Author Games: The River of Night

Results

Despite that unfortunate period towards the beginning when I was afraid we would need to close these Games, I'd like to give a shout out to all our finalists, no matter how the final rankings stack up. You all deserve to be here, and I'm phenomenally pleased with your work here. Well done.

Now, isn't it about time I stop talking and get down to business?

In Fourth Place:

It's not every day one encounters a gender-fluid thief with brother issues and a fondness for a river goddess. The idea for this character intrigued me from the start, and I was delighted when I  tallied scores and discovered they made it into the Finals. Their conclusion of performing their first (and last) act of selflessness made for a truly touching ending. Many congratulations, Khalid Masud.

In Third Place:

Masika Aarahm was by far the youngest of the champions, and when I first read her form, I admit I was hesitant. I've seen far too many young tributes crash and burn because the author had trouble writing them in character without sound like a ten-year-old themselves. Despite this added layer of difficulty, Masika quickly developed into a charming character who blended world-weary wisdom with childlike innocence. She has definitely earned he place in the finals.

In Second Place:

Written by a veteran of my Games (and as first host, The Veteran period,) it's no surprise that Ife Lerato won second place! A thoroughly subtle character (which is somewhat difficult to manage when I literally set you on fire twice,) Ife had a delicate job in balancing grief, devotion, and kindness in a land where all three were distinctly unwelcome. The fact that she did it at all speaks to her strength; the fact that she also managed to sneak in hella foreshadowing and an excellent twist speaks to the skill of her author.

So obviously, that leaves: 

Katie might have been new to my Games, but Ramia Gamal  was written with all the skill, artistry, and force of will I've seen from her in others. Essentially every entry had me on the edge of my seat; from the smoking wreck that was her childhood to the agonizing period in the Lake of Fire when she was convinced her goddess had abandoned her. I actually cursed at the screen of my computer when I saw the twist, primarily because it was so damn obvious and now I feel like an idiot, and her ending was everything that was right about Ramia in a few short sentences. Well done, madam. Well done, indeed.

That's all for now, everyone! I'd like to thank all our wonderful tributes for handing in and making this possible. I couldn't do it without you (well, I could try, but frankly it'd be messy, pointless, and exhausting.) Many thanks as well to those of you who read along, adding comments, voting, and otherwise reminding me that yes, other people enjoy these and I should continue. 

Tune in next time for Author Games: Path of the Guildpact!

-The Narrator/TheCatKing/Joe