ARENA 04-Decay

[gamemakers]

For some this is starting to be routine. For some it is new, and little is done to ease them into it. The peacekeepers are never warm on these flights, but they are rougher, quieter today, and after having their tracking devices inserted or reactivated, the tributes don't see them until they are lead to small, metal rooms.

They are dressed quietly by their stylist, and the stylist move quicker this time, dressing them in heavy cargo pants, boots, thick socks, an undershirt and sweater. A light, plastic jacket is laid over the top, with a hood and plenty of pockets.

They are lead to tubes, with a reminder not to leave the pedestal. The tubes are metal this time, thick, the door sliding closed over them and leaving the tributes in the small, dark area. Entombed until they start the smooth rise to the surface.

25 - 24 - 23

Rising to the surfaces, they can see before them a building, ravished by time but still standing. Behind it, cliffs fall to the ocean, glittering in the sun for miles and miles, a dark blue distance that offers no escape. Behind them, the last trails of fog lead into a forest, still spotted with the lingering remains of the buildings that had once stood there. The air is cool, crisp, and the warmth of the sweater can be appreciated quickly.

20 - 19 - 18 - 17 - 16

One wall of the building before them is gone, exposing deep into the building's heart. There, about 50 yards into the ruins, lies the cornucopia. It's weapons and supplies are scattered among the ruins, dropped haphazardly among crumbling walls and exposed rebar.

11- 10 - 9 - 8

Warned not to move from their pedestals, they are given the last 10 seconds to plans their attack.

5

4

3

2

The gong sounds, clear in the crisp air. Let the games begin.

[OOC: Check here if your character ran for the cornucopia to see your results. Post here to play those out.

Characters on reserve have until Wednesday, Nov 14th to be eligible to tag into this arena and this post, but anyone who did not sign up for the Cornucopia will be handwaved as having not not been part of the Cornucopia battle.]

Comments

[hartless_cowboy]

Lindsey had been warned ahead of time about the dangers of heading to the Cornucopia, at what a bloodbath that area would be, at how he should go in the exact opposite direction.

As the numbers counted down to zero, he waited, observing for the first time the determined faces, young and old, of those who surrounded him. Yup, all those people were ready to kill.

3...2...1...0

Not listening to sound advice, he dashed right towards the tent of survival equipment. His legs weren't as long or fast as some of them though, others beat him to the tent, and as he saw people began to get slashed down, he turned and veered himself towards one of the supply bags that littered the ground instead.

Again, too late, he could see it before he even got within 10 yards of it. Two others were dashing to the same one he was, and rather than join them in a scuffle, Lindsey veered again, shifting directions at the last moment to just grab some of the random things that littered nearby. They could be things that dropped out of the bags in a tug-o-war, or they were there before, he couldn't be sure, but he got them.

He didn't have time to check what, but carrying his armload of prizes, he turned and hightailed it and dashed towards the forested hills.

[trixieplease]

Being greedy was plenty to get you shot even back at home. Trixie didn't even consider leaping into the fray.

She didn't like running much more than she liked the immediate threat of death, but she wasn't new to either. Trixie had to admit it was easier to bolt like a startled cat when not balancing on the kind of heels that elongated naturally graceful legs into the eighth and ninth wonders of the world, but she'd have much preferred the heels if she could also have Toronto back. A murderous crowd, even one this size, would be no problem with a couple of guns, a door to hide behind, and Jack to taunt relentlessly.

But still. The shoes were a neat trick. And made it all the more irritating when her foot caught a little depression in the ground and she tumbled. "Stupid nature," she growled fiercely.

[hartless_cowboy]

It would appear that he had skedaddled across the barren wasteland far enough that no one else was on his trail, although he came to a stop when he saw there was someone in front of him.

Arms still laden with taken goods, he arched up a brow but made no move to step forward further. There were certain amusement values in the situation though.

"I don't think the damsel in distress will get you much help around these parts."

[trixieplease]

Trixie was my no means above the damsel in distress routine, but if it wasn't gonna work, she wasn't gonna pursue it. "Shut up or I'll bite your ankles off," she snapped, casting around for decent shaped rocks. She didn't think she could kill anyone very effectively without a real weapon with bullets in it, or at least not if they were awake. But she could make them regret messing with her. The two-dollar special called for rolls of nickels, which probably weren't forthcoming, but small stones would probably be almost as good.

[hartless_cowboy]

"A bit hard to do that, though I suggest you doing it to your own. Traveling in those heels here..." Lindsey gave the other woman a look over. This was his first arena, but he had a pretty good impression that this was hers too.

"You're new, like, brand new?" Unless she had a death wish or had some secret weapons hidden in those heels, he will go out on a limb and say she didn't have time to change.