IC-Cass

[CowMasterTrojan]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1cydiXZyF1qlkhfco1_500.gif

As you awake, you realize the day has finally come. It is the day for the reaping of the 73rd games. A day that has stood out in your memory as long as you can remember. The feeling of dread fills your stomach. Something feels off, but you're not sure why.

You rise and dress for the occasion, as does everyone throughout the district. Everyone wants to look nice for the ceremony. You never know when you might get chosen after all. So you better look your best.
Leaving your home, you join the mass exodus of people heading to the Reaping. The peacekeepers presence is throughout the streets. Their clean white uniforms and faceless helmets impress upon you a cold reality. Everyone is going. The silence of the crowd as they walk betrays another fact. They know that two children are going to die. Not today, but because of the events of today. It's a sobering fact. It hangs over the air like a heavy fog.

Just like all the other children of the district, you line up with the children of your age. Girls on one side, boys on another. Your blood sample is taken as peacekeepers check everyone in for the reaping. Children around you try to stay brave, especially for the younger ones. But they're all afraid.

And then the capital Visitor comes up on stage. Your heart sinks.
The time for Tributes has come. Please post your character's general appearance and his/her mannerisms as the reaping takes place. How it goes down is completely up to you.

[Recherché]

Cass will be speaking in blue, her thoughts will be in italics and the voice(s) in her head will be bold

Cassiopeia Host fingers her amulet around her neck and prays as the representative from the capitol drones on outside of Cass’s attention. Prays and argues with her God and the voices in her head, the voices that have been there telling her what to do since her twelfth birthday.

Don’t make me do this please. Please don’t call me to this.
Unfortunately the voices in Cass’s head are silent.

A boy has already been chosen when she finally looks up and turns her attention. She breathes a sigh of relief that neither of her cousins were chosen but that was unlikely to begin with. Agni and Mak are only twelve, this is their first year and they have no tesserae. They’re names were only in once. Still she thinks of the fear that they must have felt at their first reaping. And she nearly weeps at the thought of what she is going to have to do to them.

The one who’s name was drawn is an older boy perhaps sixteen or seventeen. Cass doesn’t know his name though his face looks somewhat familiar. He looks to be in tears as his mother holds him one last time.

Time seems to slow to a crawl as the woman on the platform draws a second name.

“Peony Trisone”

An older girl begins to walk up to the stage-

NOW

The force of the voice in her head knocks Cass back and when she regains herself she is not in control. She feels as though she is somewhere high in the clouds merely watching the scene below unfold as her body begins to move of its own accord.

“I volunteer”

Her body says without Cass’s consent and it begins to walk towards the platform. Cass’s mind observes her body; she looks so innocent and vulnerable from up here. She looks like a spirit with her long white hair (for once made to behave and lie flat in its braid with her aunt’s help) and dark liquid eyes. The poofy white shirt and flowing brown skirt make her look larger and more mature than she actually is, she almost looks like a woman rather than a girl today.

And then suddenly she is on the platform and the Capitol woman has taken her hand. Cass is rudely shoved back into her body and the voices in her head exult.

We have done it. You shall be our perfect sacrifice!

Cassiopeia Host however is still too shocked to move even as the Capitol woman tries to whisk her backstage.

[CowMasterTrojan]

As Cass tries to come to terms with what just happened, she is joined by two peacekeepers. They politely and not so subtly take her arms, marching her off the stage. The boy from her district seems to be going a bit more under his own power. But the terror has griped his face.

Meanwhile a crowd watches in awe as the sudden Volunteer is taken off the stage. The don't applause of course. Such action is unheard of in 8. The games is practically a death sentence, and everyone knows it. Instead, they stare in silence and wonder. No one understands why Cass just volunteered.

Cass is quickly pushed into the waiting room by herself. It doesn't take long for her first short visitor. It's Peony, unexpectedly. Before Cass can react, she embraces her with a hug. Cass can even feel the single tear that she sheds. But by the time she lets go, it has been wiped away. "Is there anything that I can do? I can never thank you enough."

Feel free to take over this conversation. Or answer her question and she will leave. You can take over for your family as well. When you're ready, we can move to the train.

[Recherché]

Die for us!/Sleep will come soon./Give thanks to the gods./Et in ore eius et in dentibus eius operuit eam in sanguine./Listen to the dead./Beat her to a bloody pulp!/Pray to us!/

The voices rise up in Cass's head in an almost dizzying force at Peony's question but Cass forces them down. The effort needed to push them down has been getting worse over time and nowadays sometimes it fails entirely. However this time it succeeds and Cass is able to fake a small smile.

Just live a good life. Make something of it.

The next visitor was Lily, Cass's aunt, dragging Cass's mother, Sina, behind her. Uncle Kev wasn't coming up, he was busy dealing with the boys who looked rather upset. Lily's face though . . . Lily was all fury in blonde hair and tired blue eyes. Few people who didn't know already would even suspect that she was related to Cass or Sina.

“What do you think you're doing Cass! Why just why?” Lily's voice trailed off as anger gave way to despair

I don't want to . . . I can't be like her.

Cass nodded at her mother and both of them understood at least a little. Sina for her part was still placid, perhaps not understanding the circumstances or perhaps simply uncaring. Sina hadn't lived in the same reality as everyone else since before Cass's birth. Sometimes she was lucid at times, but those had been rare for a very long time.

“Have you been seeing things too? How long?"

Cass's only response is to turn away futilely trying to hide tears.

I think, I think I need to go now. Take care of Mom for me.

Cass lets herself be guided away to a car with the other tribute and the Capitol woman.

[CowMasterTrojan]

Her visitors done, Cass finds herself only a moment of peace once more. Then the peacekeepers come and escort her to the train. Their obscured faces simply adding to the intimidating impression as they escort her there.

As she walks, Cass finally manages to get a look at the boy who was called. With a good look, she realizes she knows him well enough. His name is Durass. A troublemaker as long as she can remember, he adorns his body with tattoos of various symbols and has shaved his head.

When the peacekeepers deliver them to the train car, Cass is surprised to find it empty. "Stay here. Your chaperone will be along." They say simply, leaving the two of you to yourselves.

The car is beautifully adorned with fine furnishings, and fitted with gadgets that Cass has never seen much of before. In the center of the car is a fine wooden table, filled with foods of every kind imaginable. Durass takes no time sitting at the table, snatching up an apple. As the peacekeepers close the door, he throws the apple at one. The apple hits the closing door, missing the peacekeeper by inches. The peacekeeper turns to look through the glass window, investigating the loud thump, and is greeted by a rude gesture from Durass.

Mischievously he takes another apple, and after polishing it well, offers it to Cass.

_________________________

With only a few moments having passed, finally the doors open to the car open. Being led in is Woof, the oldest victor from district 8. Dressed plainly considering his wealth, he walks with a nicely carved cane. Holding his arm is a very tall and lanky capital woman, dressed in a emerald green dress. Her hair is died green and skin pasty white.

Helping him sit down, she looks at her two new charges and smiles lightly. "Sorry for not being here. Cecelia is still saying goodbye to her children " She says, rolling her eyes "And Woof is not as spry as he used to be." With that Woof chuckles slightly, apparently not offended.

[Recherché]

Quick pic of Cass
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/566/6n2z.jpg

Durass right? Weren't you a year behind me at school, well before going to Factory 19?

Cass takes the apple grabs his extended hand, shakes it and then takes a few bites from the apple.

Dear God, its been years since I had fresh fruit

Cass eyes the Capitol woman

Are you new here? The one I remember last year was all purple and male, I think. I'm not absolutely sure about that last bit.

[CowMasterTrojan]

He shakes his head. "No, I'm the same year as you. Well, at least I should be..." He says with smirk. "I was held back once because of my 'attitude' or something. I've helped out in the factory before." The memory makes him make a face however, and he shakes the idea away quickly. "Aren't you the lucky one? A volunteer from our district. I'd be jealous if I wasn't disgusted. Why in the world would you do that?"


______________________

The woman gives a polite smile and nods "Yes, the old chaperone was asked to step down. Seems he didn't do a good job watching his charges." She says while she takes out a napkin and wipes her arm where woof had held it in a casual manner. "Well we have lots of different foods here. So help yourselves. And the chef is taking requests for breakfast!"

