the Hotel del Coronado, San Diego's only beachfront resort, where they can surf, bike, just relax in the sun or even visit the San Diego Zoo! Hotel del Coronado!

The camera cuts back from the grand prize to show Kirk, Teresa and Quinten one last time before the bonus round begins. "Sounds great! Let's get 'em to San Diego!" Kirk says before turning to Quinten. "Quinten, you're going first, so let's get you out in front." Quinten promptly assumes a starting position. "Mouthpieces in.  Olmec, lower the gate!"
Olmec groans gutturally as he lowers the gate; the faint orange lights under him are turned off.
"Set the clock for three minutes." The clock appears onscreen. "On your mark, get set, GO!"

?There goes Quinten! Up into the Temple!? Kirk remarks as Quinten darts up the first staircase and towards the entrance to the Cave. ?He?s going down the slide, into the Crevasse! They got a Pendant and a half, how far can that take ?em?? Quinten scrambles through the ledges of the Cave at a rapid pace, crawling directly to the lower crawl tube leading left from the room.  The crawl tube opens up when he hits the actuator, and Quinten climbs through into the Pit of Despair with 2:46 on the clock. ?He?s fast, and it takes a lot of speed to make it through this Temple!? Without hesitating, he heads across the foam-block-filled pit and presses the actuator for the Cannon Room door, which opens.
?He?s into the Cannon Room! He?s gotta put three cannonballs into the cannon and fill it up?!? Quinten gets to work looking for the three cannonballs on the floor of the dimly-lit room, and it isn?t too long before he finds the first one in the back-left corner (2:35).  He then makes his way over to the cannon, picking up a second cannonball located next to it in the process. ?He?s going fast, no Temple Guards yet! Can he make it?? After depositing both in the cannon, he then moves over to the front-right corner of the room, where he finds the third cannonball and picks it up. ?He?s got all three! Now he?s gotta put it in to open a door!? A few moments later, Quinten has fully loaded the cannon, at which point the fuse lights up and light floods into the room from the camera-left side, indicating an open door (2:23).
?He?s going on into the Bamboo Forest! Just one room away!? Quinten crawls through, then reaches out for a horizontal bamboo pole not too far into the room.  He latches onto a mesh of crisscrossing bamboo shoots right afterward, and makes his way over to a large opening in the web-like mass to make his way through (2:16). ?He?s just gotta get to the other side to grab the Arrow, but will the door open?? He swings over to the second mass of bamboo poles and sidles towards the front of the room before crawling through an opening there, then drops to the ground and hoists himself through the opening in the last web-like mass to get to the camera-left wall of the room (2:07).  He then tries the actuators for both crawl tubes, but neither opens, so Quinten gets down on his hands and knees and uses a low opening near the back of the room to retreat. ?That didn?t work! He?s gotta find another way!? He then crawls up and through an opening on the second mass of bamboo poles, then turns around and climbs up the bamboo wall towards the hatch in the ceiling. ?Oh, he?s going up! Let?s see!? Quinten hits the actuator for the door leading upward, and it opens, prompting him to climb up into the Den of Totem Poles.  He sets foot in the room with 1:54 to go, but just as he reaches the stage-left totem pole, something emerges from the door in the back of the room?
?TEMPLE GUARD!? Kirk announces, and Quinten quickly takes the Pendant of Life off his wrist to appease the Temple Guard.  Soon after, he kneels down and starts turning the faces of the totem pole towards the camera. ?Next time a Temple Guard gets him, it?ll turn for Teresa!? He only spends about two or three seconds turning each face on the stage-left totem pole, working from the bottom up, and finishes aligning the stage-left pole with 1:42 left.  He then runs across the room to the camera-right totem pole and kneels down to do the same over there. ?He?s cleared out a major path, but Teresa knows he could go at any time?!? Working fast, Quinten lines up all three faces on the second totem pole, effectively completing the Den of Totem Poles objective with 1:32 to go. ?The door opened! He?s gotta go on!? Quinten runs back towards the Shrine of the Silver Monkey door and races through, but immediately after he enters the room, a Temple Guard appears and captures him.
?There?s a Temple Guard! Go Teresa!? shouts Kirk, and Teresa races up the stairs of the Temple with 1:26 remaining.  She slides down into the Cave, then scrambles through the ledges and slides down into the Pit of Despair with 1:08 left. ?She?s got a lot of time to make up, and Quinten cleared a major path!? Teresa stands up and walks across the foam blocks littering the floor of the pit, then slides belly-down into the Cannon Room (1:02). ?He let her one room away from the Arrow of Empress Jing?? can she get it?? The camera cuts back to Teresa entering the Bamboo Forest and climbing onto the first web-like mass of bamboo shoots, then working her way towards an opening in the bamboo wall near the back of the room (0:52).  She makes her way through, climbs onto the middle bamboo wall and ascends towards the open door in the ceiling, but as she heads up, the camera zooms in on a half-Pendant dangling from one of the higher horizontal bamboo poles on the second bamboo wall in the room. ?She?s making great time, she?s just gotta make it to where Quentin left off and put the monkey together!? Teresa climbs up into the Den of Totem Poles with 44 seconds remaining, then races into the Shrine of the Silver Monkey.
?She?s gotta climb up onto the boxes and get three pieces!? Heeding Kirk?s advice, Teresa climbs up onto the shelves and reaches for the three pieces of the statue; she runs around and grabs all three in one sweep, but drops the head on her way to the front of the room (0:35). ?She?s gotta put the base? she knows how it?s done!? Teresa sets the middle down so she can push the corners of the base into position, then picks up the torso again and puts it down over the base. ?Now the head! Jam it down!? Teresa goes back for the head which she dropped on the way to the front platform, and threads the attached pole through the holes in the torso and base.  She then presses down on the head, opening all three doors leading out of the room with 23 seconds to go. ?All right, now she?s just gotta go down into the Viper?s Room, where she?ll have the Arrow!?
?Go Teresa!? Quinten shouts from the sidelines. ?C?MON!?
?She?s in the room!? Kirk declares as Teresa jumps down the ladder into the Viper?s Nest with eighteen seconds on the clock. ?Get the Arrow! Grab it!? Teresa dashes over to the altar in the front of the room, and grabs the Yamato Arrow from the middle of the three snake jars (0:15!). ?She?s got it! All the doors are open!? Teresa waits a couple seconds for the doors connecting the Viper?s Nest and the Bamboo Forest to open, then crawls through the further-back of the two passageways to enter the Bamboo Forest (0:12!). ?Now she?s just gotta get out? I don?t know if she?s gonna make it!? The audience starts counting down as Teresa gets down on her hands and knees to pass under the leftmost mass of bamboo poles, Yamato Arrow in hand.  She then climbs up onto the middle bamboo net and makes her way to a large opening near the middle of the wall, which she uses to reach the stage-right mass.  She reaches out for the bamboo poles there? but time is up!
?Ough, that?s it! Time stopped, she couldn?t get out of the Bamboo Forest? some kids never make it back from there!? remarks Kirk, a dejected-looking Quinten by his side. ?But Quentin cleared out a major path, Teresa got the Arrow, so they both get the skateboards and the drumsets? how?s that?? Quinten suddenly shows a slight smile and applauds. ?They did a great job, it was great having them, but we gotta get outta here.  Check us out next time for another great Legend of the Hidden Temple! Buh-bye!? The camera pans out, and rooms such as the Bamboo Forest and Den of Totem Poles, along with Teresa?s return to the foreground and some of her conversation with Kirk and Quinten? interspersed with different shots of foliage around the set? are shown during the credits roll.

