Chris Recap
"Last time on Total Drama Crios Cath,
"The contestants were driven out of their campsites early in the morning because yours truly announced a merge!
"On the dune buggy rides, King had a plan to scout out the teams of the other clans, which Frag accepted. Too bad the dude is only king of the morning though.
"The ladies of Mealltach got along well, save for Jarri who is finding herself in a similar position Rose was in once.
"On Cyfrwys, Jeremy's confidence confused Kalyssa, but when she heard of the merge, her expression was priceless!
"On Alltud's walk, Axel caught Angelo and Carol up to base with how his fallen wife is doing underground.
"The challenge was simple. Due to the merge, somebody from underground is due to rise, so we had the challenge for the above ground contestants to scour the underground contestants and figure out what exactly was going on down there.
"Angelo was able to find Mateo, who tried his best not to help Angelo, but Angelo was still able to get away with it. Later Setsuna came up, had a boring conversation, and they pooled information.
"Axel was still on his little mission with Arianna.
"Carol sought out Ryuji, which helped her for a few rounds.
"Frag and King found Tiberius, who proved to be just as lazy as usual.
"Jarri actually found an amazing strategy, seeking out as many people as she could. Unfortunately, she came across Michael that fed her lies, and it kicked her out of the challenge.
"Jeremy relied heavily on the information based on his experiences underground.
"Kalyssa struck a deal with the first Cumhachtach King, and he still didn't provide her with any true information.
"Maggie found her above ground friend, and together, they pooled information.
"And Rose struggled to find the already eliminated Alice.
"Axel, due to his abundant information from Arianna and deductive reasoning, won the challenge, the clue to the Alltud Medal, and Tiberius's heart.
"There was no elimination this episode. Or was there? Chef?"
Chef Recap
"Oh, boy…
"First, Alice left behind her fake medal, only for Michael to pick it up. He came 'cross Laura who convinced him to send it up. Laura wanted it to go to Jarri, and Michael sent it to her, with the expressed purpose to give it to Frag. That worked out well…
"Tiberius found the True Resting Spot and decided to wait for the person with the Druidic Artefact to get there, so he can steal it and rise up instead.
"Laura found Arianna ratting out erry'thing to Axel, and wanted to yeet her, but Mateo didn't allow it. Arianna's friend, Ryuji, was able to find Laura, secure her map to the undergrounds, and throw the fallen Queen down a Pit of Peril. Ryuji and Arianna meet up later to share the map, and figure out Laura and Mateo made the DUMBEST MOVE of not putting the Druidic Artefact on the True Resting Place, when they already found it. Using the information on the map, Arianna heads off to feed Mateo, and Ryuji secures the Druidic Artefact.
"Later, Michael stumbled across Tiberius, who ordered Michael to send him the Druidic Artefact. Yeah, Michael was soo on board with that. Michael ended up finding Ryuji, he convinces Ryuji to give him the Druidic Artefact.
"Finally, Ryuji distracts Tiberius while Michael and Arianna tackle each other for a good grasp on the Artefact. Turns out, they both ended up putting it on the Resting Place, which granted both of them a spot in the game."
Chris appeared. "How long will either of them last in the game? Will Axel find the Alltud medal? How will Kalyssa fare no longer being queen?
"Find out, here, on
"Total…
"Drama…
"CRIOS CATH!"
Survivor's: Ancient Voices starts playing
As the music begins, 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.
Mergeville
The camera shows four figures of red, blue, green, yellow, and gray, all warring at each other, carrying symbols of flags. It then pans over the location of the acres Mergeville controls, showing the border of the Glas Woods and Cloc Mountain Range.
Angelo is hauling sandstone in one shot, and harmoniously playing a violin in a second shot.
Arianna is seen placing the DA on its True Resting Place in one shot, and slamming her fists down on the sand in the 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.
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.
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.
Jeremy is seen placing the DA on its True Resting Place in one shot, and staring intently at the Tine Naofa Bonfire, aware of what elimination means in this game, 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.
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.
Maggie is busy dusting off her stone slab bed in one shot, and organizing various makeshift tools in a second shot.
Michael is seen placing the DA on its True Resting Place in one shot, and is leaping through treetops 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.
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.
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.
Tiberius is getting his torch snuffed by Chris in one shot, and pacing around the first True Resting Place in another 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: Tine Naofa Bonfire Pit
Contestants: Angelo, Arianna, Axel, Carol, Frag, Jarri, Jeremy, Kalyssa, King, Maggie, Michael, Rose, Setsuna
The sun peeked over the horizon. All the previous above ground contestants scattered around the bonfire with their torches lit in the back. Most of the contestants sat by their previous clans, but, any others connections had been with each other.
Chris kept a keen eye on his watch. 6:59pm.
One minute left.
The contestants mingled with each other. Mainly wanting to figure out the newest arrival, but they can't know yet. Until…
7:00pm.
"Contestants." With a single word, Chris captured the attention of every contestant. He was the most powerful person in the game. "I have an announcement to make. I'm sure all of you are itching to know the person who rose! I'm sure she is delighted to see you all…"
Arianna stepped from the shadows, shielding her eyes from the bright fire, bearing her unlit torch. She stuck it into the torch holder.
Confessional: Arianna
"I. Fucking. Did. It… Maybe not perfectly, but I did it." Arianna shook her head. "I've never been so terrified, and not because I'm claustrophobic though that definitely didn't help! Mateo, Laura, Tiberius, heck even Michael, all of them were after me. Wanting to push me down just to bring themselves more power." Arianna sighed. "Even though I did rise on top of this mess, I can't say I'm proud of myself. Nobody else needed any fucking help, meanwhile I had to rely on one of Axel's Alltud friends! Not to mention Axel himself! I just… I'm so… weak."
End Confessional
Confessional: Carol
She covered her mouth. "Oh my island gods, the plan worked! I guess Angelo and I should give Axel and Arianna some credit where it's due, that's worked out really well! No more Laura, no more Anemone, no more Alice, no more Tiberius, no more Michael, and no more Mateo. Exactly the mass exodus of antagonists we were going for!"
End Confessional
Confessional: Kalyssa
"Ah, the little girl who gave Cyfrwys such a hard time in challenges after she left us." She stroked her chin. "Perhaps there is more to her than she let on. I'll need to exercise some caution in that area."
End Confessional
Confessional: King
"Ah, my old alliance member from way back. I wonder if she is still willing to work with me. Setsuna and I need all the help we can get after all, especially after all that backstabbing going on over on Cumhachtach."
End Confessional
Confessional: Setsuna
"Oh yeah, I remember her!"
End Confessional
Confessional: Jeremy
"Arianna. She didn't vote for me at the first elimination, considering Kalyssa's lust for the throne could justify why she voted for me. Arianna doesn't really look for power in that strain. I guess her throwing her vote was the reason for Prof being sent down next. It made him scramble. Though, I can't say I know much about her. She must've been part of the cunning clan for a reason at least."
End Confessional
Confessional: Angelo
"I can't say I'm too surprised, but I am glad we managed to convince Axel why it would be a bad idea for him to go down rather than what we ended up doing, or, I suppose what ended up happening is a more accurate phrase."
End Confessional
Arianna lingered by Chris, as she was instructed to. Her torch carried a new life.
