IC-Rythos

[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.

[IamL]

Rythos Chaim, eighteen going on thirty five
Well, the time has come for my final reaping. I had to put my name in far too many extra times for my liking, but it was all for my charges. It needed to be done.
I stand slightly crooked, bending almost imperceptibly to the left. My missing kidney was aching. I don't even know how that was possible.
I'm wearing a simple brown robe with a rope belt. I nod as all of the children I was bidden to take care of by my dying master move to their respective places. The worst thing that could happen now was if both me and a charge of mine got picked. Then one of us would have to die.
I am silent as usual, standing still and composed, breath slow and steady, a mask over the nervousness I feel, trying to get rid of the knot in my stomach, but it won't go away. I woke up today with a bad feeling, and my bad feelings are almost always prophetic. Something bad would happen today. And by that, I mean something worse than normal.

I glance at one of my charges-Karen. She was always rambunctious, but she was more uneasy than anybody else around.

When we reached check-in, I had to patiently wait for a Peacekeeper who knew sign language to check me in. While I wait, one of them is obnoxiously hassling me about why I don't speak. I ignore him, but he brought up a very painful memory.
Sedrick, the kindly old priest who took me in when I was young and abandoned, had died when I was thirteen. I was the oldest of his wards, and so he had two choices as he lay on his deathbed: give them to the Peacekeepers or place them under my care. He chose the latter.
His death wasn't without trauma to me, though, two weeks after his death, I just stopped talking. And I haven't said a word in five years.

[IamL]

I have taken the maximum amount of Tesserae, and I am eighteen, so my chances are as high as they come.
The speeches and reteaching of the history of the Games is all a blur. I don't focus too much on the presentations; I'm more concerned with how my wards were faring. The kids seem to be relatively okay, except for Karen. I can't shake the premonition that both of us will get picked in the Reaping.

And then it happens.
The Visitor comes up on stage, all cheery and peppy. I want to puke. The knot in my stomach returns. She reaches her hand into the boys' jar.
"Rythos Chaim." I make my way to the stage, accepting my fate. My name was in there far too many times, and though I was respected my most people in the community, nobody would die for me. She reaches into the girls' jar. "Karen Ward." I see double. Things start to rush. I stumble in the crowd, my usually agile body becoming clumsy and uncoordinated.

I will have to choose between death and killing somebody I was sworn to protect.

[SamBurke]

GM POST:
The peacekeepers are just as rough as usual, and perhaps worse. They take you and Karen, unsatisfied with the pace of the Reaping, and start prodding you towards the stage. All around the starving people step away from you in equal parts thankfulness and sorrow. "Goodbye..." whispers one of the children, but the Peacekeepers don't even let you turn around to see who.

The healthy arms of the Peacekeepers push aside the crowd, throwing a few to the ground in their strength, and place you on stage. There, your Escort, Jex, awaits you. There are no less than four plates of food stashed behind his podium, and his fingers are thick with sticky gravy of some sort. "Mmm. Mmmmmmmm." Jex tries to speak, but can't through the food, so coughs a bit before finishing his three bites at once. "May the odds be in your favor, and such." So much for a grand speech.

[IamL]

When I'm being jostled by the Peacekeepers, I struggle to move my arms and hands into the sign for Peace, then cease resisting the peacekeepers as I am dragged off.

__________________________________________________ ______________

I turn to Karen and tap her on the shoulder, trying to get her attention. If she turns around, I sign rapidly at her.
"Needless to say, I think we should stick together until the end. The interview will be...difficult, but I'll think of something. Are you holding up okay?"

[IamL]

I say my good-byes solemnly. My charges, my family, is going to lose one if not both of its oldest members.

When I have five minutes left, I envelop all of them in a massive group hug. I look down at each one. When I have three, I kneel down, play-fighting with a few of them. When I have sixty seconds left, I flash sign language symbols rapidly, knowing they will understand.
"You need to stay strong. Whatever happens in the arena, be brave. Do not mourn for either Karen or me yet. I feel as if I have lived a more full life than nearly any man, and it is because I have helped you all. Remember my lessons, and keep us both in your heart. Farewell, and may peace go with all of you."

[SamBurke]

Jex is yelling something --with his mouth as contorted as it usually is, his lips are impossible to read-- over the sound of the crowd, and gesturing madly to the train.

