I grumbled as I woke up, shaking my head. Taking note of my surroundings, I leap up, pressing my back against a wall. A took a moment to take everything in and calmed down. Walking up to the door, I can see a bunch of rooms on the opposite side from my view, six actually, however four of them are open. Should probably see what exactly I have in my little room, I thought, walking around looking around the tiny cell. I paused, thinking it strange that I thought of it as that, but ignored it. Upon moving the bed I discovered a disturbing blood stain smeared on the corner. I looked back out the barred door. I don't want to draw attention to myself, so I'll just wait for other people to leave first, I planned, moving back onto the bed, as far away from the door as I could, watching and observing.

As I sit there, waiting in the dark, I hear a couple of doors screech open, moving a bit closer, I see some Knights walk out, moving past my field of vision. A sudden glow illuminates the room outside, much brighter than it was before. A voice then blares out from outside. I listen intently, the sneering making me frown, how pathetic. Captain Serris must think he's so special, I thought angrily. The mention of 'The Finder' makes me perk up, well, now that is a game changer. After I listen a little more, I decide to get a look at just what kind of an idiot came up with the idea of these 'games'. I close my eyes, focusing hard on his voice and the light filtering in through the barred door. And holding out my hands, I force open a minuscule disruption in spacetime, just small enough for light to enter, and warp the air around it to act like a lens, the image appearing on the wall behind me. I only see him briefly as he announces the beginning of the games, but I got a good look at his bad face. That's the face I'm going to look for.

The sound of more doors opening draw my attention, just a little longer, and I can get out of this dump.

I groan as I sit up. I rub my temples as waves of pain pass through my head.

Where am I? Why am I here?

Urgh... I made a mistake trying to stand up. I stagger to the bars of the door of this small prison like room and the metal clangs in response. I look around absorbing my surroundings. The straw bed, the concrete walls and, and... the tiny, dried blood stain peeking our from the top of the bed. I yank the bed back and see that the blood stain covers an entire corner of the room. I blink several times when I realise I'm in proto armour. What is going on? I think. Almost as if on cue, the door slides open with a loud ominous screech. I step out and lean on the door's archway and see on the right that there is a double door with a screen hanging above it.

Suddenly the screen flickers on and display's Serris's ugly face.

"Greetings, little Knights! I am Captain Serris, and I will be hosting the games this week. You have entered the games with dreams of glory, honor, and prestige; great rewards of wealth and power will be showered on the victor. But with great reward comes great risk, and these are not childrens' games, where you respawn after you die. No, this...this will be a fight for your life!"

"You will face many hazards on your journey to greatness. Enemies may beset you on all sides; traps wait in the walls to slay you; and, of course, the legendary Finder herself!"

The mention of "The Finder" brings rounds of applause, boos, and cheers from the audience.

Serris claps his hands together. "So, knowing all the risks and glories you seek, let the games begin!" Trumpets sound, and the audience cheers again. The double doors at the north end of the room swing open, and the video screen shuts off.

I gulp and look down at my feet and see I am trembling. I watch as other file towards the door, running, jogging, walking. I close my eyes and try to wake up from my dream. I know this isn't a dream but inside me there is a small, warm fire of hope. I have to hold onto my hope. I'm usually calm but this has worried me to this content.

Why me?

===

OCC: I did the same thing as Skye. I copied from Thin's post.

I blow away a strand of hair in my face, and hear someone calling for help. I sit against the wall, and look at my dress. It's unsalvageable...so I suppose I can use it to attend to these cuts along my arms and head. I strip the cloth and layer it together, tightening the bands one-handedly. The cuts were originally received by those I thought to be my friends, the imperial guards. I talked to them when I was lonely, but I suppose they're the ones that gave my original plans away to my father. After that, they'd brought out whips and swords...

A tear falls onto one of the cuts, and I gasp, tears stinging my eyes...

Eventually, the dresss is cropped completely, the silver and green armor of the Proto set changing into something of a cropped armor top and skirt, and knee-high boots. I realize the Proto can morph...I touch the helmet on my head as it changes to what I presume is a black flower. I look strange with black cloth bands along my arms and legs, but it's necessary. I pull the cloth over my forehead and turn it into a headband of sorts, my hair still covering one eye. I might as well hope the Games start soon. It's the only way I can stop it at all...

I slouch against the wall once more. I'll be useless here. There's no way I'm going to get out of here with these trained professionals...but there's still that chance I'll live...but no one is going to ally with someone like me unless they get higher level armor, which I can use to full potential. Once they learn what they want to, they'll kill me on the spot...I finger the necklace around my neck...

