Mountains to Climb

Mountains to Climb is the first episode of patricotc's Survivor: Espana fanon series.

Challenges
Reward/Immunity Challenge: Quest for fireYou will use a cart to transport a lit cauldron from one end of the course to the other. One hand from each person must be touching the cart at all times. Along the way are 50 torches. You will have one torch which you will use to light them, using the fire in the cauldron. First tribe to light every torch wins.

Dropoff
Probst: Spain. This nation filled with history also happens to be a cultural phenomenon. But while the average tourist is attracted by the crystal clear waters and the sandy white beaches, that's all about to change. It's in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains that 18 Americans are about to begin the adventure of a lifetime.

We join the castaways as they are getting off a boat and onto an open air bus.

Probst: In a few moments, these strangers are going to be abandoned in the mountains. For the next 40 days, they will face harsh weather, dangerous animals, and each other. In the end, one will remain standing and will win the million dollar prize.

Probst is now on a mountain's summit.

Probst: FORTY DAYS, EIGHTEEN PEOPLE, ONE SURVIVOR!

The title sequence plays, where, to the tune of Russ Landau's Ancient Voices, we learn the tribes. On Ardilla, we have Larry, Gina, Raphael, Virginia, Willis, Sue, Paul, Julia, and Jeffery. On Musaraña, we have Laura, Jack, Ronda, Ramon, Susan, Elmo, Joan, Matthew, and Danielle. After the title sequence, the castaways are taken down the longest route to the drop off. They are not permitted to talk to each other until it ends.

Confessional-Paul: I'm just ready to get this game started. I'm playing to win. Bring on the mountains.

The bus hits a pothole, causing all of the castaways to jump from their seats. The driver and the cameraman have a conversation in Spanish.

Driver (captioned): No one's dead, right?

Cameraman (captioned): No, sir.

Driver (captioned): Good. Less paperwork to do.

Confessional-Susan: I'm a little nervous about what the next 40 days have in store for me. But, you know what? Bring it on.

Eventually, the bus stops. The castaways are dropped off in front of the one and only Jeff Probst.

Probst: Welcome to Survivor: Espana.

The castaways cheer, knowing that the game has officially begun.

Confessional- Larry: I'm basically just sitting there, all stoked up, and ready to go. I'm ready to go. Just gotta find the idol when I get to camp, and I'll see you on Day 40. I'm ready.

Probst: So, this season, we have a major game changing scenario. We are getting rid of hidden immunity idols.

Eighteen jaws drop right then and there.

Confessional-Larry: Then that happened.

Probst: Danielle, I just saw probably the best reaction from you. Tell me. What's going through your mind?

Danielle: Basically, I'm thinking back to before Season 7. And I'm trying to look back on those strategies. See if they work.

Paul: Then you have to consider this, though. The game has changed so much since 7. Voting blocs, team challenges post merge, secret advantages. All of that fun stuff. Considering every possible situation, would strategies in 7 still work now?

Confessional-Julia: Paul basically just helped a Musaraña member adjust their strategy. That may be fine post-merge. But on Day 1, they're the enemy. Last time I checked, that's treason. And there's no room for that with me.

Probst: Well, I guess we're about to find out. Green, your tribe name is Ardilla. It is Spanish for squirrel. Red, your tribe name is Musaraña. It is Spanish for shrew. Here's your buffs and your maps. Also shown is the location of a water source and tree mail, as well as the route to Tribal Council. Grab your stuff. Head out.

Before Commercial
At the Ardilla camp, the tribe immediately begins the work on their shelter. Everyone except for Gina and Virginia is helping, as they had been sent to find the water source.

Larry: I'm thinking, maybe we should be building a little bit further away from the river. If the river rises, we'll be flooded out.

Paul: Well, I'm just thinking that we'll be able to get to the fish a little easier this way. No sense making life harder if we...

Sue: Hang on. You mean to tell me that you would rather us risk being swept away for the sake of making it easier to fish?

Paul: Well, if the waters rise, we'll just...

Larry: Look, there's a nice spot right over there. We'll be out of the flood valley, and have a nice, safe, and even wheelchair accessible route to the bank for fishing. Why not build there?

Sue: Better than what I was thinking, actually. Hate to climb down those rocks.

Paul is exasperated.

Paul: Fine.

Confessional-Julia: I noticed that Paul was arguing with Sue and Larry over where to build the shelter. That shows that Sue and Larry could be a good voting bloc and maybe even an alliance to establish.

