CuteLikeMurder
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Gamemaker (HG Mod)
As if killing the bard impresses us.
Posts: 2,268
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Nov 6, 2013 16:16:15 GMT -5
[/SIZE] “Show me the path I must walk and do not let me stumble in the dark places that lie ahead.”[/color][/font][/center] Olivia looked from Zale, to Riva, to Riven, and then to Psyche. She shrugged and looked down at her hands. “I don't care anymore. But I won't harm anyone from District Four. Because it doesn't matter. They said one from each of the alliances. That means we'd have to fight each other and Zale's alliance would have to fight themselves.
“So if you think you can look at each and every one of the people you called friend and then kill them... Fine. Like I said, I don't care anymore.”
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Post by Seryna on Nov 6, 2013 19:39:10 GMT -5
Psyche turned and spoke quickly to Isaac and Theo, who nodded. Psyche stepped away from her cluster, kneeling on the ground besides Olivia.
"I'm sorry about Caleb." The young one said honestly. "I didn't know."
Didn't know about Eight's plan. For surely this had been a plan in the works. "I won't fight in the duel. Nor will Isaac."
As the girls spoke, Theo walked away from Isaac. He ignored Zale and paused beside Diedre. She indicated herself, Riven, Timour and district twelve. District 7, District 9 and District 11 were abstaining from the duels. The careers were already picking up [+4] armor and weapons; preparing to fight.
Willow, Pan, Psyche, Isaac, Sam and Iris plucked up survival gear and food; edging towards the better weapons, armor and water in the horn. Iris and Sam passed without a word from Diedre, but the girl leveled a sword at Pan, Willow, Psyche and Isaac.
"I remember that some people let nine and twelve get armor and weapons, they gave them to seven and the careers died. Kindly know that I'm watching you. Those not in the duels have three minutes to clear out."
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Post by Seryna on Nov 11, 2013 15:27:00 GMT -5
The Finale: Part One "Who called you Four?" Isaac asked Zale, standing beside him and glancing to the numerous tributes attending the Feast. Riven gestured for Diedre to talk to her after her ultimatum. The two girls seem confused and finally Diedre walks away. "I was wrong to state that." Diedre declares, her voice heavy. " I disagreed with how my district behaved in the last game. Its not my right to claim the Wealth for myself. I'm sorry, Psyche. Isaac. Willow. Pan." "You're sorry?" Psyche smiles slightly. "This isn't how I thought the Feast was going to go." "No. I didn't expect it, either." Diedre admitted. She glances over to where Caleb's body was laid out. "We ended our alliance when we came out of the Cavern, but... I didn't want to be the one to separate them. How could she?" Diedre asked Theodore Thread. Theodore sighed, his voice tight with emotion. "It was hard. We were talking about it last night. Only two of us are going to go home and not two from the groups we chose. We have to leave friends behind here." He lowers his head, closing his eyes. A tear squeezes out. "I told her not to... but she said Lacey and Cotton were disrespected. The group had agreed to make a final fight; but when Cotton attacked, he was made to feel guilty. His actions after that were not what we would have chosen. She feared that if another day of Peace occured, we would be the first ones targetted because of Cotton." "You're not Cotton." Psyche places a hand on Theo's shoulder. The boy raises his head, meeting her eyes. Psyche appeared conflicted. She glances over to Olivia often, not meeting the other girl's eyes. Yet she comforts the grieving boy as she tried to comfort Olivia. The girl looks all of her fifteen years now, unable to make a hard choice between friends. "I made an agreement with Dupioni." Theodore said heavily. "We would die by the blade. Outnumbered, we expected it... but we could not kill Psyche. Or Willow." "You could kill me?" Pan sounds wry, but his eyes are hooded. Wary. The mention of Willow had caused Pan to bring his axe up. "Maybe. You're more at home with that axe. It wouldn't slay me as much as the girls." Pan nodded, somberly. He offered his former friend and ally no further comfort. "You want to die by the blade... but does any one else?" Riven asked. "I wouldn't mind." Timour stated. "Its how I built this in my mind." "I expected it." Diedre admitted. "I told myself that I would die at the Blood bath. a terrible, sucking wound. The worst way that I could think of... I think I've accepted it. We all die some day." "And some of us die today." Willow said softly. A tear had trickled out of the corner of her eye and she rubbed it away, not meeting any one's eyes. "So you and I-" Timour was saying to Theo when Riven interrupted. "No. Its a fight to the death. You cant be so eager to leave us, Tim." The girl gathered three sticks and made a mark upon them for Diedre, Timour and Riven. The girl cast them into a helm and asked Theo to pick one. Looking at the word, he read. "Diedre." The girl hefted up her sword, nodding to Theodore. The two exchanged a long look. Riven nodded to Diedre, respectfully. Timour placed his arm on his district mate's shoulder, said a quiet good luck. Theodore stood alone. It seemed Caleb's death had alienated some of his friends. Psyche was the only one who squeezed his hand before going to