The Lake District, England
Two figures walked across the rolling heaths, one dressed in simple white robes and carrying a simple pipe instrument, the other in a t-shirt on which a punk grrl band blared and wailed. Despite their strange attire, the two former FAN Idols appeared at home in this vast grassland, a cool wind playing upon their hair, the melodies of black terns filling the air.
Square, seemingly to himself:
"When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze."
Pegasus Warrior: Ah, Wordsworth right? The words hold a deeper meaning when you're actually here. Tyger said that we should spend some time collecting our thoughts, getting out of the FAN compound and finding inspiration where ever our fancy leads us. (Looks around, breathes the air) The breeze tastes, perhaps, not as sweet as that which gathers around the Hippocrene but I shall remember it fondly as we move forward.
Square muttered something to himself about his family home, Schläfli Heights, and takes his time traipsing with easy grace on the heath's various cliffs and valleys, softly reciting more poetry to himself:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Without further words, Square walked up to Pegasus Warrior, patted him gently on the back with a smile, and, as the wind pitched and started to howl, brought a bright multi-colored kite out of his traveling backpack, and started to run across the heath, the kite flying high in the wind.
Pegasus Warrior watched the kite flutter in the gentle breeze, Square laughing and running with the string in his hand, and sat down among the grass and played his pan pipes for nothing but the joy of it all.
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Cathedral
Provincial
Park, B.C., British Columbia, Lake of the Woods Campground
Murder Killingfield, the shadows from the crackling fire obscuring his face: "And then the campers heard the fisherman's heavy boots on the ground near their tent. Before they could run, the fisherman ripped the tent opening wide and dragged them away to the misty river... THE END.
Gretchen Weiners, roasting a hot dog on a stick over the fire: YAWN. See, Cornfed told me you were a scary kid but, nah, I'm just not feeling it myself. (Finishes roasting hot dog) Great hot dogs if I do say so myself.
Murder: (a distant animal sound on the air) Have you ever heard the story about the white wolf? No? The native people of this land talk about a white wolf, as large as a full grown horse, that stalks the night. (The fire began to spark up as it ate the pile of wood) His eyes are said to be red sparks, his teeth sharp as the fire's touch. And-
Gretchen Weiners: Yeah yeah, what big eyes she has! (Starting to roast a marshmallow now).
Murder, continuing on: Gretchen, my father once told me about a beast that walked upright like a man but feasted on flesh like an animal. When this beast hunted, it would not make a single sound, darting out of the night one second and leaving the next, blood stains the only evidence of its attack. Those who saw this monster take away their loved ones, their family, friends, loved ones, say that its fur was covered in blood as if fresh from a hunt. The smell of blood would hang heavy in the air and would press you down if you let it. Ms. Gretchen, the night contains many beasts but none so horrific. For, even as I speak, this beast creeps ever closer, eager for a fresh kill. And... Gretchen, your marshmallow.
Gretchen, looking down at her burnt marshmallow as it starts to ooze of her wooden stick: Oh, I like them like that. Yeah. Gives them a nice char...
Murder: Ah. Well, best to turn in early tonight. If you don't mind, I'd like to get a fresh start tomorrow, as I would like to practice my music a bit before the coming Round. Please extinguish the fire when you're done.
Gretchen (looking around in the darkness, smelling a rather heavy scent): You know... maybe we should keep the fire. Not that there are any stupid monsters out there and, hey, if there are, I got these (twirls daggers) but I might like some light tonight. You know?
Murder: Yes. I know.
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Lascaux Caves – Motignac, France
After a descent where time seemed to stand still, would-be FAN Idols Gus Richlen, Inuyasha Mark and Knailsic Loves to Boogie found themselves at the bottom of one of the main caves at the Lascaux site. Noted for housing Mankind's earliest artistic endeavors upon their walls, the Lascaux Caves speak to an artist who, faced with the crush of modern life, seeks examples of simple but profound creative expression. Gus examined a cave painting of two bulls locked horn to horn, chuckling to himself that his feud with Square may soon come to conclusion, while Knailsic found a rather fierce looking bird of prey, an Eagle perhaps or a Griffon Vulture, dominating an entire back wall.
Knailsic, barely seeing the space in front of him with his flashlight: Nope, haven't found it yet. The map says that the Chamber of Felines is somewhere in this general vicinity. I figure that goofy Tiger or Tyger or what have you might appreciate some cat photos. Not that I need it but you never know. Maybe he won't be so loopy if we get him some nice lady cat pictures. You're right though, looking around in his place, it's spiritual. Miles Davis would love it.
