Chris's Above Ground Recap
"Last time…on Total Drama Crios Cath…
Tiberius started to rub his teammates the rub way, most specifically Avi and Bryan, who tried to convince a hesitant Frag to vote him off. Angelo and Rose got to know each other better, and Anemone and Alice really got to know each other better, hahaaah. Ffydd was a complete mess, with Franchesca brainwashing Indigo, Ani and King disagreeing about who the bigger liability to the team was, Morgana spending all her time communing with spirits, and Setsuna getting herself caught in a snare trap! Alltud had trouble putting up with Ryuji's antics, nice fall there, Angelo, but thanks to Carol's mediation, managed to come out of the situation a more unified team with Axel agreeing to lead workout sessions to keep them all in top condition! Finally, Cfrwys was fractured, with both Prof and Mateo thinking Aria was ill-suited for the clan, while she kept the both of them fooled. Laura mourned the loss of her one ally, Jeremy, but Kalyssa came by to jump ship and give her the encouragement she needed to take on her clan of snakes! The challenge was catching the members of Alltud, but in the end, Alltud figured out the rules of the challenge and escaped from their captors just in time for the buzzer to sound and them to secure yet another victory, and sending all four other clans to the Tine Naofa Bonfire Elimination Ceremony!
In the end, despite Avi playing an extra vote, Frag voted with the majority alliance to kick Avi out, deciding that it was not the time to be making large plays just yet.
Molly couldn't bring herself to trust Roxanne and Jarri, and her own misplaced vote sent herself into the Shameterranean because of it.
Despite Ffydd being a complete mess, with votes all over the place, Franchesca and a head over heels Indigo were able to band together to eliminate Ani, Franchesca's biggest obstacle to spreading her faith's influence!
And finally, Prof's early game betrayal caught up to him as Laura sent him straight down to the Shameterranean thanks to help from Kalyssa! Now, we'll go to Chef, for the below ground recap!"
Chef's Below Ground Recap
"Here's what happened! Jeremy and Nathan took out Prof 'cuz he was a little bitch. Nathan sought out Avi because Avi had the vote advantage. Nathan now wants to work with Avi. oooh boy. Mathilda threw a temper tantrum on the walls. Harald tried to yeet Avi, but Nathan saved him. Meanwhile, Molly and Ani formed an alliance. Lorellei left Mathilda a note. Mathilda did not see the note. Due to the stress Lorellei jumped and Mathilda came back later to see the note. Damn. The two yeetees now be chillin'."
"25 players remain above ground!' Chris butted in to take over. "And underground, the 7 players down in the Shameterranean are starting to cement their strategies while they search for the way back up. Who will have their torch snuffed next? Find out, right here! On Total! Drama! Crios Cath!"
*The Survivor Theme Ancient Voices Begins Playing As the Crios Cath Theme Song Starts*
As the beginning horns start blaring, various shots of Crios Cath from above are time-lapsed and shown through the screen, notably the highlands, the forest, the bog, the lower fields, the desert, and underground.
Cumhachtach
A red figure holding a red stag skull flag is shown, before the camera zooms in so only the image of the flag is on the left side of the screen. Meanwhile, the right side of the screen pans over the lands that Cumhachtach owns, before showing its remaining members in alphabetical order, doing various tasks.
Bryan is busy fixing up a shelter roof in one shot, and leading a charge, pulling a large package by a rope in a second shot.
Frag is putting in effort to freehand climb up a cliff in one shot, and drumming on a large rock while smiling in a second shot.
Michael is throwing an object as if it were a baseball in one shot, and crouching and peering through some bushes in a second shot.
Stan is side-stepping through water and rallying the rest of the team in one shot, and harvesting some wheat in a second shot.
Tiberius is swinging his greatsword in one shot, and is seen soaking wet and shouting angrily in a second shot.
Mealltach
A green figure holding a green dryad flag is shown, before the camera zooms in so only the image of the flag is on the left side of the screen. Meanwhile, the right side of the screen pans over the lands that Mealltach owns, before showing its remaining members, in alphabetical order, doing various tasks.
Alice is seen twirling her hair suggestively as she looks at someone off-screen in one shot, and breaking out into a sprint through sand in a second shot.
Anemone is tying her curly black hair into a ponytail in one shot, and shouting from atop a tree in a second shot.
Jarri is seen picking fruit off of a tree and examining it in one shot, and tossing a spear in slow motion in a second shot.
Rose is seen playing with a large conifer branch as though it is a fan in one shot, and is running along, clapping and shouting in a second shot.
Roxanne is cracking open a large nut in one shot, and holding her fists before her head in a fighting stance in a second shot.
Ffydd
A blue figure holding a blue shaman flag is shown, before the camera zooms in so only the image of the flag is on the left side of the screen. Meanwhile, the right side of the screen pans over the lands that Ffydd owns, before showing its remaining members, in alphabetical order, doing various tasks.
Franchesca is pulling swamp kelp out of her golden hair in one shot, and candidly posing confidently in her remarkably clean pure white dress and shoes in a second shot.
Indigo is laughing as he sits cross-legged around a fire pit in one shot, and is using a mortar and pestle while looking at someone off-screen in a second shot.
King pulls an incredibly healthy looking carrot from the ground in one shot, and is raising both his arms up in a cheer in a second shot.
Morgana is gulping down water from a bucket in one shot, and solemnly holding what seems to be a spiritual communication ritual in a second shot.
Setsuna is shown curiously looking at a trap in the ground in one shot, and calmly firing an arrow from a bow in a second shot.
Cfrwys
A yellow figure holding a yellow king and queen flag is shown, before the camera zooms in so only the image of the flag is on the left side of the screen. Meanwhile, the right side of the screen pans over the lands that Cyfrwys owns, before showing its remaining members, in alphabetical order, doing various tasks.
Aria is quickly turning her head to look behind her, her twintails whipping around as she does so in one shot, and is cupping her hands while shouting so loud her face is going red in a second shot..
Kalyssa is waving semi-flirtatiously at the camera in one shot, and is swinging a club at something hidden in the grass in a second shot.
Laura is tasting a porridge she's cooking in one shot, and is seen measuring something in the distance using her thumb in a second shot.
Mateo is washing the clan's clothes in a makeshift washbin in one shot, and is beckoning someone off-screen to charge up a hill towards him in a second shot.
Alltud
A dull grey figure holding a dull grey broken chain flag is shown, before the camera zooms in so only the image of the flag is on the left side of the screen. Meanwhile, the right side of the screen pans over the lands Alltud owns, before showing its remaining members, in alphabetical order, doing various tasks.
Angelo is hauling sandstone in one shot, and harmoniously playing a violin in a second shot.
Axel is crouched over and brooding by himself in one shot, and confusedly looking over a map in a second shot.
Carol is facing off against a giant scorpion while holding a makeshift spear in one shot, and is energetically cheering her team on as she sidesteps with them in a second shot.
Gazella is looking up at the stars in the night sky and pointing at one excitedly in one shot, and log tossing a full tree quite a distance in a second shot.
Maggie is busy dusting off her stone slab bed in one shot, and organizing various makeshift tools in a second shot.
Ryuji is seen cracking open a cactus with a large rock in one shot, and covering his eyes as he laughs and points at something off-screen in a second shot.
Shameterranean
A white figure, holding a druidic artifact, is seen falling down into what appears to be some kind of underworld, before the camera zooms in so only the underworld image is on the top half of the screen. Meanwhile, the bottom half of the screen pans over the Shameterranean caverns, before showing the remaining players trapped there, in alphabetical order, at the moment of their elimination and doing various tasks.
Ani is seen getting his torch snuffed by Chris in one shot, and is seen entering an alcove with Molly in a second shot.
Avi is seen getting his torch snuffed by Chris in one shot, and seen hurriedly sprinting through a shameterranean tunnel in a second shot.
Harald is seen diving from a pull up bar and landing in water in one shot, and pushing Shelby-Lynn down a Pit of Peril in a second shot.