Chris kept his hands behind his back. "But that's not all… Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the second returning contestant of the Shameterrenean."
Michael emerged from the shadows, still clad in his loincloth, unlit torch in hand. He posed.
"Dear island gods, where are your clothes?" Kalyssa shielded her eyes.
"Mealltach camp." He winked at her.
Jarri concealed her snickering.
Confessional: Michael
"Huh, who knew my first words above ground would be Mealltach Camp? Wow, that is so me." Michael snickered. "Oh yeah, and be prepared for a merge that doesn't deserve to slap as hard as it does!"
End Confessional
Confessional: Jarri
"Okay, as freaking hysterical this guy is, I know to be wary of him. He was the reason I lost when I lost that last challenge after all. And he's not going to get the better of me again!"
End Confessional
Confessional: Frag
"Out of all the people it had to be, why did it have to be someone that I eliminated. Well, either I can't be working with him, or I'll just have to really secure his trust. I just hope he doesn't force that medal on me."
End Confessional
Confessional: Maggie
"I really hope we camp somewhat near those conifer huts. I do not want to have to put up with seeing Michael like that all the time. We should keep it classy, you know?"
End Confessional
Confessional: Rose
"Well, now I feel a bit ridiculous for only trying to scope out Alice during that last challenge. I'm not sure how I feel about both Arianna and Michael returning either. I certainly was never close with either, so I shouldn't count myself safe from their radars just yet."
End Confessional
Confessional: Axel
"So, a spare villain slipped through the cracks, eh? I'm absolutely upset about that, but it's a hiccup we'll have to accept. I'd much rather this scenario happen than anything worse. Honestly, I'm glad she's back. If our plan worked once, it can work again for when we send Michael straight back down and that Kalyssa woman after him."
End Confessional
Michael dipped his torch into the fire. He and Arianna took their torches and placed them with the rest of the competition. Michael, being Michael, decided his best course of action would be to sit right next to Frag. Arianna stayed away from everybody.
"Now…" Chris smiled as Chef wheeled in a karaoke machine. "In time honored tradition, let us kick off the merge proper with a group karaoke! You guys can choose a song, and everyone has to sing it! Let's celebrate you guys making it to the halfway point of the competition!"
He handed Jeremy a microphone.
"Anyone have any suggestions?" He asked as he stood near the machine.
"I have one, that I think captures the essence of Total Drama quite well…" Angelo smiled as he simply entered in his preferred song number.
"Show me how to lie," Angelo began to sing You're Gonna Go Far, Kid as the karaoke machine played the song.
"You're getting better all the time
And turning all against the one
Is an art that's hard to teach!" He passed the mic off to Frag, who continued.
"Another clever word
Sets off an unsuspecting herd
And as you step back into line,
A mob jumps to their feet!" He passed the mic to Arianna.
"Now dance, fucker, dance
Man he never had a chance
And no one even knew
It was really only you!" She tossed the mic to Maggie.
"And now you steal away
Take him out today
Nice work you did
You're gonna go far, kid!" Maggie then motioned for everyone to join in for the chorus.
"With a thousand lies, and a good disguise" They all sang.
"Hit 'em right between the eyes! Hit 'em right between the eyes!
When you walk away, nothing more to say.
See the lightning in your eyes, See 'em running for their lives!" They then all dispersed and Michael was left with the mice
"Slowly out of line" He sang with a smirk.
And drifting closer in your sights
So play it out, I'm wide awake
It's a scene about me!" He tossed the mic to Jeremy.
"There's something in your way
And now someone is gonna pay
And if you can't get what you want,
Well it's all because of me!" Jeremy than brought the mic over to Carol.
"Now dance, fucker, dance
Man, I never had a chance
And no one even knew
It was really only you!" She handed Axel the mic.
"And now you'll lead the way
Show the light of day
Nice work you did
You're gonna go far, kid!
Trust, Deceived!" He motioned for everyone to join in again.
"With a thousand lies and a good disguise!
Hit 'em right between the eyes, hit 'em right between the eyes!
When you walk away, nothing more to say
See the lightning in your eyes, see 'em running for their lives!" Now Rose found herself holding the mic as the song reached it's bridge.
She let the music play out before resuming the lyrics.
"Now dance, fucker, dance
He never had a chance
And no one even knew
It was really only you!" She passed the mic to Kalyssa.
"So dance, fucker, dance
I never had a chance
It was really only you!" Kalyssa sang before handing Jarri the microphone.
"With a thousand lies and a good disguise!
Hit 'em right between the eyes, hit 'em right between the eyes!" Jarri handed the mic to King.
"When you walk away, nothing more to say
See the lightning in your eyes, see 'em running for their lives!" King sang before nudging Setsuna and making her grab the mic to sing like everyone else already did.
"Clever alibis, Lord of the flies!" Setsuna sang.
"Hit 'em right between the eyes, hit 'em right between the eyes!" She brought everyone back in to finish the song off.
"When you walk away, nothing more to say,
See the lightning in your eyes, see 'em running for their lives!" They all sang and celebrated as the song finished up. They had done it. They had merged.
Chris smiled as the song came to a close. He snapped and had Chef take away the karaoke machine from the players. "And with that out of the way," He announced, "it's time to determine where camp is! Axel, step forward!"
Axel did precisely that.
"Since you were the winner of the last challenge you get to determine the capitol! It must be a plot of 100 acres, wherever you want it to be in whatever shape you want it to be. But nothing more than 100. Everyone excluding the immune contestant will be stuck in those 100 acres. You, Axel, the immune contestant, can go wherever you want to. Whether that be to gather supplies or to avoid everyone."
"Oh," Frag spoke up. "So it's like the Cumhachtach king power."
"Close," Chris pointed at Frag. "The only difference being that the Cumhachtach king was allowed to bring people along for the adventure. The immune contestant or contestants will have to venture alone." Chris turned to Axel. "So, Axel, where will it be? The first capital of Mergeville? And yes we're calling it that, Chef!" Chris called offhand to Chef.
"Well, I've had enough of the desert sun. I'll have to go with the Glas Woods as the biome. Mealltach, you had a good camp going?"
Jarri gave a thumbs up.
Rose nodded.
And so did Maggie.
He had his answer.
Axel crossed his arms. "How about around the border between the woods and the mountain range, with the leftover acres giving us a path to access the Mealltach campsite?"
"Sounds good." Chris nodded. "Ladies, lead the way. I'll see you all tomorrow for your next challenge. I have nothing else for you. Grab your torches. Good night."
Location: Glas Woods (Capital)
Contestants: Angelo, Arianna, Axel, Carol, Frag, Jarri, Jeremy, Kalyssa, King, Maggie, Michael, Rose, Setsuna
The contestants made it to the camp. Jarri dipped her dwindling torch in the burnt out fire. The flames reignited.
Rose put her hands on her hips. "We have a bit of work to do around here." She announced to everyone around. "In theory, the huts can fit up to three people, given that they aren't the biggest, and there are… onetwothreefour… thirteen of us, so either we all squeeze in for the night, or we make another real fast and split off into pairs."
Jeremy put a finger to his chin. "Well, we could have someone triple up for the night if no one minds, and then everyone else pairs up."
