Aras' Opening Statement

[Aras Baskauskas]

Just a heads up, I probably won't post this until after the other 2 do there's. I wanna go last to make sure I don't get caught off guard with anything they bring up and be able to counter as best I can. I'll wait until the deadline if I have to.

But for now I'm gonna start drafting stuff up in here

[Aras Baskauskas]

Hi guys, before anything I just want to thank the hosts, pw's, and everyone here for a great game. I enjoyed playing with all of you and I look forward to hearing what you have to say. The time for lying is over, now it's time to hear our stories and help you make a decision

Coming into the game, having only played 2 ORG's prior to this, I knew the key adjustment I'd have to make to my game is to improve my social game. In prior games, I've either been the "unknown" guy who didn't talk as much or someone who was viewed as shady because of my lack of communication. I also noticed this lack of social game put me at a serious information disadvantage, I lacked the proper information channels that others did have to control the game. So naturally, I came into this game looking to control and pool information as much as I could. Throughout my statement, I'll touch on this as a integral part to me being able to get here.

I believe I played this strategy very well considering I was able to control each tribal council I've been to (the David boot as well as every merge TC) except to an extent the Katie boot (more later). To go along with this, I believe I've played a respectable social and strategic game up until this point. I feel I made a lot of genuine relationships with the jury as well as a couple pre-jurors. This was highlighted by the fact that, despite my less than stellar honesty track record, I was still able to secure votes and alliances to go along with what I wanted. On top of this, I won two immunity challenges, including the last one against one of the most physical players out here.

To touch on what I previously mentioned about honesty, I hope the jury and you two ladies sitting next to me have realized why I lied at certain points during the game. Unfortunately, the blindside is often the best tool to get rid of threats in this game. I hope you understand that not once (I feel) did I lie unnecessarily to you people. The only time I lied was when your lack of knowledge would directly benefit the current or future vote. I think this sets me apart from some people who may lie when it's not necessary, something you can ask So and Katie about considering I was pretty honest with them about how I felt about them staying in the game at the time. I definitely expect questions and statements regarding my honesty in this game, but I can say now I don't regret any lies I told, I think they were all pivotal in advancing my game.

***Just a disclaimer, I'm going to be giving a little summary of what happened during the game from my perspective. If you feel I'm mistaken in the turn of events please just call me out, I just want to give an accurate depiction of how I've influenced the game up to this point. Lastly I encourage you all to keep an open mind about who to vote tonight, whether you come in with qualms against me or the ladies sitting next to me. Let's get to it

[Aras Baskauskas]

Round 2: My god the game started with a bang here didn't it? I'll set the scene. I'm friendly with everyone on my tribe minus David and sorta Joe at this point. Pete and I had become very close and made a de facto alliance with Angie. Up to this point Parvati and So had already put up a tiny red flag in my head during the first immunity challenge where they (with Jim) tried HARD for that immunity. Sure enough Parvati approaches me with a "no one wants to be with me, I'm on the outs. Let's be allies." Someone suggests that a trio would be best for us as a pair, to which she responded she would accept anyone. I suggest Vince (to avoid connections with Pete/Angie), this offer is quickly dismissed and she settles on So Kim. This made it blatantly obvious they were a pair for me. Oh I was also close with Natalie at this point (that's not all but it's relevant to round 3)

I'm friendly with everyone on my tribe minus David and to a lesser extent Joe at this point. They seem like great guys they just didn't get on aim a lot so I wasn't super close with them. Basically David was an easy 2nd vote as a relatively inactive player, unanimous boot right? Wrong. Parv, Natalie, and So came to me about how I'm on the bottom and there's an alliance of Angie/Pete/Joe/Vince. Entirely possible, yes. But maybe let's look at the source of that info. Low and behold, these claims came from the man with one foot out the door, David. Naturally I didn't trust it. I message David and he responds to me for only the second time ever. He tells me about the alliance and about his "idol." I also took note that the three girls and David came to me echoing the same story at the exact same time. Pretty obvious that Natalie and David are in with the girls too.

So now there's an idol involved so I'm worried, I'm basically getting strong armed into this alliance to go to rocks for David, I have to agree if only to get information. He has a screenshot of it and looked real to me (we didn't know what idols looked like yet). So now it looks like I have some work to do. I come up with an effective plan to negate the idol. I play to Parv's strategic side, "let's get someone to flip their vote and he doesn't have to play it". "But who would flip???" "Maybe Pete would". Of course, at this point I've talked to Pete and told him to put on the act that he'd flip which will make it 4-3-1 and make David not play his idol. Of course it really just ended up 5-3 David with no idol at all.