Confessional-Paul: The rest of the tribe doesn't see things the way I do. And that's unfortunate, because I now know that I'm on the chopping block.

Meanwhile, Willis and Raphael gets some down time.

Confessional- Raphael: I noticed that Willis was wearing a Cincinnati Grays cap. And I got to thinking. Hey, I'm a Grays fan too!

Willis: Do you remember that play last season where they got the out at home and still had enough time for the double play?

Raphael: I thought for sure Lonnie Woods was safe.

Both simultaneously: But he's OUT!

Confessional- Raphael: Maybe this was what I needed to get this game started.

Confessional- Willis: In this game, it's hard to trust people. And I don't know if I can trust Raph right now.

Raphael: That was awesome.

Confessional-Willis: But I may not have a choice. And if we can bond this well together over the Grays, who knows?

Over at Musaraña, the priority of shelter was a bit more lax.

Susan: I'm going for a swim.

Ronda: Wait for me.

Susan: Danielle, feel like joining us?

Danielle: No thanks. I want to find this water source.

Ronda: Suit yourself.

Laura: Mind if I come with?

Danielle: Sure.

Confessional: I turned down their invitation because I'm sure that they're going to start strategizing earlier than the camp is established. And I'd rather have the water found first. No disrespect to them. I'm just not ready yet.

Matthew: They look like they're having fun.

Ramon: Want to see if we can join them?

Matthew: Okay.

Jack: Oh, what the hell.

Jack joins the swimming castaways. Meanwhile, that leaves Joan and Elmo to build the shelter.

Joan: So, you want to do a lean-to?

Elmo: If it's just us two building, that's probably best.

Confessional- Elmo: I'm ticked that the others didn't bother to help. At least Danielle and Laura went to find water. We're in an immediate need of shelter. But that's better than what the swimmers did. The young girls just went for a swim. And then these 3 guys who are old enough to be their fathers just joined them. There's a thousand reasons against that, but you only need one. This shelter isn't going to build itself.

Susan: Then you have people like me, who are partial to blue.

Jack: That's more my day.

Ronda: You're not that old.

Jack: I'm 42.

Susan: NO WAY!

Confessional- Joan: It's not so much the fact that they're having fun while we're hard at work. It's more the fact that they're now the majority alliance that has me worried.

Gina and Virginia are walking and looking for the well that serves as a water source this season.

Virginia: So, what do you do for a living?

Gina: I used to be a pilot. Retired 5 years ago.

Virginia: Awesome!

Danielle and Laura are doing the same thing.

Danielle: The radio on the drive to the bus said that there would be a storm tonight. So we should probably do the shelter before that sets in.

Laura: Yeah.

Virginia: I just sell cosmetics.

Gina: Wait. I thought I heard something.

Danielle: It's just ahead.

Laura: What's that?

After Commercial
Gina: Well hello there!

Danielle: Hey!

Confessional- Danielle: So, we get to the well. And also getting to the well is some of Ardilla's tribe members.

Virginia: The tribe was building the shelter, and they didn't want Gina to get hurt. So they sent us to look for the well. Give us something useful to do.

Laura: We just thought it would be fun to...

Confessional- Gina: Eventually, Laura found a sign on the front of the well. And read it to us.

Laura (reading sign): Congratulations. You found your well. This will serve as the water source for both tribes. While you and an opposing tribe member are here, you may talk to each other. However, you must leave on your own tribe's path.

Gina: This will be interesting.

Danielle: Yeah

Over at Ardilla, the shelter is complete. But the struggle for Paul is real.

Confessional- Paul: I don't think I'm in a good spot right now. I basically know that I'm going home here soon. And without an idol to protect me, I'm going to need to find a partnership. And fast.

Meanwhile, Julia is ready to put her plan into action.

Julia: What about Paul?

Larry: Yeah, he had a horrible idea with the shelter.

Sue: Would've gotten us killed. But is that enough to send him packing?

Julia: What about sharing strategy with Julia at the drop off? Isn't that basically treason?

Sue: Maybe...

Confessional-Sue: Julia came up to me and asked if I would be willing to vote Paul out. But her reason as being essentially treason to the tribe? I'm not sure that's enough.

A little later, the tribe is just being chilling out. A few of them are working on their tan, while the others are cooling off in the river. Gina and Virginia come back from the well, and break the news.

Virginia: So get this. This year, we're sharing a well with the other tribe. And we are permitted to socialize with the other tribe around the well.