stand beside Isaac. The two squared off as the attendees cleared a ten foot circle around the combatants. Riven, Timour, Pan and Psyche watched eagerly. Some of the others drifted away, inspecting gear or talking quietly. The fight began with Diedre making a testing parry that grazed Theo's arm. Theo countered with a surprisingly quick thrust, penetrating his spear into Diedre's arm. The girl spun away, hacking at Theo's legs. The big boy fell in pain, but stabbed Diedre when the girl leaned over to make a downward thrust. Diedre attempted a savage swing with power behind it, a blow that caused several watching to suck in thier breath. If that connected... Theo rolled to the right and the sword hit the sand. The boy gained a knee and sliced upwards, the spear tip puncturing Diedre's throat. The girl made a sucking noise and fell onto her back on the sand. The blood quickly spurted, pooling around the blonde. Theodore set his spear down beside the girl and leaned over her, extending an empty hand. Diedre clapsed her bloody hand in his. Theo placed his free hand against her wound, lowering his head. "I'm sorry." "I'm not." Diedre rasped. "This is a good death. May you go just as..." Theodore looked into Diedre's eyes when the girl fell silent. The girl shivered and made a terrible last inhalation, splattering Theodore's face with blood. The girl went still. Theodre leaned over and closed the girl's eyes. He sat back on his heels and exhaled with what sounded like a sob. This death wasn't easy on him. "Goodbye, Diedre." Timour placed Diedre's arms across her stomach. Taking her sword, he laid it between her hands. The big boy picked up the girl and carried her away, placing her at the waters edge. He knelt over her body for a few moments before returning. Riven watched; having already said her goodbye. Theo looked at the two warily; but there was no attack. "She made her decision." Timour said solemnly. "Now we have to make ours." 2013-11-11 21:11:06 Theodore rolled 10 dice to "Attacking Diedre (blade) (13-3)" 6,3,1,7,2,8,2,6,2,9 (2 successes) Link 2013-11-11 21:10:48 Diedre rolled 10 dice to "Attacking Theo (blade) (13 - 3)" 2,5,8,2,7,2,6,4,6,6 (1 successes) Link 2013-11-11 21:09:24 Theodore rolled 10 dice to "Attacking Diedre (blade) (13-3)" 3,6,10,8,2,10,5,6,4,6,4,2 (3 successes) Link 2013-11-11 21:09:05 Diedre rolled 10 dice to "Attacking Theo (blade) (13 - 3)" 3,2,3,2,2,10,7,2,5,4,10,8 (3 successes) Link 2013-11-11 21:08:43 Theodore rolled 10 dice to "Attacking Diedre (blade) (13-3)" 4,4,6,10,9,10,7,6,8,10,9,7,1 (6 successes) Link 2013-11-11 21:07:51 Diedre rolled 10 dice to "Attacking Theo (blade) (13 - 3)" 9,1,3,4,9,7,10,3,6,4,5 (3 successes)
The winner- # of suxx Theo: 11 Diedre: 7
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QuinnTalon
Staff Member
Gamemaker (HG MOD)
For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know.
Posts: 1,351
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Post by QuinnTalon on Nov 11, 2013 22:25:36 GMT -5
Zale Sewell; District 4's Male Warrior for The Battle: The Fortuneteller's Son [/u] "Danger is very real, but fear? Fear is a choice." "What is dead may never die."[/i][/color][/center] "We were called 'The Careers'. Perhaps I misunderstood." It wouldn't be the first time. Everyone else talked so strangely. He would never be ashamed of where he came from or the training his father gave him, but no one would call him a 'bloodthirsty monster' or a 'murderer', and in his mind those words had become synonymous with 'Career'. His father had trained him with a desperately loving hand. Had given him every skill to survive and perhaps even win the so-called 'Hunger Games' when the time came for him to volunteer. It wasn't honor or glory that had the man teaching his son everything he knew. It was love. Pure and simple. He wouldn't have it cheapened by being snidely called a 'Career'. Perhaps that wasn't what was meant though. Tone never quite delivered true meaning, and Zale had always struggled with such things. He'd always been seen as a bit 'strange', even by those who were much like him. Those who were trained for The Battles thought him 'odd' and 'otherworldly', and the only person who had ever really 'liked' him on even a friendly level was standing next to him with a net in her hands. Riva Edlyn understood him better than anyone in his life. He watched the duel quietly, keeping himself just a touch in front of Olivia. He had made a promise to Caleb and he meant to keep it. Until, of course, she decided to 'duel' herself, in which case he would stand back. She had already fought, in Zale's eyes. She'd had her 'duel'. As much as Theo seemed to mourn his District Partner, Dupioni had brought her fate upon herself. Just as they all had. Diedre was laid to rest by the water, and Zale nodded to Timour as the other boy laid the girl by the water. The coins were put on her eyes and prayers were said. He wasn't sure how things were done in District Two, but everyone said prayers for their dead, did they not? "What is dead may never die." He whispered. "But rises again: Harder and stronger."The statement was more significant than anyone knew. In District Four and at the age of twelve, everyone went through what was called 'The Ritual of Tlaloc.' The priest or priestess would ritually 'drown' the querent, and then a healer would 'bring them back'. Hence the statement: 'What is dead may never die.' They were all already dead. There was no need to fear death. No need at all.
