Episode 08

[Mia Galeotalanza]

Welcoem to ~tha merge~

Okay. Real talk. This is where the real game begins. Season after season, we see players squander a chance to win it all by playing safe and assuming they can follow their "surefire" path to the end all while playing quietly in the shadows. This is where the game is either won or lost, all while some realize and some don't.

While we aren't telling you to go batshit crazy, we're here to ask you: What have you done, or what can you do to leave your mark on this game in a way that you would expect a jury to award you with the win?

Next, let's talk numbers. We merged 5/4/3, therefore, if tribe unity runs deep, no single tribe can get a majority. On top of this, there are partnerships and secret partnerships. How do you plan to work through this complex web to make it through the next vote?

Let's talk allies. Who do you think you have on your side?

Enemies. Who is against you, and who do you want gone?

That's all for now. Talk to us and we will keep picking your brain for more!

Good luck players! Play smart, but don't forget to play hard! We're all rooting for you!

[Ibrehem]

Can I get that idol by the way?

[Ibrehem]

Becky & Ciera
Caryn & Vytas
Coby & Hayden
Cochran & Katie
Ibrehem & Marissa
Kim P & Rachel
Peter & Laura
Ralph & Shawn
Semhar & Brad
Skinny Ryan & John

[Sophie P Clarke]

I think it's already here? It should be pinned in your confessional!

[Ibrehem]

I think it's already here? It should be pinned in your confessional!

It wasn't and then Brenda brought it over, thanks Brenda!!

Also I'll get to your questions when I have a minute and PM's calm down.

[Ibrehem]

Welcoem to ~tha merge~

Welcome* The*

Jk. I'm super psyched!

Okay. Real talk. This is where the real game begins. Season after season, we see players squander a chance to win it all by playing safe and assuming they can follow their "surefire" path to the end all while playing quietly in the shadows. This is where the game is either won or lost, all while some realize and some don't.

No arguments there. I'm gonna keep trying my best.

While we aren't telling you to go batshit crazy, we're here to ask you: What have you done, or what can you do to leave your mark on this game in a way that you would expect a jury to award you with the win?

I really want to stay friendly and in-good with everyone and try not to step on toes much. And when I do, make sure I don't step too hard. That's the best way to get votes too when this is all over. I tend to agree with what people say a lot, but I'm also doing a little plotting of my own of course.

Next, let's talk numbers. We merged 5/4/3, therefore, if tribe unity runs deep, no single tribe can get a majority. On top of this, there are partnerships and secret partnerships. How do you plan to work through this complex web to make it through the next vote?

With my Flamethrower of Honor. But, actually I'm just trying to protect my allies like Semhar, Caryn, Marissa, Rachel to some degree (eh).

Let's talk allies. Who do you think you have on your side?

Uh, let's see, in terms of "closeness":

Me/Semhar
Me/Caryn
Me/Marissa
Me/Becky
Me/Marissa/Vytas/Cochran

I guess?

Enemies. Who is against you, and who do you want gone?

I kind of want Katie gone. I swear Caryn lied to me about her partner at first and said it was Laura, right? Then she admitted she lied and told me it was Brad ...I believe? And now Katie is her actual friend? How many times has she lied like wtf, I wish I could remember what she told me but I don't think she ever said Katie? I still block out a lot of what she says.

That's all for now. Talk to us and we will keep picking your brain for more!

My brain is so jumbled right now because I've been speaking to like everyone, sorry this is a little short.

Good luck players! Play smart, but don't forget to play hard! We're all rooting for you!

Thanks!

[Ibrehem]

I'm trusting Caryn less and less. I don't want her out, but she makes it hard to want her in.

[Ibrehem]

yeah, clearly id`ing themselves. disgusting and SO SO SO disrespectful to the game.

I think this too, but I think it's kind of funny how Vytas is acting like such an opportunist about this

[Ibrehem]

SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO

[Ashley Underwood]

SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO

so?

[Ibrehem]

It was just funny how he tries to take advantage of the situation.

Anyway, it's not really what Katie did so much that makes me feel weird, it's that her personality seemed to be the complete opposite of what I know. W/e I guess I should expect as much from Caryn's "friend"

[Ibrehem]

Becky says she doesn't have the Limici idol so my instinct says she do

[Brenda Lowe]

With my Flamethrower of Honor. But, actually I'm just trying to protect my allies like Semhar, Caryn, Marissa, Rachel to some degree (eh).

Let's talk allies. Who do you think you have on your side?

