Master of the Mountain

*“I want you to promise me, Cole, that you will always stand up to those who are cruel and unjust. Always.”*

— Lilly in Cole's memories

## Master of the Mountain

* Poster 1
* Poster 2
* Poster 3

## Title Card

***Master of the Mountain*** is the thirteenth season and the sixteenth installment of the *LEGO Ninjago* series. It was originally released on September 13th, 2020. Cole is the focus character of this season, and the Skull Sorcerer is the main antagonist. The Awakened Warriors serve as the villainous faction.

It is the third installment in the Book of Elements arc. This season encompasses the **Earth Chapter**, and the villainous faction retellings are the Ghosts in the Awakened Warriors. Cole is the focus character, as this season delves into the past of his mother and her relationship with Shintaro Mountain and her Elemental Power. The collectible weapon for this season are the Blades of Deliverance.

It is preceded by *Prime Empire* and followed by *The Island.*

## Plot Summary

The ninja travel to the fabled Kingdom of Shintaro - a mesmerizing, gleaming place where they soon uncover an obscure underworld: the Dungeons of Shintaro. A world that is under the whip of the merciless Skull Sorcerer…The ninja are invited to the beautiful Shintaro Kingdom to celebrate the young Princess Vania’s birthday. At first glance, the Ivory City looks like a pristine place, but the ninja soon uncover a dark, obscure, long-forgotten underworld: The Dungeons of Shintaro. Once inside, they must fight their way to freedom through a maze of tunnels paved with dangers and strange creatures ruled by the merciless Skull Sorcerer. The ninja must choose their path wisely…

## Characters

* Cole - Kirby Morrow
* Fungus - Ian James Corlett
* Gleck - Brian Drummond
* Gulch - Andrew McNee
* Hailmar - Brian Drummond
* Jay - Michael Adamthwaite
* Kai - Vincent Tong
* Korgran - Paul Dobson
* Lilly - Erin Mathews
* Lloyd Garmadon - Sam Vincent
* Misako - Kathleen Barr
* Murt - Michael Adamthwaite
* Murtessa - Tabitha St. Germain
* Nya - Kelly Metzger
* P.I.X.A.L. - Jennifer Hayward
* Plundar - Adam Trask
* Re-Awakened - Deven Mack
* Skull of Hazza D'ur - Michael Adamthwaite
* Skull Sorcerer - Deven Mack
* Vania - Sabrina Pitre
* Wu - Paul Dobson
* Zane - Brent Miller

## Battles

* Ninja & Winged Guards of Shintaro vs. Dire Bats
* Cole vs. Awakened Warriors
* Ninja vs. Awakened Warriors
* Nya vs. Murtessa
* Kai & Zane vs. Mino
* Cole, Vania, & Chompy vs. Dire Bats & giant spider
* Vangelis vs. Cole, Wu, & Vania
* Cole & the Upply vs. Lava Monster
* Ninja, Geckles, & Munce vs. Awakened Warriors & Grief Bringer
* Winged Guards of Shintaro vs. Upply, Cole, & Vania
* Vania vs. Hailmar
* Ninja & Upply vs. Grief-Bringer & Awakened Warriors
* Chompy vs. Grief Bringer
* Cole vs. Skull Sorcerer

## Locations Visited

* Ninjago
	+ Mountain of Impossible Height
		- Monastery of Spinjitzu
	+ Shintaro Mountain
		- Kingdom of Shintaro
		- Dungeons of Shintaro
			* Skull Keep
			* Mines of Shintaro
			* Rock-Bottom
			* Heart of the Mountain

## Sets

The sets background was based on the Dungeons of Shintaro. Cole was the mascot character, and the Blades of Deliverance are the collectible items. Most of the sets were based on new creatures from this season or part of the Dungeons of Shintaro.

* 71717 Journey to the Skull Dungeons
* 71718 Wu's Battle Dragon
* 71719 Zane's Mino Creature
* **71720 Fire Stone Mech**
* 71721 Skull Sorcerer's Dragon
* 71722 Skull Sorcerer's Dungeons

### Spinners

* 70685 Spinjitzu Burst Cole
* 70686 Spinjitzu Burst Kai
* 70687 Spinjitzu Burst Lloyd

#### *Ninjago: Legacy 3* sets

These sets were released during the same wave as *Master of the Mountain* sets, and as such a few of the models are shown in the season.