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Post by Seryna on Nov 14, 2013 16:23:27 GMT -5
As Zale moved away from the group, they fell into conversation around Riva and Olivia. As Diedre had been the driving force in speaking to the whole group, the conversations were personal and tributes stood in detached groups. Riven and Timour stood by themselves under the mouth of the horn, Olivia and Riven stood by themselves where they waited for Zale.
District 8's Theodore was joined by Psyche and Isaac who spoke quietly with him. Psyche and Isaac looked concerned when Theodore jerked away from their touch, muttering to himself. Psyche and Isaac exchanged concerned looks when he jerked away, muttering.
"Can't have a Day of Peace. They'll smother us. They want a fight."
"I don't think any one else wants a fight." Riven stated.
"Think we have a choice?" Theodore cackles. "Fight or die."
"What does every one want to do?" Timour asked, looking down at his sword. He looks uncomfortable.
"I'm not fighting." Psyche and Willow spoke in near unison.
"Then the floods come. Or the mutts."
The tributes fell into silence, determining what they wanted to do.
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QuinnTalon
Staff Member
Gamemaker (HG MOD)
For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know.
Posts: 1,351
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Post by QuinnTalon on Nov 14, 2013 18:14:59 GMT -5
Zale Sewell; District 4's Male Warrior for The Battle: The Fortuneteller's Son [/u] "Danger is very real, but fear? Fear is a choice." "What is dead may never die."[/i][/color][/center] Fight. Or Mutts. Or Floods. It was how things were. If they refused to fight, the arena would turn against them until there were only two--or even one--left. They'd done it before. They'd do it again. And from what Zale could see, it didn't much matter how those Godless people got their Victor. They didn't much care. It was at home where it mattered, and Zale would not face his family that way. Nor would he die by 'Mutt' or in a flood or whatever else those monsters unleashed on this place. His hip pouch was opened. The thing created to protect his cards. One from the middle was drawn. And then another. Death. The Star. A new beginning. A massive change. Follow the light. The change will be positive. He looked at Olivia and Riva. Really looked at them, and felt his throat close just a bit before he took a breath and stood up. Moved toward the two of them and as he walked, cut his own hand with a knife. He offered it to Riva. "You will live in me. I will live in you. No matter what happens, we will live on."It was symbolic of their bond. They were priests and true Believers. They were rebellious and at the same time followed The Old Ways in ways that spoke of true faith. Zale had never met any their ages that did so as ardently as they did, or who had at so young sworn themselves to The One and His Consort, and to the service--the true service--of His Will. "I would ask that you look after Olivia, should I step into the Light of The One."Zale then looked to the others. To those assembled. "We are lucky." Zale looked to the others. "We can not choose whether we live or die--that choice has never been ours'--but we can choose how we lived, and we can choose what we are willing to die for. It is known.
"But unlike anyone else, we can choose how we die. We can die on our feet, with a weapon in our hands, and with honor, or we can be drown or torn to pieces by unnatural mutations created by men. Things not of The One or His Consort or any other entity, but by men.
"I know where my path lay, and I have my entire life. It was my choice, and my parents' honored my choice, as much as it pained them. I was taught and honed by the ruthlessly capable and loving hands of my father, and the faithful and gentle hands of my mother and for that, I will honor them.
"Because I have chosen to not be afraid. The dangers here are real and imminent, but fear? Fear is a choice.
"And I choose to not be afraid of the path that lays before me, nor will I be afraid of my destiny."Zale looked to Riven then. "I would have it be you, Riven Tanzanite. If I must die--if I must choose the vehicle of my death--I would have it be you who sends me into The Light of The One.
"I offer to you in our duel a quick, clean, respectful death should I win, and the Honor of The Sea if you do.
"What say you?"
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Post by Seryna on Nov 15, 2013 1:28:16 GMT -5
"I think this is an honorable thing." Riven stated. "Zale, I'd like to get a weapon and adjust my armor. Do you mind if I have two minutes or so before we duel?"
Timour, Riva, Pan, Isaac, Iris, Sam, Brad and Ashlyn dropped in sticks marked with their names into the helm.