Jeremy is seen getting his torch snuffed by Chris in one shot, and looking up through a hole in the ground in a second shot.
Mathilda is seen falling from a pull up bar and landing in water in one shot, and raising her bat threateningly in a second shot.
Molly is seen getting her torch snuffed by Chris in one shot, and is seen entering an alcove with Ani in a second shot.
Nathan is seen falling from a pull up bar and landing in water in one shot, and pounding his fist against the cavern wall, activating a stone door in a second shot.
The camera zooms out to reveal that all the figures and underworld were part of the same picture, the season logo connecting them like a belt.
Total Drama Crios Cath
Location: Glas Woods (Mealltach Campsite)
Contestants: Alice, Anemone, Jarri Rose, Roxanne
Winds blew throughout the camp, ripping through some aspects of the conifer huts, causing a few to break apart. Especially the one Tiberius crafted himself.
Roxanne sighed. "So much for him acting all big and strong."
Rose approached her camp, her face clean of any grime. "Oh, who?"
"Tiberius, he constructed this hut while you trapped him here." Roxanne patted the shelter and more of it crumpled off. "All by himself, I might add. Makes sense that it can't stand these breezes. You can't just make a shelter all on your own!"
The Queen pushed away some of the moss. "Here, let me reweave this. It's the least I can do after you all worked so hard for this."
"Thanks Rose!"
Confessional: Roxanne: Clan Mealltach
"It's too bad Molly didn't take our help. I actually thought she was cool, you know? But Jarri's and my sights are still set on Alice, who caused that elimination that never needed to happen! And the only way to get Alice out of here is if we secure Rose's vote, so Jarri and I have been taking turns talking to her."
End Confessional
Roxanne covered the branches with moss. "Say Rose, you wouldn't mind voting for Alice next Tine Naofa, would you?"
Rose hesitated. "Let's not talk about Tine Naofa when it is possible we aren't headed there yet."
"When the heck else are we gonna talk about it? During the challenge?"
"Well, we haven't even seen the challenge."
Roxanne sighed again. "Just hear me out, at least. Alice caused Molly's elimination and painted her in a bad light. You fell for it, too! We tried to stick up for Molly and vote with her, but she didn't accept the offer. Now she's gone. Though, I can tell Alice's influence might still be on you."
Alice arrived and tossed another log into the fire pit. "Roxanne, could you go get some water for camp?"
Roxanne turned back to Rose. "I'll leave you here to think about it."
Confessional: Rose: Clan Mealltach
"I don't appreciate Roxanne coming up to me and telling who to vote for. I also don't appreciate Roxanne claiming to try to know me better than me. I voted for Molly because she was at the cave doing nothing when that job should've been given to someone like Alice who we know isn't very good at physical challenges. At least Alice tried in that challenge even though she barely contributed."
End Confessional
With Roxanne and Jarri out of the camp, Anemone approached Rose. "Hey Rose! Need any help with the hut?
"No, thank you. Please, relax or do something else. I know Roxanne has already gotten that water. Alice on the fire. Jarri on the food… "
"How about this?" Anemone leaned against the bark of a tree, and folded her arms. "Alice and I plan to eliminate Jarri next just because Roxanne is too much muscle for us to lose. You in?"
Rose huffed. "Allow me to think about it for now!"
Anemone shrugged, unfolded her arms, walked off.
Alice smiled at her.
Confessional: Rose: Clan Mealltach
"I wake up, and the first thing any of my teammates talk to me about is who we're going to vote off next! It appears I'm in a swing vote position, but they keep pestering me about it when we should just be focusing on not going to elimination again, and that is something I really don't like. I do not stan swing vote status!"
End Confessional
"Rose~" Alice sang.
Rose clenched her eyes shut and turned to Alice. "Yes, Alice?"
"May you please give me the ability to summon people from other-"
"Yes, take it, please. Just don't ask me for another vote!"
Confessional: Alice: Clan Mealltach
"Woo! I knew once her patience was worn down enough she'd just give me whatever I asked for. Now, I've got some extra power on this clan! Time to accumulate all the secrets for Anemone~"
End Confessional
Location: Cailleach Bog (Ffydd Territory)
Contestant(s): Franchesca, Indigo, King, Morgana, Setsuna
"Hey, Franchesca?" Indigo asked as Franchesca led him through a ritual prayer to Gamata in a secluded part of the bog.
"Yes, Indigo?"
"Do you think maybe… we could take our relationship to the next level?"
"Ah, of course." Franchesca smiled. "I suppose we should make this official."
"Really?!" Indigo's eyes widened. "Then… uh… I guess we can do this now…"
The excitement bubbled up in his chest. He closed his eyes, puckered his lips, and leaned in towards Franchesca, who backed away, chuckling.
"Oh, Indigo, that's not what I mean, you silly-boo. I meant we could make you an official member of Gamata's clergy. Part of it is that you give your body and soul over to Him. Take myself for instance. When I turn 18, I will become one of His many wives, while when you also turn 18, you will become an enclave leader yourself, to spread His words further."
"I can't even get a pity kiss?" Indigo pouted.
"Indigo, I'd love to, but as Gamata states, I must remain pure and untouched for Him. That includes kissing."
Franchesca headed back to camp. "Now come, we've been away for long enough. We should try to regroup with the others before our next challenge.
Confessional: Indigo: Clan Ffydd
"Aw man! What's the point of dating a super awesome chick if I can't kiss her!"
End Confessional
Back at the camp, King sighed at the fire and shook his head.
Setsuna walked in. "Guys! Guys! I have the berriesss- WHOOP!" Setsuna got caught in another snare trap. The berries spilled everywhere.
Confessional: King: Clan Ffydd
"Now that Ani is gone, I feel like I'm the only one taking care of the camp. Franchesca is always going off that 'Gamata will take care of us' and how 'we don't have to do anything'. Indigo is too busy simping to pay attention to camp needs. Morgana is always too busy 'communing' with the dead. And Setsuna is so absent-minded that she can't do anything. At the very least, she attempted to collect berries though, so that's progress, but she got caught in that trap again. I'm gonna have to save her all the time, aren't I? Really hope I don't have to be here forever."
End Confessional
Confessional: Setsuna: Clan Ffydd
"So I went out and got some berries, which was hard since they're scattered all over the place, but I did it, and then I got caught in another snare trap. Thankfully King was there to help me down. But then I had to go back out and look for berries again, and he made Franchesca and Indigo go with me to make sure I didn't spill them again."
End Confessional
Morgana was in a meditative trance atop her ritual circle. "Oh spirits of this island's departed…" She announced as a breeze flowed through the mangrove trees of the bog. "If any of you are present to share your wisdom, let us listen!"
As the breeze rushed through the trees, it picked up sounds from the caverns below ground.
"-over here?" A female voice asked.
"I think it was over here, yeah…" A male voice that sounded similar to Ani's replied.
"Yes, spirits!" Morgana announced. "I am here! What wisdom do you have for me?"
"Morgana?!" Ani's voice carried up from below the ground.
"Yes, spirits, you do see me! Advise me, if it pleases you. What should my clan do?"
"Vote off Franchesca if you lose again for one thing!" Ani called up. "Save Indigo from her!"
"And if you could," Molly's voice also called up. "Take care of your camp, don't let people go off on their own if there's still work to be done!"
"Try to find out where the Druidic Artefact is located!" Ani called up.
"And its true resting place!" Molly added.
"Yes, spirits, thank you, thank you for your advice!" Morgana stood up. "I'll head back to camp right now to see what needs to be done!"
Confessional: Morgana: Clan Ffydd
"I've done it! I've contacted the other plane! With their advice and help, our team can achieve victory!"
End Confessional
Location: Upper Ceol Fields (Cumhachtach Territory)
Contestant(s): Bryan, Frag, Michael, Stan, Tiberius
"There he is, Stan Manley!" Michael called out as Stan harvested wheat from the few acres of wheat field Cumhoetach had in their clan's territory.
