The ClueFinders 3rd Grade Adventures: The Mystery of Mathra is computer game in The Learning Company's ClueFinders Series where the ClueFinders save the Numarian rainforest and Dr. Horace Pythagoras from a mysterious monster called Mathra.
A thousand years ago the ancient Numarians, great inventors, built a great city in the Numarian rainforest. According to legend, a monster named Mathra appeared out of nowhere one night. Mathra attacked the wild animals of the jungle, but the Numarians caught Mathra and, fearing he might escape again, they left their city, never to return. The key they locked the door with they split it in two and buried them in puzzles, "in two quarters of the rainforest." The Numerians still live in the villages around the Numerian rainforest, but the location of the Lost City remains a mystery.
When animals began disappearing in the Numarian rainforest again, some suspect Mathra. Dr. Pythagoras, however, believes there is simple explanation. However, before he can set out to find the missing keys to the lost city, he is kidnapped Mathra, or is he? Dr. Pythagoras' last words are, "Call the ClueFinders." Interestingly enough, Joni is Dr. Pythagoras' niece.
The ClueFinders fly to the rainforest in Mr. Limburger's airplane, where he explains the legend of Mathra to them. The ClueFinders conclude that they need to get to the Lost City. Joni and Santiago set off to find the keys and Owen and Leslie stay behind. They also join LapTrap, Dr. Pythragoras' Turbo TURTLE, who has a map of the rainforest that comes in useful.
The two areas of the rainforest that contain the keys are the Monkey Kingdom and the Goo Lagoon. In both places, they meet highly intelligent animals which can speak English. Also in both places they find clues that suggest that Mathra isn't behind the disappearing animals, a badge with "Fletcher's Furriers" written on it and a can of aviation engine oil.
Warning: Spoilers Follow
After Joni and Santiago collect both keys, Mr. Limburger offers to fly them to the Lost City. However, when they jump with their parachutes they land in the jungle canopy, far from the Lost City. The ClueFinders eventually make their way on their own to the Lost City. When they take out both keys, they fuse together to form one key, which they use to unlock the door.
Inside, they find what appear to be Mathra sleeping, but then it occurs to them who is really behind the disappearing animals, Mr. Limburger. Limburger built a costume for his airplane, so it would appear to be Mathra. He then trapped Dr. Pythagoras with the animals that he had captured. Limburger revealed that he was behind the mystery to the ClueFinders and locked them in the city and flew away in his Mathra plane.
The ClueFinders discover that Dr. Pythagoras is trapped on the other side of the Bottomless Pits of Doom with all the animals that Limburger has been collecting. They rebuild the Mathra trap, which the Numarians used to trap Mathra, and save Dr. Pythagoras and the animals. After they do so, the Mathra trap becomes invisible, and Limburger flies his plan into it. He falls down the pit, never to be seen again.
When the ClueFinders leave the rainforest, Dr. Pythagoras gives them LapTrap, who faints when he hears he'll be going on more dangerous adventures. Meanwhile, Limburger reappears in the rainforest and swears his vengeance.
Warning: Spoilers Follow
In the end it is revealed the Limburger is the villian. Limburger used the legend of Mathra to collect furs for his fur company, and he polluted the Goo Lagoon by throwing his oil drum into Goo Springs. Limburger was trapped by the Mathra trap and fell into the Bottomless Pits of Doom. He reapeared the rainforest latter and swore revenge on the ClueFinders.
A flecter is someone who makes arrows. Limburger is a kind of cheese and sounds similar to "Lindbergh," the last of name of a famous airplane pilot.
The Monkey Kingdom is home to the monkeystadors(a play on conquistadors) who are headed by Vasco de Bongo. The area is populated by Sneeze Berries which were planted by the ancient Numarians. The ancient Numarians hid on of the keys to the Lost City at the center of the Rings of Volcanic Fire(also called the Rings of Fire, a play on the Ring of Fire, a line of acive volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean.) Sneeze berries are necessary to crossing the Rings of Fire.
Goo from Goo Springs flows down Goo Falls forming the Goo Lagoon. Goo is strange green substance that the bugs who inhabite the area enjoy. However, since Mathra's return, the goo has been polluted. The goal in the Goo Lagoon is to reach the top of Goo Falls can collect one of the keys to the Lost City. To do this, one must collect Beetle Bags.
Warning: Spoilers Follow
When the ClueFinders reach the Lost City, they find there is a giant computer built by the ancient Numarians who's water wheel(goo wheel?) is turned by goo from Goo Springs, which feeds the Goo Lagoon. The ClueFinders find that Limburger has thrown an oil can in the goo here to pollute the Goo Lagoon and remove it.
Warning: Spoilers Follow
After the ClueFinders collect boths keys to the Lost City, Mr. Limburger mysteriusly drops them in the canopy instead of at the Lost City, and thus the ClueFinders have to make it to the Lost City on thier own. The goal in this area is simply to reach the Lost City, there are only two games, and each only needs to be played once.
Warning: Spoilers Follow
To stop Limburger, the ClueFinders must bridge the Bottomless Pits of Doom, which rebuilds the Mathra trap. To do this, they must collect Snagnets(combins snake and magnets), to move bridge stones.
Synopsis
Charactors
The charactor listed are charactors that appear only in The ClueFinders 3rd Grade Adventures, for information about other charactors see the main ClueFinders page.Dr. Horace Pythagoras
Dr. Horace Pythagoras, PhD is a famous naturalist an uncle to Joni Savage, leader of the ClueFinders club. Dr. Pythagoras has Turbo TURTLE called LapTrap whom is responsible for keeping him organized. At the end of the game, he give LapTrap to the ClueFinders, as a reward. His last name is a reference to Pythagoras. Dr. Pythagoras was mentioned breifly in The ClueFinders Reading Adventures.Mr. Limburger
Fletcher Q. Limburger is pilot of the airplane that flies the ClueFinders into the rainforest.Areas of the Rainforest
There are four different areas of the rainforest, each of which teaches a different skill and has a different goal.The Monkey Kingdom
Skill: MathematicsThe Jungle Canopy
Skill: GeographyThe Lost City
Skill: Science and Language ArtsQuotes
Warning: Spoilers Follow