One celox packet of granules, one celox bandage and one first aid kit was placed beside the circular ring where Theodore and Diedre had dueled. "Whoever wins may use this." Isaac states. "The victor of the duel may not be attacked while they are healing themselves. The victor does not have to draw a name from the helm until another duel has occurred. The dueling tributes can not be touched by non participating tributes. They can not be attacked by non participating tributes. If one of the contestants quits, he is not bound by the honor rules and may be attacked until dead. " Isaac glanced around the group, but no one voiced a difference of opinion.
"This is the right thing to do." Riva said quietly to Zale, clasping his arm. "What is dead may never die." She whispered. "But rises again: Harder and stronger."
"I will fight after Zale does." Riva states, reaching for the helm. She draws a stick and reads: "Isaac."
Psyche throws her arms around Isaac, who hugs and comforts the girl. Psyche and Isaac speak quietly for a moment. Willow and Pan share a quick hug, a whispered word. Willow and Psyche drift away from the ring, examining gear and plucking up the occasional bag.
"If I die, I'd rather not be sent off in the district four way." Isaac stated. "We have our own way. Psyche will see to it." "And Willow will do so for myself." Pan stated. "I'd consider it a personal favor if you don't attack the girls... or don't torment them unnecessarily..."
If Isaac and Pan died, there was little they could do for the girls. It was a depressing thought.
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QuinnTalon
Staff Member
Gamemaker (HG MOD)
For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know.
Posts: 1,351
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Post by QuinnTalon on Nov 16, 2013 11:45:26 GMT -5
Zale Sewell; District 4's Male Warrior for The Battle: The Fortuneteller's Son [/u] "Danger is very real, but fear? Fear is a choice." "What is dead may never die."[/i][/color][/center] Zale nodded. He already had a good spear, so he would be keeping it. The barbed spear that Olivia had handed off to him in the cavern was the best weapon that had been offered to him in the Arena, and as such he'd kept it and would keep it. The better the weapon, the cleaner the kill. It was just common sense. His own armor was adjusted, and he went to do the same as Riven. And to get a drink, as he was a bit parched. A gallon jug was drank from, and then it and another was put down next to Olivia and Riva. Zale replaced his own armor with the better set, though he didn't think it would much matter in the end. With the both of them outfitted the same, the battle would merely take longer. The Capitol citizens would get their bloody show, but he and Riven--and in fact, any of the so-called 'Career' alliance--would get their deaths on their own terms, and it might be a small victory, but it was a victory nonetheless. "District Nine. You bury your dead 'in the living earth', yes? With no box." It was the only way he knew to say it. "We usually put one on a small boat, set it aflame, and send them out to sea. Normally it happens at night. We send you into the arms of The One and His Consort. That just is not an option in the Arena normally, I think." District Nine and Seven--and their allies--had done such for Coral and Kingston last year. "It meant much to us, that you all did such for our Fallen last Battle. We will never forget."Zale waited for Riven to finish gathering what she needed, and as he clasped Riva's arm, he took a deep, deep breath. "We are Salt. We are Steel. We are Blood. We are all made of The One.'"Regardless of what happened here, he would be fine. There was freedom in that. "Riven." He stepped into their makeshift ring. "It is time."2013-11-16 17:43:47 [HG27] Zale Sewell rolled 16 dice to "Diceroll" (9-again) 9,3,1,8,5,2,4,7,10,10,1,7,7,3,8,3,6,3,2 (5 successes) 2013-11-16 17:44:28 [HG27] Zale Sewell rolled 16 dice to "Diceroll" (9-again) 1,7,5,1,5,4,8,1,2,7,10,9,7,9,10,5,6,2,5,5 (5 successes)
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Post by Seryna on Nov 18, 2013 17:08:27 GMT -5
A childhood's worth of experience in the flashy and trickery-based ancient sport of gladiatorial combat. Riven was prepared to draw on her experience, for she entered holding one +4 katana, another was sheathed at her hip. Riven entered the ring after Zale, watching the boy with the spear for a heartbeat. The girl strikes out with basic gladiatorial move. As her sword strikes Zale's spear, he realizes the move is designed to make using it for defense difficult. Riven rolled 8 dice to "Weapon Slap The enemy's weapon is knocked to the side, preventing it from being used defensively 3,1,2,2,5,2,7,10,7 (1 successes)
Riven: def 2 strength Initiative: 6 Attack: (blade) 11+ 4 weapon mod: 15 Attack: (brawl) 10
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QuinnTalon
Staff Member
Gamemaker (HG MOD)
For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know.
Posts: 1,351
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Post by QuinnTalon on Nov 19, 2013 10:17:12 GMT -5
Zale Sewell; District 4's Male Warrior for The Battle: The Fortuneteller's Son [/u] "Danger is very real, but fear? Fear is a choice." "What is dead may never die."[/i][/color][/center] They were standing in the water very still, their spears above it as Zale felt the fish beginning to return to where they'd walked. As he felt them brushing his legs in the alcove. He could see them too--the water was clear enough--and he was watching his father with the spear, waiting for just the right animal to come their way.