[Recherché]

Don't tell them about us. They'll hate you/They'll be jealous of you. Never ever ever speak of us! The voices hissed

It was one of their first and most insistent commands and one that Cass usually went along with wholeheartedly. Cass saw how people treated her mother and the others who were not mentally all there. Pity, disgust, fear, nothing good.

I may be crazy but I'm not that stupid or unobservant. Though really what could it hurt at this point, its not like they could kick me out of the game for being insane and if they could wouldn't it be a good thing? Well I'd get fewer sponsors and no alliances. Nobody wants to bet on a crazy woman and nobody wants to have to depend on one either. So better to keep it a secret. I could always tell them later if I need to but I can't take it back once it's said; if I deny being insane later it only makes me sound like I'm denial over being insane.

So what do I say about why I volunteered? I could say that God told me to, but that sounds almost as crazy as the truth. I could say that I'm actually suicidal; its not too far from the truth, but it sounds worse than "because I'm incurably insane." Why not just avoid the question for now

Cass turns away from Durass to the Capitol woman.
Sorry but I didn't get your name before?

At least she's not Caius. That would be awkward.

Cass had only been eleven when Lily had taken her to see the Reaping and pointed out the purple man at the podium.

"See him there? He's most likely your father. It's not certain but I give him at least a 50% chance."

But Momma says . . .

Lily cut Cass off almost immediately "Your mother also says that she was seduced by an angel, that you are one of a pair of twins, but your twin is invisible or a small doll, and that she's being stalked by a teenager with a sword. You can't believe your mother too much."

"When you were conceived she disappeared for almost a week before being returned to us by a pair of peacekeepers. It was the week before that year's reaping and she just disappeared from her job. We were frantic to find her, but its not like anyone was jumping to help us. Six days later she was returned, ranting and raving, yes, but also very well fed and pregnant though we didn't know that then. Maybe it was the peacekeepers who took her, but your hair . . ."

Lily brushed Cass's pure white hair.

"It looks like them not like us folk from the District. Just don't expect any of them to come and take you away to a life of luxury. He almost certainly doesn't even know that you exist and if he did he wouldn't be happy about it."

[CowMasterTrojan]

The woman holds a hand over her mouth, realizing her rudeness. "Oh, I'm so sorry children. Nera, at your service..." she says with a slight bow. "I'm your chaperone, if you didn't know. The capital is so thoughtful, that they make sure you children have someone to make sure you eat and sleep. And stay out of trouble..." She adds with a glance at Durass.

Durass seems unbothered by your ignoring his question. Instead he leans back in the chair, taking a bite out of the apple while putting his feet on the table.
"Mmm, that's sounds like it's going to be fun."
"Young man! That is mahogany! Your filthy boots do not belong on the table!"
"Perhaps they don't..." He torts back with a full mouth of apple "But what are you going to do about it?" The capital woman's eyes and nose flare in anger. Thankfully before the situation can escalate, Durass falls backwards when his chair gives out. Standing next to it is Cecelia, who seems to have snuck in with the commotion.
"Young man..." She says in a firm motherly voice "There may not be much in the way of punishments that we can inflict on you for misbehaving. However there is plenty we can fail to do for you. Such as catching your chair. So you will be on your best behavior." Durass merely responds with coughs and groans.

From his chair you hear a slightly snore from Woof, whose eyes appear to still be open.


Cecelia
http://hungergamesdwtc.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Elena-Sanchez.jpg

Woof
http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121024210213/the-hunger-games-the-show/images/e/ec/Woof.jpg

[Recherché]

What's mah-ha-gee-nee? Cass pronounces the word in a subtle mockery of Nera's Capitol accent, just twisted enough to be almost accidental and more importantly deniable. Is it important? While Nera is still reacting she shoots Durass a slight smile. See we can still mess with them we just have to be subtle.

Before any of you ask, yes I am Sina's daughter; yes that Sina, the crazy one. No I am not as insane as my mother.

Note that I never said that I wasn't at all insane and now for the slightly bigger reveal. The Capitol has never looked too favorably on unlicensed mages in District 8, something about power they weren't in control of. So I had never revealed that she was a mage much less that I get my power from a non Capitol approved god

I'm also a bit of a mage At that statement Cass Mage Hands a glass over to the nearby carafe of juice, telekinetic ally pours herself a glass and the moves the glass to her mouth and takes a sip, all without ever touching the glass.Unfortunately I'm not always so good with the control part. The power pretty much always comes when I call ... But sometimes it comes when I don't call as well. If you see anything flying around or breaking or if you hear any spooky noises it's most likely me. I'm sorry but I've tried to stop it and I can't.

As if on cue one of the forks sailed across the table and tried to stab Cass in the hand, however lacking the force to pierce skin all it managed to do was leave small white pressure marks on her palm before Cass removed her hand and let the fork continue stabbing the table ineffectively.

How dare you tell them! How dare you! Now he knows your weakness and worse your strength. They'll hate you for this. They'll kill you slowly and painfully

Relax I just told them what would soon be obvious. Unless you were planning to be completely quiet for the rest of training?

It was true that the power sometimes came when Cass didn't call it. Sometimes it came when the voices did. But how to explain that to these people ?

[CowMasterTrojan]

"Sina?!" Cecelia & Durass chime. Nera gives a inquisitive "Who?" but no one answers her. Not completely daft, she gathers what she needs to and settles back down.

"A mage, huh? Well that's pretty favorable for you. But I've never mentored anyone with those abilities before, so I think we'll let Woof take that role primarily. He's be a better help." Cecelia says, thinking out-loud. Durass manages to get to his feet before looking her in the eyes and adding "Never mentored a mage? Well you know what they say... always a first time for everything. And apparently that's this year, one way or another..." With that, he points at the table and snaps his fingers. The table's color changes from a dark brown to a reddish looking type of wood. Leaning over, Durass is unable to help himself from adding "Nera? Are you sure this is mahogany? This really looks more like a red oak... Kind of cheap for the capital..."

Not understanding what just happened, Nera huffs and begins to object, only to realize that the table isn't Mahogany colored. She gasps in horror.

Cecelia proceeds to rub her temples trying to manage this while woof snores on.

Unless you have further questions, we can skip to a slightly more orderly breakfast. Or we can continue the antics.

[Recherché]

Cass shoots Durass an impish smile and a covert thumbs up.

God if I'd only started talking to him before this ...

"What-Ifs" flash through Cass's head; possibilities that will never come to pass. A home, children, a prosaic life. Maybe she wouldn't have ever been like her mother, maybe she could have won against the voices that plague her

No, it would never have been like that.

This voice is different from the usual ones that plague Cass's head. It's warm and feminine as she shows Cass different futures all of them filled with arguments, pain, never enough to go around, never enough of anything and she shows Cass her own grip on reality growing weaker and weaker almost like a wound healing red, raw and ragged at the edges until it's all gone and she's trapped alone in her own mental world where no one can hurt her but no one can touch her either.

No, it would never have been like that. You were ours since the day you were conceived. No other path. No other way. No destiny but this. Our perfect sacrifice

This voice is more familiar to Cass, high pitched and androgynous, singular yet multiple and painful like nails on a chalkboard. The only future this voice shows her is the soft somehow comforting blackness of oblivion.

I'm sorry but I'm pretty tired after this morning. Is there somewhere I could rest?

Someone, Cass doesn't know who shows her to a room on the train. After a brief telekinetic storm breaks all the glass in the room except for a single mirror, Cass breaks down into exhausted tears and eventually a fitful sleep.

Yeah ready to skip ahead now

[CowMasterTrojan]

The speeding train catches your attention as it suddenly begins to slow. For the last hour the train has been speeding along mountains and shooting through tunnels. Finally it comes out of a final tunnel and the sun shines down upon it. With it now slowing, the train track curves to the side and allows you to see in the distance the capital.

A gigantic metropolis, it is comprised of countless metal buildings that stretch into the sky towards the clouds. Never in your life have you seen such tall buildings. Scattered along the skyline are floating ships that hang in the sky.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Na6ePbPVYVc/UWH_BAxX2YI/AAAAAAAALgU/WvLuZokDrgk/s1600/The+capitol+Panem.jpg

The train continues to slow, and eventually closes into the city. People line the track, waving to you as the train enters the capital. The capital citizens are an odd bunch, all dressed in bright colors with bizarre hairstyles and some even have odd grafts on their bodies. The sheer number of them decorating the pristine streets is mind boggling to you.

