[center][color=black][h1][u]The Twelve Labours[/u][/h1][/color][/center]
The Ninth Labour follows in the shadow of the colossus that was the Eigth - but dare not spite it, lest you be forced to tarry in the pursuit of a dishonorable grave. 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 Ninth Labour commence. [u][b]Submission ends at Objective Midnight, June 1st.[/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 June 1st.
	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 Ninth Labour[/h2][/color] [img]http://i.imgur.com/E8FUPlR.jpg[/img]
[quote=Siddhartha Gautama]Spite and Hatred as weapons are like poisons - you drink them and await the death of your enemy.[/quote][/center]
[hider=The Ninth Labour][center][color=black][h3]The Ninth Labour[/h3][/color]You are permitted the use of any [color=A9A9A9]character[/color] for this [color=black]Labour[/color]. The coursing of [color=800000]spite[/color] as it [color=3CB371]follows[/color] after another passes not through [color=778899]space[/color] but through the [color=D2B48C]bodies[/color] and [color=FFA500]lives[/color] of others. Touching them as the [color=E6E6FA]wake[/color] of an [color=BDB76B]arrow[/color], the [color=4B0082]serpent[/color] of their [color=8B008B]misfortune[/color] is [color=556B2F]rooted[/color] not upon the [color=A52A2A]assailant[/color], but within the [color=808000]victim[/color]. As the [color=A9A9A9]object[/color] of [color=2F4F4F]hatred[/color] touches others, their tail shall thrash to [color=DB7093]tip[/color] the [color=D8BFD8]scales[/color] into [color=5F9EA0]disarray[/color].[hider=The Challenge]
[color=black][b]For this Labour, write about a Tragedy enacted against an innocent body in turn for their good will; to be carried out unwittingly by your character as the tool of another party. Vengeance on the part of your character must prove unfeasible; reward them with ignorance or else with anguish should they attempt it.[/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 Ninth Labour[/color], I have asked you to use your character as another's unwitting tool of spite.

Q. I can use any character?
A. Any character you please. Young or old, weak or powerful, good or ill. Everyone has enemies.

Q. The tragedy has to be targeted at an innocent body in turn for their good will?
A. An entity who has assisted or otherwise aided your character must earn ire in turn.

Q. It has to be carried out unwittingly by my character?
A. All Tragedies evoke elements of injustice...and deceit. Your character must be the one to fall upon their erstwhile ally.

Q. My character must be the unwitting tool of another party?
A. Whoever manipulates your character into their blunder does not even need to feature in the story - so long as it is evident that the Tragedy is ultimately their handiwork. Necessarily, they will need to employ some means of deceiving and manipulating your character.

Q. What was that about vengeance being unfeasible?
A. Your character should not be readily able to avenge or otherwise rectify the Tragedy - where is the point if the tale should merely be one of an eye for an eye? The Character needs must either suffer for their own actions, or else be utterly unaware of the conspiracy.

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]