His brother was off a ways, dark and getting bigger the way his father had always been. His sister was dark as well, but with the white-blond hair of his mother. She was only twelve, and tying knots in a net with expert fingers.
And Zale was nine, and delicate and already otherworldly like his mother, with pale skin that burned and then darkened, and with those steel-blue eyes that only he and his mother had. Standing in the water with his father and watching him. Learning. Paying attention.
"Loose on the spear." His father looked sidelong at him. "It is a part of you. And then..." His father struck, and pulled the spear up with a rather large fish on the end of it. Zale blinked a few times, and his brother let out a whoop of delight. It was really a huge fish. Weighed enough to put them over their quota for sure.
Which meant the rest of the day was theirs', and an hour found them on the beach eating over a burning fire and watching the the sunset. His brother and sister were chasing each other, but he was sitting with his mother wrapped around him and watching the water. Watching the sunset.
Watching the sea and the moon rise. He had her cards in his hands, and she was watching over his shoulder as he shuffled through them, and then turned them to look at the pictures. She explained everyone to him. What it meant. What it could say about a person's future.
He dropped one, and she hastily picked it up out of the sand. The Star. She smiled.
"My Guiding Star." She kissed his temple, showing the card to his father. Their styles were not too dissimilar, he was learning. He'd been taught with a pole arm, and she'd been taught with a rapier, but they were very defensive styles. A thousand little cuts, but they took their toll. He had more than a few on his arms. Things that if he made it home he would want to keep. To remember 'Riven Tanzanite'. She too had a thousand little cuts. Arms. Legs. A slice on her cheek. He too had a slice on the side of his face that he was sure would scar. It was clanging metal and ruthless precision. Two warriors trained from young ages in the arts of killing and death in order to put on a 'good show' for a group of people who would forget this in moments. Days. Maybe even weeks. They were well matched. Evenly matched. It was the fight of their lives, and even as they gave each other a thousand little cuts he could feel the exhilaration of it. This was how a warrior lived and died, and at one point they were on opposite sides of their makeshift circle, and Zale smiled. At Riven. And she smiled back. It was feral and at the same time alight with what many would think was an insane happiness, and his had to mirror her's. A thousand little cuts, and she came at him again with another clashing of metal and another little cut. He traded a cut on his hand for a slice across her thigh. This was how it was supposed to be. She understood, even if no one else ever would. This was his gift to her. Her gift to him. The greatest gift either of them would ever have in this life. A true fight. A real fight. "Mother. Father."
It was late. He was nine. Two weeks after his mother had called him 'Her Guiding Star'. Two weeks after he'd learned how to be patient and merciless and ruthless and how to clean a fish. How to be respectful while he did it. How to treat the world as though he were a part of it and not as though he were it's ruler.
He had three cards in his hands, and his mother stood from her place wrapped in his father's arms by their little fire, and she gently took his cards from him. Laid them delicately on their table as she looked them over.
"What do they mean?"
She frowned up at Zale's father, and then looked to her son. "Zale."
"Mother. Father." He took a deep breath, and said the hardest words he'd ever said to them. "I wish...I wish to train for The Battles."
He expected anger. He expected them to try to talk him out of it, because he was loved and cherished and the youngest. They had always treated him like he was precious, but in that moment, he realized he hadn't given his parents enough credit.
His mother nodded, hugging him and he felt his father clasp his shoulder.
"You wish to be a Warrior." The man said, looking him straight in the eyes, and in that moment Zale knew that his father saw him as a man. Not as a child any longer.
But as a man.
"Then I will make you into the finest Warrior The Sea has ever known." A thousand little cuts. Eventually, one of them would fall and no amount of dedication and willpower would entice the body to move anymore. It was only a matter of time, and either way Zale was thankful. To Riven Tanzanite for giving him this. To Olivia and Caleb and Riva, who'd given him something to fight for other than his honor. To everyone in this Arena. To even the Capitol, for showing him what was truly wrong with the world. And for showing him what needed fixing. "Come. One more, Riven. One more." They were both failing. He oculd see it in her stance. Could feel it in his. It was a close battle. A very, very close battle. "Thank you." She would understand. Riva would understand. It was known.
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Post by Seryna on Nov 19, 2013 15:06:56 GMT -5
"This will be better." Willow stated quietly. The girl lay on the horn on her stomach, staring down at the flat ground. Psyche lay on her fight, holding a throwing knife in her palm. Iris knelt in a stronger position to use her bow.
"We go out fighting." Psyche nodded. "But not our friends. Not people that we don't hate."
After Riven had died with honor, the surviving children had waited as Olivia healed Zale. There were now only three people who refused to duel. What would they do with the girls who refused? There was also the prickly problem that eleven and six had a non aggression pact - if it came down to them, district four would have to bear the battle. They would do it gladly for their friend Olivia, but it would tax them.
