[center][color=black][h1][u]The Twelve Labours[/u][/h1][/color][/center]
The Final Labour looms over Acheron. 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 Twelfth Labour commence. [u][b]Submission ends at Objective Midnight, October 24th.[/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 October 24th.
	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 does not possess a basic modicum of good sense and taste. Do not 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 Twelfth Labour[/h2][/color] [img]http://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/6d9772c4-394b-4dd3-afe4-2e0b14471408.png[/img]
[quote=Homer]"His burden, godly. His grace, well-worn. His task, immaculately performed. His reward, cursed eternally."[/quote][/center]
[hider=The Twelfth Labour][center][color=black][h3]The Twelfth Labour[/h3][/color]You may make use of any [color=A9A9A9]character[/color] for this [color=black]Labour[/color].

What is a [color=A9A9A9]character[/color]?

Are they a [color=2F4F4F]person[/color]? Does a [color=2F4F4F]person[/color] [color=FFA07A]change[/color] with the [color=87CEEB]tides[/color] and [color=20B2AA]walk[/color] between [color=black]worlds[/color] without [color=DC143C]living[/color] [color=D8BFD8]memory[/color]? Do they [color=B0E0E6]traverse[/color] by their own [color=00FFFF]will[/color]? 

Are they a [color=BDB76B]summation[/color] of the [color=00FFFF]will[/color] of [color=2F4F4F]another[/color], then? Are they but mouth-pieces, or else mere [color=708090]pawns[/color]? Are they [color=708090]servitors[/color] of some [color=000000]ineffable[/color] [color=FFF0F5]force[/color], [color=191970]unknown[/color] even in [color=4682B4]confidence[/color]?

Are they but a [color=DB7093]sequence[/color] of [color=C0C0C0]events[/color] and [color=E0FFFF]circumstance[/color]? Is their [color=778899]essence[/color] derived from the [color=E6E6FA]right[/color] [color=DB7093]combination[/color] of the [color=E6E6FA]right[/color] [color=BC8F8F]places[/color], the [color=E6E6FA]right[/color] [color=8B008B]times[/color], the [color=E6E6FA]right[/color] [color=2F4F4F]people[/color]? Are they a [color=DB7093]common[/color] [color=8B0000]thread[/color] in [color=FF0000]disparate[/color] [color=8B008B]times[/color]?

Whatever they may be, no [color=A9A9A9]character[/color] [color=00CED1]acts[/color] in a [color=DCDCDC]vacuum[/color]. The [color=black]world[/color] will [color=BC8F8F]mark[/color] their [color=008B8B]passage[/color], from the [color=FFA500]greatest[/color] to the [color=556B2F]least[/color] - and so a [color=A9A9A9]character[/color] is [color=191970]forever[/color] and [color=DB7093]always[/color], part how they are [color=9966CC]known[/color] and [color=FFDAB9]seen[/color] by [color=2F4F4F]others[/color] - for without [color=A9A9A9]peers[/color], how is the [color=D8BFD8]one[/color] [color=CD5C5C]defined[/color]?[hider=The Challenge][color=black][b]Write a story about your character becoming famous for something they hate.[/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 Twelfth Labour[/color], I have asked you to write about a character becoming famous for something they hate.

Q. They must become famous?
A. Their name must be in the mouths of others, their actions and thoughts pondered, their life scrutinized, their idea spotlit. Do note, I did not say [i]infamous[/i]. I said [i]famous[/i]. Any negative view of them must be held in the general sense, rather than specifically (exceptions are possible in the form of personal acquaintances and relations, enemies, etcetera).

Q. They have to become famous for something they hate?
A. Yes. It must not be anything they can or could potentially find solace in. The very idea that they are famous because of [that thing] must be something they loath.

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]