Ok here's a mid-challenge update for the round. My goal going in was to get the challenge advantage. I knew most people would be bidding on immunity and that somebody would outbid me at some point. The challenge advantage allows me to earn immunity later tonight and so I'm happy that I won it. Additionally, I originally wanted the scroll because decisions mean power and I could use some about now but, having looked at past seasons it was just deciding which round would be a double tribal or teams for a challenge, neither of which help me much at all. So now I'm trying to jack up the price a bit but I don't really think it's essential that I get it. Having looked back, prizes are typically not that great/powerful. The only real good things are immunity itself, the challenge advantage, and of course the chest. Now, the chest in the past has either held an idol or an additional immunity necklace to be played at any tribal. Both of those are huge powers in this game but realistically I'm not getting that. I would prefer Rita to but basically anyone who isn't Neal, Liz, or Rachel getting it is fine by me. I think if Rita gets the chest, I can work out a bargain with whoever gets the key.



Other than the challenge advantage and possibly the scroll, my main goal was to minimize the items that Neal and Liz won. I've been on the offensive against them since yesterday. Sadly, Neal won one early this morning while I wasn't around and another BS one he randomly decided to bid on moments before the deadline. I need to stop the from getting anything else though because they are potentially powers that can help them and two is already more than enough. Rachel has been particularly annoying during this challenge because she continuously targets me when I haven't targeted her once. She keeps outbidding me and working with Neal to get me off bids I essentially had locked. It's REALLY getting under my skin because Woo, Hunter, and Hope all seem to have enough brain cells to understand that I'm working with them but she just can't get it through her thick skull. Target Rita, target Natalie, target the Sewer Rats. The other 3 Mushu have understood that concept but Rachel won't fuck off. So basically I'm dealing with 3 people kicking me off items which is beyond frustrating. She's definitely made an enemy of this round because she's made it clear that, just because I'm with Woo, Hunter, and Hope doesn't mean I'm with her. Fair enough but we'll see how that goes for her. My goal at this point has become to just jack up the price on all items that Rachel, Neal, and Liz hold. It's really the only impact I can have at this point and I think it's the best way to fuck with my competition.

FOR REFERENCE

Item #1: Woo
Item #2: Woo
Item #3: Liz
Item #4: Neal
Item #5: Hunter
CHALLENGE ADVANTAGE: Nick
IMMUNITY: Rita
Item #8: Rachel
Item #9: Hunter
Item #10: Hunter
Item #11: Neal
Item #12: Woo
Item #13: Rachel

Kinda bored tbh but there's nothing going on this round other than Natalie going home. So let's answer tribal questions for fun.



Rachel: Congrats on Immunity! Do you feel you need it tonight?

Real answer: No absolutely not. I'm in a 6-person majority that has absolutely no chance of splintering on this vote. I'm safer than I've probably ever been in a game but considering the challenge was basically a chance for us to team up against the minority, I'm not surprised I won. Ok back to doing nothing for the round until Hunter gives me my orders.



Rachel's answer: Well gosh golly it's always nice to have the necklace because you never really know where you stand or what could happen. Thankfully I won so I don't have to worry about leaving this round.





Rita: Congrats on Immunity! Do you feel you need it tonight?

Real answer: Hell yes because of the overwhelming majority coming for my head.



Rita's answer (tbf this one will be pretty truthful): Yes. I think it's clear based on how the last few votes have gone that there is a majority that I'm not a part of and so I hope this helps to change that somehow. But being guaranteed another round is obviously always nice.





Hope: You received no prizes at the Auction tonight. Are you glad you don't have the target associated with a mystery prize, or do you wish you walked away with something?

Real answer: I'm pissed at Nick and blame him for me not winning a prize for some reason. I basically pulled an all-nighter for this challenge and walked away with nothing which really sucks. And it's totally Nick's fault for giving Rita money for immunity even though I have allies out the ass who could have easily given me money to outbid her. And it's also not my fault for bidding on immunity which everyone else was going to try to steal in a round where I don't need it even slightly. Going for another item that no one would have even bothered to fight me for is stupid and not at all what I should have done if I really wanted a prize. Stupid Nick.



