[center][color=black][h1][u]The Twelve Labours[/u][/h1][/color][/center]
The Penultimate Labour Labour dawns in Tartessos. 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 Eleventh Labour commence. [u][b]Submission ends at Objective Midnight, September 13th.[/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 September 13th.
	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 Eleventh Labour[/h2][/color] [img]http://orig00.deviantart.net/0737/f/2013/362/8/7/apples_of_hesperides_by_jamesdenton-d6zrd3s.jpg[/img]
[quote=Edward Poulton]"In nature, striking colors are used to attract mates - or to warn predators[sup]*or, rarely, as camouflage[/sup]."[/quote][/center]
[hider=The Eleventh Labour][center][color=black][h3]The Eleventh Labour[/h3][/color]This [color=black]Labour[/color] requires a [color=A9A9A9]character[/color] [color=FFFFE0]resplendent[/color] and [color=FF8C00]glorious[/color], embodying [color=E6E6FA]grace[/color] and exhibiting [color=DCDCDC]effortlessness[/color]. [color=FFFAF0]Shining[/color] and [color=708090]singular[/color], they must be [color=708090]one[/color] rising above an expanse of [color=556B2F]banal[/color] [color=8B4513]inferiors[/color]. For what [color=FF6347]purpose[/color] does a [color=00FFFF]star[/color] [color=E0FFFF]outshine[/color] all [color=90EE90]others[/color]?[hider=The Challenge][color=black][b]Write a story about your character being sought out by another. While both should be remarkable individuals, they are not to be equals - upon their collision, your character must perish, and either overwhelm or else empower their foe. Otherwise, your character might elect to evade the confrontation - afterwards, they shall wane and forevermore be fated to mediocrity, a pale shade of their former self.[/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 Eleventh Labour[/color], I have asked you to write about a character meeting another and either perishing with grand consequence or else slipping by only to dwindle into nothingness.

Q. The Labour requires a character who is resplendent, gloriously, graceful, and effortless?
A. I require a Mary or Marty Stu. Perhaps faintly toned down to something that can be swallowed without choking, pointedly.

Q. They must rise above all others?
A. They must have no equals - [u]nor anybody who is greater than they might be[/u], though what precisely that caveat might entail I leave to your own discretion. [u][b]Consider that one part to be advice rather than an actual challenge parameter.[/b][/u]

Q. They must be sought out by another?
A. A natural consequence of being the brightest light: You tend to be noticed. Your character may draw a mere moth to themselves...or perhaps something more formidable. 

Q. My character must perish upon meeting with the other?
A. Yes, although unlike in previous Labours I have elected to be more lenient in this regard. Your character may engage in or utilize any number of highly illegal shenanigans in order to cheat death - though it is required that they actually die at some point during the story.

Q. They must overwhelm or else empower their foe?
A. Your character's death might well serve to bolster their foe beyond their previous limitations. If they can survive the process.

Q. My character can choose to avoid the conflict entirely?
A. Yes. If they deem the risk of an encounter unacceptable, they may always decide that death is highly overrated and opt-out of the confrontation.

Q. If they evade the confrontation, they must wane?
A. Power is born of adversity. Without any challenge to keep them sharp, your character must fall and decay, withering until naught is left but a mundane husk.

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 enticing image of the Apples of the Herperides above was made by [url=http://jamesdenton.deviantart.com/]James Denton[/url]. [/hider]