The Votes

Time to vote for the winner... I'm gonna try to keep this brief.

It's between Cat and Kestrel for me. Capybara didn't play a bad game at all, I just think the other two played better games.

I think Kestrel edges it just barely for me; his game was a bit more well-rounded than Cat's, and hey, I noticed he was in a great spot since like the beginning of merge but I couldn't do much about it. Cat did have perhaps a more active role in deciding the order of boots, but I don't think you can completely ignore challenge prowess (well, you can. but I won't). So,

Vote: Kestrel

So before I get into my vote, I would like to say that while a lot of my questions focused on the negatives and regrets in the game, all 3 of you played good games, and all 3 of you should be proud.

When it comes to my vote in particular, this was a hard decision to make. I've gone over everything a lot in my brain and I think I've finally settled on a vote. However, before I would like to make some comments to y'all.

Kestrel, you played a very smart game, you were the information hub of the game, and I believe at final 7 you had very viable endgames with everyone. As far as conversations I think we connected a lot in general terms of strategy. However, what I wanted from you was a moment of boldness, a moment of going all the way for someone and keeping with it to the end, a moment of doing something and damn the consequences. When you talk about the bunny vote, you reaction is understandable. It's a short time frame, a lot of pressure, causing a tie is a big deal and it would put you immediately in strange bedfellows. All of that is true, but everytime I read "I didn't think I could stop it" my heart sinks, cause I fully think you could have, after all, a tie only would buy you more time and I don't think it would have cost you anything. I think you definitely could have because your influence over Eagle was something that was very clear to them, but you barely mentioned at all. All in all that little part makes a vote for you hard, but I also don't think such a moment is disqualifying especially with all the extenuating circumstances.

Cat, you played a good social game, and you knew where you were going, and you got it. You had some early losses, a tribe that went to all the early tribals, a loss of an ally early in merge. But you played that position with strength. People who you needed gone went and when you wanted them and I don't have a criticism for you in the vein of the one I have for Kestrel. Hell, people oriented their moves around how you would react, which is always impressive. However, as I said before, at F7 I think Kestrel had a viable endgame with I'd say everyone. Is it right to say that Kestrel played the weaker game when they had such an advantage. They worked to create it after all. As such, it's hard to weigh both of your social games against each other, with marks both for and against each of you.

Capybara, your game was, simpler to explain I feel. You got items and used them well, you won a few challenges, and you stuck by your friends. However, your friends in this game were few, and my personal connection with you was easily the weakest of the three finalists.

However, in the end I vote for:

I've been going back and forth between where I actually want to cast this vote, with even the third option popping up occasionally.

But in the end I keep going back to where my head was at at the start of the final tribal council.

While I believe both of the other two are also deserving winners, I cannot actually find a reason for why I should not be casting this one.

It basically came down to how ready for change should it happen each of you were.

Capybara was basically reliant on game advantages to survive, and while he used them correctly, only communicating well with a few people meant he was always on the radar as a potential vote.

Cat recovered well from her game going in ruins after the loss of Leopard Seal, but in the end, she was still locked into her dream F3, and while she probably would have been capable of adapting again should something have gone wrong again, the direct options just weren't there to the same extent.

Kestrel played the middle, and did it well all while being able to keep their shield of Eagle alive and engaged with the game. I believe everyone thought Kestrel was on their side every round, and while they don't be admit to it, was able to use and abuse the players needed to get to the position best for them. Should the merge idol have been solved, I do not believe Kestrel would have suffered any consequences towards getting to the end.

Vote Kestrel

I've gone from confused to salty to apathetic. As much as I want to vote Capy out of spite, I think that bitter part of me has left.

Sorry Kestrel, you probably were the biggest threat to win for a few rounds now but you vastly underestimate Cat's game in comparison to yours. Eagle was the better pick for FTC but most of all, I just didn't see any real progression from you. Almost as if you were letting the game happen to you instead of playing it yourself.

Vote: Cat

Congrats on playing everyone. Solid manipulation.