"It's not like these huts were too terribly hard to make though." Frag shrugged his shoulders. "If we all work together on it, we should be able to get it done quickly."
Maggie kept her hands behind her back. "Well, they do wither away quickly. The older they are, the sturdier, thanks to reinforcement. We don't want someone's new hut collapsing on them in the middle of the night."
"Another problem with your theory Frag." Michael stopped him. "I'm hungry."
Arianna nodded. "Yeah, I haven't eaten anything since I went down there."
Jarri propped a hand on her hip. "Well, seems like we got some work ahead of us before bedtime. Everyone better be doing something, or else we won't hesitate to eliminate you."
Axel kept his arms crossed. "I will let you know that I believe we have everything we need here. I'll only leave if I have to."
"Alright," Carol put her arm in. "Break!"
"Break!" Said everyone else.
Confessional: Michael
"Sweet, time to break! I love this plan! Way better than the one Frag came up with!"
End Confessional
About an hour has passed and camp had been looking functional. Food was being foraged. Water was boiling. More huts were being reinforced. At the base of the trees, Axel had returned to camp bearing flat rocks that could be used for plates. He placed them near the buckets, right where he… left them? He thought, observing the situation. There was going to be a lot of food and water for everyone if someone had gone to do that much gathering. Axel stepped towards the fire. "Hey, everyone." He clapped. "We shouldn't be collecting too much food or water. We don't want anything going bad."
"Axel," Jarri braided the branches together with Rose. "What are you talking about? The people collecting food are Angelo and Jeremy, and King and Frag are hauling the water. If anything, we're all eating lighter than normal until we get used to the amount of people we have to feed."
Axel turned back to where the buckets were supposed to be. "Then where are the buckets? Did they have a need to take all of them?"
"Whatever the matter is," Kalyssa called from the fire, "pass me another stick, dear."
Axel rolled his eyes and walked to where the sticks had also disappeared from. He searched the camp, but couldn't seem to find any. "Where did everyone put the sticks for the fire?"
"They should be by the buckets." Rose said.
"Well, they aren't there!" Axel turned to Kalyssa. "You didn't throw them into the fire, did you?"
"Now, why would I do that?" Kalyssa smirked.
"Because you're the kind of person who would intentionally sabotage the camp and lower morale to get ahead." Axel answered matter-of-factly.
Michael slid down the tree, still in his loincloth, with sticks in hand. "Don't worry, Axel. Best boy Michael's got some more for you." He dropped them off by the fire.
"Hey," Jarri put her hands on her hips. "You were supposed to grab the bigger logs for the shelters."
"Hey, look, I saw the sticks were out and I decided that, hey, we're out of firewood. I'm gonna grab more. Besides we have plenty of-… wait," Michael looked around, "where did the pile of the big logs go?"
Axel facepalmed.
Rose also looked around. "I'm with Michael on this one. I could've sworn we had more than a few remaining."
"Here's a suggestion." Axel stepped to where the logs would've been. "Maybe you just used them all."
Jarri shook her head. "If the pile ran out, we would've noticed. And it's not like things just disappear. They have to be around here somewhere."
With those words, Axel, Michael, Jarri, and Rose panned out.
Angelo stepped into camp with a bucket of berries.
"Salutations, Maggie."
"Hi Angelo. Long time no talk, huh?"
"It truly has. What do you propose I do with these berries?"
"You can take a pot and make it into jam."
Angelo searched around the camp. "Where are the pots?"
Kalyssa rose a brow.
Maggie peeled more moss off of a tree. "They should be where you found the buckets."
Angelo shook his head. "They aren't here." He set the bucket down next to Kalyssa.
Michael emerged from the trees and pointed down the path. "Who's gone down this direction?"
"Why, I have." Angelo gestured to himself.
Michael smirked. Perfect. Red-handed. "Follow me then." The baseball player led Maggie, Kalyssa, and Angelo down the path to where the others had been waiting for their culprit.
Angelo's eyes widened as Michael revealed to both himself and the rest of the above ground cast what he had found.
All of the missing supplies from the campsite, hidden under the sharpened thorns of a bush.
Axel crossed his arms. He looked Angelo in the eyes.
"To clarify… you have been down this path?"
Angelo looked up. "I have."
"Anyone else?" Axel asked.
"Wouldn't know." Angelo shook his head.
Axel pointed at him. "Then unfortunately for you, you've become our prime suspect."
"What do you think I did?"
Axel lifted the buckets and showed off his thorny arms. "You stole these away from everyone for some reason and threw them behind a thorny bush!"
Rose stepped between the two of them. "No! He wouldn't!"
"Well, if he's the only one who's been down here, we have no choice but to suspect him!"
Jarri massaged her temples. "Axel, we don't know if it was him. It could've been anyone down that path, and they aren't speaking up."
Setsuna has been crafting some arrows with a decayed knife and some stray sticks. "Nah, Angelo's cool. He wouldn't do something like that."
"I mean…" King eyed Setsuna strangely. "We don't really know that though. This could be exactly his strategy for the merge. I say the skepticism is worth the risk. And while we should verify if other people have been down the path, until we can confirm another person, Angelo is our only possible culprit."
"That's right." Axel nodded at King and turned to face Angelo. "If-"
Rose stepped in front of Axel without any hesitation. "There's no way Angelo did any of this! He hasn't touched any supplies besides that one bucket!"
Axel stopped what he was saying and considered Rose's words. His eyes focused squarely on Angelo. "I cannot take the word of your girlfriend in good faith on the chance that she has a conflict of interest. You can no longer be trusted. I had a feeling you'd wind up doing something like this eventually as well."
Angelo stood, facing Axel. "This is a mistake you're making." He warned. "I understand your intentions Axel, even the logic behind your method, but this is a mistake. I am not guilty of this charge you're leveling at me, and whoever truly did hide these objects will walk away having escaped punishment."
"Against my better judgement then…" Axel gritted his teeth under his face mask. "You'll be relegated to food collecting only. You will have a single bucket to not lose. Meanwhile, the rest of us will keep tabs on our items to make sure they aren't stolen again. These terms are non-negotiable if you wish to maintain that you are not guilty."
"Very well…" Angelo sighed. He held out a hand.
Axel, reluctantly, shook it.
Confessional: Angelo
"I was wondering when he would become so overbearing that it suffocates everyone. Looks like forcing us to live together and a reward challenge win have done the trick."
End Confessional
Confessional: Kalyssa
"How funny." Kalyssa giggled to herself as she relaxed on the seat. "What a curious position my fellow royal has stumbled backwards into. But if he wants to play courtroom, let him, I say. It will take any heat away from me."
End Confessional
Confessional: Jeremy
"This is not funny. I think some of these people are missing the bigger picture here. It's not about whether Angelo is innocent or not. It should be about the fact that someone managed to steal our stuff from under our noses and did so with malicious intent. Someone is playing hardball before the merge's first immunity challenge even gets here, and we're going to need to play harder and faster to stop whomever it is."
End Confessional
Confessional: Jarri
"It's probable that it could be Angelo. He was the only one who claimed to be going down that path, and I know there was no discernable water source down there, as well as the fact that Jeremy didn't go that way either. So it really is up to either Angelo, or one of the people that was collecting wood. Whatever the matter is, I won't go by with a little piece of circumstantial evidence. There's got to be more clues about this whole event, and I wouldn't be Jarri Utom if I didn't try to figure out who did this."
