[center][color=black][h1][u]The Twelve Labours[/u][/h1][/color][/center]
The Sixth Labour marks the return of your regularly scheduled forum writing contests. 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 Sixth Labour commence. [u][b]Submission ends at Objective Midnight, January 27th.[/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 January 27th.
	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 Sixth Labour[/h2][/color] [img]http://pre04.deviantart.net/4e69/th/pre/f/2013/183/4/e/bird_gq_by_kerosyas-d6bq3m3.jpg[/img]
[quote=Psycho Mantis]You cannot trust the man - only his consistency.[/quote][/center]
[hider=The Sixth Labour][center][color=black][h3]The Sixth Labour[/h3][/color][b]The [color=black]labour[/color] before you shall require a [color=A9A9A9]character[/color] of [color=1E90FF]forthright[/color] standing and prevailing [color=40E0D0]grace[/color] of [color=800000]heart[/color] - the [color=0000FF]paragon[/color]. Consider how their [color=E9967A]temperament[/color] and the [color=B0C4DE]recourse[/color] available to them are necessarily [color=800080]intertwined[/color], and the tenuous [color=778899]horizon[/color] that [color=A0522D]altruistic[/color] [color=FF4500]intent[/color] and [color=D8BFD8]doleful[/color] [color=808000]remorse[/color] alike bestride.[/b]
[hider=The Challenge]
[color=black][b]Write about your character undertaking a journey, requiring the aid of a mortal foe. One must betray the other, giving rise to peril for both. Should your chosen character betray their nemesis, reward their fortitude with unfettered destruction. If the nemesis should betray your character, return the victim's mercy by saving both of them.[/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 Sixth Labour[/color], I have asked you to write about a virtuous character betraying or being betrayed by a mortal foe, with curious consequences.

Q. My character needs to be a paragon?
A. Your character must be a virtuous exemplar of goodwill. Not necessarily a pacifist or bleeding heart, but at least recognizable as being righteous.

Q. They must undertake a journey?
A. Stepping through a door. Walking down a hall. Striding down a street. Pacing along a road. Marching through the wastes. Climbing across the mountains. Crawling through the abyss. Getting from point A to point B.

Q. The journey requires the aid of a mortal foe?
A. Perhaps they own the only key. The nemesis does not need to be a Blackguard or otherwise malicious in nature - they need merely be an enemy of your character. If your character (sensibly) refuses to enlist their nemesis, then the labour will be failed. No rewards down the well-trodden path.

Q. One must betray the other?
A. Either your character must betray their nemesis (not necessarily preemptively), or else their nemesis must betray them during some point of the journey.

Q. Peril arises for both of them?
A. Treachery is a rather recreant notion, after all. Ensure that, regardless of who betrays who, that both are placed in danger thanks to their actions.

Q. What is that about the reward if my character is the betrayer?
A. Perhaps they should have stayed true to their righteous path. If it is your character who betrays their nemesis, then you must deliver their demise. Kill them off. Their nemesis must survive their death (and by extension, the danger mentioned above) - no mutual kills, please.

Q. What happens if the nemesis betrays my character?
A. An entertaining diversion, but both of them doubtlessly have other stories they need to make it to. Ensure that both of them get out of the ordeal alive, and that they remain free - no fates worse than death (this time). Feel free to cripple or maim them as you see fit however.

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 macabre image of the Stymphalian Birds up above was made by [b]kerosyas[/b] on DeviantArt, whose profile can be viewed [url=http://kerosyas.deviantart.com/]here[/url].[/hider]