Round 04

[Russell Swan]

Strategy: Win challenge.
Backup strategy: Let Gunlom ally or Ralph win challenge.
Alternative: Be voted out.

[Rob Mariano]

Most important challenge of the game do you think?

[Russell Swan]

Yes, this challenge really is important. I will almost definitely be put on the block if someone on Gunlom doesn't win, and then my fate is largely out of my hands as far as whether or not I'll stay since I'd have to campaign against my closest allies. So I'll put in my best effort and see what happens.

[Russell Swan]

Russell Swan: Hey Ami, congrats!
Ami Cusack: tks Russ
Ami Cusack: =)
Russell Swan: It was a tough one. I thought 10 minutes was good, have no idea how you got 5 lol.
Russell Swan: Must've been posting like crazy.
Ami Cusack: just didnt post as many as u
Ami Cusack: maybe
Ami Cusack: i put more then one box in a row
Russell Swan: Oh, I had like 76 posts.
Russell Swan: I just went down from top to bottom.
Ami Cusack: oh ahaah i only had 3 pages
Ami Cusack: not sure how many posts were that
Russell Swan: Oooh, you did it with half the amount as I did.
Russell Swan: I had 6.
Ami Cusack: ahaha
Ami Cusack: now what is not so good news, and i really hate it
Ami Cusack: but i have to put u up
Ami Cusack: =(
Russell Swan: Is there anything I can do to change your mind?
Russell Swan: If not, we're all cool.
Russell Swan: I'll probably go home because I did the best in the challenge.
Ami Cusack: unfortobatlly no
Ami Cusack: althought u are not the target
Ami Cusack: is chicken and greg
Russell Swan: You're sure? If so, that's enough to comfort me.
Russell Swan: And I appreciate it, if I'm safe.
Russell Swan: Even if you put me up.
Ami Cusack: i cant promise u that, because since the bigining the game i'm just informed how to vote, no one never asks my opinion
Ami Cusack: but i will say i dont want u out
Ami Cusack: this is just all a big mess, because there are obvious 2 groups
Russell Swan: Yeah, the vote made that clear.
Ami Cusack: i dont think u are the leader on urs, to be honest
Ami Cusack: and i dont have a say on mine
Russell Swan: Lol, I'm not the leader on my side.
Ami Cusack: so is like how can we work this out
Russell Swan: I haven't been on AIM since Friday even.
Ami Cusack: because despide i dont have a say, they wont vote me out
Ami Cusack: so i have to protected them
Ami Cusack: but then i have other ppl i talk more but are on the other side
Ami Cusack: loll
Russell Swan: Do you know why they wanted me to go up for my group?
Russell Swan: There were other options, too.
Russell Swan: Out of your "side" you're the only person I've talked to for a lot of time.
Ami Cusack: in times like this is all about them saving themslefs then the others
Ami Cusack: if it wasnt this side things
Ami Cusack: this wouldnt be my nomenations
Ami Cusack: to be honest
Russell Swan: It's fine! I don't hold it against you.
Ami Cusack: if its up to me, u will be here
Russell Swan: And if I stick around, I'd be up for working together down the road.
Russell Swan: If I go, I go.
Russell Swan: lol
Russell Swan: Thanks.

My last conversation in the game?

[Rob Mariano]

How worried are you that you are going?

[Russell Swan]

I don't know; I haven't talked to everyone. I think there's a decent chance of AT LEAST getting 5 votes for Greg to go, forcing a tie between him and either me or Chicken. Ideally, Greg will get the majority of votes since he's probably the weakest link from original Gunlom due to being around the least. If that's the case, we'd still have a 5/9 majority on the tribe and be in a comfortable position if we lose again.

Hopefully the Black Swan's left enough of an impression on the rest of the cast to stay, but honestly we'll have to see. Ami and Fabio basically said they wanted me to stay but didn't actually promise me anything.

[Russell Swan]

Ralph Kiser: vote for greg
Russell Swan: I did. Do you think Chicken and I are safe?
Ralph Kiser: i hope so
Ralph Kiser: i have to go to class soon
Ralph Kiser: u need to tell everyone to vote greg
Ralph Kiser: send out PMs
Ralph Kiser: gary me chicken u are voting greg
Ralph Kiser: if u can get bob on board we at LEAST tie the vote :-)
Russell Swan: I talked to Bob yesterday.
Ralph Kiser: word.
Ralph Kiser: send out PMs
Ralph Kiser: save yo black swan ass
Russell Swan: To everyone?
Ralph Kiser: naw
Ralph Kiser: unless ur close
Ralph Kiser: with yul or ami ?
Russell Swan: No, not really
Ralph Kiser: so
Ralph Kiser: just Bob
Ralph Kiser: maybe Gary to be safe
Russell Swan: Chicken told me earlier that he thought everyone would vote Greg
Ralph Kiser: yeah
Ralph Kiser: chickens been workin on it
Russell Swan: Ok, I'll do some work on it now too
Russell Swan: with PMs
Russell Swan: Thanks

Ralph comes out of nowhere and makes me ultra paranoid that I'm the target.