End Confessional
Confessional: Rose
"There's no way it's him! I don't for even a millisecond believe he's guilty of any of this nonsense! And don't even get me started on Axel! He's going to learn the hard way that making a divisive decision as a leader can get you into some hot water!"
End Confessional
Michael's stomach growled. "Guys, I'm super hungry!"
Jeremy patted Michael's back. "I'm sure being down there did you no favors. Let's all regroup at camp before we all turn in for the night."
Michael and Jeremy headed into the old Mealltach camp.
Arianna grabbed Axel's arm as everyone else followed Michael and Jeremy.
A faint line of light outlined Axel's face from the distant campfire. He crossed his arms. "What is it?"
"Stop taking out your anger on other people and take it out on me!"
"What? It was you who hid the camp supplies?"
"Cut this camp supply nonsense." Arianna shook her head. "I know there's always something for you to be mad at me about! Especially right now!"
He looked dead in her eyes. "Answer my question."
"It wasn't me. I was asleep the whole time until Maggie woke me up. Fucking exhausted."
Axel studied the girl in front of him. She was thinner than she was before her fall. Paler. She carried large bags under her eyes. Her body slumped against a tree. "Well, that checks out. I did see you asleep." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Also, while I am currently in an incredibly frustrated mood, I have nothing to be mad at you about."
Arianna rose a tired brow. "Excuse me?"
Axel nodded. "Here's your damned thank you."
Arianna rubbed her eyes. "I think I might be hallucinating. I could've sworn you just thanked me."
"I did." Axel nodded once more.
Arianna crossed her arms and waited for Axel to continue.
"I am capable of rational thought. You do know Mateo and Laura better than I do, and they had a map. This vain plan of mine would never have worked without your help."
Arianna remained silent, her head held down.
"I am curious about one thing though." Axel spoke more seriously. "How on Crios Cath did fucking Michael make it back up with you?"
Arianna sighed. She explained the events leading up to the rising of the both of them.
"Fucking dammit!" Axel cursed as he kicked at the dirt.
"I knew you were fucking mad at me!"
"I am mad, but not at you, Arianna! It's the whole fucking situation! It's-..."
Axel sighed.
He took a deep breath. "It's not as though you could've known that would happen. That's something we can blame on the game, not you. You… performed admirably down there. If we're lucky, someone else has been inspired by your deeds and will take care of the remaining two, or perhaps three, villains for us."
"I-" Arianna paused, at a bit of a loss for what to say. "I'm so fucking tired. I just… I'm gonna head back to bed."
Axel stopped her. "Not without eating, you're not."
"Fiiine." Arianna yawned and they both headed towards the campsite.
Time: 9:51pm (21:51)
Conifer Hut: Kalyssa and Jeremy
After a tasty dinner, everyone divided into conifer huts for the night.
"Appears we will be bunking tonight, Jer?"
"I'm only bunking with you because I don't know how I feel about any of the other guys, and also because none of the other women fricken wanted to."
"How chivalrous of you to keep me company then." Kalyssa smirked. She folded her two hands under her head. "Of course, I hope you weren't planning on doing anything ungentlemanlike."
"I wouldn't dream of it." Jeremy shook his head.
"In that case, let's foster some goodwill so the night is less awkward for you." Kalyssa smiled. "I admit, I don't have much of a defense for my actions towards you before the merge hit, but you and I are similar. No allies above ground, the final two true Cyfrwys players in action, as well as both having experience as Cyfrwys royalty."
"I… suppose…" Jeremy failed to see where she was going with this.
"We could be powerful allies." Kalyssa continued. "I have information to share with you for free as well. Whether you choose to allow me a chance to play on your side of the court or not is up to you."
"Alright then," Jeremy got comfortable. "Let's hear it."
"You know how Arianna and Michael returned above-ground?"
"Yeah?"
"Well… the Shameterranean isn't empty like it was when you came back. Someone remains there. Someone clad in chainmail and wielding a greatsword."
"You're serious?" Jeremy's eyes widened.
"Would I lie to you?"
"YES!"
"Don't wake up the others, now!" Kalyssa hushed. "That information is only meant for you, Jer! It's my peace offering."
"Fine then…" Jeremy yawned as he turned away from Kalyssa. "If only because I don't have any allies either, I'll give you one small second chance. I do believe in them after all."
Confessional: Jeremy
"Hopefully though, I'll be able to score some more trustworthy allies throughout this merge, and then, if Kalyssa misbehaves in any way, we cut the head of the Cyfrwys snake. I've considered myself a Shameterranean player ever since the first elimination. Clan names mean nothing to me."
End Confessional
Confessional: Kalyssa
"As much as I am being sincere in wanting to keep a smart player around as an ally, that's not the only reason I want Jeremy around. He has far more connections socially, or at least he will. I need to lay low to avoid people remembering the game I played to get here. See, not all princesses need their Prince Charming or white knight. Some just need the right tools for their own story~."
End Confessional
Time: 1:23am
Conifer Hut: Carol, Jarri, and Maggie
"Carol," Maggie whispered.
Carol turned her head and waited to hear what was wrong.
"I can't sleep."
"Nightmares?"
"Island gods, Carol, I'm not a child."
Carol smiled. "What is it?"
"I can't shake what happened at camp. Only a few hours into the merge and it's already this tense?"
Carol bit her lip.
"It's all really between Alltud, too! Did anything happen on Alltud while I was gone?"
"No. All animosity was mainly between Arianna and Axel. Or I guess more specifically, Arianna and the rest of us. Never anything between Angelo and Axel. Sometimes Angelo was a bit patronizing, but, you know, that's just Angelo. Sometimes Axel was a bit stubborn, but, you know, that's just Axel."
Maggie shook her head. "I don't like this. Who knew Angelo would do something like that?"
"Well, we don't know if it was Angelo? It could be Kalyssa for all we know."
"She was tending the fire and cooking the entire time."
"How about Michael?"
"He never went in that direction."
"Um…"
Maggie sighed. "Carol, there is no justification that it wasn't Angelo. He's been known to be devious like this. Think about when he convinced Rose to call that special elimination that saved our butts that week."
"Angelo is smart like that, but hiding the merge camp's supplies? I don't know. That feels a bit too cheap for Angelo. Not only that, but during the clan swap, Angelo always had the clan's best interest at heart. Hiding camp tools doesn't make any sense."
Maggie adjusted her position. "Greater personalities tend to emerge when the merge comes around in games like these. Maybe he always had it in him, he just didn't let it out until now."
Carol shook her head. "No, Angelo wouldn't. I remember when the clan re-assessment happened. Setsuna shifted clans as soon as she could. It left Angelo, Arianna, Axel, and I. Axel and Arianna had one of their usual blow-up fights that just screams that they need to get married, and Angelo and I went to go get fish. I can't forget it. I was so ready to vote off either one of them to be honest, but Angelo told me to keep it for Arianna, mainly because she's… well, meet her and you'll figure it out pretty quickly. He stuck us all together."
"Regardless of what happens, promise me this, Carol. If Angelo was the one behind this, we need to distance ourselves from him and anyone who associates with him."