_______________________-

Once the train stops, your chaperone takes you to a nearby building. There a team of highly trained capital employees take over cleaning you. They scrub you clean on a level you've never felt before, removing a layer of skin from your body, thoroughly washing your hair, waxing body hair, and picking any specks of dirt that may be under your nails.

__________________________________________

After the parade, Durass and Cass are escorted to a skyscraper building while still being driven around in the elegant chariots. The other tributes are being escorted back in a staggered grouping of twos. As their chariot parks, Durass immediately jumps out, irritated by the outfit. Two servants begin to help Cass down, seeing as how the dress is difficult to move in. Ahead you can see the two tributes from District 10 entering the building as two balded headed humans in red jumpsuits open the door for the two. For whatever reason, Durass gives a loud wolf whistle at the girl. There's an odd look between the two, followed by a cold glare from the boy. When Cass gets closer, she can hear him laughing to himself. It would appear his outburst was designed more to cause trouble than to cause compliment.

In the lobby Woof, Cecelia, and Nera are waiting for them along with a large number of Mentors and Chaperones from other districts. They take the two of you to a elevator and Nera pushes the big 8. Once the doors close, they finally speak. "The new stylists have some interesting taste. That Dress is fantastic." Nera adds.
Blight finally speaks up, adding "And now the pretty dress up is over and the hard work begins."
"You mean other than the dress up for the interviews?"
"Quite..."

After a few moments, the door opens. Before you is a large floor that is quite on scale with the train. A large living space is before you, and the dining area that she can immediately see appears to be almost the same size as her house. A pink haired male servant in a blue jumpsuit appears to be finishing up loading a table with food, once more it is filled with more than the five could ever hope to eat.
"You'll each have your own rooms. Let me show you to them, so you can get changed and then we can eat" Nera says, trying to lighten the mood. "They should have just delivered a wide variety of clothes that fit you, now that you've been fitted."

[Recherché]

Cass's mind raced as she looked around for a sparring partner.

Okay this is just like school. Don't use any magic, don't be so good or so bad that you'll be noticeable, actually it might be good to be bad enough to be noticable, that way nobody will take you seriously, however you don't want to be so bad that they'll eat you alive. So we aim for middle-low. Right?

Cass didn't entirely expect the voices in her head to respond. Sometimes they just went quiet for a while. This was not one of those time.

Her. She's looking for allies. She wants friends. Isn't that cute, but you. You don't need friends. You are our perfect sacrifice and you will survive with or without anyone else

The voice seemed to be indicating the District 7 girl who was indeed looking around expectantly. Cass tried to size her up from a distance. Despite what the voices thought she was hungry for a friend but then when had Cass ever been anything but lonely. Besides someone to watch your back was always a good idea.

And then there's him. He's watching us you know. Wants to know how strong we are. Thinks he's so strong himself. But we know. We know. Soon he will be bones. Bones and maggots.

The boy did seem to be focused on watching everyone else sparring, but he did well on his own battle. Definitely someone to watch out for, Cass thought as a chill ran up her spine.

Cass barely noticed the girl they paired her up with for sparring. Sickle maybe her name was? Cass hadn't listened, she was too busy defending herself and thinking through her next moves. In the end her performance was adequate though uninspired and Cass moved on to the obstacle course. Here was where things got interesting. She had to be bad but not so bad that it was unbelievable.

Bluff: [roll0]

After that ordeal Cass moved over to Durass and whispered.
I knew a kid in the year above us who could make it so that when you whispered people the person at the other end of the spell could hear you even if they were really far away. I don't suppose you could replicate that trick? It would nice to have a somewhat subtle communication method.

Cass could go over to the survival station and show off that there was something that she was actually good at, even if she didn't really need to know how to purify marshwater or start a fire with flint and tinder. Or she could continue practicing with weaponry, she wouldn't look good doing that but she could use the practice. The third station that called to her was the swimming tank, Cass could if necessary make bridges up to the tops of trees and from one end of a valley to another thus negating some of the need for climbing and jumping, but none of that helped when she didn't have anything solid to stand on in the first place.

It was the District 7 girl who made up Cass's mind. If she went to the survival station she could feel out the other girl, show off, and work on her skills all at the same time.

[CowMasterTrojan]

I edited in my last post about you getting to your quarters. You are free to ignore it or add to it.

Also make a spellcraft check.

Durass raises an eye brow at her request. He leans close and whispers back "Secret messages between you and I? Now you've got me intrigued. I can do it, yes. But not today. Tomorrow."

__________________

As Cass moves about, she notices the Careers beginning gather in a group off to the side. They glance about from time to time, making sure they're not being overheard. Durass moves from behind to her side, muttering "Makes you wish you could read lips, doesn't it? Elitist Bastards."

[Recherché]

Sense Motive [roll0]


That one. We like her. She will swim in blood and become beautiful. She will bleed us and we will kill her with you're dying breadth. Let's go talk to her!

Cass herself is a little less than enthused, since when have the voices had good ideas? But then again they are fairly good at judging people oddly enough. However when the Halfling girl started speaking something rang false, worse something rang bloody. Still no need to make it obvious that Cass trusted the girl to open up her veins and bleed her in the dead of night. So she continues going over basic survival and identification without paying any special attention to her but also interacting with the Liss as little as possible

[Recherché]

Rolls

Perception: [roll0]
K:Arcana: [roll1]

Survival: [roll2]
K:Nature: [roll3]
Reflex: [roll4]

Will+Con: [roll5]

[Recherché]

For the third test Cass debates whether to let herself fail, but decides against it on the grounds that she doesn't want to look so weak that no one would ally with her. However it turns out that she needn't have worried; when push comes to shove Cass freezes up and the knowledge that she's carefully accumulated over the years goes out the window. Somehow she's barely able to keep up for a while before over-thinking things and falling behind.

Damn, brought low by my own lack of experience. Why did I ever think that learning this out of a book was a good substitute for actually doing it? Oh wait there wasn't anywhere for me to practice was there? Not like the people from the other districts.

When they put the rod into her hand for the next test Cass's head begins to grow light, like it did six years ago. When he came and told her what would be required of her. The pain itself isn't bad, Cass has had far worse, sometimes from her own mother's hands during the bad days before they went to live with aunt Lily. So Cass endures and lets her mind wander. She closes her eyes and wishes she had her hands free to massage her temples and try to deal with the growing pressure in her head.

When Cass opens them she is not in the training hall. She rather doubts that she is even in the Capitol. Not unless the Gods reside in the Capitol.

Cass is kneeling upon the floor of the courthouse before the dragon, or dragon shaped being as the case may be materializes.

My Lord . . .

The voice begins resounding through her head before Cass can get any further, not precisely hear, it seems to bypass Cass's ears and go straight to her soul.

We thank you for your sacrifice and your service Cassiopeia Host. We know that this trial will test you to your limits and that it may well be your doom. However it is not for the entertainment of the faithless that we ask you to sacrifice yourself. You will clear the way for another and we will bring low this corruption.

To this end we will send you a messenger. She will guide you to victory or to your doom. You will know her by this sign.

A vision appears in Cass's head, some kind of bird, perhaps an owl? The bird sings out into the night with a lullaby that is distinctly not a bird's voice.

But know this, death is not your enemy for after a good death lies only glory eternal. The true enemy is the corruption of self. Do not let yourself become their pawn for they will twist you into a mockery of all that is good. By all means try to survive and if you must kill then let yourself be my blade against the unworthy, but do not forget that you are my servant first.

Cass wakes up back in the training center with the medics crouched over her beating at her chest and a syringe sticking out of it. Her breathing is hard like she ran a long race but her head feels clearer than it has in years. No voices, no pressure, no lightheadedness. It isn't till the medics pry the rod out of her hand that Cass realizes she was still holding it. However what Cass wonders at even more is the single grey feather also held in her hand. Cass knows that she wasn't holding that when they gave her the rod.

[Recherché]

After the tests Cass stays over on the benches pretending to recuperate as she contemplates the meanings of her vision and observes the other tributes. Particularly Zehir, Lelaine, Durass and Kaitlyn.