[Russell Swan]

Judson "Fabio" Birza: what's up Russ??
Russell Swan: Hey man, I was just finishing up some homework.
Russell Swan: Getting ready for tomorrow lol
Russell Swan: And the challenge tonight if I'm still around
Russell Swan: How's it going for you?
Judson "Fabio" Birza: good good!
Judson "Fabio" Birza: trying to figure out the vote but no one is online..
Russell Swan: Ahh.
Russell Swan: I've gotten a few IMs from people saying it's Greg.
Russell Swan: That's what I did.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: yeah, I've been told either you or Greg
Judson "Fabio" Birza: as a preference
Russell Swan: Ugh.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: and it was actually one of your Gunloms who told me you
Judson "Fabio" Birza: and he's the only one
Judson "Fabio" Birza: which surprised me xD
Russell Swan: lol, I might go home then.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: I don't think so
Judson "Fabio" Birza: He just said he wanted Chicken safe for sure
Judson "Fabio" Birza: and either you or Greg was fine with him
Judson "Fabio" Birza: I told him Greg though
Russell Swan: Hopefully he votes Greg.
Russell Swan: That makes me so paranoid though.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: I'm sure he told you he was
Russell Swan: Yeah I don't know who you're talking about
Judson "Fabio" Birza: Gary
Russell Swan: but I think I heard Greg from the Gunlom members
Russell Swan: and even some non-Gunlom members told me Greg
Judson "Fabio" Birza: yeah that's what I'm hearing
Judson "Fabio" Birza: I was just saying I was surprised because no one even mentioned anyone other than Greg xD
Judson "Fabio" Birza: except Gary
Russell Swan: lol, that's disconcerting for sure.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: he seems kinda sketch sometimes
Judson "Fabio" Birza: and we'll be talking and he randomly goes away or signs off
Russell Swan: Yeah, it's weird...
Russell Swan: maybe we won't have two definite sides now after this vote.
Russell Swan: I think it would be great if everyone came together here and agreed on a common name.
Russell Swan: Like Greg.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: Yeah, that's what I've been trying to do!
Russell Swan: I appreciate it!
Judson "Fabio" Birza: It's just we all know that after this vote, if we go to tribal again, we won't be one big cohesive group...we're going back to sides xD
Russell Swan: Voting out Greg gives us a better chance of not going back...
Russell Swan: and idk, this whole thing with Gary makes me uncomfortable.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: why?
Russell Swan: I dunno, I just thought Greg was an easy target.
Russell Swan: I don't know why he'd pick me.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: Especially after your challenge performance
Judson "Fabio" Birza: seems stupid to throw your name out there
Judson "Fabio" Birza: unless he has some deal going with Greg
Russell Swan: It's possible too.
Russell Swan: Greg's been around.
Russell Swan: He's played a lot of games, may have some connections.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: exactly!
Judson "Fabio" Birza: so maybe it's best to cut that now and then deal with Gary later.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: you know I have your back so I'll tell you if I hear your name
Russell Swan: Yeah, I appreciate that. If I can use my influence if we lose again, I'll do whatever I can to make sure you're not the next target.
Russell Swan: Because I appreciate you helping me.
Russell Swan: You've actually told me more than anyone else has about this vote, lol.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: lmao
Judson "Fabio" Birza: of course man!
Judson "Fabio" Birza: and I'd defs appreciate that!
Russell Swan: I just have to survive this first, but thanks for keeping me up-to-date.
Russell Swan: I kind of hope we swap sometime soon with new people.
Russell Swan: I said this to someone earlier...
Russell Swan: But I'd be completely down for working with people in this current tribe who I've talked to over people who I haven't talked to at all.
Russell Swan: Like you.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: yeah dude
Judson "Fabio" Birza: I feel the same
Judson "Fabio" Birza: it's the smart thing to do!
Russell Swan: And maybe at that point the whole split thing will disappear
Judson "Fabio" Birza: as far as I'm concerned, this is my tribe
Russell Swan: Same. And now I'm realizing I'm not even in the core of original Gunlom.
Russell Swan: So who knows what'll happen down the road.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: I don't want you to worry about the future
Judson "Fabio" Birza: also, if Gunlom would want to get rid of you, they'd need us.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: so...if we haven't heard anything, you're not going anywhere! xD
Russell Swan: lol, thanks man.
Judson "Fabio" Birza: no problem!
Judson "Fabio" Birza: alright I gotta dip for a bit
Judson "Fabio" Birza: might be on later!
Russell Swan: See ya, and thanks!

Interesting. If I stay and we lose again, I may shake up the game. If I have time.