Three girls waited atop of the horn - Iris, Willow and Psyche. Below on the sandy ground, the melee fighters were laying fighting paths. They had no idea what the Game makers would send. More birds? More sharks? Both had proven to be adept at death. In the end, it was nearly upon them before they saw.
The low - bodied creatures had moved up on their bellies, their tails leaving flat drag marks in the sand. Zale raised the alarm as six sand - colored lizards surrounded the horn, placing themselves between the tributes and the inflatable rafts.
"We outnumber them." Pan assured Willow, looking up to her from the ground level. She nodded, seeming assured. But the camera zeroed in on something small sneaking up behind the tail of the horn, unseen by the girls sighting in on the lizards. Eris and Pan's forms hefted up over the tail of the horn, climbing well and moving in behind the girls.
Pan was knocked on his back within the horn by the 'TWAAP' of a lizard's tail. He lay unseen beneath Willow, planting his axe into the lizard's tail. It came off in a squirt of odd - colored blood.
"Come on." Theo said to Pan, pulling the boy up to his feet. Two snarling lizards blocked Theo and Pan's escape out of the horn. The boys battle three lizards, unseen by the girls above.
Riva and Olivia found one lizard dogging them, flicking a purple tongue at Olivia. It smelled like death and decay. Those long teeth had strange, rotting meat trapped in them. The lizard lunged with an open mouth at Olivia. Riva threw her net over the creature's head, blocking the attack.
It was a camouflaged lizard so still that all had failed to see it that blinked at Riva's back. It lunged once, sinking its' teeth into Riva's ankle and dogging it, whipping its' head back and forth. The girl fell with a startled cry. As she fell on the warm sun, she sank a throwing knife into the beast's side. The jaw released, showing Riva's ankle was a raw mess of meat.
On top of the horn Up above on the horn, a quiet scene was played out. The two doppelgangers had gained access and did not fall on the girls unaware. It was a smiling Pan who placed his hand on Willow's shoulder. "I'm okay." She assured him, smiling slightly. "Thank you for coming to check on me. But you should help the others. This is what I wanted. To go out united, as allies." The girl turned back on her stomach, leveling her bow at one of the five lizards in sight.
The Doppelganger Pan sank his axe deep into Willow's back with such strength the front of her tunic was stained red. The girl died with her eyes open, not a single word on her lips. The death was quick. She had died with a smile on her lips.
Psyche had began to turn as blood stained her back, but the Eris doppelganger was quick. "Oh." Willow's voice came out of the Doppelganger's mouth. "That's embarrassing. I -"
Psyches's shoulders relaxed slightly, believing that Willow was still alive. The girl kept turning, however, and the doppelganger Eris planted a shuriken into Psyche's right eye. The girl shuddered and was still.
Iris released an arrow into Eris Doppelganger's shoulder. The girl shuddered back as both 'Gangers began to backpedal, climbing down the back of the horn. "Sam!" Iris shouted. " 'Gangers!"
Below the horn, on the flat ground Sam swore. He had been standing at the tail end of the horn - he had seen Pan. Eris Ganger had been small and quick, knowing deception wouldn't work in her case. They already knew that Eris was dead. The Eris - doppelganger jumped down onto Sam's back, screaming a war cry. Sam made a startled cry as he twirled about, the girl latched tightly to his shoulders.
CANNON!CANNON[/SIZE][/COLOR]
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Post by Seryna on Nov 23, 2013 1:22:02 GMT -5
As Olivia and Zale reacted to the death of two comrades - former? alliance members - Iris kept on task. As the lizard mutation threatened Olivia, it knocked her onto her back with a painful tail whip to her legs. Iris loosed an arrow, hitting the lizard in the eye. Sadly, she'd taken her eye off of the doppelgangers. The 'Eris' doppelganger that Iris had shot reached up unexpectedly from below the mouth of the horn, grasping Iris' shoulder. Iris screamed in pain and surprise as the mutation hauled Iris off of the horn. The girl tumbled badly, breaking an arm on the hard packed sand. The mutation didn't hesitate, impassively hauling Iris' head back by her hair. As Iris' neck was exposed, the mutation grasped the girl's throat and squeezed. The girl made terrible noises as she attempted to struggle.
At the mouth of the horn, Theo and Pan were battling three lizards. They were hard pressed, unable to get out from under the horn as the lizards slapped at the boys with thier tails. The 'Pan' Doppelganger was walking around the horn by Riva and Olivia. Riva struggled to her feet, only casually inspecting her bite wound. It wasn't a good wound and there was no use agonizing over what couldn't be changed. Spotting the second Pan, Riva half - turned and looked inside the horn. Seeing the second Pan, Riva turned and lashed a throwing knife into the doppelganger who was impersonating Pan's cheek. The fake Pan charged forward, gripping Riva with inhuman strength.
"It's a doppelganger!" Riva warned. "Olivia, get up!"