"Absolutely."
Jarri stepped back into the hut.
Carol placed her hands behind her head. "Oh hey, Jarri. Where were you?"
"I had to go." She laid back down next to Maggie. "I also decided to do a final tally of the items with Axel, since it would be a shame if we lost anything."
Confessional: Jarri
"And I was looking for clues among the items too! Didn't find anything, but you know, better safe than sorry."
End Confessional
The Next Morning
Frag hauled in some more wood for the fire. Jarri stepped out of her hut that she shared with Carol and Maggie.
"Good morning, Jarri!" Frag called out.
"Morning!" Jarri called back. "Hey, if you're putting logs into the fire, can you do me a favor and double check for any strange markings on them? I'm trying to find the perp from last night."
"Oh?" Frag asked as he decided he might as well check the log. "I was under the impression that Angelo was the only one who could have done it."
"It seems that way." Jarri nodded. "That's why I'm suspicious. It's too convenient that only one person doesn't have an alibi."
"Angelo does strike me as a smart dude." Frag nodded. "I doubt he would forget to forge an alibi. Well, all I know is that I won't be caught dead associating with whoever truly did do it when we know the truth of the matter. Our saboteur will have to try harder than that to intimidate me."
Jarri giggled. "You know… that sounds a lot like something Carol would say. She talked about you a little bit last night too. Four buckets at once? You madlad."
"It was more efficient!" Frag got nervous. "Ugh, I can't-"
"Broski, it's all good in the hood." Jarri laughed. "She was impressed! Not now, obviously, since she's asleep and all, but you should definitely go and talk to her more. From what I understand you really hit it off during a challenge."
"Really?" Frag perked up before clearing his throat. "*Ahem* I mean, oh that's nice to hear. Maybe I will."
Location: Outside the Shameterranean
Contestants: Angelo, Arianna, Axel, Carol, Frag, Jarri, Jeremy, Kalyssa, King, Maggie, Michael, Rose, Setsuna
"Come on in, everybody!" Chris gathered the contestants outside the Shameterranean for the challenge. At this point in the day, rain had begun to fall over the lands of Crios Cath. An assortment of interns stood behind Chris. "This challenge is a special one mainly because it takes place on a special day! It is the Fest of Ghosts!" The interns held out noise makers and blew them all at once, or at least they tried to. "In ancient Crios Cath, the Ffydd Clan would bring all the other Clans together to celebrate the dead of every passing year. The goal was to appease any restless spirits, keeping them from haunting the various clans. However, there was always a bit of a habit to these festivities. The spirits would always demand a living human sacrifice. Sent down underground, and never to return. That brings us to your challenge today! Your goal is to head into the Shameterranean and appease the spirit below. Once the spirit has been successfully appeased, they will send you back above ground. The last person to complete their appeasement must pay in blood, or in this case, remaining down in the Shameterranean. Effectively eliminated from the above-ground competition."
"So let me get this straight," Rose spoke up. "Our challenge is to go into the Shameterranean to appease restless spirits? If we don't succeed, we're stuck in there?"
Carol gasped. "It's a sudden death!" She giggled. "Quite literally."
King scratched his head. "Chris, this challenge is impossible! How are any of us supposed to know how to please a spirit? How are we supposed to know when we are allowed back up?"
Chris snickered. "Oh, you'll know. Think of it as a sort of, once you meet our restless spirit, you'll know exactly what to do!" The interns opened the doors to the Shameterranean. "We're about to head inside. Stay in the central cavern and wait for my 'go'."
Challenge: The Fest of Ghosts
Rules: Contestants must go down the Shameterranean and try to appease the restless spirit: Tiberius. Once Tiberius is appeased, he will let you back above ground.
The last contestant to complete this challenge will stay in the Shameterranean for the rest of the game, or until someone places the Druidic Artifact on the True Resting Place.
The Pits of Peril have been boarded up for this challenge to avoid contestants pushing each other down.
Location: Shameterranean
Contestants: Angelo, Arianna, Axel, Carol, Frag, Jarri, Jeremy, Kalyssa, King, Maggie, Michael, Rose, Setsuna, Tiberius
"Alright, campers!" Chris announced as everyone waited in the central cavern of the Shameterranean. "Your time officially starts… now! Go!"
No one moved.
Jarri spoke up. "So, uh, does anyone know how to do this sort of stuff?"
Michael shrugged. "I'd ask those that were placed on Ffydd at the start."
Setsuna shrugged back. "Eh, King and I don't know. The only person who really knew was Morgana, and she's long gone."
Kalyssa's jaw dropped.
"What is it, Kalyssa?" Jeremy asked.
"I know what we have to do." She proceeded in a specific direction.
"Wait!" Jeremy called after her. "You'll get lost if you aren't careful!"
"Please, I know exactly where I'm headed." Kalyssa disappeared into the darkness.
Jeremy followed her.
The two separated into another cavern. Tiberius sat on a boulder, tossing a stone up and down.
"Tiberius~" Kalyssa called.
"Oh, I see you're here to please me." Tiberius stood.
Jeremy gasped.
Confessional: Jeremy
"If there is any good thing about this situation, it proves that Kalyssa was being truthful. But still, I have no idea if Kalyssa telling the truth is a good thing. Kalyssa telling me anything is never a good thing."
End Confessional
Jeremy ran back into the central cavern where the confused contestants stood. "Guys, Kalyssa and I realized what this challenge is. Follow me."
Everyone followed him.
Confessional: Frag
"I'm cautious. I've never been down here, but Jeremy has. He hasn't proven to be untrustworthy yet, and I think everyone else sort of came to the same conclusion."
End Confessional
"No! Way!" Carol's mouth hung open.
"What are you still doing here?" Arianna both huffed as though she were scolding a child and gasped at the same time, for fear of how Axel would react to Tiberius of all people avoiding permanent elimination.
"Shameterranean advantage." Tiberius sniffed. "It's about time you all found me."
Confessional: Michael
"It's only been a couple of minutes since the challenge began."
End Confessional
Axel stormed out of the cavern and into an adjacent one. Naturally, Jeremy followed him.
Tiberius crossed his arms. "Those coward-cucks."
Setsuna came up to him. "So, how do I please you?"
"You should try polishing the armor!" Michael intended it as a jab on Tiberius. However…
"Alright." Setsuna shrugged.
Tiberius also shrugged and took a piece of cloth out from under his armor.
Carol was watching in the distance.
Confessional: Carol
"You know, I don't really know a lot about this guy, but, honestly, he doesn't seem too hard to appease. I have a few basic tricks up my sleeve before I have to really try. Who knows? Maybe they might work!"
End Confessional
"Hey Tiberius." said Carol.
"What is it, blonde bangs?"
"Could you send me back up first?"
"Why?"
"Because I… called it."
Tiberius nodded. "Yeah, sure, whatever."
Carol took a step back. "Wait, really?"
Jarri crossed her arms. "Really?"
Tiberius nodded some more. "Yeah, she called it."
The speakers screeched. "Carol is the first one back above ground!" Chef's voice echoed throughout the underground
"Woo!" Carol cheered as she headed back to the central cavern.
Confessional: Jarri
"Huh, who knew he was so simple?"