Hope's answer: It does suck to put as much time as I did into the challenge to come out with nothing and miss out on an opportunity but I do avoid the target that others weren't as fortunate to avoid.





Hunter: With several mysterious Auction prizes now floating around, how much more paranoia is added to this vote?

Real answer: Absolutely none Lex! None of the mystery prizes went to Rita or Natalie so it's still a straightforward vote for Natalie. I'm going to completely ignore the fact that Rachel and Liz/Neal haven't targeted each other in either challenge this round and were actively working together in the auction. I'm also going to ignore that those 3 people all got a lot of items this round that could hinder me wanting to take them out later. Nope Natalie and Rachel who have no numbers, prizes, or ways to get back into this game are MUCH bigger threats.



Hunter's answer: It definitely adds a sense of uncertainty about what could happen or what could change at this particular vote. It's something to be cautious about and to take into account with the vote.





Liz: Three original Anaira members have left in a row. Is this an alarming trend or a mere coincidence?

Real answer: Oh it's completely a coincidence haha. Anaira was never a thing postmerge and Neal, Kenny, and I ditched them as soon as we could. We are now taking part in picking off our former tribe mates in a very blatant and boring Pagonging.



Liz's answer: I'm definitely a little bit concerned as I am at every tribal but I think it's a coincidence more than anything. This is definitely an individual game now and so OG tribal lines don't matter too much anymore.





Natalie: You were quickly targeted and eliminated in Puppet Masters. Does that raise concerns over this vote?

Real answer: Yes I am going home bye.




Natalie's answer: I don't think it's any secret that I've been in the minority for the past few votes so I am definitely concerned and being targeted in the challenge is just a reiteration of that.





Neal: You had an angry vote dedicated to you at the live Tribal Council. How'd you feel about that? Does it concern you going forward?

Real answer: No someone is just being butthurt about my decision to flip to the other side. I know I'm safe over here for a Lóng while. I'm going to completely ignore the fact that there are 4 Mushu over here and only 2 of Liz and I. That's a totally irrelevant piece of information. I know I AT LEAST have Nick beat so that's a plus.



Neal's answer: (I actually have no idea and am excited to see how he responds. I may try to respond to him if I don't like his answer).





Nick: Do you feel this tribe has a clear totem pole/pecking order? Where do you believe you rest within it?

Real answer: YES there is a very clear pecking order in this tribe. Liz and Dumbass think they know what it is but they are completely wrong and will be slaughtered at F7 in a hilarious blindside. As far as what it actually is depends on Hope and Hunter. I'd like to think that once Rita and Natalie are sadly voted out and Liz and Dumbass have gotten their karma that us 3 would team up and vote out Rachel and Woo. Of course, I don't know how I stand on that pecking order. All I know is that I'm where I need to be within the pecking order at this moment. And that's all that matters to me.



Nick's answer: I do believe that this tribe has a clear pecking order. The numbers on these last few votes have made it clear who is on the bottom of the totem pole but I think it will become unclear once the 6-person majority gets to F6. I think they all believe that they rest at the top which indicates the intelligence and skills of the people ACTUALLY at the top. I know that I rest near the bottom but that is not the important question. It's more about who is actually at the top and who will be kicking themselves when they get sixth and fifth.





Woo: Was the pecking order in Puppet Masters surprising or revealing to you at all? Is there much that can be read into?

Real answer: Nah my alliance didn't bother to reveal the pecking order and instead pretty much just stopped doing the challenge. They would post at the very last second each time just to ensure they posted something but were too afraid of hurting feelings to actually revel anything at all of any kind.



Woo's answer: I think anything in this game can be read into but I don't think everything necessarily should be. At the end of the day, this was just a challenge and I think people are smarter than to reveal their pecking orders in a challenge.

The red font looks really bad on the board. Sorry was not anticipating that! I can't really edit so maybe a host could for me or something.

Editing granted!

Ok green was even worse lol but I think yellow works!

