[quote=@Dedonus]
Does the "prize" have to be the same for the protagonist and his/her allies?  In other words, if the protagonist succeeds, the protagonist gets "Prize" A.  If he/she fails, the allies get "Prize B".
[/quote]

That works, so long as the protagonist is denied prize A.

[quote=@mdk]
I've got a question.

There's a story I've been working on for a long time, off-and-on. Haven't been able to carve out enough time to write the conclusion, but this is *almost* a perfect fit.... but only if there's nuance involved. It's about a noble lord gradually rejecting his nation to save his own (conquered) lands. So he's totally the ambitious guy, going it alone [i]except[/i], he's got subordinates following him. Most of those people are along for the ride all the way through. So even though he's 'Going it alone' in terms of the court nobility, he's bringing his lieutenants with him (most of them anyway), and those would be his 'friends' as described by the challenge.....

typing it out, I feel like that doesn't actually fit the labor. BUT IF IT DID, I would really love to finish it and share it here. It'd be crazy stupid long and [i]I think[/i] one of the better big-pieces I've written.

No special treatment..... is that (plausibly, assuming I actually write it correctly) a fit for the challenge? I've got plenty of other ideas if that's better.
[/quote]

You know as well as I do that all entries should be written specifically for the contest at hand. If you feel it still qualifies, do as you will.