* 71703 Storm Fighter Battle
* 71704 Kai Fighter
* 71705 Destiny's Bounty

## Notes

* This is the last season to air before the untimely passing of Cole's voice actor, Kirby Morrow.
* *Master of the Mountain* is considered by some networks to be the second half of **Season 2** of the "new series" that began with Season 11.
* The title cards in this season resemble cave paintings with the episode title in the center and a scene from the episode underneath it.
	+ This is the last season so far to use the Kunoichi typeface for its title cards.
* Four of the sets from this season can be built together to create a board game.
* As of this season, all of the ninjas' parents have now been revealed.
* This season marks:
	+ The first season to not feature Ninjago City since its introduction in "*The Golden Weapon.*"
	+ The first appearance of Misako and the Postman since "*Endings*," forty-six episodes ago by the time they appear in "*Shintaro*."
	+ The revealing of the previous Elemental Master of Earth's name; Lilly, Cole's mother.
	+ The first season Dareth does not appear at all since his debut in "Pirates vs. Ninja."

* Misako's silver streak in her hair appears longer and lighter in this season. In addition, a green tie was added to her french braid.
* At one point, there were ideas to explore the reason for Lilly's illness.
* Amount of times a different character reads a title card:
	+ **Cole**: 6
	+ **Gulch**: 2
	+ **Wu**: 2
	+ **Zane**: 1
	+ **Jay**: 1
	+ **Korgran**: 1
	+ **Nya**: 1
	+ **Murtessa**: 1
	+ **Fungus**: 1
	+ **Vania**: 1

## Continuity

* Lloyd mentions the Teapot of Tyrahn in the season premiere, asking if it has been found.
	+ This marks the third time that the Teapot is mentioned in a row.
	+ Curiously, Lloyd does not remember the events of *Skybound*, so it's possible he knows what it is because Jay or Nya told him.
* Lloyd also wonders if someone has found either Pythor or his father, confirming that they have been missing since *Day of the Departed* and "*Endings"* respectively.
* Cole is playing an updated version of the video game "Prime Empire" in the first episode, saying that Unagami and Milton Dyer fixed it so it can be playable without getting trapped inside.
* This season takes place over less than a month, seeing as in *The Island*, only one month had passed between Season 12 and "*Uncharted*."
* Cole's mother, Lilly, is finally named. It is revealed that she was the previous Master of Earth and that her father (Cole's grandfather) fought in the Serpentine War.
	+ It is also revealed that she died of an illness when Cole was younger. It was implied in Season 8 that she had passed away prematurely, which led to Cole becoming distant from his father.
* "Spinjitzu Burst," the fourth alternate martial art to Spinjitzu, is revealed in this season. It is described as immense power that makes your Elemental Power grow when you are surrounded by your element (in this case, it was under a mountain, surrounded by Earth.)
	+ It is also revealed that Cole's mother attempted to harness this power by visiting the Heart of the Mountain, a temple built for Earth Elemental Masters to grow their power. She died before she could do this.
* Cole's falls in "*The Fall"* and "*The Cliffs of Hysteria"* are referenced in the episode "*The Real Fall,*" which is meant to be a gag on the fact that Cole is always falling.
* Metalonia, the homeland of the Master of Metal Karloff, is mentioned for the first time since Season 9. It is also shown off for the first time.
* When Kai mentions the time Zane impersonated Clutch Powers to get into the Explorer's Club, he is referring to the events of "*The Explorers Club*."
* At the beginning of this season Master Wu is depressed that he is too old and can't do much. This prompts the Ninja to invite him on their journey to Shintaro, which he obliges. In the season finale Wu says that he is ready to go on another adventure, not wanting to slow down. This is foreshadowing him journeying to the Island of the Keepers with Misako and Clutch Powers in the next installment.
* It is revealed that the Skull Sorcerer was enslaving the Geckles and Munce to mine copious amounts of Vengestone, which are to be sold to some mysterious "buyer." His plans are foiled, and the buyer's identity is never revealed in this season.
	+ It is revealed in *Crystalized* that the Vengestone buyer is actually Harumi.
	+ It is also revealed that season that Harumi was in the room with the Ninja the first time they met King Vangelis.
* When the Ninja first meet Princess Vania she mentions several events from the past seasons.
	+ She asks them if it is true that they have been to Hiroshi's Labyrinth, but the only Ninja who actually went there was Lloyd in Season 3.
	+ She also asks if they've competed in the Tournament of Elements.
* Lloyd is suspicious of Vania when they first meet, still being traumatized by Harumi's deceit in Season 8.
* Jay & Nya's Yin-Yang Court is mentioned for the first time since *March of the Oni.*