Ok small update because things are starting to happen. I was talking to Hunter and he was talking to me about Neal wanting me out this round which was expected but what I wasn't expecting was his spinelessness. Suddenly he wanted to split the vote on Natalie and I to appease the filth he considers an "ally." I'm not understanding why he is being so accommodating to him and Liz because all of Mushu is ultimately going to have to betray them if he, Woo, and Hope are being honest with me about their intentions of us going the distance. And right now they have the numbers without the two of them if I flip. He seems to think that waiting two rounds will burn them less which is kinda just stupid bullshit lol. Those two (especially Liz) will be mad whenever they're sent home if it's at the hands of Mushu. I was not down for this split plan because it hinged on Natalie and Rita not voting for me which I think is likely but not a guarantee. I argued with him for a bit and then just kinda gave up because he seemed deadset on it. I don't think he and Hope truly value me as an ally tbh. Hope is always nervous every round when she consistently has no reason to be and complains to me and I'm always there to comfort her which I don't mind. She comes to me because "she knows I'm the same way." But then she is willing to basically risk my life in a split plan and expect me to be peachy about it which is totally unfair. And Hunter brought up me voting for him but I knew for a fact that he was safer than shit that round whereas he does not this round.



I noticed during our conversation that Rita hadn't talked to me today and since my fate now hinged on her, I decided to reach out. I think me giving her money at the auction definitely helped our already close relationship but still have to be sure. We quickly got into talk for the round and she brought up the likelihood of a split. She even suggested us 2 voting for Natalie to guarantee that I stay which I really appreciated. I was still not ok with the split plan but I had to account for it now if I wanted to stay.



AND THEN THE BOMB. Natalie messages the group chat with Rita and I about Liz wanting to flip and make a move on Mushu. I didn't know what to think. On one hand, I was pissed about the split and about feeling not respected as an ally. On the other hand, I can't exactly vote out all of Mushu without burning them considering I'm working with them. Then Natalie says that the only target option would be Hunter. Ummmmmm no. I may be mad at him but he's a smart ally that I need for now, a jury vote I'm not willing to burn, and somebody who actually talks to me on a regular basis unlike Neal and Liz. The problem is now I can't outright flip and take out Neal despite it being my dream because I will burn the fuck out of Natalie and Rita who quite honestly deserve better. And I can't vote with them for Hunter because I'll burn all of Mushu. I need Natalie and Rita to recognize that Neal and Liz are just playing the flip game. Go back and forth between both sides and weaken them both while basically running the game. Luckily, Natalie brought it up as a possibility and Rita acknowledged it but both agreed sadly that the 3 remaining Mushu would be more mad at Neal/Liz and would team up with us to guarantee F6 which honestly isn't the case or at least not for me.



I told Hunter about this plan and he at least is now willing to turn on Neal and Liz. It took all of this for him to finally grow a backbone but it happened. He brought up the possibility that they're lying but that would be so stupid at this point in terms of jury management (not that I put stupidity past the Sewer Rats) and they're being way too convincing. I told him that if he has an idol or anything now would be the time to use it but he obviously doesn't. I was pretty direct about it with him that I can't outright flip and vote for Neal because I burn 4 people and he can't hold that against me because he was unwilling to burn 2 by just flipping on Neal and Liz. He actually seemed to recognize that but obviously neither of us wanted him to go so we had to come up with an alternative. Then it hit me. Rita reciprocated my nerves about Neal and Liz playing the flipper game more than Natalie did. I also know she doesn't trust them very much and has a closer relationship with Hunter. But right now this is her only option to stay so of course she is going to go for it. If Hunter can convince Rita that he and another Mushu are willing to flip and I can also say I trust Mushu more, the two of us may be able to convince Natalie that this is our better option. It might be a Lóng shot but I can't risk burning every jury vote possible in this game and right now this is my best alternative. Ideally I can send Neal or Liz home this round but it needs to be with the blessing of basically everyone else in this game. We will see how this all goes but I'm nervous for now. Yet again, Nick is safe but his jury management is not. Gotta find the best way out of this. Bye for now.

Rita told me everything Hunter had said to her about flipping on Neal and Liz and she seemed to be considering it. Hunter made it seem like Hope and Woo were not included in the vote so, in Rita's mind, Neal/Liz and Hunter/Rachel both want to flip and we get to choose while Hope and Woo are left out of the vote. But now Rita isn't getting great vibes from Rachel and thinks it's best to go with Neal and Liz.



