Survivor on the Net IX Episode 1

When they arrived at Tribal Council, perched on top of a plateau,
looking over the beautiful lake Nahuel Huapi, the fire was nearly
gone, due to a torrent of rain that beat against the Argentinean
landscape.

Steve looked at the wet survivors, and, out of pity told them their
camera confessionals would do, and they may go ahead and vote.

Hadley made her way first, and wrote MARIE on the wet parchment.

"Marie has already made it clear, that this game is about alliances,
and if you aren't in hers, then she doesn't care. So although I'm
sure this will be the only vote she gets, once you get to a merge,
those past votes may be a bother...."

After the other six survivors went, Travis went last, making his way to the voting confessional.

His five letters spelled out, CHOLE.

"Chloe - Maybe if you had gotten your arse on the computer and actually tried to play the game, things would be different. But from where we stand right now, you are lookin' a lot like that dead skin that I cut off of my big toe every so often. I can only hope that a lot of puss will not run out after you're voted out of Argentina."

After he returned to his chair, Steve quickly tallied the votes, and made his way back.

Lightning flashed across the Argentinean sky, lightening up shapes of mountains in the distance.

"Chole...Chole...Chole...Chole."

Four votes read, and all of them Chole. The fifth vote, too, read Chole.

"Chole, it is time for you to go, however...before you do..."

The Survivors looked at Steve, eyes curious, and excited.

"Chole, will be given a chance to shape this game. Since she is not on the jury,
and will not decide on a winner, she may give one of you immunity at the next
TC. Chole, your decision."

After being voted out, she turned, obviously ready to go, and said "Marie." She gave no reason, and quickly left, mother nature snuffing her torch, and apparently her time in Argentina.

FINAL VOTE TALLY:
Chole: Josie, John, Jacob, Marie, Chad, Travis, Chole
Marie: Hadley

END OF EPISODE ONE

For the first, and only time in Argentina, all sixteen survivors gather on the banks of Lake Nahuel Huapi at what they will know as "Challenge Beach" to compete in the very first immunity challenge. Steve is standing on the bank, in between two boats. In the water, there are three stations in a triangular pattern.

Steve: Welcome Survivors. Have a nice night? Got a bit colder than
you thought, hm? The weather hit 65 degress last night, much colder
than Africa? At least the rain by-passed you.

Today, you will participate in your first immunity challenge. The
coveted immunity idol, Ahayuta Achi is up for grabs. Let me tell you
a bit of local myth about this war god. According to local legend,
Ayahuta Achi favored whichever native tribe won in a war. In our
game, winning immunity, means you get to keep this in your tribe
for three days. Not a bad deal considering the local "flavor" about him.

The challenge today, consists of a lot of teamwork, and the individual works of three people. On my call, you will set out to your boat, purple for Peuco, and yellow for Auca Pan. You will begin to row into the lake, to the first checkstation. The check station is marked by the flag of your tribe color. Once there, send one person into the water to swim ten meters to the side to the floating platform. Once there, he or she will have to complete a small task that will be mental. Then that person will return to the boat, and the team will then row to the next checkstation.

Send a DIFFERENT person to the swim to the checkstation and complete the puzzle. Go back, row to the next station, and send ANOTHER person to do what the first two did. After the last person has completed a puzzle, it's a sprint to shore. The first person to get all eight members on land, will win immunity.

On the host's call, both teams bolted to the water, sand flying up
from their sneakers as they approached their appropriate boat. Peuco,
taking no time to plan, jumped in the boat, one after another, and set
off into the midly cold waters of Lake Nahuel Huapi.

Auca Pan, however, took a more thought-out way of doing things.
They set an order, and then set out into the water. Both tribes were
neck-in neck for the first bit of the race. Peuco, however, began to
get a very defined lead. They sent a person from the back of the boat
to complete the first challenge, getting it done, swimming back and
getting back into the boat before Auca Pan made it to the first
checkstation.

When Auca Pan did get to the first checkstation, sending a female to quickly do the first puzzle, Peuco was nearly the finish line. Despite Auca Pan's surge at the end, getting to the second station, Peuco was too far ahead.

Steve: The Ahayuta Achi Idol goes to.... Peuco.

Auca Pan - Day Three

It was a hard pill to swallow, going from a win, where they thought they were dominant, to being beaten in an immunity challenge, they thought they could handle.

As far as Travis was concerned, he and Josie had done most of the organizing, and their idea was good, and would work, as long as everyone rowed. They didn't.

Jacob considered the loss positive.

"We are a strong and friendly tribe, and we know that. Losing immunity wasn't tragic for me; it just showed that we need to "drop
some baggage." Which we need to do, obviously, with people like Chad and Chloe around," he commented. Even though he realized Peuco was a strong tribe, he thought they could pull out later in the game, and felt extremely confident in his position in the tribe, because of his activity, and alliance."

Josie realized the complication involved in these challenges, and was frustrated with people's lack of endurance, work ethic, and inability to listen to the rules. She was not quite as positive as Jacob, that they would be fine, and knew only time would tell if they could pull back. She felt Chole, and Chad, who she knew said "Let's win this" and that's about it in the challenge, should be the ones to leave first, and while not confident, didn't think she was in any danger, considering she put a lot of work into the challenges.

Hadley, like the rest, recognized that dead weight was something they needed to drop. She however, felt alliances were already a part of the game, and she was "picked last, or not at all." She, in a very pessimistic mood explained that, "after two inactives are removed, I'll be leaving."

Chad recognized he was one of the reasons they had lost the challenge. While talking to the camera he explained he was not doing well with the environment, and was simply unable to row. His attitude, while he knew he could bring a lot to the tribe, was pretty much that he was leaving in a few hours, and he would never be able to show Auca Pan how much of a player, he truly was.

John explained the reason they lost, was simply weak players and a confusing challenge. "I just couldn't understand the concept," he explained to the camera. He was confident his alliance, however, would keep him in the game, and felt he knew who would be the first, second, and probably third person to leave this game. He felt confident in his tribal position, and hoped, the only thing that could break him up, would be a tribal switch.

~ EPISODE 1b ~

Immunity Challenge One: Row Row Row Your Boat

Ahayuta Achi

<<<EPISODE 1a<<< >>>EPISODE 2>>>

Tribal Council One: Auca Pan Tribe

Next time on Survivor on the Net IX:

At Peuco, the time for making the alliances, is now. At Auca Pan, a troubled team finally snaps, and true opinions finally reach the surface.