[Recherché]

Perception: [roll0]

[Recherché]

Sense Motive: [roll0]

[Recherché]

Ugh more alliances forming. Do I need one? Well it would be nice at the beginning and getting rid of the careers would be nice, but it would also mean giving out more information than I really want to. Maybe I can just hide in the shadows until they're all done. Just Durass and me.

[CowMasterTrojan]

Looking around, Cass is likely relieved that none of the other tributes seem to be overly paying attention to her.

Lelaine and Kaitlyn seem to be working diligently at stations, with Kaitlyn now working with some knives. She doesn't realize it, but she's letting on a certain degree of skill that she probably doesn't mean to.

During the final test, Durass was stationed at the other side of the line. Until Cass had passed out, she still saw him holding the rod as well. From time to time, he leaned over and glanced back with a arrogant smile on his face that both of you were still holding on while so many had dropped theirs. When she awoke from blacking out... she did take note that Durass was rather close, but he said nothing to her. Just a look that she was unable to discern.

Now he seems to have moved over to the station with ranged weapons. There he practices diligently with a crossbow, but it's clear he's not spectacular with it. After watching him for a few minutes, it becomes clear he's actually keeping an eye on the careers. They've gathered right around the corner, where Cass can only partially see them. Durass seems to be quite interested in what they're saying.


As you get a chance to watch Zehir, you notice he bounces between stations that are focused entirely on survival. Medical aid, building fire, poisonous foods, etc. It's clear he's not interested in weapon stations,
Before the end of the day, he approaches Cass with a warm smile on his face. "Feeling any better?"
If she gives him the chance, he will do a test to see if her pupils are no longer dilated.

[Recherché]

So Durass, what are the wolves up to?

Cass gestures subtlety over at the careers.

Much plotting of our inevitable deaths? Arranging tea parties? I suppose I could be judging too harshly though. None of them have been that offensive yet.

On another note, do you have a feel for the district 7 guy? something about how Lelaine reacted to him gives me chills and that incident this morning . . .

When Zehir approcaches later Cass keeps her attitude towards Zehir as warm and friendly as possible and does not resist his ministrations.

Much better. Honestly I'm not sure what came over me this morning.

While they're talking Cass fiddles with the pendant in the shape of her God's symbol that she wears around her neck and observes his face, trying to guess if he recognizes it and knows its meaning.

I don't think he's the guide that was mentioned, he seems a bit . . . too normal, but who knows, besides it couldn't hurt to get on his good side. God knows that healers are always useful even. though it would be passing strange if I end up in an alliance composed of at least two mages and two healers out of only three people!

Bluff: [roll0]

Not sure what if anything I should roll for that pendant trick

[CowMasterTrojan]

He loads the crossbow without looking at Cass, acting like he's not really talking to her. Quietly he says "It looks like the wolves are still building the pack. And the ones from 4 don't want to play nice... Good stuff for us." He chuckles.

With a shrug, he takes a shot at a target. The shot manages to hit a bulls-eye, and he mumbles something about luck. "Kind of a hot head, but clearly someone that can be used against the careers. I may work out an arrangement with him in the next few days. I don't mind if others get the kill, just as long as the rabid dogs gets put down. If you know what I mean..."

____________
His eyes glance at the pendant, but clearly it doesn't mean anything to him.

"I can take a guess" He says, rolling his eyes. "Physical exhaustion followed by physical & mental strain. I can't imagine how that could be a recipe for trouble."

"Of course, they don't really care about our health. They just want to make sure we make it to the time when we're supposed to kill each other. So... with that in mind, let me make the same offer to you that I'll make to everyone. I was training to be the district healer. And I've taken a oath to do no harm. I don't feel like breaking that oath. So my offer is give my medical aid to anyone who doesn't try and kill me. Does that sound like something that will work for you?"

[Recherché]

I think I'm good just staying away from that keg of gunpowder., Durass. Still I think we should probably talk more with the mentors about alliances later tonight. I could use some advice. Also what do you say, tonight once the other tributes are gone, you show me yours I show you mine? We should know what spells each of us can do

Cass smiles impishly

Oh gods, I never even asked him if he was interested in allying with me, I just sort of assumed. And he's going along with it!

______________________________

I'm kinda conflicted about that myself. I know that my duty is first to the gods an that there are no winners of this game only a survivor, but somehow I can't quite force myself to lay down and die without a fight.

I guess I'll kill if someone tries to kill me or my allies first. I might disable people without killing them just to survive or get out of danger, but that excuse feels like well an excuse. I'm not really sure in my heart if leaving an unconscious person for any passerby to kill is any morally better than killing them myself. But I can't persuade myself that it would be better to let them indirectly kill me either.

Sorry If I'm rambling at you. Anyways would you help me with basic diagnosis tomorrow? I can usually heal wounds but I have a lot of trouble figuring out what's hurting in the first place.

[CowMasterTrojan]

He pauses with the crossbow and looks at Cass, before laughing at himself. "Sorry, I didn't quite hear that last sentence. I guess my mind got stuck when you offered to show me 'yours', if you know what I mean..." With that, he gives a flirtatious wink before turning back.

"But, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to hear what the old fools have to say. But I'll let you know, I have no intention of letting those careers live. Whether they group up or not, they're not getting it while I'm still alive."

___________________

Zehir agrees to work with Cass on day 2 at the medical aid station.

When the time comes, he demonstrates a clear knowledge of the healing arts. However she never receives any indication that he can even cast divine spells, nor does he wear a holy symbol. She does notice he wears a belt with a great deal of pouches and pockets however.


___________________

After the first day of training, you are escorted along with Durass back to level 8 of the skyscraper. As you're quickly coming to expect, a large meal is awaiting you.

Nera, Woof, and Cecelia all are there as you would expect. For once woof appears to be awake and alert, but he doesn't directly ask anything of the two of you. Nera makes a point to chat about the different foods, their nutritional value, and where they come from. Finally Cecelia breaks the ice with "So, what was your impression of the other tributes?"

"No different than us. All cattle getting ready for the slaughter..." Durass grumbles. Cecelia frowns, not liking the answer. Turning to Cass, it's clear she's quickly forming the opinion to stop talking to Durass unless he addresses her directly.

[Recherché]

My opinion of the others, lets see: The careers are damn scary however for some reason the District 4 tributes seem to be . . . they aren't as love dovey with the guys from 1 and 2 as I expected. The boy from District 1, Kaine is really scary and really aggressive. I think everyone is scared of him which could be good, we might even get an entire alliance formed around the idea of killing him quickly. I can't tell you much about District 2 other than their female is really good with melee weapons and pretty acrobatic besides. The District 3 female is amazingly fast but I can't tell you much else about her. I don't know much about the District 4's other than the boy scored at the top for survival and they both did very well on the acrobatics course.

The District 5's have been pretty quiet and inconspicuous, so I can't tell you too much about them. Liss the District 5 female is trying to be nice and is fishing for an alliance, but something about her scares me and I don't think she's being honest in her offer. She's good with a knife and survival skills. Can't tell you too much about the guy from 5 though. Lelaine from District 6 is another one who seems to be interested in an alliance but her male partner creeps me out so I'm not too inclined to take up her offer, besides I'm not too sure what she's good at. The guy from District 6, he has a hair trigger temper and pretty good fighting abilities.

Sickle the female from District 9 is another one who's great at melee, I think she might even be a match for the careers and she's good at survival. I might try to approach her tomorrow but today she's been pretty quiet. Zehir, her partner, is a pacifist healer. He's offered to heal anyone who asks, he's probably setting himself up for attack by anyone who wants to prevent others from getting healing. I'd like to protect him. I like him. But I'm not sure how to do that.

Kaitlyn, the girl from 10 is also fishing for partners and I'm minded to take her up on it. She's good with a knife, better than she lets on to publicly in fact. Her partner is as near as I can tell incompetent. I can't tell you to much about the girl from 11, but the guy is big and good with his fists. He doesn't speak but I'm pretty sure he can hear. The pair from 12 are complete lost causes as usual.

Cass pauses to get some food and devour it while waiting for the adult's response.

What I really need to know right now though is how to deal with the interviews. I know that I'm going to need to lie my ass off; nobody is going to want to hear that I had a truly shi- . . . terrible life back in District 8 with a crazy mother and no prospects for a future. Do they want to hear that I expect to die and that if I don't die I'll go crazy like my damned mother!