[The Ancient Warrior]

Episode Summary
Episode 105

Name of Artifact: The Yamato Arrow of Empress Jing?
Season: 3
Layout: 2 (12 overall)
Result: Failed escape
Team: Silver Snakes
Pendants Won: 1 ?
Location of Artifact: The Viper's Nest



This wasn't a terrible episode by itself, but in a certain context, it was quite the disappointment.  The show started off slowly with a rather long Moat? one minute and twenty-one seconds? but the legend was nice, although it seemed to include a couple plot holes. The Red Jaguars and Silver Snakes put on a good showing in the Temple Games, which included a brand-new team game? an apparent replacement for the "dodge the traps" game, where one player would run out to grab items off a walkway while his partner would stand behind a certain line and aim foam balls at the opposing team's runner to force a restart.  A very creative concept that didn't completely partition the teams, so it was a shame it wasn't used more often.

The Silver Snakes advanced to the bonus round after a solid face-off with the Red Jaguars, but they couldn't quite win in the Temple.  Quinten was a fast runner early on, but he slowed down a bit in the Cannon Room.  He eventually picked up the pace again in the Den of Totem Poles, but unfortunately was captured in the very next room, directly above the artifact.  Teresa had just under ninety seconds to get anything done, and half of it was spent getting to where Quinten left off.  But what she lacked in speed, she made up for with a nice assembly of the silver monkey and a grab of the Arrow with fifteen seconds on the clock.  This was a good team, but only a couple shortcomings stopped them from achieving victory.

Trivia and Records:
Because this Temple Run was a failed escape, Layout XII is the only layout in the history of The Rediscovery where no teams won the grand prize? quite a shocking feat considering that it was a fifteen-episode drought.  Nevertheless, this is one of only three Layout XII episodes whose Temple Run features an artifact grab.

[The Bandit King]

GAH! FIFTEEN EPISODES AND NO GRAND PRIZE WINNERS?!      

MUST...HAVE...WIN...NOW!!!!!!!!!!

[The Ancient Warrior]

lol, next layout for sure.


But seriously, I actually postponed the next win a little with this one.  I already know that either the Red Jaguars or the Blue Barracudas are going to drought out for the entire season, so I wanted to settle this with an episode where I'd programmed a win for whichever of those two teams makes it to the Temple (in this one, only the Red Jaguars would win).  The answer will come in the Hawaiian Layout, I promise~