- "In the Capitol, they call it the Launch Room. In the districts, we call it the Stockyard. The place animals go before slaughter. "
- —Katniss Everdeen[src]
The Launch Room was the chamber where a tribute would be prepared by their stylist one last time before being launched into the Hunger Games arena.[1]
Purpose[]
The Hunger Games[]
Each tribute and their stylist took a hovercraft to the location of the arena, then climbed down a ladder, through a tube, into the catacombs below. After that, they followed instructions to locate the correct Launch Room. There, the tribute would be able to shower and brush their teeth before being seen to by their stylist for any finishing cosmetic touches. The stylist received a package containing the tribute's arena uniform on-site and helped them dress. Food and water were available to the tribute if they had the appetite.[1]
Katniss in her tribute tube.
After an uncertain amount of time, a pleasant female voice announced that it was time to prepare to launch. The tribute would then go stand on a metal plate, and the glass cylinder of a tribute tube lowered to keep them in place just before the platform lifted them into the arena.[1]
All tributes were launched at the same time, arranged in a circle around the Cornucopia. After the launch, each tribute had to remain on their launch plate for 60 seconds; a wrong step would trigger land mines and kill them instantly. At the end of this period, the land mines were deactivated, and the Games began.[2]
Like the arena, Launch Rooms and tribute tubes both appeared to contain hidden cameras; the first footage of the 50th Hunger Games arena was shown from the perspective of one of the tributes as she launched.[3]
Since each arena was only used once, each Launch Room was only ever used by one tribute.[1]
Tourism[]
Prior to the Second Rebellion, arenas and their catacombs became vacation spots for Capitol citizens to tour after the Games concluded.[1]
Description[]
Any known Launch Rooms were not described in great detail. Each one was built brand-new for that year's Games, and both of Katniss Everdeen's rooms contained a shower, a couch, and the metal plate and tribute tube.[1][4]
History[]
74th Hunger Games[]
In her Launch Room, Katniss Everdeen showered and cleaned her teeth before her stylist Cinna braided her hair and helped her get dressed. The two speculated about what the arena might be based on the uniform, and Cinna gave Katniss her mockingjay pin before they sat down on the couch together. Katniss's nerves prevented her from eating or making conversation, but when she reached out her hand to Cinna, he held it between both of his until she was called to stand on her platform and be launched.[1]
75th Hunger Games[]
In her Launch Room, Katniss took a shower, then Cinna braided her hair down her back and helped her dress in simple undergarments. As they had the previous year, they speculated about the arena based on the uniform, Cinna gave her the mockingjay pin, and they sat down together, holding hands. When it was time for Katniss to stand on her plate, the launch was delayed, so she was forced to watch from inside the tribute tube as Peacekeepers beat Cinna and dragged him away. Only then was she launched into the arena.[4]
Second Rebellion/Aftermath[]
After the Second Rebellion, the Hunger Games were abolished and all past arenas were "completely destroyed".[5] This presumably included the catacombs and Launch Rooms underneath.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 The Hunger Games, Chapter 10
- ↑ The Hunger Games, Chapter 11
- ↑ Catching Fire, Chapter 14
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Catching Fire, Chapter 18
- ↑ Mockingjay, Epilogue