But I think that shows a little bit as to how I was able to play and control the game using my strategy to control information. Sure there was no real idol threat but even at that point David dropped the idol-play strategy and started believing Parvati flipped Pete. Notice that this round was also big because talking to a lot of people allowed me to piece together who was with who very early on. It also put a huge strategic target on the backs of So and Parvati, for good reason. I think we know now that they could've caused some serious damage if they remained in the game. In the end this boot probably meant nothing to a lot of people, but I gained a lot of valuable information on the dynamics of the game this round.

After this we got the big fight and everything. Sure enough Parvati/So quickly switched from "you suck Aras" to "Ok we cool now, no biggy". I know they didn't trust me but that doesn't matter because even after that I retained enough to keep them with me while I needed them.

[Aras Baskauskas]

Round 7: I've skipped the swap because I never went to a swap TC. During this time I lost Angie, Vince, and Pete for one reason or another. I realized pretty quickly following the swap how close Pete was with most of the cast (that's why he was so valuable to me) so I was already exploring other options to make up for his untimely demise. Plus prior to that Pete and I realized how shady Vince could be once he got onto new Ossa. Sure enough I started chatting on my swapped tribe and I became close with two of my future allies Katie and Jim. I love ya Jim but Katie and I connected really quickly out here and by the time the merge came we were arguably the tightest pair out here and quite possibly the "quietest" pair. With Katie's ears in with the Ossa's and myself in with the Lomands+Abi/Nat we were able to control the game from that position. 

****Just a note, from here on out until Katie's boot I may use 'I' and 'we' used interchangeably to refer to our moves. Our alliance was completely a 50/50 split. We were on the same page the entire game and she's the only person I told about my idol the second I got it in the auction. We didn't lie to each other and we made every decision together, on top of being my best friend in the game. I just wanted to make sure that Katie got credit she deserves because in my opinion she played the best game out here. Plus I'm not so conceited that I don't think I had help, she helped make every move possible. I'm also not trying to take universal credit with those plans. Basically every boot if I recall took the work of both myself and Katie to pull off****

The first evidence of this was the Parvati boot, which was organized by us. The beauty of it was that it still kept my closeness with Katie under wraps. During this time I was also keeping a very friendly relationship with Jim, one I would eventually use to secure myself into the Ossa alliance later.

So here we are at final 11, we have the Lomands in a majority at 6-5. I could flip, but once I flip my informational channels with the Lomands take a major hit. But with enough information you can still pull it off. Through our combination of connections we know: Laura has an idol, Natalie has an idol. Natalie, and the rest of the alliance, was very sure the Ossas were gonna vote for her which would be totally logical. Katie is able to work her magic for us and get the Ossa's vote Parvati instead, who by all accounts had an idol at the time. As long as I get us to vote Laura then those votes are nullified and Parvati goes home 5-0. The girls even went through the trouble to throw votes at Katie just in case Laura played the idol and it'd be 1-0. No worries for me and Katie because the votes weren't going to Natalie in the first place. 

This was really a pivotal move for Katie and I because it ultimately set up my flip, flushed 2 idols, and got rid of a huge gamer in Parvati plus her idol. In my opinion it was the turning point of the game because so much happened yet Katie and I went through the round unnoticed because there was really no paper trail. It just looked like a great play by the Ossas. I made sure to play up how good Jim was on that one, the Ossa alliance got painted as Jim's angels pretty early on and I used that to my advantage when I knew it'd be time for me to go over there and get rid of him later.

[Aras Baskauskas]

Round 8: This is the round I finally flip. I'd been dropping a couple seeds of discontent to Jim for a while about how I didn't like the way people were blowing up at the Ossa 4 for having an alliance. I didn't actually care either way but it gave our relationship that cross-alliance respect which I finally put to use this round. Woo basically replaced Parvati over at Lomand and there was more anti cult stuff holding them together. We came into tribal at 6-4 but being cool with Jim really paid off, I told him I knew him or Laura had the vote nullifier (thanks to Katie but he didn't know that I think) and should they use it to nullify to 5-4 I would flip to them and make it 5-4 the other way. I knew that going to Jim about it could throw off him and the others from thinking I was really flipping just to work with Katie. I know by the end it was pretty clear how close we were but at the time it was pretty well hidden and that DEFINITELY helped us in the long run. 