I HAVE the tools to counteract that and save Hunter. When Rita and I were debating the vote, we acknowledged the potential for either pair that we side to flip again at F7 back to Hope and Woo and basically control the game and agreed that we had to go with whichever pair was least likely to do so. She now thinks that's Neal and Liz but I have something that can change her mind.



I was talking to Hope earlier who was brutally honest with me about stuff from this round she hasn't told anybody else yet. When we started our convo, she made it clear that she wanted just US to talk without accounting for Woo or Hunter or anyone. I took that as a sign that I could be brutally honest with her and so I told her that I was uncomfortable about this round because basically no matter what I did I felt like I was burning enough jury votes to lose the game which I thought was true. As I said earlier, if I side with Mushu, I lose Rita/Natalie, my entire Anaira alliance, and Neal/Liz. If I side with Rita/Natalie/Liz/Neal, I lose all of Mushu. She said that she would be burning votes this round too which I didn't particularly buy since Neal and Liz had acted against her first but she needed to know if my intention was to stick with Hunter. Then she did something that indicated that she wasn't as loyal to Hunter as I had thought. She acknowledged that it was more tempting for me to vote with the other side.



I told her that I wanted to save Hunter but wanted to find a way to get Rita/Natalie on board. My only plan at this was to have Hunter and Rachel pretend like they were flipping which I detailed earlier. Then some more of feeling bad about Neal/Liz going this round if that happened and needing to know what I was going to do this round because it would impact what she did, basically implying she would vote him out if I was. THEN she gave me the tool I could use. She told me that Neal and Liz told her about the Hunter plan and want her involved. This was the golden tool I could use because Rita thinks that Hope and Woo are out on the plan. If I tell her that they told Hope, it shows THEY are more loyal to Hope and Woo than Hunter and Rachel are since those two have not told Hope and Woo about their plan. This will make Rita feel more comfortable about Hunter and Rachel and we can flip the vote. And then bye bye Neal FINALLY. I need Hope to allow me to tell Rita this though and, without that, I can't shift anything.



I came up with this a while ago and have explained all of the implications to Hope but she is taking forever to let me tell Rita. I can't do it without her permission because, if it gets back to her, I'm dead in the water. The longer she waits, the less time I have to save Hunter, especially since Natalie has already practically locked in her vote and left. She is unsure of what she wants to do because either way she feels like she is hurting somebody, either Hunter or Neal/Liz but at a certain point you have to drop your emotions. She needs to make a game decision right now one way or the other because, whether she wants to acknowledge it or now, this round rests solely on her shoulders. She will either send Hunter home or she will send Neal home and right now, she's being too indecisive to actually play the game. I think her inaction will end up deciding this round which is just depressing to see. Hoping she responds soon before it's too late.

I'm starting to get really bummed that Hope will probably win this game if she gets to the end of this game despite literally being spineless with a move like this. She's going to ignore me until it's far too late to save Hunter (probably is at this point). This move alone would be enough to lose her my jury vote and I can only hope to articulate that well if I get to the end with her.

Hold the phone folks!!!


Rita Verreos
neal just asked me if you are pushing his name to people?



Someone might be trying to throw me under the bus? It might be Hope who I've invested a lot of trust in this round but I don't get why she'd do that except to try to get the vote back on Natalie or, even worse, me. If she exposes me that way, she can get Neal and Liz back on her side.

Hunter also said it might be Rachel who he told everything to but who seemed skeptical and is part of the reason Neal isn't going.

Ok paranoia might be kicking in. I'm beginning to craft a theory that Hope is a brilliant, cold-hearted psycho of a player who willing cut Hunter this round and will soon do the same to me. I hope that isn't the case but my paranoia is only wrong 20% of the time (probably idk).

Trying to switch the vote onto Liz just in case Hope is a mastermind. Gonna squash it now if I can. Could be making a big mistake.

Nick Maiorano @ 17/6/2016 20:37

I'm starting to get really bummed that Hope will probably win this game if she gets to the end of this game despite literally being spineless with a move like this. She's going to ignore me until it's far too late to save Hunter (probably is at this point). This move alone would be enough to lose her my jury vote and I can only hope to articulate that well if I get to the end with her.

WELL THIS WAS A DELUSIONAL CONFESSIONAL ENTRY