"There he is, Michael Richardson!" Stan responded with the same energy.
"I'm surprised, Stan, to be honest." Michael idled about as Stan used some large rocks from the highlands to try to grind the wheat into flour. "Surprised that you haven't voted against Tiberius yet."
"I could say the same about you." Stan stood tall over Michael. "You strike me as a schemer."
"I'd never strike anyone!" Michael feigned a gasp with a grin. "Especially not anyone in the strength clan! That's just asking for a beating. Unless, well, I was sure I had some backup."
"Let's not beat around the bush here." Stan shook his head. "You want an alliance to make sure we take down Tiberius. Fine. You have one. Are you thinking of getting rid of him at the next elimination?"
"Depends on what I get in return. What can you offer me in exchange for my vote?"
Confessional: Michael: Clan Cumhachtach
"See, the second Stan asked me the question, I knew I could make him think this alliance was his idea, so even though I originally approached him, he's giving up more power than I am. It's one of the advantages I have on this tribe where players like Stan play with their muscles instead of their brains."
End Confessional
"I can offer you my own vote." Stan rolled his eyes. "But also first pick of the bread once we've baked some."
"Score." Michael grinned. "You've got a deal right there."
Confessional: Stan: Clan Cumhachtach
"See, the second Michael tried to pass off his own asking for an alliance as my own idea, I know he was someone who I couldn't give all of my trust to. Sure, he'll get first pick of the bread for a while, but once Tiberius makes me the king, and he will because I'm the tough one here, I won't have a need for Michael anymore. It's one of the advantages I have on this tribe where players like Michael overthink themselves into an elimination."
End Confessional
"That's the last one, lads." Frag said as he placed the last of the stones in place to form a primitive chimney, cemented together with a muddy mixture. "We should be able to bake some flour into bread if Stan and Michael can ground that wheat up."
"Good fucking thing, too." Tiberius nodded. "I'm starving."
"Hi Starving." Bryan smirked. "I'm Bryan!"
"You're a fucking cuck is who you are." Tiberius grunted at Bryan before leaving the cabin.
Confessional: Bryan: Clan Cumhachtach
"Okay, so I'm trying, and apparently failing, to suck up to Tiberius because I am on the outs of this team now that my ally is gone. And the one thing I've learned from all of this is that Frag is also clearly not a fan of Tiberius but also sucking up to him. Not sure why, I'm clearly the next one to go, and he clearly isn't going to be chosen as the next king when someone stupid like Tiberius is at the helm."
End Confessional
Confessional: Tiberius: Clan Cumhachtach
"So clearly, Frag is the next to go. Isn't it so obvious? He's physically the weakest after Avi. See you, beta boy."
End Confessional
"Bryan…" Frag mentioned as Tiberius left the pair alone in the cabin. "I know what you're trying to do, but like… maybe don't try at it so often? That's the third of those jokes you've made today."
"Well, that last one he was asking for, you have to admit." Bryan laughed.
"I don't disagree that he was asking for it, but I'm trying to help you out here. We're on the bottom."
"No, I'm on the bottom because you wouldn't vote with Avi and I last time."
"I never said I would. I didn't betray you or anything. The reason I say I'm on the bottom too is because Tiberius clearly is a lone player, but Stan and Michael are all buddy-buddy all the time. That leaves the two of us, solo players who aren't the king...on the bottom."
"Then why didn't you vote for him with us last time?"
"Well, for one, I never said I was worried about being on the bottom, but also because before I knew you'd be making dumb dad jokes at him, I felt like he'd be a great weapon to hide behind while I got a feel for the rest of the competition-"
"FRAG!" Tiberius called. "WE'RE HEADING TO THE MOUNTAINS!"
"Speaking of…" Frag turned to Bryan. "Looks like it's time for me to go. See you around, Bryan. Hopefully, you take the words to heart that your current plan isn't working out so well."
"FRAG! I'M WAITING!" Tiberius called again.
"Hi Waiting!" Brain couldn't resist. "I'm Bryan!"
"I WILL PUT YOU ON ARMOR POLISHING DUTY SO HELP ME-!" Tiberius ranted before Frag quickly left to calm him down and accompany him towards the mountains.
Confessional: Bryan: Clan Cumhachtach
"Hahahahaha, ohhh, that was exactly the reaction I was hoping he'd have!"
End Confessional
Location: Lower Ceol Fields (Cfrwys Territory)
Contestant(s): Aria, Kalyssa, Laura, Mateo
"What is this?" Laura asked as she came back from her favorite hill to see that Cfrwys's fire was getting low. "Did no one go out to gather more fuel?"
"That was always Prof's job." Kalyssa waved her hand.
"Not anymore it isn't." Laura shook her head. "Mateo, you're on fuel duty today. Aria tomorrow. Then Kalyssa. Then repeat."
"Well, what about you?" Mateo reversed a brow.
"I'm the fucking Queen. I lead and delegate responsibility because clearly you guys just sit around the fire doing nothing unless I tell you to do something."
"She does have a point…" Aria admitted. "Not that she was very nice about it."
"I don't need to be nice to any of you." Laura dismissed them. "You all conspired to assassinate my predecessor. You all saw what happened to Prof. The same thing is going to happen to you if you aren't careful."
"Well, well." Mateo smirked. "If that's the way My Queen wants it, that's the way she'll have it." He got up and bowed to Laura, giving her a wink in the process, before heading off to collect firewood. "Come, Aria."
Confessional: Aria: Clan Cfrwys
Aria put her hands on her chest and spoke in an annoyingly high voice. "Yes, my handsome fucking puppetmaster."
End Confessional
"Right behind you~" Aria sweetly followed.
Laura watched. "Kalyssa, you better make sure that fire doesn't go out so that we don't have to restart it when they return." Laura crossed her arms.
"I wouldn't dream of it, My Queen." Kalyssa beamed up at Laura. "Have we thought about which of the two to eliminate next?"
"Aria." Laura replied without hesitation. "Mateo doesn't need a lackey around, and I don't want him to get any ideas about overthrowing me the way he did Jeremy."
"Sounds good~." Kalyssa replied sweetly before turning to tend to the fire.
Confessional: Kalyssa: Clan Cfrwys
"Laura is starting to sound an awful lot like my mother. Rotten and tainted."
End Confessional
"We need to get rid of her, Aria." Mateo lectured as he led her through the fields, picking up the rare stray branches from the few trees to keep their fire going. "She's going to lead us to ruin. That's delightful in it's own right, but I will not be made her minion. She is on the bottom of this clan, not the rest of us."
Confessional: Aria: Clan Cfrwys
"Oh? You don't like playing the role of minion huh? Really? Fucking really? Is that maybe giving you any kind of hint, Mateo? No? Fucking idiot… Man, I can't believe I was worried about this team at the start… "
End Confessional
"But… she's the queen…" Aria pretended not to get it. "Shouldn't we follow her orders?"
"The only orders you need to concern yourself with are mine, my dear." Mateo smirked. "I say, as soon as our splendid Queen is comfortable and not betting obscene amounts like nearly all our acres, we throw the challenge, and then throw her into the underground."
"What a great plan~."
Confessional: Aria: Clan Cfrwys
Aria simply shakes her head at the camera.
End Confessional
Location: Tine Naofa Bonfire Pit (Production Territory)
Contestant(s): All Above Ground
"We be challengin' booooiiis" said Michael as all the clans arrived at the Tine Naofa Bonfire Pit to hear Chris explain the rules of the challenge they had all been summoned to.
"Thank you, Michael," said Chris. "Though, we must represent all the professional women out there as well. Today's challenge is Firebending!"
"Finally!" Ryuji cheered before realizing he was on Alltud. "Wait…Aww, come on, how come they get to firebend?"
