Discuss anything about the 56th Hunger Games here.

Ah, the golden Cornucopia in the center of the Arena. This is probably the biggest thing in the Arena, and indisputably the shiniest. Twenty feet high at the top, it looks just like the cornucopias placed on tables in olden days, right down to the looking like it’s made of wicker; the only differences are that it’s actually made of gold, it’s a whole heck of a lot bigger, and the items stuffed within and scattered around are rather different. Instead of fruits and vegetables, expect to find weapons, medical supplies, armour, water canteens, and a number of other things that a tribute might need to survive.

The only source of water visible from the Cornucopia is just to the northwest. This little spring-fed creek moves along at a nice pace, swift enough to clear out any pollutants so that the water quality is exemplary. Probably. The animals can drink it, at least, which may or may not mean anything- that’s up to you to decide. Don’t spend too long thinking about it, though, because this water draws a lot of people and creatures to it; stand around too long, and you could fall prey to one of the tributes or wild animals that undoubtedly stalk the Arena.

In the northwestern area of the Arena, you’ll find what is easily the oddest section of land the Gamemakers came up with this year. The dead remains of what once was a loosely-spaced forest cover the area, but that’s not the bizarre bit- what makes it strange is the fact that in every clearing a circle of tall stone pillars has been set up. They don’t seem to do anything; you can use them for cover, perhaps, but otherwise they just sit there. Not a particularly inviting place, but definitely interesting, if only because of the mystery surrounding those rocks.

Not everyone in Panem has seen the splendour of a forest changing colors. Not all areas have trees that turn; even deciduous forests remain green throughout the year in warmer climates. Even the ignorant, however, will instantly recognize this section of trees, which lies just to the west of the Cornucopia, as an iconic representation of autumn. Every tree is aflame with brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges in varying shades; even for those used to such things, the sight is breathtakingly beautiful. Just because it’s pretty doesn’t mean it’s safe, though. Those lovely leaves could hide anything, human or animal or even mutt, and the forest is littered with fallen leaves that crackle no matter how carefully you walk across them, easily alerting all but the deaf (and dead) to your approach.

Continue far enough west or southwest through the fall trees, and you’ll notice the forest start to change. Larger trees, with green leaves rather than flame-colored or brown ones, begin to intersperse among the autumn trees; before you know it the ratio will have changed dramatically so that it’s the green trees that dominate, and soon the colored leaves will disappear behind you entirely, leaving you in a forest of massive oak trees. Don’t be fooled by the fact that they’re both forests- this section of woods has its own secrets and uses, not to mention its own dangers. You can hide among the giant roots, but others might be hiding, too...

At dawn and through most of the morning, this lake seems perfectly normal- because early in the day, mist seems natural. Normal enough, right? Especially since the Arena isn't too warm this year, and cooler temperatures usually allow fog to sustain a longer existence. But there comes a point when the fog should disperse, when the sun should evaporate all the moisture into higher skies. Nothing happens, though, and every hour of the day is marked by a veil that hangs over the water, drastically reducing visibility and causing an almost ethereal picture. The lake itself seems normal- deep blue water shows the occasional ripple as a first swims near the surface or a bug skims over the water- but all objects, from tributes to trees, are blurred into anonymity. And that weird mist doesn't affect any other part of the Arena... are you sure you want to trust such a bizarre location?

It’s a good thing that there’s more to the Arena than this, or the creativity of the Gamemakers would have to be cast into serious doubt. This entire part of the Arena is just... grain. Some sections are taller than others, some look a little healthier than others, but the subtle differences aren’t enough to change the fact that this is a freaking lot of grain. The only things that manage to save it from total monotony are the scarecrows scattered throughout the field, but even those aren’t that interesting, because scarecrows just stand there. They don’t follow you around, they don’t watch you, and they sure as anything don’t seem to want to kill you... right?

If you should choose to head east of the Cornucopia instead of west, a very different kind of forest awaits you. This entire area is littered with leafless, lifeless trees that loom over the land like skeletal wraiths. It’s an ominous place, definitely not the most comfortable of this Arena’s sections. The trees are dense enough to provide a bit of cover, but only if you’re careful about where you put yourself. You might be able to build something out of the wood if you know how- a fire or weapons or some shelter, maybe- but they offer no food and little camouflage, and are spaced just close enough together that if anything comes after you, it's going to be hard to run.