The doppelganger with the bleeding face snapped Riva's neck. He released her to fall down to the ground, all with a face blank of expression. Pan and Theodore appreciated Zale's help in dispatching the lizards who had them cornered. When the boys had killed the three lizards, they walked out into the bloodbath grounds to a battlefield. Sam charged at the doppeleganger with his axe, bellowing loudly. The two lock in battle, Sam swinging his axe and the mutation ducking and evading the blade. Iris collapses to the ground, clawing at her throat. Pink scratch marks stand out on her pale skin as she begins to still, her throat crushed.
Sam sinks a blade into the doppelganger's chest in desperation. A parting blow of claws slices across Sam's face. Sam of District eleven bellows in pain, clutching his right eye. He stumbles near blindly to Iris' side. Finding that she was dead, his ruined eye weeps painfully.
Isaac steps forward, prodding Sam's chest with his spear. Sam was warned - admirably on Isaac's part - and he grasped onto Isaac's spear. After a battle of strength, Isaac pulls the spear free. He thrusts the spear deep into Sam's neck. Sam dies nearly instantly. Theo and Pan appear, both angrily confronting Isaac. The young men exchange angry words and then accusations.
At hearing Pan's anger at Dupioni's 'duplicity' Theo charges at Pan, grasping the young man's shoulder. Isaac, ever the opportunist, used Theo's immobilization of Pan to sink a spear blade into Pan's leg. Theo thrusts Pan to the ground and the two struggle desperately, blood from Pan's leg gushing over the both of them. Theo ends of on top, bashing Pan's head back viciously with his brass knuckles. Pan eventually stops struggling, shallow cuts atop of his brow flowing freely over his face.
Isaac steps back, allowing Theo to gain his footing. The two exchange a look, each weighing one another. Nearly unamiously, the two turn to face Zale. Zale finds himself locked in battle with a locked and ready Isaac. Having already contributed to two deaths, Isaac was quick and focussed. He had no fear. Two bloody gashes were scored on Zale's shoulder and hand. In the end, Zale prevailed over Isaac with his quicker footwork and greater experience. Isaac slumped to the sand, defeated.
Theo charged in, strong and splattered with blood. He smacked several blows towards Zale's head, forcing the boy to move back to avoid a clotheshanger that had taken out Psyche earlier in the Games. Zale used the spear to force Theo farther away, giving Zale time to get in a jab to Theo' s side. Blood welled through Theo's tribute uniform, but Theo was relentless. Fearless. Fueled. He grasped Zale's spear, spinning the boy fiercely. Zale lost his footing. As Theo brought his hand up for a hard body blow, Zale quickly slapped it away with the shaft of the spear. The two boys battle for several minutes. As Olivia realizes that she is the only living tribute watching this battle. If Theo wins, she would be forced to battle Theo by the rules of the Games. Does Olivia interfere, using her unique ability to win the battle for Zale? Does Zale battle alone with honor?
As the the fight ends, a joyous voice annouces. "I give you the victors of the Twenty seventh Hunger Games! Olivia Tully of District 6 and Zale Sewell of District 4!"
The terrible day kicked off with Caleb's death is over. Olivia and Zale are lifted high above the Arena, carried into sterile white rooms. Both victors are forced to lay down into white cots as wounds are stitched. Any protest has an IV inserted with dreamless sleep. Before the day has even been processed, your skin is scrubbed clean and white, comfortable clothing is provided.
The Sewells have been brought to the studio, set up on plush plum colored couches to speak to thier son before the interview. Olivia glances about, wondering which of her brothers are here...
{Congratulations at winning the Games! Please come to the Interview thread where I will be asking your character's questions! The next Games may be starting ASAP}
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CuteLikeMurder
Staff Member
Gamemaker (HG Mod)
As if killing the bard impresses us.
