The Wildcats Reach the Last Stand Raven

Many moons ago,

with the forging of six golden symbols,

magic returned to this land.

But with it came the evil sorcerer Nevar,

intent on taking this power for himself.

I stood against Nevar as the land's protector,

training the ultimate champions.

When the day came,

together we defeated Nevar in the ultimate battle.

But knowing my power,

Nevar had forged golden symbols of his own,

and the spell that was cast to banish him reflected back,

sending us both to a far-off, desolate realm.

With the battle fought,

only one champion feared the return of Nevar and his demons.

This warrior sought out the golden symbols lost in the battle

and, finding them, discovered my Staff of Power.

Its magic transformed her into the new protector of this land.

Now it is her task to find the True Warriors to defeat Nevar

and save us from his evil.

SHE BLOWS HORN

My name is Raven.

And I seek the True Warriors.

16 of the bravest and most worthy have answered my call.

Which of them will conquer the challenges?

Who will reach the Grand Tournament and be named as a True Warrior?

Two sets of warriors have already competed to select

who will go through to the Grand Tournament.

Two warriors have been selected.

From our third group, one warrior has already been eliminated.

Which of those still remaining

will go through to the Grant Tournament

and have a chance to be named as a True Warrior?

Let's see what today's challenges will bring.

After two days, Janra has gathered

19 rings from the challenges.

Saris trails with 15.

While Teeja has only 13 in her hoard,

leaving her last at the start of this third day.

Young warriors, you must feel pride in reaching this stage.

Your courage is beyond doubt, your skills proven,

but remember that pride can also lead to a fall.

Today, you will face your greatest challenges yet.

Every ring you win or lose today

will determine your advantage in the Last Stand.

This will determine if you make it through to the Grand Tournament.

You have shown yourselves to be worthy warriors.

Let us see if you can become a True Warrior.

It seems Nevar has read our purpose,

and despite our haste,

he has already made preparations for our welcome.

Each warrior must demonstrate their courage by jumping

down into this icy flow.

Carried downstream,

you will reach a pool where a demon is waiting in ambush.

Warriors, as you navigate your way through the gorge,

you must grab the golden treasure rings that hang above you.

Do this and the demon cannot harm you.

Warriors, the river awaits.

-Are you ready to face this challenge? ALL:

-Yes, Raven!

Then brace yourself, for the icy water awaits.

Have courage, my brave warrior.

The first ring is taken.

The current is strong, but every ring will count.

Janra is mastering the rapids as he gains another ring.

The water is powerful. This warrior must battle against its force.

With three rings taken, Janra passes the demon unharmed.

Dead Man's Gorge was harder than I expected because,

once I got the first ring, and as I tried to get it on,

I had to grab the second one.

And then I was trying to get that one on,

and the third one just washed past me.

So I then tried to get the fourth one, and it was just too high,

and I couldn't reach it. I got three out of five rings.

I think I would have preferred more,

but it's OK because it's better than nothing.

Saris, may the luck of the Raven's Eye be with you!

Courage, warrior, there are still more rings.

The treasure will not be taken easily.

These rings are hard to grasp.

Have courage - no True Warrior gives up.

Without a ring to protect them, the demon will take this warrior.

A close call. But the demon is passed safely.

I jumped off, and I couldn't reach the ring

because it was too high for me. I tried to get the rings,

but I only just touched them instead of actually getting them.

Out of all the rings, I touched one and I got one.

The second ring is what I touched, but I didn't exactly grab it.

To get to one ring, I still think it's a very big achievement,

instead of getting nought.

Show courage, my brave warrior.

Our third warrior risks the rapids of Dead Man's Gorge.

A ring is taken.

Teeja must gather her strength to reach for the final ring.

Success. The demon is passed safely.

I was really scared at first to jump in because I don't like staying

under for a long time, and I thought that might happen.

But I don't actually think that my full head went under.

During the challenge, I wanted to get as many rings as I could.

I got two, which I'm really happy with.

And also I was trying to look at where the rings were and then,

like, use the right hand to get them.

When I was floating down the river,

some parts of the current went really fast,

and then you slowed down, and then you went really fast,

but it went a quite a good pace so you were able to grab the rings,

put them back in your hand, so that they were safe,

and be able to grab another one.

With Dead Man's Gorge navigated,

each warrior has earned further golden rings.

Janra maintains his lead,

gaining three rings.

Saris adds one more ring,

bringing her to 16.

Whilst Teeja games ground,

gathering two rings.

With 15, she is now

only one behind Saris.

Attention, warriors, we cannot lose focus. Nevar is restless.

We must move on to our next challenge.

As the warriors rested before their next challenge,

I scouted the road ahead.

For there were certain to be more demons.