Obviously I took some heat for this move and I expect a question or statement regarding it but basically it came down to the same old thing for me, information and trust. Over with the 5 other Lomands I could be guaranteed final 6 but then what? Woo and Joe weren't close with me. and it was VERY clear Parv, Nat, Abi and So were tight. Maybe not as a set foursome but they were all intermingled among eachother for sure. I think Abi would be the most likely to want to keep me around past 6 but once we got to F5 I'd either be working with Abi against a tight threesome or possibly by myself just looking to win out in immunity challenges. Though it didn't factor into the decision at the time, I would've had no idea when to play my idol if the girls united against me. I'd much rather be able to have a sure-fire person I can trust in Katie that can help me from the inside of the Ossa 4. By doing this I can know exactly when I'd get blindsided because obviously I knew Jim wouldn't want to keep me long anyway. 

Round 9: This was a pretty straight forward round to be honest. Katie and I began shopping around and seeing who was most receptive to us socially and strategically. I knew I could essentially pick who I wanted to go because the Ossa's still needed my vote at final 9. I know this because Jim told his alliance they should to go along with what I say in order to keep me with them until they can get a majority. Woo was someone who we probably just weren't going to be able to trust/work with in the future, so he went home. If it came down to it we didn't know if he'd choose to blindside Jim with us or not so he had to go. Another example of someone I couldn't fully trust/work with so they had to go. I'm not saying Woo is untrustworthy, we just weren't close enough for me to be SURE I'd have his vote.

I learned this round that Abi was still very receptive to work with me in the future. I tried my hardest to salvage the relationships that I could because I'd need them to get to the end. And look at us now So this is basically where I picked out who could be my best future allies.

[Aras Baskauskas]

Round 10: I found this round kinda funny because I was getting all the reports and feelings that Jim was prepared to turn on me at F7 when Katie and I were planning the same thing. Who was he looking to use to take me out from the other side? Joe. Who am I going to say is going next? Joe. Jim obviously gives me the 'ok' on the Joe vote and says it's fine when I kinda knew it wasn't. Soon enough I start hearing about how they want Abi to go instead (not directly) and I knew Joe would be in. Them 3 think they're being sneaky while I throw my vote on Joe and Abi/So vote for whoever.

I round up Abi and So (I think Abi or Katie talked to So I can't remember my aim didn't save it, happens when you switch from mobile to web) and tell them about Joe's plan to vote Abi. Obviously Abi is down to save herself but we need one more vote, which is where Katie comes in to tie it up. I don't even know if anyone knew about Katie and I at that point because I had to play it up to Abi that MAYBE we could flip Katie. The vote gets tied, Jim and I talk and he tried to blame it all on Liz. I have no idea if that's true or not to be honest but it failed so the Ossa's minus Katie kinda had to do a walk of shame to avoid going to rocks to save Joe.

I will say that move was freakin awesome by Jim/Liz/Laura had it worked out. Abi It was the perfect idea to save Joe but in the end Joe goes home and after that I'm perfectly set up to use Abi/So to take out Jim/Laura. I wasn't mad because we were both planning to do the same thing at F7 if you think about it.

Round 11: Really not much to say here. The girls and I pulled off the Jim vote at F7. If I'm forgetting something let me know. I feel like it was probably just the Ossa's trying to win over Abi/So while they tried to take out Katie to save themselves. I don't really know why two votes went to Katie and one to So. Straight forward round all in all.

I don't really have to explain why Jim was a threat, he really was viewed as THE power player in the game. How much of his "cult leader" reputation was true is up for debate but the guy gets along with most everyone and was viewed as an easy winner if he got to the end. As much as I enjoyed talking to you you just kinda had to go at one point or another. You were someone we counted on maybe coming back from RI too

Round 12: Eerily similar to round 10 here. We knew the best Abi/So could do was go to rocks voting one of us with Laura because Katie had Liz locked up tight. Sure enough they pull a Jim and try to go to rocks to save Laura of all people, who wasn't with them as much as wanting to save herself. I imagine they kinda saw the writing on the wall at the time that Liz was tight with me and Katie and they were on the outs with Laura. Just like round 10, this situation was diffused pretty easily and off Laura went. I could've lost control of either of these tribal councils if you guys got super bold but in the end it would've been illogical to go to rocks for Joe or Laura. It seems trivial at the time but these two votes set up the end game for me even though a lot of you realized that and tried to stop it. 