End Confessional
As she started up the stairs to the surface, she felt a strange breeze.
What was with that? The cavern was supposed to be damp and dank and sealed off, wasn't it?
The breeze was coming from behind the staircase.
Carol looked around to make sure no one was going to force her back up just yet.
No one was in sight.
Good.
It was time to take a little peek.
Maybe more.
She hopped off the stairs and felt her way towards its back.
Sure enough, there was a small gap.
Carol covered her mouth to let out an excited gasp.
She might not have seen it before, but it was clear to her what it was.
Sitting inconspicuously, right behind the staircase to leave the Shameterranean, was the Druidic Artifact.
Confessional: Carol
"Holycrapholycrapholycrap! That's the DA isn't it? Isn't it?" Carol shook excitedly. "It's in a place that's hard for Tiberius to get to if he keeps wearing that armor, too! Not only that, but it's really well hidden in general, anyone who is eliminated from above-ground play is probably going to be exhausted, and won't think to turn towards the staircase back up anyways! That's great! I'll make sure I keep this sealed away in my memory for sure!"
End Confessional
Deeper into the Shameterranean, the remaining contestants were still vying for Tiberius's favor.
"Hey, Tiberius." Jarri walked up to him.
Tiberius sniffed. "Yes, babydoll."
Jarri held back her barf. "I need to return back to the surface."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, I have this medal." Jarri held up her medal. "And I would like to be able to use it, you know?"
Confessional: Tiberius
"You see, normally, I don't engage in those things. But that medal in particular. Everyone who has been down here last round knows that that medal is fake and that it needs to be sent back up."
End Confessional
Tiberius nodded. "You have appeased me."
"And Jarri is the second back up!" The Chefspeakers screeched.
Jarri bowed. "Thanks!"
Confessional: Jarri
Shudders.
End Confessional
Setsuna continued to polish Tiberius's armor as Tiberius stepped up to Arianna. "Still not ready to try?"
She fell to the ground shaking.
Confessional: Arianna
"I despise being down here, and the neanderthal-that-shall-not-be-named definitely didn't help in dragging me into the tunnels. The bitch kept pushing me down during my fucking panic attack."
End Confessional
Somewhere Else in the Shameterranean
Axel had come across a Pit of Peril.
"Careful around those things." Jeremy came up behind him. "You fall down, your game is done."
"It's blocked off." Axel stepped to the side so Jeremy could see. "You think, if we were able somehow unseal it and convince Tiberius to get in here, that we would be able to push him down?"
Jeremy shrugged. "It's worth a shot."
Confessional: Axel
"So these are Pits of Peril… Alone I might not be able to wrest Tiberius down one of these. But while he doesn't have any armor on… and with Jeremy's assistance… the ability is there. After the nonsense on the surface, I'd really like to see one of these villains go home. They're like cockroaches, sheesh."
End Confessional
Confessional: Jeremy
"I don't know how Kalyssa became aware of Tiberius's continued existence, but I don't like that she seems chummy with him. Probably better in the long run if I help Axel get rid of him now. Who knows? It might satisfy the challenge requirements!"
End Confessional
Kalyssa stepped up to Tiberius.
"What do you want?" He said.
"I'm here to give you information in exchange for you sending me back up."
Tiberius smirked.
So did Kalyssa. "Somebody has been hiding all the camp supplies. Nearly everyone is pointing their fingers at Angelo, but it's hard to tell. That's about all that's really happened. I'll keep you informed with any developments."
"That sounds like a good offer on your part. Now for mine." Tiberius responded. "If you agree to target who I ask for, I will keep you from being pushed down a pit of peril if you find yourself down here."
"Any idea for first targets?" Kalyssa asked.
"Come find me in one of the holes in the ground later. Where are you located?"
"The Glas Woods and Cloc Mountains border, with a path to the Mealltach campsite."
"Alright, there should be a hole along the border. Come find me there, and I'll give you the target."
"Sure thing~." Kalyssa hummed with a smile. "I'll strike swiftly and powerfully."
Tiberius nodded. "Then we have nothing more to talk about. I am appeased. Head on up, Queen Cobra."
"Kalyssa is the third one up." Chef's voice echoed.
Confessional: Kalyssa
"And good timing too. Look at how absolutely filthy it is down there! No place for the Queen Cobra. Heh, I like that moniker. Perhaps I'll keep it when I ascend to my throne."
End Confessional
Tiberius became bored of everyone else trying half-heartedly to get on his good side, save for Setsuna who was still cleaning his armor.
Arianna came up to him. "You-"
He decided he didn't want to associate with her for now and see what the others were up to. More specifically, the two that had initially left the cavern.
He came across Axel and Jeremy try to unseal the wood covering the pit of peril.
Tiberius sniffed and said. "You two can go back up above ground too."
"Why?" Asked Axel. "Because you're a coward?"
"No." Tiberius pointed. "Because you two cucks can't participate in this challenge as intended. Your punishment is no longer being a part of it."
"Our punishment is winning the challenge?" Jeremy asked, confused.
"You didn't win. Carol won." Tiberius retorted. "But I know if you got that open you'd try, and fail, to push me down there. But I don't feel like putting up with the annoyance of constant attacks from either of you, so I'm sending you back up. I'll crush you all when I get back above ground."
"Axel and Jeremy tie for fourth place!" Chef's voice shouted via the speakers.
"H-hey!" Arianna caught up to Tiberius. "I want to go back up too!"
"And?" Tiberius asked. "You already rose back up once. Why should I let you do it again?"
"That makes no sense! I won't rise again if I'm not back down here."
"Hrm…" Tiberius pondered the words. "Not good enough. I want you to offer me someone's head."
"Fine." Arianna crossed her arms. "Every last Cyfrwys and every last Alltud. I'll send them all down, I don't care."
"One more." Tiberius spoke. "Michael. He, like Frag, defied me as the true Cumhachtach king when he tried to rise above ground rather than let me, his superior, rise up. For that, he'll fall."
"Sure, whatever." Arianna rolled her eyes.
"Then you can go up." Tiberius shrugged. "But I'll be paying attention to you, and I have a mole up there to relay back to me. You better not cuck up, pigtails!"
Arianna sighed with annoyance.
Tiberius shrugged. "I have been pleased."
"Arianna places 6th!" Chef's voice rang out.
Confessional: Arianna
"They're twin-tails. But I have to eliminate these guys to win my money anyways, so why not? It helps that Alltud seems to have trust in me since I did that stupid plan. Cyfrwys might have been stupid, but at least they didn't express faith in me. Alltud definitely takes the cake in idiocy."
End Confessional
Tiberius walked back to where Setsuna had almost finished polishing Tiberius' armor. Rose had been waiting for the templar.
Confessional: Rose
"It took a lot of convincing on Angelo's part for me to agree to do this. I still shudder just thinking about it here, but he is the one who made me Mealltach's queen. He's given me a weapon, and if I want to get out of here before he traps me down here like the creep he is, I'm going to need to use it."
End Confessional
"Hey Tiberius~…" Rose waltzed up to him, holding herself back from showing any sort of disgust, and putting in as much effort as she could into a sultry inflection.
"What is it, Flower?" Tiberius winked.
Confessional: Rose
"This is to get out of here, this is to avoid being trapped down here with him. I have to remind myself of that!"