Larry: Wow. That's interesting.

Confessional-Larry: I was thinking that Julia's logic of Tribal treason didn't have any merit to it. But now I'm not so sure.

Over at Musaraña, Laura just broke the news to the tribe.

Confessional-Ronda: All of a sudden, I'm just wondering how I can use this to my advantage. But it probably won't be until closer to the merge.

Confessional- Elmo: Once we get closer to the merge, this will be huge. Let's hope it lasts. Elmo has other things on his mind, though.

Elmo: They jumped into the water with Susan and Ronda after you left.

Laura: Who?

Joan: Matthew, Ramon, and Jack.

Laura: So they're the majority alliance.

Danielle nods her head in agreement.

Danielle: So I take it we're going to have to form an alliance ourselves.

Joan and Elmo both nod.

Confessional-Laura: We're basically being told to have an alliance with Joan and Elmo. It's the game doing it, not the players. So it's not necessarily a bad thing. But I still hate it.

Danielle: Sounds good. So, let's finish up this shelter.

Night 1 will turn out to be harsh for Ardilla, with the storm and everything. They were clearly desperate for warmth.

Confessional-Jeffery: The rain was so hard last night, and it was so cold. I remembered reading in the survival manual about body heat. So we were basically all spooning each other. And it worked for tonight. But if the rain didn't affect the cold, we'll need to get a fire started soon

Confessional-Paul: I got to looking around, and I noticed that Sue and Larry were together tonight. Then I noticed that Julia and Virginia were next to them. Don't get me wrong. It's a crowded shelter. But who your sleeping with could be an indicator of where you stand. So this could be bad for me.

Day 2
Over at the Musaraña camp, Danielle is trying to get a fire going, using the classic spin-a-stick-into-a-log method. Laura walks over.

Danielle: Did you see anyone from the swimmers that may be willing to flip?

Laura: Not in the slightest.

Danielle: Crap. Well, that sucks.

Confessional-Laura: I noticed that Danielle was really frustrated with the fire building. I figured that it had something to do with being on the bottom. But wasn't sure what it was specifically.

Danielle: I need to go to the restroom.

Laura: I'll take over.

Danielle: Thank you.

Laura continues, using the aim-your-glasses-at-the-sun method. The log was hot enough that fire was just a couple minutes away.

Though, at first glance, it looked like The Swimmers Alliance was back in the water, they were actually doing a little fishing.

Matthew: So, you saw this method on TV?

Ramon: Yeah. You just wait for the fish to nip at your body. Then you reach down and grab it.

Jack: No bait?

Ramon: Nope. That's what your skin is for.

Jack: Damn, that's awesome.

Confessional- Jack: We were fishing in the river. And we were doing it in a manner in which are bodies acted as the bait. And that was just the most awesome thing I've ever done. So I'm totally taking this idea home with me.

Susan: So, I think we're all the majority alliance. You guys agree?

That was a unanimous yes.

Over at Ardilla, Willis and Paul are talking about their physical state.

Willis: So, this is what true hunger feels like.

Paul: Supposedly, we won't die for a lot longer.

Willis: Not sure I believe that right now.

Paul chuckles at that comment.

Confessional-Willis: After figuring out the math on the rice rations, we get roughly 100 grains per person, per day. That's not a whole lot. And we don't even have fire to cook it with yet. So, once we get it, it's not going to feel like much of a game changer.

Paul- So, who are you looking at?

Willis- You. Why?

Paul- No. Elimination wise.

Willis- Oh. Probably Julia.

Paul- Kind of shady, isn't she?

Willis- Yeah.

Confessional- Willis: Paul asked who I was wanting out. I chose to be rather open with him because there's strength in numbers. And given Julia's alliance's history with Paul, it seemed like he wasn't going to snitch.

Jeffery, meanwhile, is lying in the shelter.

Confessional-Jeffery: I'm basically just playing my strategy by ear right now. I haven't heard anyone's name come up. Fortunately, we still have a day. But I still have no clue what I'm doing.

It's night 2 at Musaraña.

Ronda: Susan, do you have a minute?

Susan: Yeah, sure. The 2 girls head out to tree mail so they won't wake anyone up. Tree mail this season is a crate decorated with fabric inspired by the 1870's.

Susan: So, what's up?

Ronda: Well, you remember, how last night, we were...