There's a story my people tell, of how a man was desperate to save his child from dying, and he swore thirteen times to the heavens he would give anything to save her...and that's when he appeared. The Final Snarbolax, the last of it's kind with a mind. He asked if the man would desire a kingdom, at any cost. When the man agreed, the Snarbolax asked for his soul. The man unwittingly gave it when it was obvious he and the girl should have died on the spot, but the Snarbolax changed the fate. The man became a corrupted, and ruled a kingdom that was built on lies and backroom deals, yet everything looked fine on the surface. The Snarbolax left, and so a statue was built, and this necklace worn like a cross. But the statue doesn't look like a Snarbolax. It looks humanoid, not like the four-legged animal I saw in the fifth Depth...

I fall asleep thinking hard...hearing a door open...

Seeing all the trapdoors litter the floor of the room was blatantly obvious. A flicker of flame revealed a door and what appeared to be a light switch were on the opposing side. I could have teleported to the other side, but setting a bed on fire is enough on my part, I thought. I moved back, getting a bit tired of cloaking for so long.

As I stood in there, watching some Knights attempt to maneuver their way around the traps, one Knight catches my attention. She was wearing a strangely torn up dress, which seems to have been used as make shift bandages. What really catches me is her beauty... I shake my head, forcing the thoughts out.

No way. Last time that happened; I sigh, intently watching as she makes her way through the dimly lot room, the flame casting shadows over her, making her all the more mysterious.

(OOC: Did I forget to mention that Nitscu is quite easy to fall for someone xD)

I struggle to get up from the sickening moist ground, my legs hurting horribly. I reach out and feel a metal wall, nice and dry. I gag. The smell of death enters my nose, and I gag again. The castle...the pool of dead in the ball room...I can't take that again. I charge my Proto Gun, and look around. The trap door is three meters up, but maybe if I use my bandages as a rope I can get out! I shove the gun's handle in my mouth, and hold the charge as I desperately pull off the strips of cloth and start tying them. I wrap it around my arm as I tie, and start remembering the rain on the windows that night, and the lightning crashing down from the heavens and sending roars across the valley...is there a predator in here? Something killed these people. Maybe I'm it's predator, not the prey. I weave the rope quickly and reach down, grabbing a bone. I tie it to the end of the rope, and swing it up at least ten times for fifteen minutes until it catches. I climb up until I remember my pained leg...damn. I am not sitting down, so I can only hope someone will see the bone and the rope and pull me up. Hopefully before the predator's back.

I swing my sword hard, as a clanging reaches out from the trapdoor. I grab onto the rope, swinging back and forth across the pool...

I heard the snarls above grow louder. I don't even care anymore, my legs will hurt, but at least I won't die this way nor have others die! I grab the rope, and inch up until I'm at the top. I grab the corner the bone was held to, andshove open the trapdoor. I climb out, by now my legs are in serious pain, but that doesn't matter. I turn my head to see a light coming from a man's gun...I grab my own and point it in the direction as he does. I slam closed the trapdoor, and stare in every direction. This thing couldn't scare me more than what I saw in the castle, what was eating the remains of the people. No, that thing was that of nightmares. The deepest part of ourselves. I call it Feral.

I release the trigger, and start dragging myself by my arms toward the general direction of the door. Everyone seemed to have forgotten about that. If I turn the lights on, let's see what happens.

And on this day, I swear
Full allegiance with that of the Infestation
And on this day, my burden will be no more
And I shall return as your host
To fulfill my last purpose to keep the Infestation at bay
-Unknown

I get up from the ground, my legs shaking. I had turned on the lights, and panic stopped. I turn and give the man who had pointed his gun at the monster a meaningful look before turning around and walking into the next room, darkness enveloping my figure...

((Alice already turned on the liiiiiiiiights xD))

In a matter of seconds, the light flicker back on. But to my horror the figure that had been menacing us simply just teleports away. It could probably take us all out on a whim, but that wouldn't be much of a game now, would it? I needed to get my gear back, and fast. I walk slowly into the well lit room, taking notice of three other people, the player that had pushed the bed, the girl that had been by the switch, and....someone else standing back where we entered from. Strange, he hadn't been there before. Just more targets to eliminate, and like that my PDA started to hum, looks like I had my kill list.

(OOC: Waiting for mods to assign Axis his kill and/or save list)

I woke up and noticed a room and it seemed to be the only way out but I noticed something odd about the bed. I moved it to the other side and noticed a blood patch on the wall but I never took much notice to it. I then entered the first room but the door behind me locked up but I noticed some people after this room but before I moved, I noticed some traps on the ground even though it was pitch black. I started to walk around the traps and found a light switch. However, I noticed a weird looking enemy hiding in the corner but it then vanished and I walked to the next room where everyone was. (I basically summed up what would have happening in my side of the story).

Some people crowded around me, and looking at them, I saw they also had proto gear only. And sadly nothing that could light a fire from what I saw.

Well, maybe we could just move around careful- My train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a bed spontaneously bursting into flames. What the...? Who did that? Looking at other peoples faces, they all seemed at least moderately surprised.

The beds flames light up the room revealing a couple of trapdoors. I start weaving my way through them before the fire goes out, the door closes, and an eerie sound is made.