[Aras Baskauskas]

Round 13: This is the pre-returnee F5 consisting of Aras, Katie, Abi, Liz, and So Kim. We kinda knew So was the next one to go since Katie, Liz, and I were voting together. When she lost the immunity challenge I needed to make sure I can retain my relationship with Abi and So, there was just no reason to blindside them when I know the 3 votes are locked up. I decided to be honest with them and tell them So is going home. I especially wanted Abi to know because I really didn't want Abi to turn on me at F4 should it come down to it. My reasoning with So was that 1. there was no reason to blindside her with a 4-1 vote, that's just cruel. And 2. I wanted to help ensure, as best I could, that So would not target me in a F4 situation should I lose the immunity challenge. There was just no reason to make enemies of the two of them if I'd need their help next round. Final 4 scared the SHIT out of me to be honest. It could've become the first time I was no longer in control of my own destiny. Luckily I won the immunity challenge but otherwise I think we're probably hearing So Kim make her winning speech.

A relatively minor "move" if you could call it that but I also made sure So Kim wasn't able to bluff her way out of going home. I quickly eased the Parv's idol situation and made sure she wouldn't be able to flip Abi or Liz based on paranoia alone. It sucked because So had to go because she was such a good competitor and loved by the jury, but at the same time I respected the hell out of her game and didn't like seeing her go home if only because I enjoyed talking with her.

[Aras Baskauskas]

Round 14: I hate this round so much. Everything about this round I just hate. So of course So Kim returns and wins the challenge putting Katie on the chopping block. When I say I wasn't totally "in control" of this round it's mainly because it's the first round I honestly didn't know what I wanted to do. Yeah I controlled who went home and wouldn't have had a problem whether I wanted Katie or Liz but my head was just not fully in this round.

In my non-extensive ORG experience, this round is the first time I've gotten emotional about the game or about a vote. My head was telling me Katie but to be quite honest my heart just wasn't in it. I spent quite literally the entire 24 hours trying to decide. I knew, strategically, I almost had to vote Katie. Minus Natalie and maybe Joe she would've been friends with the whole jury plus she'd be boasting at least 2 immunity wins and the same strategic resume as myself. It didn't hit me until that time to be honest. My head got clouded by our friendship and to that point I really didn't consider how much of a threat she could be at the end. In the end I had to take a leap of faith and play my idol on myself and send Katie home. This wasn't a blindside either, I don't have the heart to hide while I blindsided my best friend in the game.

This has nothing to do with the game: As I said then and as I say now, you were never "along for the ride" Katie. Prior to hours before that tribal council I never considered voting you out and I never did and still haven't lied to you. I hope you realize how genuine our friendship was and we can continue it past this game. I'm sorry if me voting you out hurt your feelings or our relationship in any way. That's not about your jury vote, that's just about us after the game. 

Round 15: It came down to this. Basically myself versus So, since the two sitting next to me didn't even show up for the challenge . We had an amazing battle and when I had to stop I honestly thought I lost and I was pissed at myself the rest of the day. Much to my surprise I pulled through the winner and had to send home So yet again. So, I know that round was really frustrating because the 3 of us knew how much of a jury threat you were and I don't think it was really possible to budge us. I don't think any of us would have a shot at beating you if Abi or Liz weren't sitting here.

[Aras Baskauskas]

Well there you have it guys. That's the story of Aras' game. I believe I deserve your vote because I controlled the vote during every tribal council I've been to, something the other two contestants can't say. I hope you guys can respect that strategic feat in not just surviving but controlling 10 tribal councils (9 if you don't count round 1 which is fair, nothing special I did there). I used my social game to secure the votes when I needed them whether that be utilizing my relationships on Lomand round 3, or with Katie, or with Jim, or with Abi/So to boot Jim and get to the endgame.

On the flip side, I deserve your vote more than the girls because I've played this game start to finish and I've played my own game. As you can see in the FIC, tribal, and even here, these girls haven't put in the effort like I and all of you have given this game. On a related note, I didn't depend on the leadership of others to get here. In fact, I saved both of these girls at one time or another. Abi depended on the leaders of the Lomand alliance, So, and myself to get here. Similarly, Liz relied on the coattails of Jim and Katie in order to get here all the while playing an incredibly poor social game evidenced by her being incredibly hard to talk to about anything really.

Thanks for reading and making this game fun guys. PLEASE feel free to add, correct, or delete things to my recollections about the game. It's entirely possible I missed, forgot, or mistakenly put something in there that isn't true. I look forward to your questions and statements