"The four clans will have to keep their fires going for as long as possible." Chris ignored Ryuji and explained the challenge. "Alltud needs to be able to snuff those flames before dusk. If even one flame remains lit by the time dusk rolls around, then Alltud, regardless of their place in the challenge, will go to elimination, as will whichever clan has their fire go out first! If more than one clan still has a fire going at dusk, the clan with the largest fire takes first place.
"Spill, McLean!" Axel crossed his arms. "What are the twists?"
"There are none! It's exactly that! Alltud, snuff the flames any possible way you can. Clans, keep your fires going for as long as you can. I'm legally obligated to tell you not to toss people into the fires, but… you do you. King, Queens, and Alltud, step forth! Heed counsel! Devise your wagers!"
Tiberius stepped forth and looked back at Cumhachtach. "What are we feeling boys? We might want to go small this time."
"We can't go small." Bryan disagreed. "We won't ever get the land back if we go small. Come on, bet big, we have nothing to lose!"
"Except more land." Michael jeered.
"Come on, guys, how hard is it to keep a fire going?"
"Well, when we have that mask wearing vigilante constantly distracting our king, pretty hard!" Stan came to Michael's defense.
"Guys, shut up for a second and let's think about this more rationally." Frag weighed in. "Alltud has to get all the fires put out, and if they do, the first clan they'd take acres from is the one with the fire that goes out first. You really think they'd focus on us, stuck in the relatively shadeless north coast? No, they'll go for Ffydd or Mealltach. Besides, they already have some of our land, and they're barely ever there. We can afford to go a little higher."
"It's a sad day when the weakest one is talking sense." Tiberius shook his head.
Rose, meanwhile, was having trouble. Alice, Anemone, Jarri, and Roxanne scattered all sorts of numbers out.
"Rose, come on." Alice teased. "Bet 3000 it's nice and half"
"No, that isn't wise at all." Jarri intervened. "1200. Alltud would go for the shade!"
"If Alltud is going for the shade, we need to go lower!" Anemone decided. "Bet the minimum! 100!"
"But we won't get any land if we win that way!" Roxanne countered before turning to Rose. "Come on! Pull a Laura! 5700!"
"That's enough out of all of you!" Rose shouted. "I'm just going to do what we did last time and bet 100 acres more than Tiberius if you can't all agree on a number!"
Most of Ffydd waited impatiently as Franchesca silently prayed to Gamata.
"I have the answer." She told them. "The perfect number."
Over on Cfrwys, Laura once again refused to heed the counsel of her clan members.
"Don't worry." She said stoically. "I'll bet what I believe is the right amount to bet."
Finally, Alltud was all gathered in a circle.
"How do you guys feel about half?" Gazella asked.
"Half, maybe half of 7000." Angelo replied.
"Half is too much, I think." said Axel. "Don't want Cumhachtach gaining our land back."
"But if we don't bet big, we won't get enough shade." Ryuji mentioned. "I'm sick of the desert."
"If we focus all our attention on Mealltach, we can assure that they will at least lose land and we won't." Maggie suggested.
"Great idea, Maggie!" Carol smiled. "But why not bet more then?"
"We don't want any other clans being flat out eliminated." Angelo determined. "They're all fighting against each other during these challenges, so the more of them there are, the more their attention will be divided, making it easier for us to meet our win conditions."
"Fine." Axel sighed. "This strategy better work though."
"And that's time!" Chris announced. "Clan leaders, Alltud, your bets!"
"1900 acres." Tiberius announced.
"2000 acres." Rose sighed.
"3400 acres." Franchesca nodded. "Gamata wills it."
"Laura… no…" Mateo whispered, hoping his prayer was heard. Unfortunately, he wasn't on Clan Ffydd, so it didn't work.
"5700 acres again, Chris." Laura ignored him.
Confessional: Mateo: Clan Cfrwys
"Again, she bets obscene amounts of land! How on Earth are we supposed to throw the challenge now? My goodness she is being ruthless… and I find that quite attractive if I must say so myself.."
End Confessional
"Alltud…"
"3500 acres." They cheered together.
"That's all the bets then!" Chris announced. "I'll give each clan some time to get to their designated fire site, where interns are maintaining the same starting fire sizes until I give the word to start. Once I do, you'll have approximately two hours until dusk!"
Challenge: Firebend Your Life
Rules: Clans must keep their own campsite's fires from going out for as long as possible. The first clan whose fire goes out heads to elimination.
Alltud Rules: Must put out every clan's fire before dusk. If they cannot put out all the fires, they will head to elimination, alongside whichever clan's fire went out first if there was one.
Wagers:
[3900] Cumhachtach: Tiberius bet 1900
[6000] Mealltach: Rose bet 2000
[6900] Ffydd: Franchesca bet 3400
[5900] Cfrwys: Laura bet 5700
[7300] Alltud: Everyone bet 3500
Location: Ionad Desert (near Clan Mealltach)
Contestant(s): Axel, Angelo, Carol, Maggie, and Ryuji
The Alltud men nodded.
Maggie and Carol looked away as the trio threw their shirts into a pile.
The two women looked back.
Strong tan lines adorned their bodies.
The sweat glazed their skin.
Together, they worked to tie their shirts into sacs, filling them to the brim with sand.
Axel hauled his sand bag over his shoulder.
Ryuji and Maggie held onto two sides of the sacs.
Angelo did his best to also haul his sac over his shoulder.
Carol was there to make sure he didn't drop the sac.
They all walked towards the forest as the footage played in slow motion.
War drums pounded as background music.
They all picked up the pace and ran as the tempo of the drums increased.
Next stop: Clan Mealltach's fire.
Location: Ffydd Fire Site
Contestant(s): Franchesca, Indigo, King, Morgana, Setsuna
"Woah! This fire is huge!" Setsuna gasped. The fire was about the size of her person.
"Looks very similar to the fires that we use to commune with spirits." Morgana lightly touched the flame."
"Careful!" Franchesca cautioned. "Gamata does not condone communing with the dead."
"But I do." said Morgana
"It shouldn't matter to Gamata if people who don't even believe in Him begin to commune with the dead." King announced.
"This is a fool's errand." Franchesca warned. "Tell them, Indigo."
"Oh...uh…" Indigo shrunk, a little put on the spot, and not very interested in the conversation. "Y-yeah, uh, that."
"Well." Setsuna shrugged. "If Gamata says no…"
"Who in the spirit world cares what Gamata says?" Morgana raised her voice.
Confessional: Morgana: Clan Ffydd
"I was told by the spirits earlier today, not to trust anything Gamata or His Charlatan prophet says! If Gamata says no communing with spirits, then commune with them I shall!"
End Confessional
Morgana sat before the fire in defiance, and motioned for King, Setsuna, and Indigo to sit with her.
King decided he might as well. This would be harmless. Morgana had been excited about communing with spirits earlier after all.
Setsuna shrugged.
"I mean...if Morgana says it's okay…"
"Do not falter, Indigo." Franchesca warned.
"R...right." Indigo nodded.
"Oh, spirits of this island…" Morgana announced. "If you are present please make yourselves known!"
The wind howled through the branches.
"I thought the challenge was firebending…" Setsuna lifted her face towards the wind. "Not airbending."
"I could swore I just heard Morgana again." Ani's voice echoed from below ground.
"Skit!" King jumped up as Setsuna followed him similarly startled. Indigo and Franchesca, looked around, confused.
"Yes, spirit! It is I!" Morgana called out. "Morgana!"
The wind wisped the fire forwards in the cardinal direction of Molly and Ani.
"Hi, Morgana, what are you doing all the way out here?" Molly's voice asked.
"It's the challenge oh spirits!" Morgana replied. "We are keeping our fire lit! Alltud cannot be suffered to put it out!"
"Well, don't spend your time talking to us about it!" Ani called back up. "It's been really windy for the past few hours. I think. My sense of time is not at all what it used to be!"
"Oh my gosh…" Setsuna's eyes widened.
Confessional: Setsuna: Clan Ffydd
"Ani's been dead so long he's forgotten his sense of time. Wow. That's some heavy stuff."
