[center][color=black][h1][u]The Twelve Labours[/u][/h1][/color][/center]
Welcome to round two. I'll try and keep this introduction brief. 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).

A note on recent updates. In the first labour, entries could win additional prizes by fulfilling secret bonus challenges. While I had more than a little fun coming up with those, ultimately their obscure nature did not really serve as a form of encouragement. Coupled with certain difficulties that arose during the judging period, I have decided to do away entirely with bonus challenges. Instead, submissions which go above and beyond the parameters of the challenge presented can potentially be awarded Challenge Accolades as a reward for the extra effort.

Also, while both points were stated clearly both in The First Labour, and the Introduction Thread, I did receive some feedback indicating that two rules in particular had not been clearly emphasized. These rules have been extra special appended to the official entry rules, and will now be described here as well. 

Firstly, you must only make use of your own characters when writing entries for the Twelve Labours. Do not use characters that are not yours. More specifically, you must utilize characters whom are of your own devising. You cannot, for example, use Harry Potter™ in your entry. Or any other character from the related series of books. You are welcome to use the general SETTING of that series, but you cannot use any of the preexisting characters except inferentially. 

Secondly, on top of the challenge conditions, all submissions must adhere to a certain standard of quality expected of good storytelling. What those precise standards are will inevitably vary between judges. As a general rule of thumb, make sure your entire submission is grammatically correct, sensible in structure and format, and contains appropriate narrative. Let it also be emphasized that while I will accept entries of [i]any[/i] length, and while it is possible for [i]exceedingly[/i] short entries to win, if your entry is too short it will likely lack the amount of narrative content necessary to constitute as a story. The shortest entry I received that won back in the oldguild was three paragraphs long, to help put things in perspective.

Without further ado, let the Second Labour Begin. [u][b]Submission ends at Objective Midnight, June Twelfth.[/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] as well (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 June 12th.
	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]
Pending further developments by [@mahz], the guild moderators, and the numerous contributors who are constantly attending to the site's functionality, every participant who submits an entry that clears the basic parameters of the challenge can win a cool forum title, as well as a trophy. Further, submissions which have gone above and beyond the parameters of the Labour will be able to receive Challenge Accolades in the form of additional forum trophies.

In addition, all winning entries will be saved to a public archive, a link to which will be permanently available in my signature! Winners will also be mentioned in the News section of the Guild. As a reminder, unless you specifically give me permission to include authorship of an entry, every posted story will remain anonymous.
[center][color=black][h2]The Second Labour[/h2][/color] [img]http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs42/f/2009/065/d/3/d38c022c3c16d7ac1fd7656dc5bf012e.jpg[/img]
[quote=Common Proverb]"What is and is not poisonous is determined by dosage."[/quote][/center]
[hider=The Second Labour][center][color=black][h3]The Second Labour[/h3][/color]
[b]You may use [color=yellow]any character[/color] of your own devising for this [color=black]labour[/color]. Reflect upon their [color=gray]lot in life[/color] and all that which they [color=crimson]hold dear[/color]. Think about what [color=LightSalmon]things[/color] and [color=9966CC]ideals[/color] they [color=DarkOrange]value[/color]. What [color=DarkSalmon]parts[/color] of the [color=LightSlateGray]world[/color] have resonated with their [color=DarkGray]being[/color]? By what manner have they been molded and shaped   by their [color=Peru]habiliments[/color]?[/b]
[hider=The Challenge]
[color=black][b]Write about your character experiencing 'too much of a good thing' in as literal a fashion as possible. The burden must be of a sobering nature, being neither frivolous or of little regard - it must be seemingly indispensable. If your character is unable to let go or dispense of their burden, punish them for their indiscretion. The punishment need not be fatal, but must be telling.[/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 Second Labour[/color], I have asked you to write about any character of your making experiencing 'too much of a good thing.'

Q. What do you mean by Too Much of a Good Thing?
A. Use your imagination and answer your own question.

Q. What do you mean by 'In as literal a fashion as possible?'
A. The burden must become a detriment in a direct fashion. Being [i]incidentally[/i] inconvenient due to coincidence is not sufficient. The burden itself must, through its presence or manifestation, directly cause the woes and troubles of your character or characters of choice.

Q. Can my character still profit or come out on top after getting rid of the burden?
A. Yes. However, getting rid of it should be neither easy nor trivial. Any rewards they reap for doing so should be well-earned.

Q. The punishment must be telling?
A. Appropriately tailored and poetic in nature. Not a slap on the wrist, but being dragged into a dark alley and violently mugged. Or killed, if you feel such a punishment is fitting.

Q. What if my character keeps their burden, but finds another way to mitigate or prevent the offset without having to give it up?
A. I said that if they are unable to let it go, that they must be punished for their indiscretion. I also said the punishment must be telling. Determine a suitable punishment for them involving their workaround.

Q. Are ALL of these Labours going to involve miserable things happening to our characters?
A. Not all of them.

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!

A special Kudos to the [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/staff]site moderators and staff[/url], since this would not even have been possible without their hard work.

The scathing image of the Lernaean Hydra up above was made by nJoo on DeviantArt, whose profile can be viewed [url=http://njoo.deviantart.com/]here[/url].[/hider]