Survival of the Fastest

* 2021
* 2020

> "Your first challenge is to run a race!"
>
> – Ticket

**Survival of the Fastest** is the first episode of Castle Wars and the 1st episode of the overall series.

## Plot

### Before the Intro

The episode begins with Ottoman asking Tent how the Castle Wars cast arrived to the island. Tent says he never really thought of it, but mentions that maybe "that ticket guy over there knows a thing or two". The ticket, also known as Ticket, responds that he does, and that the contestants were brought there to compete on a show called Castle Wars, a competition where 14 competitors compete to win a giant castle.

Jarry asks Ticket how the show works, and Ticket explains the rules: there will not be any teams (Ticket claims the reasoning for this is because he doesn't want to be a generic host), and the show will be contestant vote (because he doesn't know if the show gets viewers or not), and that otherwise, contestants will just compete in challenges until they win or are eliminated. Ticket then begins the intro.

### Before the Challenge

Fedora tells Ticket to hurry up the challenge, as he's "too fancy to be sitting around like this". Bagel tells Fedora to let Ticket explain the challenge because he's excited about it, calling him "fancy pants" in the process. This nickname angers Fedora and he yells at Bagel. He then reassures the viewers in a confessional booth he found that he was just pretending to be "this fancy idiot", so other contestants won't discover his plan to win the game. He mentions that he might ally with someone later on, but he will only ally with someone who is also willing to manipulate others.

The episode cuts back to Ticket who explains the challenge. He says that the contestants will be teleported to the start of a race, and all have to run it to the finish line. He mentions that once contestants are at the finish line, they are immune from being eliminated in the next episode, and that only six people can win immunity. He states that the eight who lose are up for elimination, and one of them will be sent to the dungeon. He begins the race.

### The Challenge

Ottoman starts off the challenge by mentioning that he has no legs, so he is likely to be put up for elimination. Starry comes to comfort Ottoman, and Ottoman explains why he's upset. Starry, being able to fly, offers to carry Ottoman to the finish line. This makes Ottoman happy as she does so, and both Starry and Ottoman are safe. Starry tells the viewers in a confessional that she thinks friendship is power, and mentions that helping others is a good way to make friends. She says Ottoman seems like a nice guy, and that she was glad she was able to get both her and him to be safe.

We then cut to the challenge, where Marker mentions that she has a proposal to Cushion and Jarry. She asks to form an alliance, but Jarry feels that the alliance could be shady. She says that she'll join for the time being, but she doesn't want her glass to be broken. Cushion happily accepts the offer and says that Marker can count on her loyalty at any time. Marker says she is excited to see the three get far, but Jarry mentions in a confessional that she doesn't trust Marker yet. Marker tells the viewers in a confessional that she thinks Jarry needs to relax, and that her and Cushion will try and make Jarry trust them more.

The scene cuts to Scrolly getting the next safe spot, as he finished the race. He is excited about this and tells the viewers in a confessional that his athletic abilities will hopefully get him far in the game. Fedora mentions that half of the safe spots are already taken and says he should hurry up.

Next, we see Briefcase sitting very sadly. Bottle Cap comes up to her and asks how she's doing, and Briefcase says that she's fine but she thinks she will be eliminated first. In a confessional, she tells the viewers that she's "a bit of an antisocial pessimist," and says the reason might be because nobody wanted to be her friend while she was younger. She mentions she doesn't really open up to people, but that Bottle Cap seems nice, and she might be Briefcase's first friend on the show. When the confessional ends, Bottle Cap asks Briefcase why she thinks she'll be eliminated first. Briefcase explains to her that she doesn't really have any friends, and Bottle Cap says that she'll be her friend. Briefcase agrees.

Frame then points to something, claiming it's a tree and tells Euro about it. However, what Frame called a "tree" turns out to be Tent, who is annoyed and asks if he looks anything like a tree. Frame is too excited to answer, which annoys Euro. He says that Frame is a man of culture as well, but immediately takes it back as Frame just called Tent a tree. He mentions in a confessional that he doesn't see Frame getting far due to his lack of maturity, and that he won't be surprised if Frame is the first boot.

The episode then shows Milk next to a rocket ship, claiming she had just finished building it. She flies it across the racetrack which impresses Bagel, and Milk gets the fourth safe spot. Fedora then arrives at the finish line and is announced safe in fifth place. Only one safe spot is left, and it is revealed that Bagel and Tent are neck-and-neck in the race. In an intense reveal, it shows that Tent is the last one safe and everyone else (Bagel, Bottle Cap, Briefcase, Cushion, Euro, Frame, Jarry, and Marker) are up for elimination.

## Trivia

* This is the first ever episode of the Castle Wars series.
* This is the first episode where an alliance is formed.
* This is the first appearance of many characters in the series.
* This is the first episode of Castle Wars with a challenge.
* The first character who speaks is Ottoman.
* The first characters who appear are Ottoman and Tent.
* The first non-contestant that appears is Ticket.
* The first characters safe in Castle Wars history are Starry and Ottoman.