End Confessional
Confessional: King: Clan Ffydd
"Unfortunately, I fear Morgana is listening to the wrong spirits, but, given recent events, I do believe everything the false spirits are saying… "
End Confessional
The wind grew in power and speed.
"Stop the ritual!" Franchesca called out as she tossed a log on the fire, only for the impact to smother it due to the high speed winds.
"Uh…" The intern tasked with watching over Ffydd could hardly believe their eyes. "I uh… I really hope you guys know who you want to vote off…"
Location: Mealltach Fire Site
Contestant(s): Alice, Anemone, Angelo, Axel, Carol, Jarri, Maggie, Rose, Roxanne, Ryuji
"Okay, great looking fire, women!" Rose nodded as she looked over the fire that her clan members had going, fanning the flames using conifer branches to make the fire larger.
"What was that?!" Anemone jumped as she saw something rush through the forest.
"Probably just a wolf or something." Roxanne said. "Focus on the fiiiiiahhhh…." She stopped to point.
"CHAAARGE!" A shirtless Axel announced as he, a shirtless Ryuji, a shirtless Angelo, Carol, and Maggie all sprinted at full speed towards Mealltach's fire, their makeshift sandbags at the ready.
"Jarri!" Roxanne stood up.
"Right!" Jarri stood up with her.
Roxanne took on Angelo and Carol.
Jarri took on Ryuji and Maggie.
Soon it became clear that while they both put up a fight, neither woman would win on their own in their 1v2 matchups.
"Help!" They both called back at the same time.
Rose went to help Roxanne.
Anemone went to help Jarri.
"I'm sorry, but we can't let you do this!" Rose mentioned to Angelo.
"We're sorry too, but we want shade and you ladies have it." Angelo replied.
Confessional: Rose: Clan Mealltach
"I know what I said, but we would be that much closer if he were to have the part of the forest. I still want to win though, don't get me wrong. And I certainly would never mind seeing him shirtless more~"
End Confessional
"Hi again, Maggie." Jarri smiled as she, Maggie, a shirtless Ryuji, and Anemone all fought for control of the shirt turned sandbag. "Sorry you got stuck in the icky desert, but can't you aim for the bog instead?"
"Well, I really like the climate in this part of the island…" Maggie sheepishly grinned back even as she seemed to effortlessly parry Jarri's attempts to grab the sandbag.
Confessional: Jarri: Clan Mealltach
"Whoa, what is with that? Maggie is like, in the zone or something. I'm really good at being fast but it was almost like she could predict what kind of moves I'd make. Man, now I really want her on my team!"
End Confessional
"What about you?" Ryuji asked Anemone. "Do you like it here?"
"I'm more interested in you outcasts!" Anemone's eyes widened. "You're like, completely separate from the rest of us. What even is going on over in your territory?"
Confessional: Anemone: Clan Mealltach
"Seriously, they're the most cloaked in mystery of all these clans and Alice can get me information from other people but not about Alltud. I really need some eyes over there somehow!"
End Confessional
"Working out." Ryuji smirked. "Led by that guy."
He pointed to where a shirtless Axel, still wearing his surgical mask, was making his way towards the Mealltach fire, where only Alice was present to defend it.
"Looks like they left you to guard the fire alone." Axel calmly told Alice as he walked up to her.
"Guys!" Alice called nervously. "Guys, we have the biggest one coming this way, guys!"
"Crap!" Roxanne turned and rushed to help Alice as the other Mealltach members followed, only to allow the rest of Alltud circle and surround them.
"Don't worry, ladies." Carol grinned. "You're near a stream so you can wash any stray sand off. Now Alltud...Earthbend!"
Those carrying the shirts filled with sand tossed it all out, smothering Mealltach's fire.
"Sorry Mealltach!" Maggie called as Axel began to lead the rest of Alltud towards Cfrwys.
Confessional: Rose: Clan Mealltach
"No, no, no! Now, all four of them are going to be pestering me about elimination again! No way did any other clan's fire go out first. You heard what Alltud said. They really want our shade… Ugh, whyyyy?"
End Confessional
Location: Cumhoetach Fire Site
Contestant(s): Bryan, Frag, Gazella, Michael, Stan, Tiberius
Cumhoetach hadn't been having much luck.
"Guys! Guys! The fire!" Michael ran around camp screaming. The fire dwindled in size due to the lack of fuel.
"Michael! Michael!" Bryan called. "Running around and screaming isn't going to help the fire."
"Well, you know what, Bryan? I don't like not being able to do anything about it!"
Stan stroked his chin. "You think we could throw the wheat into the fire?"
Frag shook his head. "It wouldn't be as effective, but it's something."
The men all hauled enough wheat into the fire to maintain it.
Tiberius threw an assortment of logs on the ground. "Our fire!" Tiberius pointed at his teammates. "Which one of you cucks did this?"
"Tiberius," Bryan stepped up. "No one did. We just have no resources to keep the fire going."
Michael buried himself under the twigs. "Oh, sweet wood."
Stan threw a log into the fire.
Tiberius nodded. "I'll be back with another haul. Frag, come with me. We'll get more if we have four arms."
"Yes, sir." Frag saluted.
The two tallest men left the fire site.
Bryan sighed. "We should be okay for another half an hour or so."
"Huh." Michael sat up. "Wait. Where did Frag go?"
Stan snickered. "He followed Tiberius."
"Wait why?"
"To get more wood."
"When did this happen?"
"Just now, Michael."
"Boys," Bryan interfered. "Get your heads together! We have a fire that can't go out, and-"
"Oh, yes, it will~" Gazella stood atop a large boulder, hands on her hips, chest puffed out.
Michael covered his ears. "Dear goodness woman, you cannot sing!"
Bryan facepalmed. "Michael, that's not the point. She's gonna destroy our fire!"
Michael picked up one of the sticks from the pile of wood. "You dare!"
Gazella hopped off the boulder
… and hauled it above her head with her bare hands.
Michael dropped his stick.
The other men dropped their jaws.
Confessional: Bryan: Clan Cumhoetach
"I don't know how to get out of this situation. How do you safely prevent someone else from tossing a boulder into your fire?"
End Confessional
Michael tapped Stan's shoulder. "Hey Stan, I've got a plan!"
"But I'm Stan, the man with the plan."
"Well, now I have a plan, okay Stan?"
"No, I do not stan someone else having a plan!"
"Stan! Do you want to save our fire?"
"Yes!"
"Well, here's what we have to do!"
Bryan shook his head at the two boys. "What on Earth are they doing?" He muttered.
Michael grabbed another stick. Stan stood out in the open.
Stan whistled. "Eh, Gazella!"
She still headed towards the fire.
… Until Michael tapped a beat with his two sticks.
The drumming picked up.
She turned around.
Stan swayed his hips back and forth. His arms rubbed his torso. He beckoned at Gazella and winked.
As the beat picked up, Stan removed his shirt, exposing all his raw muscles and his eight-pack.
Gazella dropped her boulder.
Bryan rubbed the back of his head and tossed another log into the fire.
Confessional: Bryan: Clan Cumhoetach
"Well, I guess that's one way to stop her. I'll be completely honest, I'd never think of that. Teenagers are surprisingly creative. I'll give them that."
End Confessional
Confessional: Gazella: Clan Alltud
"I'll be honest. I was more confused than seduced. M-more confused than s-seduced."
End Confessional
"What is going on here?" Tiberius asked when he and Frag returned with their hauls of firewood.
"It appears the boys are giving Gazella a bit of a strip show." Bryan whispered.
Tiberius scoffed. "Then why didn't you just ask me to strip for her? Your King's got nothing to hide! DEUS VULT!"
Frag walked up to Michael and shook his head. "Dude, what kind of a beat is that?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's off tempo as heck."
"The homies on the baseball team and I would tap this beat all the time when we were waiting for our runs."
Frag held out his hand. "Give me those things. Let a real drummer show you how this is done." Frag immediately started drumming a much higher quality beat.
