[center][color=black][h1][u]The Twelve Labours[/u][/h1][/color][/center]
The Eighth Labour, after much aggrandization, is finally here. 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).

Let the Eighth Labour commence. [u][b]Submission ends at Objective Midnight, April 21.[/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 April 21st.
	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 Eighth Labour[/h2][/color] [img]https://dfep0xlbws1ys.cloudfront.net/thumbsb7/9a/b79ac8887241662653c8735722b01129.jpg[/img]
[quote=Oliver Cromwell]I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken.[/quote][/center]
[hider=The Eighth Labour][center][color=black][h3]The Eighth Labour[/h3][/color]This [color=black]Labour[/color] shall require a [color=D3D3D3]disparity[/color] of the [color=ADD8E6]mind[/color] and that which is furthest from that of your own [color=FF8C00]knowing[/color]; [color=2F4F4F]foreign[/color] should be the [color=A0522D]nature[/color] of the [color=A9A9A9]character[/color] whose [color=D8BFD8]likeness[/color] is [color=808000]least[/color] like and [color=191970]furthest[/color] from their [color=A9A9A9]creator[/color]. [color=7B68EE]Ruminate[/color] upon your own [color=BC8F8F]preconceptions[/color] of [color=black]fate[/color] and [color=black]destiny[/color], give [color=C71585]consideration[/color] to the otherwise [color=40E0D0]unfathomable[/color] [color=191970]depths[/color] of your own personal [color=FF4500]power[/color]. Think of how much is [color=6495ED]known[/color] to some that is [color=2F4F4F]unknown[/color] to others, and draw from the well of [color=DDA0DD]fear[/color] and [color=008080]uncertainty[/color] to drink [color=191970]deep[/color] and [color=00FA9A]grow[/color] in [color=BDB76B]strength[/color].[hider=The Challenge]
[color=black][b]For this Labour, you, the Narrator, must engage your chosen character in conflict. The battle need not be physical in nature, with collisions of ideology and rebellion against the notions of written fate amongst other possibilities being equally valid. Regardless of the nature of the conflict, you, the Narrator, must fall in defeat to your creation - surrender or cession is inadmissible. Your failure must be total.[/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 Eighth Labour[/color], I have asked you to engage a character who is least like yourself in battle, and fail.

Q. The Labour requires a disparity of mind?
A. The character must not merely be physically distinct from you, but mentally and perhaps spiritually as well. The character must be the least similar to you in all respects.

Q. I, the Narrator, must engage my chosen character in conflict?
A. You must set yourself in opposition to them. I refer specifically to you in your capacity as Narrator in the sense that I do not require you to personify or otherwise anthropomorphize yourself in any fashion within the story. You may wage your war wholly in the mere establishment of the story itself, if you feel such subtlety is within your abilities.

Q. The battle need not be physical in nature?
A. It can be if you would like, but you may choose any sort of conflict. Perhaps a simple game of checkers, a lengthy philosophical debate, the character disagreeing with your chosen story direction, or perhaps a parallel escalation of fascinating insults. Whatever sort of conflict you can imagine, as long as it is understood that it is [i]you [/i]versus [i]them[/i].

Q. I, the Narrator, must fall in defeat?
A. If the conflict is physical, you must be slain. If the conflict is mental, you must be broken. If the conflict is ideological, you must have your preconceptions shattered. Your character must get the better of you, kick you to curb, win.

Q. Surrender or cession is inadmissible?
A. Almost is never enough. You must take every and any step you feel is necessary to prevent your own defeat - you should not [i]permit[/i] your own failure in good conscience, and as such your defeat must be total in that your character achieved victory despite your best efforts.

Q. That's impossible.
A. Entertain the possibility that you may be wrong.

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.

The melancholy depiction of the Giant Diomedes above was made by [url=http://merl1ncz.deviantart.com/]merl1ncz[/url].[/hider]