Susan: Yes, I remember. Look. It was a cold night. We had to do what we had to do to stay warm. Besides, I kind of wanted you up against me. So, ultimately, no harm done. Ronda: Thanks.

Confessional- Susan: When I came out here, I wasn't planning on making friends. But sometimes in life, what is planned in theory isn't what happens in practice. And that is basically the story of how I ended up dating Ronda.

Ronda: You're quite the woman, you know that?

Susan: Thanks. So are you.

Confessional-Ronda: Susan is everything I wanted. Sweet, caring, understanding. They say you can't trust anyone in Survivor. But who she is out of the mountains shows in who she is here.

They share an awkward moment of smiling at each other before heading back.

The RIC
The Quest for Fire challenge site is ready, featuring cauldrons and a brick course layout. Jeff, as usual, is looking at his feet as he yells:

Probst: COME ON IN, GUYS!

The tribes walk in. Ardilla on the viewers left, Musaraña on the right.

Probst: Musaraña, word on the crew is you have fire. Is that the case?

Laura: Danielle did most of the heavy lifting on that task. I just broke the camel's nose.

Probst: You mean back, right?

Laura: Oh, no. I punched a camel square in the nose afterwards. Why do you ask?

After seeing Elmo laughing, Jeff takes the comment lightly.

Probst: Well, today's challenge is about fire. For today's challenge, you will use a cart to transport a lit cauldron from one end of the course to the other. One hand from each person must be touching the cart at all times. Along the way are 50 torches. You will have one torch which you will use to light them, using the fire in the cauldron. First tribe to light every torch wins.

Probst: As usual this first challenge will be played for fire in the form of flint...

Jeff pulls a flint from his pocket. Both tribes start cheering.

Probst: ...And immunity.

Jeff uncovers this season's immunity idol, a hand carved Santos figure. Oohs and Awes come from the castaways.

Probst: You know how it works. Your tribe wins this, you're staying at camp tonight. Lose, and you're going to Tribal Council, where someone will be the first person voted out of this game. I'll give you a minute to strategize. We'll get started.

A minute later, it's show time.

Probst: Here we go. For immunity, and reward. Survivors ready? Go!

The castaways run off. Lighting the torches for Ardilla is Larry, while Elmo is tasked with that for Musaraña.

Probst: Don't let that weight fool you. It's the wheel resistance that's slowing you down. It's designed to make it seem like you're going through water. Musaraña off to the early lead. Ardilla not far behind, though. Both tribes making it look close through 5. Ardilla now takes the lead. They're leading through 10. Musaraña starting to fall behind a little. Ardilla leading through 15.

Jack and Danielle move to the back of the cart, being very careful not to break the one hand rule. They decide to do most of the pushing.

Probst: Musaraña now switching back pushers. Very clever in how they do it. Ardilla leading through twenty. The move seems to be working, as Musaraña is catching up. Ardilla still leading through 25. Lots of effort from Jack and Danielle, now. Ardilla is leading at 30, but Musaraña takes over as I say that. Ardilla seems to be stuck on something.

It was a rock that had flown up between the spokes. Being the strongest 2, Paul and Raphael goes to the front to try to dig it out.

Probst: Musaraña is leading through 35. Ardilla can't seem to get it out. Musaraña leading through 40. Paul and Willis are trying to literally dig this rock out. Will it be too late? Musaraña at 45. Ardilla finally free. Musaraña at 50 and across the line. MUSARAÑA WINS IMMUNITY AND REWARD!

A celebration later, the tribes are back in line.

Probst: Musaraña, here's the idol. You're flint will be waiting for you back at camp. See you in a couple of days. Ardilla, I'll see you tonight at tribal. Grab your stuff. Head back to camp.

Final Scramble
Ardilla, as a tribe, is a little ticked off. But 2 people specifically are a little more ticked off than the other.

Gina: I'm thinking to voting Julia tonight. You should, too.

Virginia: Okay. Don't tell me how to vote.

Gina: I thought we were an alliance.

Virginia: How are we an alliance? We talked to each other once.

Gina: Back in my day...

Virginia: Welcome to Survivor, Grandma. Shove it up your ass.

Confessional-Larry: Gina and Virginia got into it after the challenge. And today, I'm just going to let them cool off for a bit. But it may be fun to get one of them in an alliance, promising to vote out the other.

A little later, in the river,

Julia: So, we're all agreed?

Sue: Yep. Paul.