Tiberius tossed his armor to the side. He effortlessly swung his white shirt over his head as well. The sweat from his walks accumulated on his chest and back.
Michael shrugged his shoulders and also whipped off his shirt.
Stan stepped towards Michael, never taking his eyes off of Gazella. The two men held each other, one hand on the back of the neck, the other towards the lower back. Slowly, Michael grated his abs against Stan's.
Bryan looked at the three shirtless men, Frag's drumming enabling this strategy further, and just...shook his head.
Confessional: Gazella: Clan Alltud
"What the hell am I watching? What the actual fuck am I experiencing?"
End Confessional
Confessional: Michael: Clan Cumhoetach
"Hey, whatever it takes to win. "
End Confessional
Confessional: Tiberius: Clan Cumhoetach
"Who's the biggest hoe on Clan Cumhoetach?"
Postpone Confessional
Gazella's face glowed a bright shade of red. With a gentle push, the boulder smothered the fire.
All of Clan Cumhoetachs' eyes widened.
Confessional: Gazella: Clan Cumhachtach
"As much as they distracted me, they also distracted themselves."
End Confessional
"Sorry boys." Gazella bowed. "But I gotta rendezvous with the rest of my clan now, dig? See you later!"
She began to leave but quickly turned around.
"Maybe don't do that ever again?"
She began to leave again but once again quickly turned around.
"Or, I mean, if you want to, just don't let that fat armor guy strip?"
She began to leave once more, but turned around one last time.
"You're all whores."
And then she left for good.
Resume Tiberius's Confessional
"Answer: It's Frag!"
End Confessional
Location: Cfrwys Fire Site
Contestant(s): Angelo, Aria, Axel, Carol, Gazella, Kalyssa, Laura, Maggie, Mateo, Ryuji
"Gazella, there you are!" Axel waved her over to the rendezvous point just beyond the Cfrwys Fire Site.
"How was Cumhachtach?" Maggie asked.
"It was… an experience."
Confessional: Gazella: Clan Alltud
Shudders.
End Confessional
"But you put out their fire, right?" Carol wanted to confirm.
Gazella silently nodded.
"Alright." Angelo looked over everyone. "Get the refilled sandbags ready."
Meanwhile, Laura, Kalyssa, Mateo, and Aria were waiting for Alltud to make their move.
"They're just standing at the border to the fire site…" Aria mentioned. "Menacingly."
Mateo held a rock back, ready to throw.
Kalyssa held up a log she was using as a club.
Laura remained by the fire.
"Alltud, on my mark!" Gazella announced.
"Steady, Mateo…" Laura spoke calmly.
"..."
"..."
"CHARGE!" Gazella yelled as Alltud came rushing up towards the Cfrwys fire, shouting and hollering.
"FIRE!" Laura ordered as Mateo flung his rock, missing all the Alltud and just landing in the center of their running mob.
Mateo picked up another rock and repeated the same actions, yielding the same results, multiple times in a row.
It was no use, Alltud kept rushing in closer.
"Kalyssa!" Laura shot out her hand.
"Right!" Kalyssa nodded before rushing to meet Alltud head on.
"We're going to fight to keep this fire alive Alltud!" Laura announced as she pointed to an incredibly small fire thanks to the recent wind.
"Well, we're gonna put it out anyways!" Axel shouted back. "Ryuji!"
"HAH!" Ryuji popped up behind the rest of Cfrwys.
Confessional: Ryuji: Clan Alltud
"Why is it that Cfrwys never freaking expects us to be creative? You'd think they'd learn."
End Confessional
"Here comes the sand!" Ryuji called as Laura rushed to stop him.
"Aaaaaand….TIME!" Chris announced as the sun finished setting.
Ryuji stopped and looked at Chris.
His sand finally poured out of his shirt and put Laura's fire out.
"CFRWYS WINS!" Chris announced. "BY A HAIR BUT THEY WIN. ALLTUD MIGHT BE SECOND BUT AS AN OUTCAST CLAN, THEY'LL BE JOINING FFYDD AT THE TINE NAOFA BONFIRE ELIMINATION CEREMONY!"
"Wait, Ffydd's fire went out first?" Ryuji's grin returned to his face. "We didn't even go to them!"
CHALLENGE RESULTS AND ACRE CHANGES:
1st Place: Cfrwys (bet 5700 acres) [5900] - [11,600]
2nd Place: Alltud (bet 3500 acres) [7300] - [7300]
3rd Place: Cumhachtach (bet 1900 acres) [3900] - [3600]
4th Place: Mealltach (bet 2000 acres) [6000] - [4000]
5th Place: Ffydd (bet 3400 acres) [6900] - [3500]
Location: Tine Naofa Bonfire Elimination Ceremony
1st Wave: Ffydd (Franchesca, Indigo, King, Morgana, Setsuna)
The Ffydd members sat on the logs, torches accompanying them from behind.
"Ffydd, Ffydd, Ffydd. What happened? You were nearly on top last week. Now your fire is the first to go out, and not only smother a little like the other clans, but completely go out."
Franchesca shook her head. "Gamata warned us all!"
King shook his head. "Franchesca, there is more power when you say 'I warned them' versus 'Gamata warned us'. Personally, I don't think it was the spirits' fault for taking out the fire. You were the one who threw the log in."
"It's fine if you want to be a blasphemer, but we all know Setsuna is voting randomly with that box of hers, and Indigo is a loyal follower of Gamata."
Morgana and King looked at each other.
Then they looked at Setsuna.
"I swear to the spirits…" Morgana sighed. "A random vote better not be the determining factor here." She turned back to Indigo. "Vote for Franchesca. The spirits said to."
"Vote for the sinner, Morgana." Franchesca urged Indigo. "Gamata wills it."
"Wow." Chris smiled. "Another argument about Gamata within two challenges. I think a certain deity's influence might be a little waning."
"His influence is as strong as it's ever been." Franchesca stood up. "It is simply that heathens refuse to allow themselves to listen."
"Well…" Chris smiled. "Let's put those words with a test. It is time to vote. Queen Franchesca, you're up first."
Confessional: Franchesca: Clan Ffydd
"Morgana… you and your heretical ritual cost us our challenge, and Gamata will see you eliminated for it."
End Confessional
After Franchesca went up it was King.
Then it was Morgana's turn to vote.
Confessional: Morgana: Clan Ffydd
"Franchesca, my vote is for you. The spirits said I should, and they've guided all my actions so far in life."
End Confessional
Indigo was up next.
Finally, it was Setsuna's turn.
Confessional: Setsuna: Clan Ffydd
Setsuna pulled out her box and placed it on the counter. She opened it and reached her hand in. She looked at the name on the piece of paper and nodded, before copying the name down and putting it in the voting jar.
End Confessional
"The votes have been tallied." Chris announced. "If you receive the most votes, bring me your torch to snuff and wait over by the Tomb of Shame entrance. You and your fellow Alltud eliminatee will be descending underground together. Keep in mind that Franchesca wins ties, and without further ado, I'll read the votes."
Chris took out the pieces of paper one after the other.
"One vote Morgana.
…
…
"One vote Franchesca.
…
…
"Two votes Franchesca. That's one vote Morgana, two votes Franchesca, two votes left.
…
…
…
"One vote Indigo. That's one vote Morgana, one vote Indigo, two votes Franchesca, one vote left."
…
…
…
"The last vote is for…
…
…
…
"Franchesca. That's three, that's enough, you'll need to bring me your torch. As a ruler, you must pass your status onto a contestant still in the game."
"Indigo." Franchesca responded. "The only one among them who showed any interest in Gamata. May the light guide his way."
"Franchesca…" Chris looked at Franchesca as he snuffed her torch. "The clan has spoken."
Franchesca nodded, and waved back at her clan without looking as she headed toward the Tomb of Shame.
