Round Robin Story Debate Tournament

The small, black boy stands alone. His thin, limp arms hang by his side. In one hand he carries a leather shield, in the other a spear. Bare feet lovingly embrace the cold, dirt covered, stone ground. His shaved head held high. Around him lay ruined dirt walls, the stench of decomposing animals permeates the entire house, if you could call it a house. But to the boy, it was always his home. His gaze swiveled through the room. No one but him and the dead pig. He turned his attention back to the doorway. Outside he could hear the music, the drums, the chanting, the sound of hundreds of feet slapping the ground simultaneously, the cheering, and the anticipation. Yet the boy continues to stand there, alone.Finally, a man rushes into the room. He has swooshing white hair, tribal tattoos dominate his powerful physique, and piercings disfigure his handsome face. "Asakia, it is time." The boy slowly nods, thrusts out his chest and strides out of the house. A shock wave of cheering washes over him as he takes in his surroundings. On either side of him, his neighbours, friends, and family stand cheering him on and dancing. All are covered with tattoos and bone piercings. He continues to walk forward. People are throwing skulls at his feet, he picks one up. He lifts it high in the air and shows it off to everyone. They cheer. He takes the skull he loops it through his necklace. A ring of bones surrounds his neck, and in the centre, the skull caps it all off. He continues to walk forward.When he finally reaches the end of the path, he finds a circular pit. He gazes down into the darkness apprehensively, and a strong hand claps him on the shoulder."Nervous, Asakia?" the man with the white hair asked."Yes, father.""Well, you should be. I felt just like you when I was coming of age. Have no fear, you are the chieftains son, you will perform spectacularly." Sakai's father turned and stepped away, letting Asakai continue to stare into the darkness. "Ahem," a voice said behind him. Asakia jumped so high he almost fell into the pit. Behind him stood the village elder, the high priest. His twisted, frail body stood hunched over, almost touching the ground. A staff was clutched in has gnarled hands, now being used as a walking stick."It is time to begin the ceremony." He reached forward and touched Asakai's necklace."5,6, 7. Perfect, you have the correct amount. Your father has taught you well." the high priest turned back. "THE CEREMONY, IS BEGINNING!" he shouted. Instantaneously, hundreds of villagers swarmed forward. They formed a ring around the pit. They started dancing and cheering again, showering Asakai with bones, flowers, and food. The high priest slowly made his way to the edge of the pit, supported gently by Sakai's father. He stood at the edge of the pit, and the noise instantly died down. No one fidgeted, nobody moved. All eyes were attracted the frail old man standing at the edge of the pit. The priest closed his eyes and began to chant. Words flowed from him like water. The villagers bowed their heads, muttering along with the priest. "Eeeesh, eesh HAH!" the priest shouted. He raised his hands towards the heavens then threw down his staff into the pit. The villagers burst out into cheers as the staff clattered in the darkness, its clangs reverberating throughout the air."You know what you must do, that staff is a symbol of this village's greatness. If the high priest loses his staff, the gods will smite our village. You must traverse into the pit and fight your way to the staff. Then, when all your enemies are slain you may return from the pit with my staff. Returning without it, will mean death." "I know what I must do," Asakai said.Two men rushed forward and threw a rope ladder down into the pit. Torches were lit as everyone craned their heads to try and locate the priest's staff. "RELEASE THE PRISONERS!" Sakai's father shouted. Three men, huddled in robes and chained together were revealed from the depths of the crowd. Their bonds were released and each was given a skull necklace. The 3 men looked at each other wearily, rubbing their wrists. They were roughly shoved onto the rope and were put down into the pit. "THROW DOWN THE WEAPONS!" Women came forth from the crowd, kneeling next to the pit. They each held a sword in their hand. Chanting, they lifted the swords high into the air, and then dropped them straight into the pit.The startled men wrenched a sword from the Pit, and stared upwards. Hundreds of pierced faces and tattooed bodies stared back. The high priest stepped forward."Ahem. IF YOU WANT TO EMERGE FROM THE PIT OF WISDOM, YOU MUST FIGHT EACHOTHER WITH THE SWORDS. THE SOLE SURVIVOR, WILL HAVE HIS CHANCE AT FREEDOM.""Damn you and your games, we'll never betray each other!" a man shouted from the pit. He threw down his sword and made rude hand gestures at the high priest. That's when a second man stuck him with a sword. He fell to his knees, blood rising to his mouth. He choked for air. The man twisted and turned the sword inside the first. He finally wrenched the sword free from the corpse."A pity, that was too quick. No fun." the high priest said.The man with the bloody blade turned and stared at the third man."You, you just killed George. You've known him your entire life, he's your friend! How could you, you monst, ACK!" The sword tasted more flesh as it penetrated the final man's rib cage. The sword was wrenched free with a horrible squelch. The man collapsed."He's still breathing!" the high priest called down.The man turned and viciously stabbed the man on the ground, over and over. The crowd cheered each time the sword came down.The high priest smiled and turned to Asakia. "Now, prove your manhood. Go down there and slay him!"