Cass's voice rises as she speaks and by the end she's somewhere between shouting and whimpering.

[Recherché]

Later

Oh I did say I'd show you what I can do didn't I, Durass?

Cass goes through all of her spells and cantrips describing what they do and they're limitations starting with basic telekinesis.

I'm sure you've seen me moving things around before. I can't move more than about five pounds but I can keep doing it forever.


Next Cass uses Ghost Sound to fake the sound of President Snow singing a frankly rather obscene drinking song from District 8

I can fake pretty much any sound I can think of including voices of people I've heard before, though its not perfect when I'm trying for a specific person. Much easier to do generic sounds.

I've got a pretty good set of spells for survival purposes. this one works just like flint and tinder. This once makes an object glow, I know its probably a bad idea to make light most of the time but just in case . . . These two are the real fun ones though. I can't really show you what this trick does unless you get me something poisonous but it removes the poison from any food. Doesn't make it tasty or nutritious but we could live off hemlock if we need to.

Cass grabs one of the pitchers and empties it out into the sink in the bathroom and then castes Create Water

This spell is great in some ways but it has one issue. I can make unlimited amounts of water, just as long as I have some kind of container to create it into. Unless you can make me a water bottle somehow or we find a gourd of some kind we need a bottle from the Cornucopia. As far as I can tell its the only thing I really need, but we do need it

Cass grimaces at the thought, she's thought up several options for how to get that bottle and none of them are good, only risky, dangerous and worse.

I can detect magic of course as well, but that's not very interesting. The next group of spells I can only do a limited number of times before I run out of energy and have to rest.

Cass finds a sharp knife at the dining table and uses it to cut herself them casts Cure Light Wounds on herself

I can keep us healed up but it takes resources, I'd actually prefer letting Zehir take care of that part for us.

Next Cass calls up mist into the room

The mist doesn't do any damage but it'll block people from seeing us clearly and might give us more time to run.

The girl calls up a glowing semi-opaque shield around herself

I can also call up this shield to protect myself or someone else. If we can find an ally who doesn't mind going into the thick of a fight I can use this to help keep them safe. Or use it on myself to keep people from hitting me quite so often

Finally this one is my trump card.

Cass says as she casts color spray at the ground

It should knock most of the other tributes unconscious. There's just one problem. This exact variety of this spell is really distinctive; anyone who knows their magic will know exactly what I am and what I can do if they see me cast this spell.

So I could use it to knock a bunch of tributes out at the Cornucopia and hope that it gives you enough time to go get some gear, Durass. But then I'd have played my hand to any other mage who's watching and smart enough to figure it out. so I'm kinda conflicted on that.

Cass's voice trails off in obvious worry talking about this idea only to perk up when she begins talking about the next trick up her sleeve

Oh and there's one more trick for me to show you

Cass creates a shimmering bridge of pure light extending from the ground at her feet, over the dining table to the living area some twenty feet away.

I can make these bridges starting from where I'm standing to pretty much anywhere. Just make sure that you're always ahead of me on the bridge.

Cass walks to near the end of the bridge and then gestures for Durass to follow her. When he gets to the part of the bridge above the dining table, Cass steps off the bridge causing it to abruptly vanish and dumping him unceremoniously on the table.

Otherwise that tends to happen. Oh and also these bridges are really sturdy. So sturdy that I can't even damage them, thus why I can also use them to do this.

Cass creates a new bridge this time extending from her feet straight up to the ceiling blocking off the doorway to the dining room.

They last for a while this way too, about a day, or until I need to make a new bridge

Cass sits on the floor of the living area smirking and waits to see if any of the the people in the dining room try to take down the barrier or yell at her to take it down.

BTW can Cass turn off Awesome Display and cast Color
Spray normally? The wording of the ability is not clear at all: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/oracle/mysteries/paizo---oracle-mysteries/heavens

[CowMasterTrojan]

Cecelia listens carefully to Cass' description of the other tributes. Woof and Durass seem to think it a bit wordy however, as they both seem more concentrated on eating. At the mention of Zehir, their attention perks up some however. "That guy is a moron. It's clear he's trying to direct attention away from himself so he can outlast everyone. There's no way all 23 tributes are going to put up with his BS."
"Maybe. His mentor Ignatous did the exact same thing. So that's where he got the idea. Of course Ignatous was good at hiding, and was in a jungle arena."
"He's clearly got a strategy going either way. He's probably capable of protecting himself. So don't worry about him."
"You shouldn't worry about anyone other than yourself..."

When she's done describing all the tributes, Cecelia speaks up "Well if you decide any of them are worth a try, I can request an alliance through their mentor. It's the quiet way to do it."
"I'd like to request an alliance" Durass interjects. "I'd like to ally with the two from 12."
"What?"
"Yeah, I'd like to have them stand in-front of me during the opening of the games. Then, when they die I can easily use their corpses as shields. That way they can actually contribute to some kind of a victory, rather than just wasting air."
Cecelia give him a dirty look, while covering her face. Perhaps a smile on her face and Woof chuckles some. Meanwhile Nera finally speaks up "Young man, that joke is in terrible taste. I would think you could refrain from making something distasteful at least while we're eating."
He starts to snap back at her, and Cecelia kicks him under the table. With a roll of his eyes, he shuts up.

"As for the interview, you should worry about one obstacle at a time. The demonstration portion of training is almost here. You need to be thinking about what skills you want to show them. We'll be working with you over the next two days for a few hours. Survival skills are nice, but now is when offensive abilities need to come out."
"Of course when the interview comes, talking about why you volunteered wouldn't be a bad idea. Eight doesn't get many volunteers."
______________________
A clarification on ghost sound, you can't actually use it to make out words. You can imitate talking, but it can't actually be understood. So Snow singing a drinking song wouldn't work, but you could use it to make him hum a tune.

Durass keeps an eyebrow raised as Cass goes through her demonstrations. He says little as she goes through her spells.
When she dumps him on the table, he curses loudly as he falls flat on his back. The servant comes hustling over, to help him up before she begins picking everything up. Nera rushes out "What are you doing?" she yells, directed at Durass. This is of course interrupted by the second moon bridge. "Make that monstrosity go away." The fact that Cecelia hasn't arrived probably indicates she isn't around at the moment.




When the yelling is done, Durass takes Cass' hand and leads her into his room. "Nice. I hadn't realized your spells weren't arcane. That's... interesting. Sadly I won't be showing off all my spells. I know more than I can cast" He says, taking off his shirt and tossing it on the bed. With it off, he turns to Cass to gauge her reaction. A mischievous look on his face. "See these tattoos... they've got magic equations hidden beneath all of them."
He starts with cantrips, showing off tattoos that are common arcane abilities. "I can start fires with this one." He says, pointing to a lighting bolt tattoo. "And I can do mage hand and ghost sound too. A good combo really." Pointing to a small witch with a bubbling green potion he says "And this one lets me find poison. I suspect that'll be useful. I can't make water like you can though. That's not an arcane ability."

Moving on, he starts to show Cass larger tattoos. "This one over my heart... looks like me half drawn, right? I can use it to vanish. And this one here, with the eyes in the mist... That's obscuring mist too.

The one with the picture book, that's one I can use to make illusionary images. No sound though. And I have to concentrate. The unicorn breathing a rainbow of fire, that's color spray too. If you'd like, I don't mind showing off that to our enemies. The arrows with grenades stuck to them, that's magic missile. I can make two if I push myself, but I'm almost able to make three. As long ranged attacks go, they have few as equal.

And of course the pan with bacon... that's grease. I can use that to trip people up. And the knight with the giant shield, that's actually two spells. I can make magic armor, which I could share with others if I wanted, and I can make a magic shield which I can't share and doesn't last long." He then looks around his tattoos, mumbling to himself about not important before settling on his left forearm. "I know I'm not done coloring this one, but it's winter winds clashing with the desert heat in a yin-yang form. It's a spell I'm working on that will help ignore the elements. And of course this black and white alarm clock will help keep me safe when I sleep. Too bad I probably won't ever be able to cast it. See, that's my problem. I know lots of spells, but can't keep them all in my head at the same time. I can repeat the ones I can recall, but I can only recall a few."
Snapping her fingers, he adds "Oh, and since you've shown me you're neat ability, let me show you mine."
With that, he picks up his shirt and starts to walk toward Cass. He disappears and immediately she hears a call from him in the hallway. "Not a long range, but it has it's uses."