Aw crap, I'm going to die aren't I? My mind shifts to thoughts of my parents. I wish there hadn't died. Or even, I wish I was at least THERE when they died. I wish I was able to- My thoughts are interrupted by the lights coming on.

Upon the lights coming on, I could have sworn something in the corner of my eye disappeared, but it might have been my imagination.

In the next room, the lights are on. A chasm is in the middle of the room, with a door on the other side. There are multiple ropes that I assume you have to hop from one to another to get to the other side. Inside the chasm, instead of immediate death, is a bunch of lumbers ready to maul anyone who comes down. To try to see if there's a easy way out of this, I try and see if I could hit them with my proto gun.

((OOC: Ironically for my characters back-story, my grandpa died and I am sad. D: I'll still post, but it might not be my best effort. Also, If I have limited ammo, ignore that last sentence.))

A shout from the other side of the Chasm draws my attention. My heart stops. Oh great Isora, not again. Why are there so many beautiful women in this place?! I shake and my head and force myself to regain focus. The tactic that the clever Knight was doing doing just made me admire him more, he clearly has a smart head. The attractive girl on the other side of the Chasm joins in on his attack on the Lumbers, but then I'm drawn to the woman's weapon, it wasn't Proto, in fact, it was a combination of some quite powerful weaponry. I walk up to the edge of the chasm away from the others, and whip out my Proto Sword. Doing a quick few slashes in the air, I ionize the particles around the sword swings, and launch them at the Lumbers. I continue doing this, which was much easier for me with a sword.

I wasn't looking in the best of places. I checked my surroundings for a danger scan to confirm my suspicions. It was clearly too dangerous. Readings off the scale. In any normal case I would smash the wall down with my rocket hammer and go 'Goodbye!' but every single weapon of my arsenal was missing except my stupid zero-stars. I charged up my 'special ability' but when I used it, there was NO effect whatsoever! Nothing I knew could withstand the crippling plasma blast caused by it. Oh come on!

OOC: Vogdamnit, everyone posts so quickly!
_______________________________________

Operator had his hand poised on a lever, preparing for the arrival of the 'players'. He uses his other hand to click a button, and in a rasp voice said to the Finder, "Take out the remainders from the ready room. Then kill that pretty girl in the dress. I don't care how, poison, darts, traps, lasers..... take her out. Then next, the guy who pushed the bed. He's too smart to keep alive."

I stared, noting everything about the mysterious girl that had just appeared. She immediately started to fire at the pit, which housed dozens of lumbers. The only form of getting across were ropes. She was using a custom weapon, not only were those rarely awarded in the game, it was almost impossible to obtain anything above 1* this early in. The simple conclusion was she was an agent of the operators and Serris. "Apparently I'm not the only gun for hire here...." I thought dismally to myself. I couldn't let her take out anyone here, the less people I killed, the less I got paid. My conscience rapidly turned my thoughts, but I couldn't be distracted. If I had ANY shot at taking down the people that took away my life, I'd need to survive the games. The girl, made something close to a frown, but from this far away it was hard to tell. She just called us to follow, and left through the doors she cam through. "She's not one of us." I stated simply, loud and clear for the rest of the contenders to hear.

I quickly mustered my strength, preparing a poison wave that would hopefully take down the lumbers in the pit. But something stopped me cold, I stood back in horror. They had contained my powers, for how long and to what degree I had no idea.I tried again, but found I could only summon a few quills. I immediately shot the quills at the remaining lumbers. Hopefully the poison would ensure a quick getaway if anything went wrong. I jumped for the rope nearest to me, and caught a strong grip. "Anyone else coming or not?"

I walked out of the room, scanning what was around me all the time.

Then I found a monitor, and Serris's ugly face appeared.

'Ya can't fool anyone I know - they'd know the last thing I recall killing was a virulisk. But you decide to be such a coward and put the body of a person you killed near me to avoid being stabbed in the FACE by Feron. If you want, I'll blast your ugly face off Cradle this very minute.

Serris laughed. 'Oh really now?'

I said with an even rougher voice, my eyes under my scanner burning red with hatred 'Yes. And if you don't out your hands up, I'll blow you up.' Anyone hearing it would clearly know that I hate Serris. After all, before this he sent me to the Wasteland (ThC reference), locked my best friend up and killed Firesword, my sprite.

Even my entire helmet was burning red hot with hatred then. 'Unless you put your hands up NOW, on the count of three I'll annihilate you. And YOU won't respawn. You never said anything about ME.' I said that because under the Proto Crest I was wearing was a cache of Sparks of Life I always kept as an emergency. I laughed.

As the face of Serris flickered out, I quickly used my sword as a forging hammer and combined my gun and bomb to make a grenade launcher. Ka-Boom, monsters of this place!

I tried my new 'toy' out on another Virulisk. (How odd) The grenade from the charge attack blasted the venomous chameleon into thousands of tiny gibs.

Gun with bomb means mass destruction, in the form of a grenade launcher.