End Confessional
"I was wondering," Rose placed a hand on his chest and leaned against his shoulder. "If maybe you'd let your Mealltach Queen back up?"
"I had a feeling this day would come." Tiberius sniffed. "Had enough slumming with the Alltud prince beta-cuck and you're ready for my alpha energy. Alright Flower, you can get back up. And if you come back down, you can be sure that I'll take excellent care of you."
Confessional: Rose
"Run! RUN!"
End Confessional
"Thanks!" Rose quickly dashed away from that place. She was not going to spend any longer down there, and if she was going to have it her way, she wouldn't see the Shameterranean ever again.
"Done." Setsuna tapped Tiberius on the shoulder and pointed to shiny metallic armor.
"Good enough for a Ffydd." He grumbled. "I'm appeased, go on up."
Confessional: Setsuna
"That armor needed to be cleaned anyway. It's so dirty down here underground. Who knew?"
End Confessional
"Rose and Setsuna tie for seventh above ground!" Chef's voice shouted through the speakers. "That leaves, Angelo, Frag, King, Maggie, and Michael!"
Confessional: Frag
"So, quite a bit of time passed after Rose and Setsuna left, until I finally felt like I had prepared what I needed in order to uh… engage this boss monster as it were."
End Confessional
Frag approached Tiberius.
"Oh, this should be good." Tiberius snorted. "What is it, drumcuck?"
"You don't seem keen on letting the final Cumhachtach king return to the surface." Frag mentioned.
"Not without good reason. You were the last king, and I was the first and best."
"Are you sure about that?" Frag asked.
Tiberius stood still, waiting for Frag to continue.
"Every. Single. Cumhachtach vote… The person I voted for went into the Shameterranean. I outlasted every single one of you. Before Michael rose, I was the only Cumhachtach still above ground, and I will be the last Cumhachtach remaining in the game overall as well."
"Is that a threat?" Tiberius furrowed his brow.
"It's a promise." Frag did not back away.
"Hmph." Tiberius smirked and backed away. "Looks like your balls just dropped, Frag. Go on up. I'm appeased."
Confessional: Frag
"I had a feeling his sense of machismo would get wooed by my lie. I did vote against Tiberius once and failed to eliminate him, but considering he was betrayed by more than just me, he might be able to blame Stan for that extra vote. What matters though, is the way I went about telling him those things. The dude wants people to act like him. So just act like him for a little bit and you're golden. You heard him address me by my name just now. That's some nice progress."
End Confessional
"Frag is placing 9th!" Chef's voice rang through the speakers.
Tiberius looked around and noticed Maggie in front of him.
"What is it?" He huffed.
Maggie cleared her throat.
She began to sing to the tune of Watertight by Zero She Flies.
"Down here in this cavern wide… Let, me go back, up…
Shadows dance, cicadas cry… Please, send me with, luck…
Elimination's drawing night… Let, me go back, up…
Hands reach up to touch the sky… Please, send me with, luck…
And your words will echo through the darkest night,
Tiberius, won't you show me a guiding light?
And even if I fall, I know that you can rise,
Keep me safe, keep me warm... For tonight.
If I'm cornered, I'll break free… Let, me go back, up…
Peril Pits won't wither me… Please, send me with, luck…
Hear the tune of my singing plea… Let, me go back, up…
Please have love, and mercy me… Please, send me with, luck…
And your words will echo through the darkest night,
Cumhachtach King, won't you show me a guiding light?
And even if I fall, I know that you can rise,
Keep me safe, keep me warm… For tonight."
"Hrm…" Tiberius grumbled as Maggie took a bow. "For tonight." He nodded. "Go on up."
"And Maggie places 10th!" Chef hollered via the speakers.
Tiberius turned to Angelo, Michael, and King.
"And that leaves the three of you."
"Well, I don't know about you two…" King shook his head before addressing the other two above-ground contestants. "But I don't negotiate with skurkar like him."
"Heh, you got that right!" Michael raised a hand.
King didn't high-five it. "You think I forgot you voted for me during that Tiberius blindside?"
"So?" Michael asked. "I knew you wouldn't be going underground."
"No, you didn't!" King gestured. "You can't know that 100%! I totally could have gone home!"
"Look," Michael responded. "You and I might both agree that we shouldn't talk to the big man, but princeling probably has other ideas."
"As a matter of fact, I do have other ideas." Angelo nodded. "I certainly don't want to be the person who condemns someone to elimination either, after the incident at camp, so…"
He presented his crown to Tiberius. "You can wear this."
Tiberius knelt down.
Confessional: (Prince?) Tiberius: Shameterranean
"You all at home are witnessing the future in this confessional. I am Tiberius Vult, King of all cucks!… Wait."
End Confessional
"Very well then." Tiberius stood. "I have been appeased. You may leave me."
"King of the minute." Angelo swiped his crown off of Tiberius' head. He left the three former Cumhachtach. He turned to King and Michael. "Good luck to the both of you." He left the cavern.
Tiberius glared. How dare that prince-tard take away his destiny. He turned to the two left remaining in the cave.
Both of them gulped.
Confessional: King
"Just my luck. I'm sure an angry Tiberius is far harder to appease than a Tiberius who already doesn't like me."
End Confessional
"I have made my decision." Tiberius sniffed.
Confessional: Michael
"Someone should really get this guy some nasal spray or something." Michael sniffed.
End Confessional
"Michael is clearly stronger than you," he addressed King, specifically. "On top of that, you are a Ffydd. A foreigner that trespassed into my lands, and the second that happened; what were the two of you talking about earlier? Ah, that's right, the blindside! You trapped me here in these drippy caves, and I see no greater way to force you down here, than to force you down here myself! Joshua, you are now the prey to my vengeance! Michael, you have appeased me!"
"And Michael places 12th and takes up the last slot above ground!" Chef announced. "That means King, you're outta the above-ground competition! You'll be joining Tiberius as a permanent resident of the Shameterranian! Don't mind the interns coming down, they're only there to unseal the Pits of Peril!"
King looked at a bigger Tiberius, putting his now polished armor back on.
"If you don't want to lose early…" Tiberius warned. "You better run."
King took his advice, and rushed further into the Shameterranean.
*King's Elimination Confessional
"Well, this is a sucky way to be sent underground, especially since I'm leaving Setsuna up there alone without any allies. Hopefully, things work out for her, but I'll look for holes to communicate because I won't let a little thing like this ruin my alliance with her. If I use these tunnels, I might be able to avoid that armored skurk. Let's all hope for the best, ja?"
End Confessional*
Location: Glas Woods (Mergeville)
Contestants: Angelo, Arianna, Axel, Carol, Frag, Jarri, Jeremy, Kalyssa, Maggie, Michael, Rose, Setsuna
Frag stumbled back into camp with a surplus of buckets filled with water. He set them by the fire. He scanned the camp area, looking for work that needed to be done. He and Carol locked eyes.
Confessional: Frag
"So, now that King isn't here anymore, I sort of have to get used to hauling four buckets at once. Even then, that's not enough water for everyone, so I'll need to go back." Frag sighed. "I hope she doesn't think I'm a dork or anything…"
End Confessional
"Hey, Frag," Carol rushed to him.