As I said in the OOC, the ability can be chosen not to be used. But it's either added, or it's not. You couldn't pick and choose, using it only on some in a AoO with... a color spray for example.

[Recherché]

Cass frowns at Cecilia's mention of the evaluations.

I don't have that much in the way of offensive abilities, I mean I suppose I could Color Spray the walls but that's about it. My defensive and survival abilities are much more impressive.

I'm definitely interested in getting Lelaine and Kaitlyn as allies, but I'd like to ask them myself. It feels kinda weird going through all these intermediaries. I think we do really need someone with physical abilities though.

But who do I say I am to Flickman? Because I sure as hell can't tell anyone the truth. God's blessed, insanity cursed, sentimental bitch? Nobody would believe the truth even if I told it to them. So who do I be?

_________________

At Nera's urging Cass creates a new bridge along the floor and walks over it before whispering to Durass

~When Cecilia asks we deny everything. There never was a bridge over the table or blocking any doors.

After Durass's demonstration Cass takes a few seconds to formulate new plans.

Here's my thought, all the strong people are going to run for the cornucopia right at the beginning, right? We could color spray all of them right then. Between the two of us we could hit most of them and some of them twice. The ones who are still up will likely either take the opportunity to knife the people who are blinded or help their allies. If we had an ally to go into the Cornucopia they could grab us a bunch of supplies and we could run off for the hills with everything we need and take out some of the overconfident tributes in one shot.

Cass leaves Durass's room quickly after discussing strategy. No use feeding rumors or for that matter indulging temptation. Still she can't resist a parting remark.

By the way that thing about the District 12s, it was in horrible taste. You're being an ass.

Oh come on it was funny. Dead tributes walking, those two.

You know if you slept with him it'd bind you even closer; he'd be less likely to betray you that way. But they'll all betray you in the end. And then you'll only have us.

Gods above and below. Why'd you have to come back? If all it takes to get rid of you guys is being shocked to unconsciousness by an electric rod, I'll do that more often.

Can I get Two World Magic trait to get prestigitation by having Durass teach me the cantrip?
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/traits/magic-traits/two-world-magic

[CowMasterTrojan]

Cecelia looks perplexed. "What's a color spray?"
"... You know how sometimes cats will mark their territory,..."
"Stop that sentence right there young man!


It's a magic spell that can blind and disorientate it's victims."
"And that's your most offensive spell? Well it will have to do. Without demonstrating some kind of offense, your score will hurt. But showing them defensive abilities, as well as what you learned could help."
"The score is really based on how good of a show they expect you to contribute to. So if you can't kill anyone, that'll hurt you."

___________________

Durass nods at her plan. "Not a bad plan. Not that different than what I had been planning. But I had been thinking my first move was going to be to drop a obscuring mist. It would make it harder for others to realize what's going on, and it would make it hell for the careers to hunt down people inside. Of course, that just makes it that much harder to see them to color spray. But if they're all crowded in the cornucopia... it won't matter I suppose."


Still standing in the hallway, he watches Cass head to her room while he puts his shirt back on. To her comment, he retorts "Oh, it was funny. It's just a matter of refined taste. I'll do you the pleasure of keeping the twenty dead baby jokes I know to myself." Whether he's serious or not, she can't tell by the grin on his face. But she can feel him watching her as she walks away.

[Recherché]

By the end of the day Cass is exhausted and her body is still aching in a reminder of what happened earlier in the day. Worse though is her mind.

So I have three main allies, possibly, and a couple of truces. Except I can't trust any of them. Any or all could all be playing me for a fool while having their real alliances elsewhere; they could even be spying for the other alliances. I've seen Lelaine and Kaitlyn talking to other tributes all the time. They could be telling them about me and what I have planned.

And then of course I slipped up and warned Ponine. Why was I that stupid agian? Oh right, I wanted to like her. And now she's probably warned everyone from District 1 to District 12.

Except I still can't trust my own allies. I mean how well do I really know Durass, and I do know him well enough to know that he can be a tactless ass.

Lelaine feels way too naive. I like her but i'm not sure I can trust her. Unless its all just an act and she's conspiring behind my back. I just can't know. And even if she's being honest she might carelessly blab her mouth at everyone.

Kaitlyn is definitely smarter and more devious but how do I know that deviousness isn't turned against me. How did she even know I'm a mage! I'm pretty sure I didn't tell her or do anything where I could see.

Cass can feel the storm brewing inside her temples and tries to massage it away.

You're never really alone Cassiopeia. you'll always have us, Even when you're dead we'll still be with you. You can join us then! We can advise a new oracle! Or maybe the winner of this year's games! Maybe next year's tribute too. but no next year's tribute probably won't measure up to you our love.

Dear god is this what my mother deals with all the time? Okay so just act normal. Question: what is normal in this situation. Being a paranoid wreck might be the definition of normal.

Except Cass you have to trust someone even if it is your own head.

Shut up! I know I can't trust my own head, but who's to trust ...

[Recherché]

Cass can feel every pore on her body sweating as she waits for her name to be called. There's a slight trembling in her fingers that she can't quite control, but the worst of it all is in her own mind. the voices aren't being particularly coherent, but they are loud, a constant buzzing like sandpaper against the inside of her skull. And they keep reaching for the power that she hasn't used in front of any of the other tributes. Cass would much prefer that this stay the case; its bad enough that her allies (Allies? Allies. Have to trust someone.) know and that somehow Kaitlyn found out on her own. (How did she know? Who told her? Who did she tell?. So Cass keeps batting away the attempts to gain control and so what with her power? Sing Happy Birthday, stab one of the other tributes?

When her came is finally called its a release and a struggle. No more need for Cass to try to sit quietly but the voices seem to be even more anxious to gain control and frog-march her through the door into the gymnasium.Into what? What do you want me to do? What do you want of me? Just give us control and you'll see.

So she gives in, just a little, just enough to make the pressure ease up a little. Its not like they don't want the same thing right now. To just get this over with. She doesn't argue when they direct her body straight over to the weapons rack without a pause, without even looking at the monsters up in their little box, translucent skin dripping with slime not even covering the green unbeating hearts within.

How do I know that's what they look like? Thinking is hard, like swimming through jelly

Because we tell. That's how. The voices hiss in unison

Cass barely notices when she stabs into her own gut. She sees the entrails revealed and sighs. It doesn't hurt, not really.

She watches as the blood drips down the dagger she had chosen for this purpose and as the drop hits the floor-

Wait! This is wrong! Its not supposed to be like this.

Suddenly its clear as day. The voices want her to die here. To bleed out all over the gymnasium like a goat sacrificed on an altar. Her blood will sanctify the games and wash away the guilt.

Thinking is no longer hard. Cass's thoughts feel like lightning coursing through her as she throws her will up against the voices.

Not today! I do not die today!

Dimly she realizes that she is not alone in her assault. Some of the voices are . . . helping her?

And then its over. Cass's will breaks through. The pain comes rushing back. her numbed hands drop the knife. Instinctively Cass calls up on of the first spells she ever learned, stuffs her entrails back into her body and heals the wounded edges back together. It's little more than the magical equivalent of sovereign glue but its enough. Enough to keep going for a little while longer.

Cass looks up at the people in the viewing box, people, not monsters. Well only metaphorical monsters. Did they even realize what happened? Did they see or just look?

Either way. Cass still has a show to put on. she dutifully Color Sprays the dummy as her mentor instructed. She wonders if any of the watcher could tell the difference between her version of the spell and the one that every other mage she has ever met uses. Cass will probably never know if they do.

Finally Cass heads to the obstacle course. This time instead of struggling through the ropes and climbing the walls she simply forms bridges and saunters over the entire thing without raising a sweat, without even breathing harder. And then forms one last bridge out of the gymnasium and walks out. As soon as she passes through the door and is out of sight Cass collapses clutching her stomach as the wound threatens to open again. No not threatens, Cass sees the blood is already soaking through, new, fresh and red.

Oh God, Cecelia's going to kill me over this.

