[center][color=black][h1][u]The Twelve Labours[/u][/h1][/color][/center]
The Seventh Labour rises. For those of you who are just dropping in and have no idea what this is, take a peek at [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/79563-the-twelve-labours-an-introduction/ooc]The Twelve Labours Introduction Thread[/url] (it's a quick read, I promise).

If I am being perfectly honest, I am vibrating in place out of anticipation for the Eighth Labour. Not that I did not put forward the same effort for the Seventh as I did for all the others, but it is inevitably standing in the shadow of a Titan. A callout to [@Holmishire] and [@WiseDragonGirl]. Right now you two may think that you are sitting pretty with just one last Labour to coast through before the Eighth comes around to kick you both back down the mountain, but do not be lulled into complacency by your winning streak. Pride precipitates a dizzying fall and all that jazz.

Let the Seventh Labour commence. [u][b]Submission ends at Objective Midnight, March 13.[/b][/u]
[h2]Entry Rules:[/h2]
	1. Jaffar's (left) thumb.
	2. Follow the [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/531-fundamental-rules-of-the-guild/ooc]standard guild rules[/url].
	3. Obey the Dark Lord Sauron's [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/77197-moderation-policy-in-the-rp-sections/ooc]rules[/url] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/85368-moderation-policy-for-forum-contests/ooc]as well[/url] (just to cover all the bases).
	4. Follow MY [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/79559-the-twelve-labours-rules-standards-and-conditions/ooc]rules[/url] too. Let it never be said we did not warn you.
	5. Send your entry to [@Terminal] by March 13th.
	6. Be sure to include whether or not you want your story to remain anonymous! I will add your name only if I am given your permission!
	7. Any explicit/mature material must be kept off-site. I will only post links to them with NSFW notices.
	8. I reserve the right to simply toss out any story if it doesn't possess a basic modicum of good sense and taste. Don't make me.
	9. All stories must adhere to a certain standard of quality expected of good storytelling.
	10. You must use your own characters. Preexisting characters from franchise settings may only be alluded to.
	11. If your setting is borrowed from a franchise, make sure to include a disclaimer and credit the original inventor of the setting used.
[h2]Prizes:[/h2]
All winning entries will receive a forum trophy as well as a unique, custom forum title which they can activate and deactivate at their leisure. Additionally, winning entries of particularly exceptional quality will be awarded Challenge Accolades.

All winning entries will also be saved to a public archive, a link to which will be permanently available in my signature! I personally post in the [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/forums/1-news]News[/url] and [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/forums/41-roleplaying-discussion]Discussion[/url] subforums of the guild to congratulate and announce the winners as well. As a reminder, unless you specifically give me permission to include authorship of an entry, every posted story will remain anonymous (awarded trophies can also be hidden in your user profile, so you will not show up if people are examining the trophy groups).
[center][color=black][h2]The Seventh Labour[/h2][/color] [img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Trident_logo.svg/451px-Trident_logo.svg.png[/img]
[quote=Elijah Baley]"Great fortitude and personal conviction are oftentimes the greatest flaws that might reside within the souls of men."[/quote][/center]
[hider=The Seventh Labour][center][color=black][h3]The Seventh Labour[/h3][/color][b]The [color=black]labour[/color] demands the use of a [color=A9A9A9]character[/color] beholden with [color=FFA07A]kindred[/color] ties - surrounded by [color=20B2AA]ancestry[/color] and [color=00FA9A]descentry[/color] alike. Muse upon the nature of [color=F0E68C]obligation[/color] and [color=D8BFD8]accountability[/color], given [color=87CEFA]freely[/color] and accepted devoid of [color=00FFFF]cognizance[/color] in the time before [color=FF8C00]sight[/color]. Mark how such [color=BC8F8F]fetters[/color] might be [color=808000]broken[/color], [color=4682B4]fortified[/color], [color=DC143C]compounded[/color] and [color=3CB371]disjoined[/color] - as with all things the nature of a [color=FFA07A]link[/color], or its [color=2F4F4F]absence[/color], shall define the motion of [color=FF4500]power[/color] across time.[/b]
[hider=The Challenge]
[color=black][b]Write about your character's family being placed in mortal peril, their lives placed in the hands of a merciless foe. If your character should choose to take up the role of heroism, end the whole of their lineage. If they should accede to the desires of their foe, permit the family their freedom - and punish your character accordingly.[/b][/color][/hider][/center][/hider][hider=Clarification of the Challenge Parameters]This section exists specifically to ensure there is no ambiguity or ambivalence in what, precisely, the challenge requires of each participant. If you have any specific questions which are not addressed here, please send them to [@Terminal] for resolution.

For [color=black]The Seventh Labour[/color], I have asked you to write about a character having to choose whether or not to rescue their family - with unfortunate results.

Q. My character needs to be beholden with kindred ties?
A. They need to have a family. Not necessarily blood relations, but people whom they [i]perceive[/i] as family. Family being plural, as in more than one person.

Q. The family needs to contain ancestry and descentry?
A. Both the old and young need to be amongst their number. This restaurant will turn away parties of four filled only with twenty to thirty somethings.

Q. The family needs to be placed in mortal peril?
A. Idiots flock together. Or was that birds? Doesn't matter. The entirety of your character's family must be in imminent danger of being killed.

Q. Mortal peril at the hands of a merciless foe?
A. The foe need not be wicked nor unprincipled. Merely opposed to your character - and, at least within the specific context of your story, devoid of any notion of mercy. They should not hesitate to slay every last member of your character's family, or the character themselves for that matter.

Q. If my character tries to play hero, I have to end their entire lineage?
A. Hostage situations are very rarely tidy, after all. If your character should try to save their family - [i]kill them all.[/i] Your character alone should be permitted to live, if they should happen to still be alive at the end of their ordeal.

Q. Can I revive or otherwise bring back the deceased?
A. Absolutely not. All Deaths Are Final. Feel free to bring them back outside of The Seventh Labour, and use them in RPs and such, but for the purposes of this contest they must die and stay dead. They can return for future contests, of course.

Q. My character's family is made up entirely of immortal and invincible reality warping gods who are already dead zombie ghost liches!
A. That's nice. [i][u][b][color=black]END THEM.[/color][/b][/u][/i]

Q. What was that about my character acceding?
A. If their mortal foe took their whole family hostage, clearly they want something. If you feel like having your character do as they are told, you may.

Q. If my character accedes I have to punish them?
A. The punishment could just be whatever their foe intends to do to them, by way of example. However, presuming their foe did not see fit to inflict any undue pain upon your character - see that their acquiescence nonetheless leads to a darker, harder existence. No slaps on the wrist.

Q. How long can my story be?
A. As long as you feel is necessary. I will read any and everything submitted, irregardless of length, and write a review on it. Do not let the short three-day judging period dissuade you. If you have a 800,000 word brick for me, I will take it. Similarly, extremely short stories are also welcome. It is entirely possible for segues as short as three paragraphs long to clear the challenge.[/hider]

[hider=Credits]Thanks again to [@mdk], and the entire RPGC crew for helping with scheduling for The Twelve Labours!

Great thanks to [@mahz] and the other members of the [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/staff]guild staff[/url] for helping to renovate the guild and enabling the features that allow us to reward contestants and to advertise our presence.[/hider]