Author Games: Dacnomania Nexus Accourt

Task Two - Masks On

'District Thirteen.

Once a bustling munitions centre with a climate similar to that of District Twelve, weak and failed rebellions have led to intensive bombing campaigns, leaving the above ground area inhospitable. The inhabitants now live entirely in underground bunkers. Until recently it was possible for them to leave and hunt – illegally – in the sparse woodland, but the last campaign destroyed the remains of any life on the surface. Now the space that used to be Thirteen is empty, reduced to rock and rubble with no way of sustaining life.

The area still remains intensely radioactive. Overexposure without proper equipment causes radiation sickness and death. There are rumours of naturally occurring mutts among the ruins of the old buildings. Capitol studies have shown that even the rain is toxic in large doses. There are no sources of food or water and the terrain is perilous, full of impact craters and gorges dug into the ground. The sun is constantly blotted out by dust clouds, the ruins of an old, rebellious district. Renowned Rebellion Studies professor Albia Aurailis described it as ‘the loneliest, most treacherous place in Panem…a testament to the power of the Capitol’.'

Extract from ‘A Short History of Panem’ by Petricolus Amansi, p. 135-6.

In the Launch Room, your stylist helps you dress in a dark green bodysuit, informing you that it is designed to protect against strong levels of radiation. The outfit covers every inch of your skin apart from your face; you are provided with gloves and boots. If the stylists know where you are, they say nothing, only wish you the best before you step on the plate and are taken up into the arena.

The tube surrounding you does not recede when you reach the surface. Through the glass you can see what look like the crumbling ruins of a town, the familiar golden horn perched in the middle of the square. As well as the usual stacks of weapons and goods, there is also a ring of small boxes, all equidistant between a tribute and the Cornucopia. The countdown seems frozen on sixty.

The voice of Alithia Warwell projects over the arena.

“Welcome, tributes! As you should have already been informed, this arena is highly radioactive. Anything more than twenty seconds of bare skin exposure is enough to ensure that you will not live to the end of the day. At the end of the countdown, you will be released from the tubes and exposed to the radiation. Inside each of the small boxes is a face mask, and without it you are as good as dead. I suggest you make getting yours a priority. May the odds be ever in your favour, and let the Games begin!”

The countdown flickers to fifty nine.

Task:

- It’s the bloodbath! The task is simple; get out alive.

- Five people must die over the course of the entry. Your tribute can see them being killed or kill them themselves. It doesn’t matter as long as it can be worked out who dies. For the ease of the Gamemakers, please write those who die in a list after your entry.

- As well as the five entry deaths, please give three ballot deaths in a separate list. For those who are unfamiliar with the ballot death concept, please read the ‘Game Options’ chapter of the Handbook.

- The ten who are killed the most will be up for votes. Anybody who doesn’t hand in will be automatically up for votes. Failure to hand in two tasks results in disqualification.

- Word Limit: 1,500 words.

- Sponsor benefit: sponsored tributes can give four ballot deaths.

- Deadline: 20:00 Capitol Time [BST], Saturday 6th July. Last person to hand in gets +2 on their death toll.

Begin!