"Carol," Frag poured the water into a pot.
"Need any help with the water?"
"Oh, um, I-I think I got it."
"Really? I-I just don't want you to hurt yourself."
Frag smiled. "Okay then."
"Hey, everyone!" Jeremy called from the other side of the campsite. Angelo was walking right next to him. Both of them held buckets filled with edible plants. "Dinner has arrived."
Cheers erupted around camp.
Confessional: Jeremy
"During our berry picking time, one thing became very clear to me… If Angelo is someone who would hide all our supplies and hinder morale, he is extremely good at hiding it. The dude is going out of his way to check to make sure each berry is up to his, I'm assuming, royal standards. The guy filled his bucket like all the way too! Most people only fill it to that little rim!"
End Confessional
"I suppose," Angelo walked towards the fire. "I'll set the food next to-"
At that moment, something caught onto his leg.
He dramatically face-planted onto the dirt. The bucket hit the ground, tumbling further away from him. And the berries…
The berries showered the campsite. Every last one of them was no longer edible.
If the fall didn't capture everyone's attention, Axel slamming his foot onto the metal bucket did. "You are hindering us! Right after we all just escaped sudden death! It would be the prime time for you to lower morale!"
Angelo glared from the forest floor.
"I can see it now." Jarri nodded.
"Jarri," Rose called. "No. Don't give up on your investigation!"
"I'm not giving up. It's been solved. It was Angelo who hid the supplies, and now, he has spoiled our food."
"You don't know that though!"
"Yes, I do," Jarri stood against Rose. "Angelo might be the only one of us clever enough to be able to take away all our camp supplies without any one of us telling. If he is clever and agile enough for that, him falling over with half of our food wouldn't make any sense for him to do. Not only that, we have a motive. It's clear as day at this point."
"Jarri please," Angelo stood up. "I must've tripped on a log or something."
"From where I'm standing, man." Said Jeremy. "The ground is flat."
"You," Axel towered over him. "Are the worst villain of them all! For over half the season, you have gotten us to trust you, go along with your plans, and ! And now that the merge has come along, you used all of that to your advantage! You'd create drama for everyone, and when everyone would be completely divided, you would be the one to unify us all! It would be a great strategy to win the million dollars if it wasn't completely despicable! And for what achievement? Get more money than you already fucking have? I am ashamed I never eliminated you whenever I had the chance! Your entire soul is corroded, and now, it's easy to tell. Your little plan to unify us has worked. Believe me, it has. Now all of us at the next Tine Naofa will compile our forces to get rid of you, and there is nothing you can do to stop us, false hero!"
Rose's face heated. "You-"
"Rose." Angelo stopped her. He stood up and dusted himself off. "I understand what you are trying to do Axel, but your methods are just as malefic as Tiberius's. And I've had enough of Tiberius." Angelo sighed. He grabbed his things from his conifer hut. "I will be headed out of camp. Clearly, none of the lot of you care for me if all you're going to do is counter me with circumstantial evidence. But mark my words, one of these days, I don't know how or when, my innocence will be proven, and the rest of you will fall while I triumph."
Setsuna carved the last of his words into a tree with a knife. "Done!"
Angelo proceeded to walk in the direction away from camp, when…
"Angelo!" Rose picked up her things. "Wait!"
"Rose, no!" Maggie rushed up to her. "Don't do this. We need you here!"
"No, Maggie." Rose turned to her for the last time. "You shouldn't be the one doing this. My decision is final. I'm leaving the camp with Angelo."
Maggie is shooketh.
Axel crossed his arms. "Whatever, I could tell you were always on his side. And it's not like we really need her. She trusts him too much. She's already compromised."
"No, Axel," Rose walked away from camp. "You don't trust enough."
14/36 Remaining. 12 Above Ground.
The Votes (for those who are curious)
Tiberius voted for… King
AN: Oh yeah, the merge is here guys! I'll start by saying that oh man, we are so HYPED for the merge of Crios Cath. I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed planning it.
King: We should talk about King for a little bit since he was doomed to the Shameterranean this episode. He was one of two straight men on the Ffydd team, but the second one was their first boot, so he had to pull double duty, and that never really let up, even when he was switched over onto Cumhachtach. Especially after Setsuna followed him there. As much of a shame as it is that King is down in the Shameterranean (I did not intend for a pun. I'll show myself out later), his only real ally above ground was Setsuna, so his situation hasn't changed too drastically. Will he be able to avoid Tiberius and rise back up though? That's the question that we should ask about King. I think he has the potential in him.
So, what do you guys think is going to come as a result of all this camp drama going around?
Any ideas on where the new True Resting Place might be?
Who would you have eliminated if you were Tiberius, King of all cucks?
EN: We were too excited to post this chapter. You guys aren't ready for the merge. It's too good. Dare I say it, it might be the best merge yet. Many storylines have been initiated, if they weren't already initiated to begin with. We had to let King go, which was a bummer, but his story isn't over yet. There's still a whole Shameterranean, and Tiberius can interact with the contestants above ground, why can't King?
AN2: We have a discord link! It's on my profile! Come join us on the server and talk about Crios Cath with us!
EN2: Outline Quotes:
"Setsuna sticks up a little bit for Angelo which makes King super jelly."
"Jarri keeps dropping dem hints that Frag should go talk to Carol bc they'd be a cute af couple."
"While down there, they are to appease any restless spirits. Since we have a Tiberius down there, he will be our restless spirit."
"For dinner back at camp, Angelo gets his bucket of berries, but falls a little dramatically because he isn't used to falling … and now everyone is like 'le *GASP* YOU FELL ON PURPOSE! YOU ARE HINDERING US!' "
^^that last one has got to be one of my favorites
AN3: And, as always, thanks for reading!
Bonus Scene:
Michael hid a smirk. He put a spoonful of food into his mouth. "I am so glad that's gone."
"Yeah," Carol nodded. "I don't know how much more progress we could've lost."
"Here's some more food." Jeremy set down another bucket full. "On the bright side, we have three less mouths to feed."
"The long-con," Kalyssa smirked, "it always works. Though, even I would never go that low."
"Well, at least our camp's saboteur is gone." Arianna stretched.
"And a potential co-conspirator." Frag nodded.
Confessional: Michael
"I just totally got the target off of my back as a player who rose from the Shameterranean, and put it onto the back of someone pretty much no one has had any beef with all season. Now I can eliminate an unknown quantity and look good while doing it!" Postpone Confessional
Postpone Confessional
Flashback
Michael smirked as he picked up a bucket. A pile of sticks and logs had accumulated. He picked them up as well.
Flashback Confessional: Michael
"You know, it's too chummy. We're starting a new society here, people! You need to be prepared for some chaos and… unfortunate detractors."
Flashback End Confessional
Michael grabbed a branch and hurled himself on the top of the tree. He traveled from bough to bough, collecting branches along the way. He shoved the supplies under a thorny bush. Only one had walked along this path after all.
End Flashback
Resume Confessional
"Okay, so, check this out. The plan is when I'm immune, I'm gonna move the capital so nobody will ever find out that I was the one who framed Angelo of burying the supplies. Also, this helps make things uncertain around camp! Just like my helpful baseball bat. What a beautiful fall it caused!"
End Confessional
