The Fifth Annual Writer Games: The Fall

Task One: The Fall of the Empire

"For, from the time that the Bishop of Rome had gotten to be acknowledged for bishop universal, by pretence of succession to St. Peter, their whole hierarchy, or kingdom of darkness, may be compared not unfitly to the kingdom of fairies; that is, to the old wives' fables in England concerning ghosts and spirits, and the feats they play in the night. And if a man consider the original of this great ecclesiastical dominion, he will easily perceive that the papacy is no other than the ghost of the deceased Roman Empire, sitting crowned upon the grave thereof: for so did the papacy start up on a sudden out of the ruins of that heathen power."

― Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

They look like they haven't slept in days, which is not altogether far from the truth. It's been a flurry of last minute meetings to finish organizing and setting up the accommodations, the train schedules, getting the cameras in each District set up and streaming, trying to manage the President's demands, and keeping a watchful and vigilant eye on the status of any possible uprisings. There haven't been that many, not as many as one might imagine after having implemented the Games a decade before. The Districts know now that to live in peace and prosperity there are certain things and rules that must be abided to. The Capitol, in turn, provides the Districts with supplies.

In the decade it's been since the start of the Hunger Games, it seems like the before—before the Games, before the war, before the Treaty of Treason—is fading quicker and quicker from people's minds. The C-Mart's, responsible for the general sale of goods, has proved in the last five years of existence to be the easiest way to keep citizens from protesting. If they have goods, they have no reason to leave their Districts. If they have shelter, they have no reason to look for more.

Still, as the tenth year falls, people are reminded of the before. The goal for the Gamemakers is to eliminate that. The only goal is to have people look toward the after, to look towards the future of Panem, whose systems will not be dismantled any time soon.

First, the reapings. To coordinate every able citizen to their District center, to keep tabs and census on each person. To make sure each pen is properly constructed so that no stampedes are possible—no one wants a repeat of the third Games. To ensure each mayor speaks to the qualities of Panem. Though there are only ten victors spread across the Districts, they now sit on their respective District stages too. While tributes have advisors, the new cream of the crop, the new victors—lauded as equally as despised—allow their Districts a step up. The victors have special insight, now privy to those selected from their District only. After all, the victors must be a beacon of strength, of wealth, of achievement. To be lavishly rewarded but to remain in the spotlight mentoring the next batch of tributes.

But first, though, the names must be drawn. The tributes for this year don't know yet of their fate. All they know is it didn't used to be like this. For some, though, it's become all they know. For some, parents have taken to trying to forget the before, because there's no point. For some, the memories of the times past—the wars, the famine, but also before, way before (memories from great-grandparents)—will not be forgotten for another generation.

In the Gamemaker's suite, the door opens.

"President Snow," one of them say. "Please, sit."

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Welcome one and all, and thanks for such a good and quick response to the Tenth Annual Hunger Games!

THE TASK

First task, typical: free reign.

Time period: any time from the day before the Reapings to right before they arrive on the hovercraft.

What's up with the Capitol and streams of the week before: the Reaping, runs as one knows. The Justice Buildings and goodbyes also happen. So do the train rides. The parade happens as normal. The training centre is yet to be a training centre—it's a vacant apartment building reconstituted as a training centre. The gym/main floor is pretty bare, no tech-y things to train with. The Gamemakers watch the training from a two-way mirror above the tributes, invisible to all (they won't make public appearances or be a public face in training sessions for another five years or so). The training score runs as normal. The interview runs with the Master of Ceremonies Ms. Mariella Fachman.

But honestly? Everything's up to you. I want to see the best first impression you can give me. Explore the world of Panem, explore the world of the Hunger Games knowing you have not only ten years of the Games but also generations of memories from the before. The Fall of the Empire didn't happen overnight. Nor were the reclamation and treaties made in a day.

Give me whatever you want. Give me whatever you think will make your tribute shine.

BALLOTS/DEATHS

None, there'll be plenty of time for that later.

WORD LIMIT

None. Want to give me 10,000 words? Make sure each word shines. 500? Same there.

DUE DATE

Wednesday July 10, 9pm Atlantic Time.

Reminder that anyone who fails to hand in risk having their spot revoked and given to any person on the wait list. Reminder to please read the rules. Reminder to send entries to the email specified in the rules which you should read.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

And, may the odds be ever in your favour.