"Indigo, congratulations, you are the new King of Ffydd." Chris smiled as looks of horror appeared on both Morgana's and King's faces realizing how much power had been handed over to Indigo. "Normally, I'd invite the Ffydd ruler to stick around and watch eliminations, but Alltud has finally lost for once, so I'm afraid you four will have to head back to camp. Let's hope you can stay strong enough to come back from this loss."
*Franchesca's Elimination Confessional:
"Gamata has determined that my work above ground is done for now. But because He is a Lord of Light, He will send me underground where I can shine like a beacon in the darkness. Truly, He is a God to be praised. Praise Gamata!"
End Confessional*
2nd Wave: Alltud (Angelo, Axel, Carol, Gazella, Maggie, Ryuji)
"Alltud, we finally meet." Chris smiled as the exile clan headed up to the bonfire pit. "Behind each of you is a torch, grab a torch, dip it into the pit and receive fire. In this game, fire represents your life. When your flame is gone, so are you."
Chris waited so that all of Alltud could do as he instructed.
Once everyone was sitting at their seats, he began.
"Finally you guys lose a challenge, even if only freaking barely. You're supposed to be having a hard time guys, why are you making it look so easy?"
"Hey, if we make it look easy that's because we're just that awesome." Ryuji leaned back.
"It has not been easy." Axel shook his head. "We're constantly hungry, tired, cranky, and hot as hell or cold as hell depending on the time of day thanks to being stuck in the desert. We were really looking forward to getting shade too but fucking Laura had to bet a fucking fifth of the island, there's no shade left over for us to take."
"You're lucky you came in second performance wise." Chris smiled. "Otherwise you would've had some of your own acres taken away."
"I wouldn't call anything about being at an elimination ceremony 'lucky'." Angelo shook his head.
"I would!" Chris grinned back at him. "I finally get to see how fractured or unified this team really is, because you will be voting someone off tonight. Any ideas who it'll be?"
"A few." Maggie piped up.
"Who here thinks, no matter who it is, it won't be them?" Chris asked.
Everyone's hands went up.
"Well… one of you is about to be very disappointed. It is time to vote. Axel, you're up first."
One by one, each Alltud member went up to vote.
Maggie after Axel.
Gazella after Maggie.
Ryuji after Gazella.
Angelo after Ryuji.
Finally, Carol brought up the rear.
Chris left to tally the votes, and soon returned.
"I've tallied the votes." He announced. "I will read each one of them orally. If you receive the most votes, you must bring me your torch for a snuffing and head on over to the Tomb of Shame entrance, where you and the most recently eliminated contestant or contestants will enter the Shameterranean. Without further ado...I'll read the votes."
Chris took out the pieces of paper one at a time, and read them aloud.
"... Ryuji."
…
…
…
"... Axel."
…
…
…
"... Axel. That's two votes Axel."
…
…
…
"... Gazella. That's two votes Axel, one vote Gazella, one vote Ryuji."
…
…
…
"... Ryuji. That's two votes Axel, two votes Ryuji, one vote Gazella, one vote left."
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
"... Gazella. We're tied! 2 to 2 to 2. Here's how this is going to work. Axel, Gazella, and Ryuji, each of you will explain to the other three Alltud members why they should keep you around, and we will have a re-vote. The three of you will not vote. Everyone else can only vote for Axel, Gazella, or Ryuji. If we do not produce a clear loser after the second vote, we will head into a footrace, the distance of which will be determined by me, where the last to complete will be eliminated. Ryuji. Your case is first."
"Guys…" Ryuji looked at Angelo, Maggie, and Carol. "I outsmarted Cfrwys...multiple times! I think I'm a pretty handy guy to have on the team, just saying. I'm also super light-hearted and not about to be all Debbie Downer or Martha Muscle over here like these two." He pointed to Axel and Gazella.
"Axel, now it's your turn." Chris announced.
"I am fit. I am strategic, I do not fall for petty tricks very easily. Furthermore, I help lead our workout sessions in the desert, and I am able to hold my own in challenges. I even give that Cumhachtach king a run for his money. Don't focus on the here and now, focus on the future."
"Finally…" Chris turned to Gazella. "Gazella, the floor is yours."
"Guys...I am your physical challenge powerhouse." Gazella smirked as she patted her bicep. "I can make sure we don't lose as much! What happened just now, it wasn't a loss, it was just us not quite accomplishing our goal, which is designed to be harder. But it's much easier with a girl like me around."
Once again, one by one, the three remaining Alltud went up to vote.
First Carol.
Then Maggie.
Finally, Angelo.
"I'll now read the votes." Chris announced after coming back with the jar of names.
…
…
…
…
"Axel."
…
…
…
…
"Ryuji. That's one vote Axel, one vote Ryuji, one vote left."
…
…
…
…
"Gazella. Once again, we are tied at 1 vote for each eligible player. As such, we settle this...with a footrace. Starting from here, you are to run to the edge of that production tent over there and back." Chris pointed at a production tent around 66 meters away. "That should be roughly 132 meters."
Axel, Gazella, and a gulping Ryuji all got ready at a starting line.
"Go!" Chris shouted.
At the very start Ryuji had sprinted into an early lead, but very quickly tripped over himself onto the sand.
The time he wasted getting up was enough for both Axel and Gazella to pass him.
As Ryuji managed to sprint up to where Gazella was at the production tent, Axel had clearly overtaken the both of them and was already halfway back to Chris.
The vigilante very quickly arrived back at the host and secured his spot in the game as Gazella and Ryuji battled their way out for the last remaining spot on the team.
Gazella maintained a small lead, but Ryuji was gaining ground with every millisecond.
Soon, their positions were switched and Ryuji was in the lead.
What wasn't switched was their acceleration.
Ryuji's lead got larger.
And larger.
Until finally…
"And Ryuji earns the final spot on Alltud!" Chris announced. "Unfortunately Gazella, that means it's time for you to bring me your torch."
Confessional: Angelo: Clan Alltud
"The very second I heard Gazella say 'powerhouse' I knew I'd be switching my vote from what it was before. No one has more or less power on this clan. That's our whole point. And from the results of that footrace, I think it's clear that she wasn't that much of a powerhouse."
End Confessional
"Gazella…" Chris announced as she brought him her torch. "The clan has spoken."
Gazella let out a sigh as the flame was snuffed out.
"Take care, Alltud! Win this game for me! I better not see any of you down in the Shameterranean any time soon. I'll come back up and rejoin you!"
*Gazella's Elimination Confessional:
"Well, I wasn't quite expectin' to be gettin voted out but I suppose that's what happens when I take too long to put out Cumhachtach's fire. It don't help that they stripped to distract me and then I had to run against two shirtless guys from my own clan. I really think that's what did me in here. I stand by what I said last time though. Cumhachtach are whores."
End Confessional*
Location: Shameterranean
Contestant(s): Ani, Avi, Franchesca, Gazella, Harald, Jeremy, Mathilda, Molly, Nathan
"Ah, a pair!" Harald observed as Franchesca and Gazella both had Chef slam the door behind them after a brief exposition of the area. "If you could-"
"Can't talk!" Gazella quickly rushed away. "See you!"
"If I could what?" Franchesca asked, her pure white dress still not getting at all dirty despite being underground and surrounded by dirt and dust from every angle.
"I've been looking for a set of hands since my last one was pushed down a pit of peril. Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling." Harald lied.
"Hm." Franchesca crossed her arms. "Is it truly dangerous to go alone? I have Gamata after all."
Harald smirked.
He smelled an opportunity and he was damn sure going to take it.
"Oh, finally, a fellow follower of Gamata. The Leader of Light and Good!" He exclaimed poetically, taking a chance based on Franchesca's clothing. A chance that paid off.
"You follow Gamata as well?!" Franchesca's eyes lit up. "Oh that changes almost everything! Yes, yes, let us work together. One of Gamata's Chosen is bound to make it back up to the surface after all!"
Confessional: Franchesca: Shameterranean
"Harald is a follower of Gamata! Perfect, I know He would bless me with help in the underground!"