Posts: 2,268
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Post by CuteLikeMurder on Nov 23, 2013 17:37:23 GMT -5
[/SIZE] “Show me the path I must walk and do not let me stumble in the dark places that lie ahead.”[/color][/font][/center] Olivia turned her head to the two girls. She nodded but there was no light in those crystal blue eyes of hers. Her red hair flowed freely as the winds whipped through it. “No one will win. The two that are left will only be survivors...”She didn't shed tears for Riven. Because she knew the girl on some level. And Riven would not have wanted people to cry for her. She had died just as she lived, with an odd sense of honor and duty. Not like the Careers of the early Hunger Games. No, not games... a battle. This was war...“We go out as warriors for in a battle...” she said to Zale as she healed him. “It is known, yes?”“RIVA!” Olivia rushed over to her. But it was too late. Her mouth was pressed into a tight line. It was terrifying. Horribly terrifying. The blasts of the canons man Olivia freeze in fear. She wasn't a warrior. She wasn't strong. She didn't have Caleb to live for anymore. She was just alone. Then she felt her legs give out before she was on her back looking skyward. For a moment she thought she was dying and almost welcomed it, embraced it like an old friend. “You're not allowed to give up, Olive. You have to live for both of us. GET UP!” Riva's voice echoed Caleb's and Olivia got to her feet. Then she was gone. Riva fell to the ground, dead. And Olivia grimaced and an icy fire burned in her eyes. Death was all around her and it was only then that she noticed that Theo had charged Zale. She ran toward them. She shed her armor, dropped her belt, her chain whip, and anything else that weighed her down. She leapt onto Theo's back, her arms circling around his neck. She could wield a chain whip but no one knew about her prowess in hand-to-hand combat. She put pressure on his neck into the blood flow to his brain slowed and he started to go limp. When she felt him getting heavy in her arms she jerked his head to the right until she heard and left his neck snap. The last canon blast if gone unnoticed as Olivia claims Caleb's body. Any peacekeeper that came for them, had to bring Caleb's body... Riva's too. They wouldn't leave them in this place. She wouldn't let the Capital have them. The peacekeepers complied. Eventually. And when Olivia was being seen by the Games' medical team, she had to be held down for the IV to be inserted. She feel asleep still protesting. She woke up with a start, searching for something to arm herself. She screamed at everyone. “WHERE IS ZALE? I WANT TO SEE ZALE!”She didn't calm down until her co-victor was brought to her. He embraced her and she just dissolved into a sobbing mess in his arms. “It was supposed to be him. Not me. He should be here, Zale. He should be here... What am I supposed to do without him?”The day of the interview came and she was dressed into something elegant but still very much the Capitol. She was told to smile many times over and fond over because she was "practically glowing" she looked so beautiful. Olivia wanted to kill them all. And that was a terrifying thought. That she could want to kill without a second thought. She could feel a darkness seeping into her being. And she didn't care. She just gave her style team a cold glare and they stopped telling her to smile. The only solace she would have was seeing Paxton. He'd hug her and tell her that it was time to go home. And she'd know it was going to be okay... eventually. But it wasn't Paxton staring at her in the audience. But Calum. Her eyes narrowed and she turned away from him. He was a Peacekeeper, and while she hadn't considered him an enemy before the Battle, her time in the Arena had changed her perspective. She had lost the best parts of herself in the Arena. And her eldest brother worked for the people that took those things from her. She gripped onto Zale's hand and he could feel her trembling even if her face gave no hint to her growing fear.
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QuinnTalon
Staff Member
Gamemaker (HG MOD)
For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know.
Posts: 1,351
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Post by QuinnTalon on Nov 23, 2013 20:03:45 GMT -5
Zale Sewell; District 4's Male Warrior for The Battle: The Fortuneteller's Son [/u] "Danger is very real, but fear? Fear is a choice." "What is dead may never die."[/i][/color][/center] Riva. She went down dead, and he was taking her bracelet from her wrist when they came at him. Theodore. Isaac. He knew it would be like this. That he'd be fighting two on one or more at some point or another. Cannons were going off around him and he couldn't help it. So many cannons. So much death. "No one wins. One can only survive." Olivia knew that now. Everyone here knew that. It was a fight for survival, and he had his great duel to the death with an honorable warrior. Now it was time for the brawl that his parents had trained him for. It is a sad thing, but most of them are merely children fighting for their lives. They are desperate and untrained. It will weaken them. You will not be weak.'Take out the one with the weapon first, and Zale did exactly that. His footwork was strong and he was not tired the way the they were. Muscle memory and endurance served him well, and he impaled Isaac and took him to the ground. "No! Olivia!"Theo had come at him, and he'd gotten a few cuts in himself before Olivia had wrapped her hands around the boy's neck and took him down that way. There were only the two of them left then, and he was there with her, when they wouldn't let them take Riva and Caleb. Coins were left for Theo and Pan and Isaac and those who fought, but he would not leave Riva. Even when the medics came and tried to pry her away from him, Zale wouldn't let go. To the point where they had to drug him to get him to comply. It wasn't until hours later when he woke, being told that he was needed because Olivia was 'asking' for him. Which wasn't the case at all seeing as Olivia wasn't 'asking' for anything. She was demanding to see him, and yelling at anyone else and it was when he stepped into the room and she threw herself into his arm that he realized how numb he was. She was sobbing brokenly into his chest but he...still felt lost. Still couldn't stop looking for her. For Riva. For the only true friend he'd ever known. "We do as The One bids, and we live, Olivia." It was the only answer he had for her. She was holdling onto him like he was the last buoy in stormy waters, and maybe that's exactly what he was. "It is what they would want. Your love. My best and first friend. We live. For them. Because it is what they wanted."And Zale knew. His job wasn't over. He was to protect Olivia in the Arena, but what Caleb failed to realize was that the 'Arena' never truly ended. "No one wins a Battle. One only survives. And our War isn't over, Olivia Hunnington.
"Our war is only just beginning."
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