Confessional- Larry: We agreed on Paul because he is friendly to Danielle, because he put fishing over safety, and because it took him 3 minutes to unwedge a rock, costing us the challenge. If those aren't good reasons, then call me Shirley.

Raphael: Julia? Yeah, I'm down with that, but it seems a little early.

Willis: Trust me. I've already got Paul to help out. I just need you.

Raphael: Alright.

Confessional-Raphael: I'm not so sure about this vote tonight. But it looks like Julia.

Tribal Council
That night, Ardilla made the hike to Tribal Council. This season, Tribal Council is basically the courtyard of a castle. The tribe walks in, and Jeff gives one of his now famous lines.

Probst: Behind each of you is a torch. Go ahead and dip it in the flame. Get fire. This part of the ritual of tribal council because in this game, fire represents life. When your fire's gone so are you.

The tribe lights their torches. The torches are maple wood stained to look aged.

Probst: So, after the challenge today, what went down at camp?

Sue: Well, Gina and Virginia had a bit of an argument over something. Couldn't make out what it was about, though.

Probst: Virginia, please share.

Virginia: It was over whether one conversation is enough to really be an alliance.

Probst: Julia, do you have any concerns about your tribe mates.

Julia: Yes, Jeff. Paul is basically committed tribal treason with his comments to Danielle at the drop-off. Then there's the fact that he wanted to build a shelter in a flood zone.

Willis makes a hand gesture to Raphael suggesting that Julia talks too much. Jeff notices.

Probst: Willis, what was that about?

Willis: She's very annoying, and very agonizing.

After the allotted time, Jeff decides that's enough for one night. Well, we'll see how it goes. It is time to vote.

Larry, you're up. Each person goes up to vote in turn.

Larry (for Paul): You're dangerously stupid, and you don't deserve the $1,000 you're getting, let alone the million.

Gina (for Virginia): Two can play at this 21st century crap.

After Raphael comes back, the voting concludes.

Probst: I'll go tally the votes.

Paul and Julia, very fittingly side by side, shake hands while he's gone.

Paul: May the best one move on.

Julia: Well said.

Probst: If anyone has the hidden immunity idol, and you...

Larry: Jeff, I'm not sure if you remember, but you said they're no longer in play.

Probst: Sorry. Force of habit. Once the votes are read, the decision is final. Person voted out will be asked to leave the tribal council area immediately. I'll read the votes.

Jeff opens the urn, this year designed in ceramic, and painted with a bull on the front.

Probst: First vote. Paul. Julia. Gina. One vote Paul, one vote Julia, one vote Gina. Virginia. Paul. Two votes Paul, one vote Julia, one vote Gina, one vote Virginia. Julia. Two votes Julia. Paul. Julia. We're tied again. Three votes Paul, three votes Julia. One vote left. First person voted out of Survivor: Espana. Paul. That's 4. That's enough. You need to bring me your torch.

Paul puts his torch into the slot in front of Jeff.

Probst: Paul, the tribe has spoken.

Jeff's snuffer this season is a sword with a metal bowl drilled in. He uses it on Paul's torch.

Probst: It's time for you to go.

Paul: Play safe, guys.

Probst: Well, clearly the Musaraña tribe is in a good mindset for now, valuing intelligence over annoyance. We'll see how long that lasts. One good thing about Tribal Council is that, when you leave, you get fire. Therefore, a piece of flint will be waiting for you back at camp. Grab your torches. Head back to camp. Good night.

Voting Confessionals
Sue (for Paul): This tribe needs intelligence, and you're bringing it down. You'll need to go.

Willis (for Julia)- Tribal Treason my ass.

Jeffery (for Paul)- Sorry, bud. But Julia's case was more convincing than yours. Best of luck in the future.

Paul (for Julia): Don't get me started.

Julia (for Paul): You know why.

Virginia (for Gina): This is why no one visits you at the nursing home.

Raphael (for Julia): You claim against Paul is stupid. But it takes one to know one.

Final Words
Confessional-Paul: Ultimately, this game is a social game. Did my idea threaten the tribe's safety for a bit of ease at food? Yes. Did I tell an opposing tribe member tips for strategy? Yes. And ultimately, that's why I'm talking to a camera rather than being back at camp. But do I think that I played the game that I'm proud of? Absolutely.

Next Time on Survivor...
Castaways are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Susan: Why can't I tell anyone?

Ronda: People are threatened by that kind of thing.

Willis: A little help?

Author's Notes
A better formatting job will occur later in the day, when I'm not on the library's time limits.