End Confessional
Confessional: Harald: Shameterranean
"Franchesca is fond of light. But pretty lights don't shine so bright down here. In fact, soon, only dark will remain."
End Confessional
Shift In Camera Focus
"Gotta find it, gotta find it..." Gazella looked over her scrap of paper. "DA first, resting place second…but…" She looked around. "All these tunnels are new…"
"Hey, wait a minute!" Molly called after Ani as he headed towards Gazella. "It could be someone violent and then we'd be fucked!"
"It's Gazella!" Ani called back before turning to Gazella. "I was wondering when an Alltud would get down here. What happened though? You seemed pretty on top of things."
"I clearly wasn't as on top as I would've liked to believe." Gazella laughed a bit. "Anyhow, you two ain't about to try to shove me down any pit are you?"
"Hell no." Molly shook her head as she caught up. "If it's you, Gazella, we want to work with you. We've been around the Shameterranean a few times now, and we're fairly positive that the tunnels we heard you being confused over are a new occurrence. We just want to stick together to avoid anyone sneaking up on us in our sleep or something and shoving us into a pit. Come on, we've got a fire in an empty alcove not far from here."
"Well…" Gazella thought about it. "Fine, I suppose there's no harm in numbers after all. It'll be nice to learn about some other clans as well."
Shift In Camera Focus
Mathilda broke through the last of the cavern wall and entered into an alcove.
She dropped her bat onto the ground as she was overtaken by the unexpected majesty.
An altar with moonlight shining down on it from above.
A bucket attached to a pulley system.
And two advantages on either side of the altar.
She read the instructions.
Confessional: Mathilda: Shameterranean
Mathilda is looking over both advantages. She reads over the instructions on one, smirks, and puts it in her pocket.
End Confessional
Mathilda walked up to the bucket, and hesitantly placed the other advantage inside. If she remembered correctly, Ffydd was the clan most firmly cemented in the Cailleach Bog. She heaved the bucket up.
It tipped and the advantage fell out, onto the surface.
Mathilda nodded with a smile.
She returned to her bat, and picked it up.
Once again, she whacked the cavern wall.
Shift In Camera Focus
"I just got done with surveillance." Jeremy said as he returned to Avi and Nathan. "It's Franchesca and Gazella down here. Both Cumhachtach and Cfrwys are safe for now."
"Okay, but Bryan is up there literally all alone with no special advantages to help him." Avi worried. "I just think we should go out and look for more."
"I guess we could…" Nathan nodded. "Or…" He took out his advantage. "We could send him this."
"What is it?" Jeremy asked.
"It's a vote block." Nathan informed him. "You play it before votes are cast to prevent someone else from voting."
"Aw, fucking awesome!" Avi smiled. "Yeah, let's send it up!"
"I hope you guys realize that if I find that DA, I'm going up there. I'm not entirely on board with this whole 'send up Avi' plan you two have going." Jeremy let the others know as they approached the alcove that Nathan had discovered.
"Don't worry about it, Jeremy. I wouldn't dream of forcing you to give up your spot in the game." Nathan replied, unconcerned.
"Yeah, me either." Avi replied. "What's important is that we're allies, against yeeting each other."
"I'm glad to hear that." Jeremy smiled. "So, we're sending this up to Bryan?"
"Yeah." Avi nodded.
"Well, how will we make sure he's the one that comes to get it?"
"This is how." Avi snickered as he walked up towards the hole connecting the Shameterranean to the surface.
He took a deep breath.
"OH MAN! I'M LOST!"
"..H-...OST…...AN!" Bryan's voice carried back.
"Do it again!" Nathan cheered as all three men's faces lit up.
"OH MAN! I'M LOST!" Avi shouted again.
"HI, LOST!" Bryan's face appeared at the hole. "I'M BRYAN!"
"Bryan!"
"Avi! Who's with you?"
"I'm Nathan!" Nathan called up.
"It's Jeremey!" Jeremy also called up. "Listen, Bryan, you can't trust any Cfrwys member except Laura, alright?"
"Alright!" Bryan called back. "Thanks for the heads up!"
"Bryan!" Nathan called up. "Tiberius has, somewhere on his person, clues to both the Druidic Artifact that allows people to return to the game and the resting place where it needs to go for that to happen. Think you could find a way to steal them and send them down?"
"I'll see what I can do!" Bryan called back. "Are you guys alright down there? It must be cold and dark and miserable!"
"It is!" Avi called back. "But we're fine! We've got a fire going. Would love to not have to eat bugs anymore though."
"One last thing, Bryan…" Nathan called up.
The guys all nodded at each other and pulled the bucket up to the surface hole.
Bryan's eyes widened as the sun peeked out of the horizon.
He grabbed the advantage inside.
The Votes for those who are curious
Ffydd:
Franchesca voted for… Morgana
Indigo voted for… Franchesca
King voted for… Franchesca
Morgana voted for… Franchesca
Setsuna voted for… Indigo
Alltud:
Angelo voted for… Axel
Axel voted for… Ryuji
Carol voted for… Axel
Gazella voted for… Ryuji
Maggie voted for… Gazella
Ryuji voted for… Gazella
Alltud's Revote:
Angelo voted for… Gazella
Carol voted for… Ryuji
Maggie voted for… Axel
32/36 Remain, 23 Above Ground.
AN: Time to talk very briefly about Franchesca and Gazella!
Franchesca first!
Franchesca was a fun clan leader to write, but boy is she not quite suited for the social aspect of this game. She has unwavering faith in her religion, which, while loyalty is admirable, the kind of blind loyalty and willingness to shun or accept others based on their level of belief that Franchesca possesses might still be hindering her even underground. Especially now that she's fallen in with Harald. Hopefully, it goes closer to the route of Avi's encounter with Harald than, say, Danny's. I suppose only time will tell though.
Now onto Gazella!
Gazella was also a fun character to write. One of the unofficial leaders of Alltud. The thing I find most interesting about Gazella right now is that she is down in the Shameterranean and has a map (albeit a bit of an outdated one) to the location of the Druidic Artifact and it's true resting place, which means her new friends Ani and Molly could also be very close to the artifact. I suppose only time will tell though.
AN2:
I have a discord server where we talk about Total Drama and stuff. It's really fun. The link is on my profile for those who want to join!
AN3:
I want to take this time to go on the record and confirm that secretnobody's Total Drama Qatilat is in fact set in the same cinematic universe as the rest of these total drama fics. I will be editor for that one the way she's editor for Nialasach, so please look forward to that when it starts coming out! I know I already am!
EN: Bleep Bloop you sleepy sloop yyeey
EN2: ^^first words written of this chapter. How monumental.
EN3: Okay, okay. First things fucking first, there is no way I can go about this note without mentioning whatever the hell went on during the Cumhachtach challenge scene. No, we never outlined that specifically happening. We just needed to have Gazella… distracted, so to say. And, to give Gazella a bit of credit here, and not completely calling her out for being a horny fuck, wouldn't you also have reacted the same way. And if you aren't into guys, wouldn't you have also reacted the same way if it were a bunch of women doing that. And if you aren't into that, wouldn't you have also reacted the same way if it were a bunch of doggos doing that?
Thought so. You see, Gazella isn't that horny. And if she is, she's simply just a teenager. (Literally only writing this out so we don't get any horny Gazella memes on the discord, I swear you guys over-interpret everything, I love and hate you)
EN4: Also, this was the point in time of the outline where Doobop and I were genuinely starting to become afraid of Laura. That woman is insane! In two episodes, she has essentially a third of Crios Cath! Freaked us the hell out.
EN5: As editor, I'd like to say that every chapter I edit, I always embed some kind of prank on Doobop. Sometimes he falls for it, sometimes he catches on, but it's the funniest thing ever. Yeah… see if you guys can find them.
AN4: At the very least, one of her pranks was replacing Cumhachtach with Cumhoetach in their pre-challenge scene, but I've gotten her back for that one. See if you can figure out how.
AN5: And as always, thanks for reading!