Uh, let's see, in terms of "closeness":

Me/Semhar
Me/Caryn
Me/Marissa
Me/Becky
Me/Marissa/Vytas/Cochran

I guess?

Enemies. Who is against you, and who do you want gone?

I kind of want Katie gone. I swear Caryn lied to me about her partner at first and said it was Laura, right? Then she admitted she lied and told me it was Brad ...I believe? And now Katie is her actual friend? How many times has she lied like wtf, I wish I could remember what she told me but I don't think she ever said Katie? I still block out a lot of what she says.

Ok so, with Katie now officially gone, the three immune immune, and Tapoli plus Becky plus Marissa counted among allies or the people you don't want out, who does that leave that you do?

Well obviously that only leaves Coby & Ralph but you know what I mean. Where are you hoping to turn to send your vote? Who is backing you up?

(and yes, I can read your PMs about the "plan" from Caryn, but that doesn't really seem to line up with what you've said here.)

[Ibrehem]

Yeah, exactly, there was a plan that the Tapoli 4 would try to be the Final 4 -- but it seems Caryn changed her mind about that when Rachel ran to Becky as soon as the merge hit. Throw in whatever Caryn was talking to Katie about(?) and I'm not sure if that plan was ever serious to begin with.

That's why i chose to leave that out of my confessional since I don't think it's a plan anymore.

--

Anyway, now that I've made the Jury I just need to make sure I'm not on it! And I will say I'm glad the whole Katie situation is over with. To be warned twice and still do it is kind of sucky.

One recent thing Caryn has said to me was that she wants Marissa or Rachel gone, this was prior to the Katie thing. I'm not really crazy about it since they're my partner/friend. Now the most recent thing she said is this:

So basically here is the plan:

NuLimici (Coby/Ralph/Shawn/Becky) and NuTapoli sans Rachel (Me/You/Semhar) plan to join forces and create a solid 7 majority.

It also means that us returnees can work together to take out the newbies cause they're untrustworthy.

Cochran obviously is a weasel and can't be trusted so we're replacing him with Shawn, who has no solid connections with the newbies and wants to work with us.

And the plan right now is to vote off Rachel.

I'm not saying I'm being forced right now, but if I really had my hands tied about the vote and I had to sacrifice one of my two connections... I'd kind of rather it was Rachel, only because Marissa is my partner and well -- that comes with talismans. Also I don't really have an active alliance with Rachel like I do with Marissa. Rachel is a good goat though, she does have that going for her (oh, man, I didn't mean to sound mean there)

It's just... I'm not crazy about siding with Limici/the favs? My mind is just really all over the place because of this Marissa/Vytas/Cochran thing I'm involved in... With the way things are going it's looking like they're the next targets here.

I'm kind of worried what/if Caryn has said about my idol, too.

[Ibrehem]

I'm yet to hear of this alliance of all favorites I'll join bud! haha
Why no cochran but plus Shawn though?

Whaaaaat?

[Ibrehem]

I wish I had eliminated Vytas.

[Jeff Probst]

Okay so catch me up a second Ibe. Initially I thought you and Becky were really close back on Limici (or am I remembering that wrong?). Has that since changed after being on separate tribes for so long? Do you trust her to want to work with you again or are you guys kind of on opposite teams still?

Speaking of opposite teams, aside from those you trust, who would you say are your biggest threats?

[Ibrehem]

My alliance with Becky is something I'm majorly undecided on. I'd like to work with her, but I also think she's one of my biggest threats. That's what makes these rounds so difficult to plan. Becky also has those Limici people, she talks with Caryn and myself and I know Semhar has gotten kind of close to her. I'm just a little worried about putting a lot of stock in Becky, because what if she has some other, bigger plans that I'm not in?

On the flip side, I'm thinking I should vote with Becky because at least I'd be surviving and I'd have "security" -- I put quotations because I'm still in the running for talismans so I don't think I'm that safe.

Marissa and I are talking (she said Vytas does have the idol? I honestly didn't know he said that) anyway, we're kind of thinking about not siding with Vytas/Cochran moving forward. But then there's this idea about making a pairs alliance... Me/Marissa/Vytas/Caryn/Ralph/Shawn. This would be a 6 majority. So there's that. We could do that, that would be hot-ish?

Hopefully a lot will be sorted out today...

[Ibrehem]

Oh nevermind, the way Marissa worded it was weird. I think she meant at the John boot he revealed he had an idol.

[Ibrehem]

I'm thinking about just playing my idol and getting it over with. It does more harm than good for me, makes me really paranoid having it.