(A Chauvet or type of Panther)
Gus: The veins of the Earth can be quite frightful. Once, I was spelunking with a group of friends in a cave in Hokkaido, Japan. Now, I had been well acquainted with caves by that point in my life and, indeed, lived out of one during the great FAN wars. That said, I've never known such depths as that cave in Hokkaido. It wasn't so much that we went further and further down. No, it was as if we broke a seal, violated a set of rules. That cave contained something and that something wanted to break loose and see the sunlight again.
With the last words, Gus's voice reverberated and a loud "Mon Dieu!" rang out. Coming from a hidden crevice, a green and brown figure emerged, a scroll in his hand and a pencil to take impressions from the wall in front of him. Sssnakebite, the #1 Frenchman.
Ssnakebite: Ah! Mon Amies! You have found yourselves in thiss stone church? Ah! Look at the ssnakess upon the wallss!
Knailsic: Great to see you again, Scales! Gus was telling me that he spent a lot of time in caves just like this and we figured that, hey, what better way to prepare for the next Round then to go find our roots! (looks at a wall) Oh wow! That paintings looks like the cover to Bootsy Collins' Lord of the Harvest!!! (runs off to get a better look)
Ssnakebite (To Gus): Remember, mon frere, the Earth ssshe has her sssecrets and, if you lisssten, you can hear her sssong.
With that, Ssnakebite returned to his work, examine a Lovecraftian drawing of a Serpent king presiding over his court of snakes.
Gus (listening to the stillness of the cave around him)... hmm, this cave is in A Major.
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Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Sipping on fresh squeezed orange juice, Orangetuan noted the expertise of the village boys, some as young as five, as they cast their nets into the opalescent water to draw their share of the bay's gifts. Orangeutan had heard tales about this village and, feeling that it was time to visit Vietnam again, decided that this Round allowed him to get his sea legs again. Ha Long Bay, the Bay of "the Descending Dragon"; the name alone played in Orangetuan's head. As the water gently swept towards and away from the shoreline, the Idol veteran reflected on his own fortunes in the current tournament and decided that, from now on, he should be like water. Gentle and strong, directionless yet full of purpose.
Be like Water.
Orangeutan savored dishes created from the splendid creatures caught earlier in the day: Grilled Chopped Squid paired with young Coconut, Marine worms that, when roasted, attained a noble Orange color, and horseshoe crab salad, delicate and exotic, a dish to make one's creativity pulse with renewed life.
The would-be Fan Idol dipped his toes into the cool water and splashed for a moment. He could see the water break away and then reform, like glass on the surface. Be flexible but solid, change but retain yourself. Water.
He would spend many hours silent by the sea. The fishermen recruited him for hard work in the early morning and he earned his keep but the water never left Orangetuan. He could feel it inside of himself.
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Awaiting for his contestants to return from their all-too brief sojourn, the Host awaited in his apartments. He watched vividly choreographed musicals and browsed the Freakin' Awesome Network's art collection, thrilled by scenes of fiery mountain tops where heroes and demigods faced each other in pitched battle and grew contemplative, melancholy by views of lonely sea shores and monotonous, grey waved seas. When he needed his spirits roused, the Host would look upon one of his most cherished paintings:
And here are the songs for
Round 33: The Elements :
Alone- the Bee Gees (Wind, Heart)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBwqiq1PN0ESlow Burn- Black Pistol Fire (Fire)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=14vy0fk9Uq8Acid Rain- Chance the Rapper (Water)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1AOoHSijIkBlackbird- Crosby, Stills, and Nash (Wind)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR7o-v2l8JE&app=desktopThe A Team- Ed Sheeran (Water)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KlOodL9Gw4Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)- George Harrison (Heart)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-KAvPbO8JY&app=desktopThe Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore- Frankie Valli (Fire, Wind, Water)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbwS2SqNbEMOpen Arms- Journey (Heart)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lLmYLw0WRIFire- Ohio Players (Fire)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkDvZ2GlwsMGood to Sea- Pinback (Water, Earth)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Quw7XbaVNSYKing of Pain- The Police (Fire, Earth)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mgSCKXSp9MWind of Change- The Scorpions (Wind)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4RjJKxsamQSunny Came Home- Shawn Colvin (Fire, Wind)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S5iANxYIYQWaves- Sleeper Agent (Water)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDdMGg9OkIcNo One Sleeps When I’m Awake- The Sounds (Heart)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KN1FlrxQRk