Episode 13: The Severe Feather Pecking of the Andean Guan
Feather Pecking - A behavioural problem in which one bird repeatedly pecks at the feathers of another, that occurs most frequently amongst domestic hens reared for egg production, although it is seen in other poultry such as pheasants, turkeys, ducks and sometimes in farmed ostriches. Two levels of severity are recognised: "gentle" and "severe".
Andean Guan - The Andean guan (Penelope montagnii) is a gamefowl species of the family Cracidae, in which it belongs to the guan subfamily Penelopinae. This bird occurs in the highlands (5,000 ft/1,500 m ASL and higher) of the Andes, from Venezuela and Colombia through Ecuador and Peru south to Bolivia and perhaps northwesternmost Argentina. They are long-bodied with thin necks and small heads, and similar in shape to turkeys but more slender and elegant. The plumage is overall brown with whitish edging to the feathers of the head, neck and chest. It has a red dewlap and reddish legs.
Apologies if this confesh isn't up to normal standards. I am incredibly baked right now. Also you guys keep asking for video. I'll do it for my last one if I get voted out / make it to FTC. I wanna show you all my strategy for the game and how I studied.
Day 27 - Challenge
Gotta say, I was nervous for this one. If JR won this challenge, the vote for Leslie is a hard sell for Evvie. She might really consider voting for me. I spent a lot of time practicing for a challenge like this.
I made an excel sheet with all pertaining information so far in the game. I had all the information I needed except for one...the number of whispers. I shot way too low (45 to Evvie's 51) and lost the challenge. It's great that JR didn't win, but it's still risky for me to be without immunity right now.
Day 27 - Pre-Tribal Council
I was pretty nervous but Evvie and Xander told me straight up they wouldn't vote me out. It seemed like all was good, but I was still making sure to listen more than speak. I let Evvie and Xander continue to tell me what JR and Leslie were selling to them. They fed me all the information I needed through the Spiral Stoner chat and it gave me some confidence to know that they would just outright give that to me instead of keep it to themselves.
I had to counter back saying JR and Leslie mentioned both their names. I said that whatever they are saying to you, they're saying it right back to me as well. It was my hope that they would believe me and agree that they're once again trying to turn us against each other. I can't risk JR and Leslie convincing them of how much of a threat I am, so I need to continue to lie as much as I can about what they're saying to me, just to make sure I have their support.
Day 27 - Tribal Council
Whew, that was a spicy one. JR and Leslie brought out all the guns to paint me as the biggest target. I think they were actually convincing Evvie to some degree. Evvie definitely fought their heart out, but after having to defend their game, I wouldn't be surprised if they were reconsidering me as an ally. Xander seemed to always have my back regardless and took his game slander on the chin. JR was absolutely right and had a fair assessment of Xander's position, but it's great that Xander still plans to see it through with me.
I'm pretty sure Evvie is going to see me as their biggest threat to win now. So the best I can do is to once again win immunity, or hope Xander goes to rocks with me at F4. It's a really risky situation, especially when Evvie mentioned a F2 scenario. She would definitely want to take Xander or Leslie over me. I'm going to have to pull out an insane win on Wednesday and from this point forward to get to the end. There's no way they keep me anymore if they have the chance to get rid of me.
Looking at who is left, who (besides yourself) would be the best winners?
Definitely Evvie. She's a lock to win this if I don't get there. She's been strategizing and making great relationships with everyone and there aren't a lot of people who dislike her. JR mentioned during tribal that she would get 2nd place to me, so I think there really isn't a scenario now where I can't win if I make it to F3/F2.
How different or similar has your pre-merge game been from your merge game?
My pre-merge was a lot of challenge wins and a lot of relationship building. Post merge, I'm trying my best to keep up with both those things, but it's been a lot more relying on the relationships I built early to get me far. I'm still trying my best and working as hard as I can to win immunity challenges but I could have really worked more on relationships post-merge. It's why I'm a little worried about what jury votes I could get, based on if people found me to not be genuine with them. I wish I did have more of Evvie's game-style and not be so flashy, but I really had to secure certain immunities to get here.
All in all, I'd like to think I've been trying to play consistent and hope I can explain that well to jury members in a FTC.
What has been your greatest strength in the game? What about your weakest?
Definitely the relationships and connecting with people in a certain way. That has to be my biggest strength. I could also say my drive. I worked hard every single day of this game to get where I am. I was up late every night studying challenges, looking for idols, being available to talk to people when they needed it. I did everything I could and then some.
My weakest strength has to be my paranoia. I care way too much about a silly online reality game. And maybe that's not a bad thing, and it makes this game that much more fun and real for me. But it's definitely hindered me in this game. There was a lot of times that I didn't need to speak or say something, and it ended up coming off poorly. It was all from anxiety and paranoia of people not trusting me. I guess in a way, I was maybe holding people hostage emotionally? Yikers. But I do intend to be friends with these people post game, and I think that makes me come off a little abrasive when it comes to their game against me. It's like, 'of course they're going to game against you. It's why we're playing this game!'. I needed to maybe sit back a little more and be relaxed and it would have caused me to not have to win every immunity.
What is the one thing you have going for your game, that no other player has?
The research abilities. I have put countless hours into Stranded research just so I knew how this game needed to be played. I studied every challenge, every twist, every big move. I saw Bitchen get her name. I saw Erika coin the term 'Goatrin'. I saw Stephanie become the winner of all winners. I even listen to the Stranded podcast on the drives to in-office days. I became a returnee Stranded player without actually being one, and I did it all to be the best. There's no way Evvie or Leslie have looked at past seasons like I have. Xander definitely hasn't to the depth that I have. And I think this might be a model for seasons to come. Study past games and learn what Stranded is all about before thinking you can win it. You have to use all the tools at your exposure. Otherwise, you'll always be at a disadvantage.
Abraham, You were deemed a huge threat by Jean-Robert at tribal council. Do you think he was making any progress with painting a target on your back?
100% he was making progress. I'm sure he's convinced Evvie to some degree and I could see them voting me out if I don't win immunity again. I'd really like to think Evvie would be true to our F3 but you really don't know what someone is thinking. I'm sure Evvie does want to win this game and isn't just okay with making it to FTC. She'll want to take out her biggest threats to win, and that definitely isn't Leslie. However, I do know that Evvie wanted Leslie to go tonight instead of JR. So there's a chance that Evvie will still want her gone before me at F3.
So in conclusion, it's another typical day for me in the Andes. Working hard, no slowing down. Gotta power to the top!
Ugh, I'm going the Mike Holloway route a bit.