So 1: Cure Light Wounds 2: Color Spray 3: Moonlight Bridge

I figure that I don't need to roll to hit myself and that Cass can do a whole lot of damage effectively coup-de-gracing herself

[CowMasterTrojan]

You can do up to 8 damage to yourself with the knife. More than enough to hurt yourself seriously. We'll say you healed 3 from your first cure light wounds.

The judges all clearly give Cass their attention, many standing up in their chairs when she stabs herself. Perhaps wondering if she's killing herself infront of them. Then she heals her wounds, and their interest peaks. Yet they say nothing, letting her color spray the dummy and make the moon bridge.

As she hobbles out and collapses outside, peacekeepers begin to shout. "We've got a wounded tribute. Get medical aid". Several begin to move upon her.

[Recherché]

Cass tries to keep calm as the medics work on her.

Well this is embarrassing. What am I going to tell the others? "Oops I disemboweled myself during the private training session?" Well at least this should persuade anyone who sees it that I'm not really a threat. And it really should persuade them that I'm not a healer myself.

I suppose I can just tell Cecelia and Durass that I hurt myself a bit more than I intended. I mean it wouldn't be that crazy for me to hurt myself just so I could demonstrate my healing spells.

As soon as the medics will let her go Cass heads back to the apartments and gives the others a highly edited account of what happened at the training session.

Bluff to get everyone to accept that she just hut herself worse than she intended: 1d20+9

[Recherché]

Oops, redoing that roll

[roll0]

[CowMasterTrojan]

The peacekeepers take extra care to take care of Cass. She's carried off in a stretcher, and taken to a medic. For some reason they make the point of stitching her wound before then giving her a potion to drink. Insistently they make her drink it, and it heals her fully.

Their final act of over reacting is to escort her to the elevator of the apartments. As she enters, she sees Kaitlyn in the corner talking to Kaine, Valora, and Kallistrate. Her back is turned, so she can't see Cass but the other three see her. They all have minor smiles on their face...

__________________

As she gets off the elevator, the final peacekeeper gives a wave and takes leave. Everyone is in the living room, and Nera and Cecelia rush over to her. "My goodness... look at all the blood." Nera stops mid walk, pulling back quickly as she looks like she might faint.
"It's alright. They should have stopped the bleeding and healed it. What happened?"

Cass gives them her prepared story, and Cecelia nods understandingly. Woof watches from across the room, listening as well. If they don't believe her, they don't give indication of it. "Well I'd say you should be more careful next time, but I hope there isn't a next time where you need to cut yourself open. We've got a hour or two before they announce scores, can I get you some-" Abruptly Cecelia stops. Looking down, Cass sees that her blood stain is quickly disappearing. Durass stands a distance of 10 ft away, staring at the blood as his prestidigitation removes it from her clothes. When it stops, faint stains of blood still stain the rips where she cut herself.
"Damn." He says simply. "I thought that would clean better."
Cecelia gives him an odd look before remembering what she was saying. "Something to drink to calm your nerves?"

A small whisper reaches Cass' ear as Cecelia turns. <We need to talk. Privately. Either now, or tonight. Your choice.>

[Recherché]

<Gimme a second to get away from the responsible adults>

Cass's voice puts a slight sneer into the last two words.

I think I should probably head straight to bed and try to get some rest

Cass heads for her room and flops down on the bed.

<Is this about Kaitlyn? I just saw her getting a little too friendly with some of the careers. And she knew some things about me that she probably shouldn't have.

[CowMasterTrojan]

"Don't rest for too long. They'll be announcing scores in under an hour."

Sitting down on her bed, Cass notices the quiet of her room. Then with little warning, the door mysteriously shuts. Within seconds, Durass becomes visible once more. He sits on the bed next to Cass, looking at her in the eyes. "No, this isn't about Kaitlyn. Although at some point I should ask you what you've told your allies about me... I would like it if the careers didn't see me coming."

With a sigh, he clearly hesitating on asking something. And restraint is a trait she's not seen in Durass before. Making sure he has her eye contact, he finally says "I know you hear voices..."

[Recherché]

For a second Cass is sure that she's going to faint. But the revelation hurts too much, like a knife directly too the heart. So exhale. Inhale. Keep the body going until the mind can catch up. Deal with the first part before you deal with the second.

Okay what people should know. Kaitlyn should know that I'm a arcane mage-

Cass tries to flash a sly smile but it feels forced.

but she shouldn't know that you're a mage as well or really much of anything about you.

Lelaine knows that we're both mages and that neither of us needs weapons but that's about it.

Patyr and Ponine know that I have at least one mage in my alliance but they shouldn't know whether its me, you, Lelaine, or Kaitlyn. And Ponine shouldn't know if they're Arcane or Divine. Patyr would probably guess Arcane but once he sees that I'm a Divine caster who uses Color Spray he'd have to rethink that assumption.

I tried to keep info to a minimum but I did have to tell them some things to organize plans.

What I'm worried about is that Ponine seemed to know that we had an arcane caster despite me not telling her. And today. Today after the private training I saw Kaitlyn talking with the careers; maybe they just cornered her and were bullying her. Its possible but well for for some reason I can't shake off my suspicion of her.

I . . . I think we might want to talk to Cecelia about this.

In any event we probably want to change our initial plans. If everyone knows that we're waiting to attack them at the cornucopia then its not going to be effective. What if I just ran in grabbed whatever I can from the outskirts then bridge away. Someone with a ranged weapon could hit me on the bridge but not much else and if you were to lay down some mist . . .

If we want to meet up with Kaitlyn and Lelaine we can do so later. You can Message them on the transport right? We don't tell them the revised plan till the last possible minute. That way they shouldn't be able to betray us even if they wanted to. Unless they're also using Message.


Cass's worried frown looks a great deal more authentic than her previous smile.

Oh and there's another trick that I'm working on. If I can get it stable in the next day or two I might be a lot more sturdy

Cass stands up, closes her eyes and begins concentrating. within seconds spots of light begin to glow beneath her skin. To those who recognize them its the stars laid out, galaxies swirling beneath skin. And then they begin to connect, lines between dots forming slowly. The constellations are being drawn out. The net of light seems tp start to lift itself from Cass's skin and become something new but as it leaves her skin the dots fade and the lines break apart and the entire thing dissolves into the ambient light.

I know it'll stay together if I can just focus my will enough. It should be as strong as light armor. Anyways I need to talk to Cecelia

Cass turns to leave the room

<I never did answer about why I volunteered.>

Cass pauses and draws in several deep breaths

<There's precious little dignity in dying in the arena but there's even less in living as a madwoman and losing your soul while your still alive.

Besides, there's another girl, Peony, who'll have a long life in my place. A good one I hope.>

Cass heads out to the living area to explain her suspicions about her allies to Cecelia.

[CowMasterTrojan]

Cass attempts to leave the room, but Durass moves quickly to stop here. A fire burns in his eyes."No. We're not done here. And you're not walking out of the end of this conversation."
He puts his arms on her shoulders, looking into her eyes. "Now you listen to me, whether you realize it or not I DO have your interests in mind. So you are gonna be honest with me damn it!" He pauses, remembering his place. Lowering his voice, he whispers but doesn't bother using his spell. "I don't give a damn about your allies. I trust you to make that call, because I'd planned on you relying on them more anyway. But what you just implied to me is that you plan on dying out there. Is that true? Did you volunteer to die?"

[Recherché]

Cass spends the next few minutes thinking over her responses, should she give a comforting lie or the harsh truth and if so how harsh. Entire speeches go by rehearsed but unsaid before she finally gives up and starts speaking aloud.

I'm sorry but I'm pretty confused about a lot of this myself so forgive me if I ramble. I know that I'm unreliable and insane but I try the best I can. I don't know if you really want to talk about the question of whether you can rely on me during the games or if you want to talk about how messed up my head is.

If its the first, then yes you can trust me pretty far. I am in control most of the time, and I think I'll have better control from here on out than I did earlier this week. I know what the voices want know and I know that I'm stronger than they are; I should be able to resist them. Besides they haven't tried to kill anyone except me. Still if you want to leave me then I won't hold it against you. Just please don't tell anyone else. If everyone knows how weak I actually am . . .

Cass sits back down, she looks close to crying but she pushes on anyways without giving Durass a chance to interrupt.