DEMON GROWLS

With the demons now gone, the way to the portal is clear.

But casting such magic comes at a cost,

and I would not be able to work such spells again for some time.

To reach the Last Stand,

the Warriors will have to walk the Demon Path.

DEMONS CHANT

-RAVEN OF OLD:

-Nevar has sent his demons,

who have cursed the path ahead.

A True Warrior must learn to trust their own judgment.

Here is the Demon Path, a road of ill repute,

a dark place that has claimed many who have walked it.

Your only way across this path is answering the questions it sets.

For each answer spoken truly, you must take one step forward.

But take care - for every answer given,

the demons that pursue you will take one step further on the path.

And should you fall into their grasp, you will feel their wrath.

Quickly, these evil creatures grow impatient

and you must take your places.

This path is the most dangerous we have faced yet.

Nevar draws close,

and I must summon the help of one

who has travelled this path before us.

Warriors, are you ready to face this challenge?

-ALL:

-Yes, Raven!

Then let the challenge...begin.

Raven of Old, I call upon you...

..to help these young warriors,

for they must walk the Demon Path to reach the Last Stand.

You have done well to come so far, young warriors.

But now you must answer the questions of the Demon Path.

I will speak for it, but only you can answer.

Let us begin.

There are over 300 bones in the human skeleton.

True or false?

Trust your own minds, warriors.

Do not be led by others.

A falsehood was spoken, and you are all correct.

A normal adult skeleton contains 206 named bones.

Each of you may take a step forward.

Alas, whether you're right or wrong,

the demons will take a step forward

after each question.

Next question.

Some species of snail have over 14,000 teeth.

A truth was spoken.

And again, you are all correct.

They are arranged in rows upon their tongue.

Each of you may now take another step along the path.

The sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"

uses every letter in the alphabet.

A difference of opinion.

However, a truth was spoken.

Saris, step forth.

Teeja and Janra, you are now in great danger.

All of your fingernails grow at the same rate.

True or false?

A falsehood was spoken.

And you all answered correctly.

Differing growth rates exist between the digits,

the slowest being that of your thumbnail.

You all may take a step along the path.

You are doing well, warriors,

but do not let a lapse in concentration halt your progress.

Goldfish need enough light to maintain

the orange colour in their scales.

True...or false?

In this case, a truth was spoken.

You have answered correctly.

Warriors, take a step forth.

The bat is the only mammal that can fly.

True or false?

You have answered false,

but a truth was spoken.

Bats are the only mammals that can take flight.

Others may glide, but this is not true flight.

Saris, you are now the only remaining warrior.

You must focus if you are to progress to your goal.

A group of bees could be known as a swarm.

A truth was indeed spoken.

Saris, you may take another step forth.

You are now one step from victory,

but one wrong answer from defeat.

A prune is another name for a dried plum.

The final question IS true.

Saris, you are a wise warrior indeed.

Step forward and take your reward.

Yes!

Raven of Old, I thank you for guiding us along the Demon Path.

One warrior, at least, has claimed the golden treasure.

As for the others, they will rejoin the quest

with a greater understanding of the perils they face.

You are welcome, Raven.

But I must be gone.

Your magic cannot keep me here for much longer.

May the luck of the Raven's Eye be with you.

Janra, Teeja, I bring you back from Nevar's realm.

When I got the ring, I felt like I could jump as high as possible.

It was a really good feeling.

When Saris chose a different answer from me,

I knew that I should just stick with what I thought and not go for

what anyone else thinks.

When I saw Teeja going on to the other side,

when we did the first question,

I was like, "Oh, have I got it wrong?"

-So I thought, "No, I am going to stick with what

-I

-think."

The most challenging part of Demon Path

was probably getting the questions right,

cos some of them were really difficult and you were, like,

really struggling, and you just had to guess sometimes.

The most challenging part of Demon Path was probably

when we were trying to think about how much time we had

and what the answer to the question was.

When the demons were coming up behind me, I started to get

really nervous and I was, like, "we need to get all the questions right"

so that they wouldn't catch me.

But, unfortunately, they did catch me.

With the time pressure, I was getting really nervous.

My knees were wobbling so much cos I didn't

know how much time I've got left.

And the demons pursuing me was really scary

because they were only one step away from me.

So if I didn't get that right, I would be out.

Saris encountered success on the path.

This sees her gain a further gold ring to add to her hoard.

Her total now sits at 17.

Teeja and Janra were caught by the demons.

They must each sacrifice a ring from their hoards.

Janra now has 21.

And, with 14 rings,

Teeja will have a deficit to make up in the Last Stand.

WILDCAT SNARLS

This path was a tricky one,

but one you all journeyed with honour.

