Caesar Rudtman

**Caesar Daniel Rudtman** (born 28 January 18 AS) was the male tribute from District 2 and the eventual winner of the 1st Hunger Games. At the time of his reaping, he was 18 years old and a defense and combat student at the Academy of District 2. As the winner of the inaugural games, Rudtman was the first victor of *The Hunger Games*, and the first tribute from District 2 to win.

As a career tribute, Rudtman dominated the initial cornucopia bloodbath along with the other careers, earning his first kill by killing Samantina Ruse in the bloodbath. After taking the bulk of the cornucopia's supplies and weapons, Rudtman continued to hunt with the other careers, soon afterwards killing Chive Long as well. Rudtman later came across Titus Erickson, who was caring for the injured Tina Frendling, and asked Rudtman if he could provide her with medical attention. Rudtman agreed, but later found Frendling's wound to be infected, and killed her out of mercy. Angered by the killing, Erickson attempted to incapacitate Rudtman, but was killed by Silvertine Samuelson. Rudtman's decision to help Erickson and Frendling instead of immediately killing them angered his career allies, which led to Rudtman abandoning the alliance in the middle of the night in order to survive on his own. From then on, he adopted a strategy of only killing when he needed to kill, and avoiding interaction with other tributes as much as possible. After several days of peaceful isolation, Rudtman re-partnered with his district partner Circe Clement, and together attended the top five feast, where Clement killed Wesley Pierre. Sensing treachery on Clement's part, Rudtman successfully foiled her attempt to kill him, and killed her in response. Now in the final two, Rudtman easily dodged Diedrik Ellow's attempt to kill him, and killed Ellow quickly in response. Prior to killing him, Ellow pled for Rudtman to think about Ellow's family and allow him to go home to see them one more time, to which Rudtman delivered the now-iconic line "and what about mine?," immediately before killing him and ending the games.

In order to win, Rudtman at first employed the typical career tribute strategy of being a powerful and dominating force, killing all those who stand in his way. However, after abandoning the career alliance, his strategy shifted to a more compassionate one; Rudtman avoided confrontation and killing unless he had to, and was protected from other tributes as he was viewed as the most physically threatening tribute in the arena, with very few wanting to challenge him. With five kills, Rudtman was also the deadliest tribute in the 1st Hunger Games.

## Early life

Rudtman was born on 28 January 18 AS in Cupria, District 2. His family was wealthy, with his father working as a physician and his mother as a nurse. Rudtman was the eldest of three sons. Rudtman enrolled in the Academy of District 2 in 6 AS, in order to study medicine. In 1 PS, following the announcement of The Hunger Games, Rudtman was one of several students transferred to the academy's defense and combat program, meant to train students to compete in and win the Hunger Games.

## 1st Hunger Games

### Pre-games

#### Reaping

As a defense and combat student at the Academy of District 2, Rudtman was trained by instructors to compete in the games, and had aspired to be able to participate. Several weeks prior to The Reapings, Rudtman demonstrated his skills before a panel of judges at his school, who then subsequently designated him as the district's male tribute for the 1st Hunger Games. During The Reapings, Rudtman volunteered to take the place of the reaped male tribute, as expected, and his request was granted. The District 2 escort was Giorgio Sanclemente, while the district's female tribute was Circe Clement.

#### Opening ceremony

In the opening ceremony, Rudtman was styled by the District 2 head stylist Ellinore Mae. As District 2 is the location for peacekeeper training and many of its residents are named after legendary figures from Greek myth, Mae dressed the tributes in outfits themed after Greek warriors on a chariot pulled by horses disguised as pegasusses. The outfit went on to win the costume competition.

#### Training

During training, Rudtman demonstrated his abilities in hand-to-hand combat, swordplay, and with throwing knives. In addition to his combat skills, Rudtman also possessed a significant amount of medical training, which he also demonstrated to the Gamemakers. He ultimately impressed them, and received a training score of 10. This was the highest-score awarded in the games, leading Rudtman to begin the games as the favorite to win with the oddsmakers.

### Games

As a career tribute, Rudtman dominated the initial cornucopia bloodbath along with the other careers, earning his first kill by killing Samantina Ruse in the bloodbath. After taking the bulk of the cornucopia's supplies and weapons, Rudtman continued to hunt with the other careers, soon afterwards killing Chive Long as well. Rudtman later came across Titus Erickson, who was caring for the injured Tina Frendling, and asked Rudtman if he could provide her with medical attention. Rudtman agreed, but later found Frendling's wound to be infected, and killed her out of mercy. Angered by the killing, Erickson attempted to incapacitate Rudtman, but was killed by Silvertine Samuelson. Rudtman's decision to help Erickson and Frendling instead of immediately killing them angered his career allies, which led to Rudtman abandoning the alliance in the middle of the night in order to survive on his own. From then on, he adopted a strategy of only killing when he needed to kill, and avoiding interaction with other tributes as much as possible. After several days of peaceful isolation, Rudtman re-partnered with his district partner Circe Clement, and together attended the top five feast, where Clement killed Wesley Pierre. Sensing treachery on Clement's part, Rudtman successfully foiled her attempt to kill him, and killed her in response. Now in the final two, Rudtman easily dodged Diedrik Ellow's attempt to kill him, and killed Ellow quickly in response. Prior to killing him, Ellow pled for Rudtman to think about Ellow's family and allow him to go home to see them one more time, to which Rudtman delivered the now-iconic line "and what about mine?," immediately before killing him and ending the games.

In order to win, Rudtman at first employed the typical career tribute strategy of being a powerful and dominating force, killing all those who stand in his way. However, after abandoning the career alliance, his strategy shifted to a more compassionate one; Rudtman avoided confrontation and killing unless he had to, and was protected from other tributes as he was viewed as the most physically threatening tribute in the arena, with very few wanting to challenge him. With five kills, Rudtman was also the deadliest tribute in the 1st Hunger Games.

### Post-games

#### Victory tour

In the aftermath of the games, Rudtman embarked on the first annual victory tour. The tour began in District 3, where Rudtman visited the city of Littgart. He then arrived in District 4, visiting Conch Bay, where he met with the families of Finn and Marina. He subsequently visited District 5, but was evacuated shortly after his arrival due to unsafe air qualities. Rudtman then arrived in District 6, but was also evacuated quickly due to threats of violence for his killing of Tina.

After visiting District 6, Rudtman arrived in District 7, where he visited Morrowbane and several smaller villages. He afterwards left for District 8, where he met with the family of Diedrik, personally receiving their forgiveness for killing their son. Afterwards, he arrived in District 9, where he volunteered on a local farm, before arriving in District 10, where he toured a cattle slaughterhouse. Rudtman subsequently arrived in District 11, where he was met with a peaceful protest by residents against the games, and afterwards arrived in District 12, where he toured a coal mine. Rudtman then arrived in District 1, where he was given a number of complimentary luxury products after touring a factory, and afterwards arrived in his home district District 2, where he received a medal of honor from District 2 Supervisor Helena Karl.

After completing his victory tour, Rudtman and his immediate family relocated from District 2 to The Capitol, as reward for winning the games.