The second question is a lot more complicated. You know that its highly unlikely that I'll live. Everyone knows that volunteering is sheer suicide. I mean do you honestly think that its probable that you'll win?

I have no intention of lying down and dying, but I do recognize that I'm probably not going to survive this. And to be honest I can't find it in myself to care too much either way.

Cass breathes deeply before continuing

That being said I'll keep going in order to get you and any other allies to the end. You didn't volunteer for this, you don't deserve this.

You say that you have my interests in mind, but what do you think is my best option? Because as I see it I don't have any good ones. Only options I can see are fast versus slow.

Now she doesn't hold back the tears. She just falls on the bed bonelessly , curls into a fetal position and just lets herself cry it out.

[CowMasterTrojan]

"Wait... they can control you?" He mumbles, utterly stunned by the statement. His face goes blank as it begins to process different events with her in a new light.

After a moment, he sits on the bed next to Cass. Not really sure what to do, he puts his hand on Cass' back and rub it gently to show support. Quietly he waits until the sobbing begins to die down before he speaks.

"Listen... it sounds like neither of us chose to be here. We both deserve to win as much as the next tribute..." Breaking off for a moment, he sighs as he forces himself to keep talking. "But when we were just outside the capital, on the train, I realized that I will never win the games. They capital, they'll never let me win. That might sound weird, but I'll make sense soon."

With a pause he looks down at her, a sense of guilt brewing inside him. "No, you've not held back with me. I suppose I owe you the same...
The Capital will NEVER let me win. And the reason why is..."
Like a mouse, he finishes the sentence "I killed a peacekeeper last year."

He lets that set in for a moment before he continues. "It was after the last snow of the year. A peacekeeper raped my younger sister. Beat her up bad too. The healer could fix her wounds, but the emotional wounds went deep. And of course the capital covered it up. He got away with it clean. So three days later, my sister managed to kill herself."

"I was in a rage after I found out, and ran out into the snow. I don't think I planned it, not consciously, but I found myself outside the bastard's temporary home. Looking in the window, I saw that he was passed out drunk. So I set the place on fire. And he died in that fire. I don't know how much was rage, and how much was cold blooded revenge. I somehow got away with it. Those that saw me that night didn't speak up. But I'm pretty sure that the capital will figure out if they start looking into me. Something I'm pretty sure they're going to do."

"So on the train, I decided that if there was no way I could win, then the least I could do is stack the deck. I've been planning on taking out the careers on my own. And once I do that, I can help protect you from the other tributes. You may not be an actual Volunteer, but damn it if you don't deserve to win. And if you're willing to try, I'm willing to keep helping best I can. So no, you don't have to worry a second about me leaving you. I told you, I got your interests in mind. Two people trying to keep you alive to the end is twice the odds anyone else has." With that, he gives Cass a wink and a smile, hoping to cheer her up.

[Recherché]

****. We are so very screwed.

[Recherché]

I'm sorry Durass I really don't know what to say . . . I'm not upset about what you did to that peacekeeper, he deserved to be executed. However I can't join you in your crusade against the careers or even support it. If you attack them and kill them without provocation then you're just as bad as they are, possibly worse. As I said before I don't care that much over whether I live or die, but I do care about remaining true to myself. If I die I'll die with my soul as intact as I can keep it. Of course this doesn't mean that that I won't defend myself if anyone attacks me or somebody else I'm with. I just won't start the fight.

Anyways its your choice if you want to go off and become the killer that the game-makers want. Just please don't do it in my name. Or expect that I'll congratulate you on it.

For a moment Cass wants to beg Durass to stay with her, by her side for the games and beyond, wants to drag him closer and bind him to her with a kiss, but the moment passes and Cass draws back. She won't manipulate him this way, won't bind him with a promise she can't deliver on. So she gets up and heads to the doorway

Come on. Are you ready to see how we scored?

_______________________

While they're waiting for the scores to be broadcast, Cass explains her suspicions to Cecelia, mentally going over every interaction and reviewing it for hints of betrayal as she does so.

So there's the story so far. If Kaitlyn or Lelaine is planning on betraying us to the careers they have to be communicating with them some how. Could you look into whether their mentors have been talking to anybody from District 1 or 2? That would be the obvious way to get information across. Also Kaitlyn said that she had asked Victoria, her mentor, to arrange an alliance with us, can you check if that's true? And it might be a good idea to try to warn Ponine about Kaitlyn if we find anything more concrete. Can you do that for me?

On another note, how do you want to handle the fact that Cass will be lying her ass off for the majority of her interview? One big bluff check, multiple smaller ones, something else altogether?

[CowMasterTrojan]

Durass sits quietly, absorbing her words. She doesn't have to be very intuitive to realize he didn't expect her to say that. "Noted." Is all he says in response.

When she stands up and heads out the door, he remembers he's in Cass' room and stands up. Following her out the door, he adds "Oh, I just remembered. I don't give a **** about the scores." With that, he heads to his room across the hall and shuts the door without touching it.


________________________________________

For the record, the alliance offer was made through mentors but you guys screwed it up with the timeline. Pretend that it was mentioned. I'm going to ignore that question.

"Wait, I'm confused. What did Lelaine do that makes you not trust her? Either way, I can look into whether either of them have been socializing with the mentors from 1 & 2. But you need to understand, that doesn't really mean anything. Us mentors don't really have any rivalries between each other. So talking among us doesn't really imply a alliance forming. But I can do that for you."

Every time you make a lie, roll a bluff check to go along with it. Caesar isn't going to call you a liar, so you can just continue feeding him BS. A bunch of poor rolls might have a minor negative impact from sponsors, but that's it.

[Recherché]

I guess I'm just being paranoid about alliances after finding out Kaitlyn and then Durass . . . I was hoping that I could rely on him but now he's talking about going out on a suicide mission trying to kill all the careers. I shouldn't be suspecting Lelaine, you're right. But anyways thank you. For everything.

_____________

Cass stands silently in front of Durass's door for a minute once again composing what she needs to say before knocking.

Durass, I think I just found out part of how the game-makers are going to try to screw you over. They gave you a 12. For your score I mean. Now everyone who doesn't know you will think you're the ultimate threat. They'll target you.

Just leave him. He doesn't deserve you.

Cass concertedly ignores the voice.

About earlier today, I mean it when I say that I don't fear death that much. I'm a divine caster remember? I know what comes after death for me, or at least I have a good idea what my options are. But I also know that I have to earn it. I may not care much for the Capitol's rules but I do care for God's laws. I'm bound to those till death and beyond.

I know that you aren't bound the same way and I try to understand that, it's just . . .

Anyways tomorrow at the interview I'm going to have to lie. A lot. You can understand why. Would you mind please, just not contradicting anything I say? You don't have to corroborate me, just please don't give me away.

[CowMasterTrojan]

What may have been a touching moment between mentor and tribute is abruptly interrupted be the crotchety voice of Woof. "Of course you have reason to suspect Lelaine! Have you forgotten already there can only be one winner? I assure you that she hasn't. It doesn't matter who it is, you keep one eye open on them at all times!"
Clearly her throat, Cecelia adds "Well, he's certainly not wrong. But don't overdo yourself with the paranoia. If you go over board with it, it will tear you apart."

__________________


After knocking, Cass can hear a faint "Enter..." from Durass.
To her surprise, she is greeted by what appears to be President Snow standing a few feet from the door. His cold and intimidating face turns from looking at the bed to now looking at Cass. Durass lays on the bed, his head propped up as he stares at snow while a coin dances back and forth between the cracks of his fingers. He offers no explanation of the situation, nor does he add anything else as he waits to for her to talk.

Provided she continues to say what she intended to say he responds "No, it's fair to say they had other reasoning to give me a 12. But don't worry about it. I told you I have your interests in mind." He doesn't appear to be surprised about the 12, but his voice does sound kind of sad however.

[Recherché]

Would you mind defining what you mean by "my best interests" because I have this feeling that what you define as in my best interest is slightly different than how I see it myself.

[CowMasterTrojan]

The illusion flickers for a moment, and then winks out of existence as it's creator fails to maintain the concentration. Glancing over at Cass, Durass continues fiddling with the coin in his hand. "It means I want to help you when you need it. Is that a problem too?"