An odd feeling slips up your back, and you realize that it's the presence of some form of odd thing resting on your shoulder. Chaff, the one-armed brute of a Mentor, is looking you over. He tries a rough signing, which, after a few tries, you take to mean that you have to board the train now. Karen is right behind you, separated by the Peacekeepers. She'll have a chance to answer in a minute, but right now, it looks like your only companionship is going to be Chaff.

[IamL]

My eyes light up as I see Chaff; I like the man, and respect him for even trying to sign at me. As I board the train, I face Chaff, signing more slowly and clearly. "It's good to have you as a mentor, and I appreciate your use of my chosen method of communication. Thank you."
When I board the train and have more space, I honor him with a deep bow.

[SamBurke]

Chaff nods, but then laughs oddly, in an almost manaical contortion of his firm features. He picks up one arm, and makes a play of signing with it. "Only -- one -- hand." Grinning widely, he pulls out his pocket flask, and drains it in one go.

Jex is motioning for you two to move, and the train awaits. Now's the time for last words to your family.

[SamBurke]

Just before you leave, Karen desperately gets your attention, and replies. "I... I'll handle", Karen claims, also in sign, "I have to. But... please, don't let go of me... for now. And...Teach me to fight. Please."

[IamL]

I sign towards all of those watching.
"May peace go unto all of you. Farewell for now."

And as we board the train, I sign to Karen.
"I already have. Don't worry about yourself; you'll be fine. If either of us needs to worry, it's me. I can't take a hit as easily as you can, not after what happened to my kidney. But I'll show you a trick or two more."

[SamBurke]

The crowd screams some words of encouragement, but it doesn't seem likely that they actually understood what you were saying. Still, the trip to the train is less angry than it might have been, and you board of your own will. That's more than some Tributes.

The first few minutes are a blur, but one word sticks out in your mind: Karen calling you "Brother." These are truly desperate times, and you two will be in a deadly arena soon... but yet, she didn't call you by your name. She's only ever called you by your name. She's obviously taken your words of defense to heart, but there's something else bothering her.

She finally lays it out. "Brother... I've been thinking... of course, we need to work together to win... but... what if we do actually win? What if we'll be the last two standing? They... they can't force us to... Right?"

[IamL]

I sign quickly. "They can try, but you cannot be broken until you give up. Remember, though they hold power, no power is absolute. Remember, when our father died, I swore to protect all of you, and that's what I will do until my final breath."

[SamBurke]

SOrry you're so delayed. I'm waiting for the Karen post to give you a response to yours. :smallfrown:

[IamL]

I enter the judging room, a little nervous, but fairly confident in my ability.

I stare down at the line of dummies after I move them into place, taking a deep breath before beginning my routine, one that will, hopefully, be very impressive.


[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]



[roll3]



Attack 1, called shot to the neck, piercing damage.
[roll4]
Crit confirm if necessary: [roll5]
Damage:
[roll6]
Extra crit damage if necessary: [roll7]
Attack 2 (called shot to the neck):
[roll8]
Crit confirm if necessary: [roll9]
Damage:
[roll10]
Extra crit damage if necessary: [roll11]

Attack 3 (called shot to the neck):
[roll12]
Crit confirm if necessary: [roll13]
Damage:
[roll14]
Extra crit damage if necessary: [roll15]


Planned routine: Acrobatics to roll/flip from my starting point to the first dummy, from there to the second dummy, and from there into the water.

From water, dropping to the bottom before surging upwards, moving as quickly as possible, lunging and springing off the pool's edge to strike at the final target. All attacks for piercing damage.

[IamL]

Results:

I start with a simple double somersault to the first target, a not-too-impressive start (acrobatics 12). From the ground, I leap up and strike at the target with a hand that pierces like a bullet, cleanly separating the dummy from its head. (Attack 1)

I follow through the strike, rolling into another somersault, but following it up with a double front flip (acrobatics 19).

I then launch a jumping kick which also severs the dummy's head (attack 2), causing it to roll off the stand and into the water, which I leap into next, performing an astonishing series of flips and spins midair (Acrobatics 20).

When I enter the water, however, things go a bit downhill when I let out a sigh of relief and find myself short of breath. (Swim 12). I recover decently enough, though, still pulling out of the water and leaping towards my third target, whose head flies off, landing with a loud crash on the ground. I nimbly land, doing a roll to slow down before coming to full attention and bowing deeply to the judges.
"I humbly present myself, Rythos Chaim, hailing from District Eleven."


After I leave, I give a sigh of relief. Save for the slightly slow start and the mistake in the water, I did very well.