Teeja, Janra, the demons caught you.

Think on that, but also on your fortune,

for there are few who fall into the demons' grasp

and live to tell the tale.

Saris, your wisdom has not only deceived the demons

on their path, but has won you a golden treasure ring.

Warriors, let us journey on to the Last Stand.

With the Last Stand in front of us,

I left the warriors to see if the road ahead was safe to travel.

Raven of Old, I summon you.

We seek safe passage to the Last Stand.

Then you are fortunate.

Nevar's demons stood guard at Dead Man's Gorge

and the Demon Path.

But your way to the Last Stand, however, is clear.

Does Nevar know you have been watching over us?

Do not worry about me.

Your concern must be the True Warriors.

-But if I could free you?

-No.

The spell that banished him banished me,

and that magic ties us both here.

If you free me from this realm, you risk releasing Nevar, too.

No. My place is here,

keeping vigil, so I can warn you of Nevar's plans.

Yours is with the warriors.

My duty is to stand guard as protector of this land,

but that includes you.

But I will guide the warriors to the Last Stand.

-RAVEN OF OLD:

-Nevar is moving west ahead of the warriors.

NEVAR GROWLS

He has gathered his demons ahead of the Last Stand.

They lie in wait for our three brave warriors.

Warriors, you have shown you have a warrior's skills.

You have conquered a fear of heights...

..tricked Nevar's demons...

..and battled your way through to this point.

Now, you must face more of Nevar's curses.

He knows of your quest to become True Warriors, and that to

achieve this, you must pass through the portal that stands here.

The obstacles and the demons that guard the portal are Nevar's

attempt to stop you reaching the Grand Tournament.

Now you have seen the dangers you must face,

do you have the courage to take the next step to face Nevar's wrath?

-WARRIORS:

-Yes, Raven!

The rings you have collected will determine your starting position.

Janra, you have the most rings,

so you will be the first to start.

Saris, you have 17 rings,

and you will follow shortly after.

Teeja, with 14 rings, you will start last.

But you still have a chance to succeed despite this disadvantage.

Only one of you may enter the portal.

The others will face the demons' stare

and lose their chance to be named as a True Warrior.

Now is the time for courage, my young friends.

May the luck of the Raven's Eye be with you,

and let the challenge...

begin.

Janra is the first to leave the cage,

leaping over the first hurdle with the spirit of the wildcat.

Saris enters the challenge.

With Janra already constructing his ramp,

Teeja must be quick if she is to catch her fellow Wildcats.

The ramp must be completed to reach the warrior's shield.

The warrior's shield is needed to pass the demons.

Janra must keep his shield high to avoid the demons' glare.

Janra is developing a substantial lead.

Saris has lost her advantage.

All four golden symbols must be set in the shield to pass these demons.

Saris is far behind the others -

she must hurry to stay in contention.

Janra's strength with the battering ram

leaves him only a few steps from the portal.

All that remains is to place the talisman and open the portal...

..and Janra is victorious.

A triumphant performance from Janra.

He has demonstrated courage to overcome Nevar's traps...

..and leapt beyond fear itself.

Not only is Janra a team player,

but he is a leader.

Like the wildcat, this warrior is determined,

fast and agile.

When I won the Last Stand, I was really happy

because it just meant... It just felt like...

I never thought I'd actually get this far -

I thought I'd be out.

Now I'm going through to the Grand Tournament, I feel amazing.

It's probably one of the best achievements in my life.

NEVAR GROWLS

Return from the demons' clutches, warriors.

You will not be banished to Nevar's realm this day.

Teeja, Saris,

your quest does not end here,

it merely changes.

Return home with honour, stand for justice

and fairness against Nevar's evil.

You have a warrior's heart,

and I am proud to have met you.

During the challenge, I was just thinking, "Do your best to win,

"but it doesn't matter if you don't win

"because you've got to the Last Stand, which is pretty far on."

Getting to where I am right now,

I think it was a brilliant achievement,

and I'm, like, really proud of myself.

When I was in the cage, I felt frightened, nervous,

but I also felt really brave.

When I saw Janra racing ahead,

I thought, "OK, he's going to win,

"but you still got this far."

So it's just, like, the greatest achievement ever.

Nevar has been watching

and he has seen another warrior defeat his Last Stand.

Even now, his demons will be gathering to stop

the warriors in the Grand Tournament.

Janra, you reached the portal first.

Your strength and skills have earned your place

at the start of the Grand Tournament.

There, you will compete for a chance to be named a True Warrior.

In but a few moons, the challenges will begin again...

and a True Warrior will take the title.

The last group of challengers

join the quest to be named as a True Warrior.

Only one of these Stags can claim the final place

in the Grand Tournament.