Week Eleven

Kichagani Tribe

Whatever Cowin had planned last week had not worked out for him. So now it was time to pack up his pride and talk to Kyle about some sort of alliance. Chelsea had been in an alliance with Kyle, but because she had first been in an alliance with Jill, she felt bad for betraying her. Both Cowin and Chelsea had to prove their worth. But strategy began to subside as the night sky quickly filled with clouds. The wind picked up and began shifting the tribe’s shelter. Suddenly thunder and lighting struck almost simultaneously, with the lighting striking somewhere in the woods behind the camp. Mandy and Scott rushed to hold down the shelter as the winds almost lifted it off the ground. As Cowin and Kyle ran to grab their makeshift fishing gear from the beach the rain began to pour down. Again the sky lit up with forks of lightning, and the thunder clapped just overhead. Micah and Chelsea tried to grab all the food they could, but the wind knocked Chelsea right off her feet and head first into a tree. Micah stopped where he was to lift her and take into the shelter which was being tied down.

Margolo Tribe

The waves crashed up on the beach buckling Jord’s legs as he was swept off shore by the undertow. German rushed to the rescue, and with the flashing lighting, and the pouring rain, he looked like a glittering angel to Jord, who was fighting furiously against the waves. Meanwhile, the water from the rain and the waves was filling the campsite and ruining all their food. The wind continued to howl and pull the trees almost to the ground. Elliott was whacked by a branch that broke off of a tree, and Steve hurried to his aid, yelling for Beckie to help. Together they woke Elliott (who was unconscious) and tried to get him under their ramshackle refuge. When there was no lighting, they couldn’t see anything as the night was pitch black, and the lighting blinded them when it flashed. German and Jord hurried out of the water to the shelter, and together with Steve, Elliott and Beckie they all huddled together under their slowly deteriorating shelter.

The Harteema Gang

The water was already up to Lauren’s waist as she struggled to stay on her feet. The wind didn’t help, as it tried to overturn her upped half and pull it under the water. Luckily, Chris got to her, hoisted her in the air and carried her to a tree, where she could brace herself against the wind. Harteema’s shelter was already gone, taken by the waves, and the tribe was trying to get into trees to keep from getting swept away as well. Wells, Dirks and Cait got into trees alright, but Trotman was still a ways away from any tree, and struggling mightily to get to where they were. Finally Trotman got to a tree, but at the same time, that tree was knocked down by the wind, and crashed into the tree that held Tyler and Cait. As they plunged into the water, the tree landed on top of Tyler, holding him down. Lifeguard Chris Pitman jumped into the water, and dove down the try and pull Tyler out. Dirks jumped down to help, and soon Tyler was pulled out, but the whole group was exhausted. It would be a long night.

Immunity Challenge

I know everyone is tired from the storm last night, but its time to compete. This challenge will be primarily a puzzle challenge, but will contain aspects of speed, strength and teamwork. Each tribe has a puzzle to put together, but the pieces are spread throughout the jungle, some in trees, and some in the mud and such. The pieces are also 50 lbs each. There are ten pieces per puzzle, and once all the pieces are brought back, the tribe members will take turns placing a piece until all ten pieces are in place. The first tribe to complete their puzzle wins immunity.

The attribute weightings are as follows:

Speed: 20%
Strength: 20%
PS: 40%
Strategizing: 0%
Teamwork: 20%

As only five contestants will participate in this challenge, Kichagani must sit out one member. They choose to sit out Chelsea. Since Harteema has two extra members and they can’t sit out someone who already sat out, they choose Cait to sit out. Their other member who has to sit out will be chosen by Kichagani and Margolo. They choose Dirks to sit out.

So with all five members of each of the three tribes at the starting line, the challenge begins! All the players rush out, with Cowin, German and Pitman being the first to bring back a piece. Each tribe member had to bring back two pieces in challenge. Scott, Kyle, Steve, Elliott and Tyler were the next few to bring their pieces back. Soon Kichagani and Margolo were almost done bringing in their pieces, with Lauren holding Harteema back a little in this section. Finally, Margolo and Kichagani were starting their puzzles at essentially the same time.

For Kichagani, Kyle, Cowin and Mandy were breezing through their puzzle, while for Margolo, German, Steve and Jord were killing it. Harteema was beginning to catch up with Lauren, Silas and Tyler picking up the slack. But it was Margolo that was beginning to pull away, being two pieces ahead. Their teamwork was great, and it was showing as quickly, Elliott placed the last piece in place and their puzzle was completed!

That means that Margolo wins their first Immunity, while Kichagani and Harteema must go to Tribal Council this week.

Keys to Victory (defeat):

Margolo Tribe: They really picked up the pace this week, and put together a tight challenge. As a team Margolo was exceptional, with each person knowing their part and getting it done. Beckie, German and Elliott were very good at collecting the pieces, while Steve and Jord were money at putting the puzzle together. Well done Margolo.

Kichagani Tribe: Sitting out Chelsea was probably a good choice, but there were still a couple people who didn’t do as well as they would have liked. Cowin, Kyle and Scott did very well in this challenge, but Mandy just wasn’t physical enough for this challenge, while Micah struggled a bit in the PS aspect of the challenge. It was close, but as a tribe, their teamwork is just too terrible. Probably has something to do with all the stress in the tribe.

Harteema Gang: Cait was as good a choice as any to sit out, but the other tribes choosing Dirks to sit out was a fantastic choice. He would have been very good in this challenge, but it wasn’t to be. Tyler picked up the slack however and was the best out of anyone in the game on this challenge. Chris and Trotman were good at getting the pieces, while Silas and Lauren were amazing at putting the puzzle together, the tribe just wasn’t made for a challenge like this. Weaknesses were exposed.

So these are the people who must vote by Wednesday night at 11:59 pm:

Kichagani Tribe:
Cowin
Kyle
Chelsea
Micah
Scott
Mandy

Harteema Gang:
Silas
Trotman
Tyler
Lauren
Dirks
Chris
Cait