Curse

StarrTheInsane · Apr 30, 2009, 11:55 PM // 23:55

Attention all writers!

Welcome to Part 1 of the Mortbane 1079AE Short Story/Sketch/Coloring Contest! As you can see, Part 1 is the Short Story portion of the contest. Three prizes will be awarded for this round and top authors have a chance to receive bonus rewards from the following rounds. Plus, one lucky writer could be part of the team to receive a special award once the contest is finished. More details on that are posted in the Q&A page.

Prizes:
1st Place: 100k & will be used for Part 2!
2nd Place: 75k & will be used for Part 2!
3rd Place: 50k & will be used for Part 2!
*NEW* 4th Place: 25k
*NEW* 5th Place: 10k

Top 3 and runners-up will also get to choose from an assortment of items to be listed soon.

Prompt:

Grim Mortbane, native to Elona, has been on many adventures in his 30 years. The world of Tyria is settling down again after a chain of great evils threatening to dominate or destroy it. Wealth and celebration abound. Fighting takes the form of sport and the gods smile happily at the successes of their children.

Grim feels that it is time to pursue another way of life. Having never really planned for this future, he is unsure whether this is the time to take up a new vocation, settle down and have a family, seek out adventure beyond the natural realms, or bide his time in hopes of another evil menace.

What happens now? What is his next adventure?

Rules:

* Write a short story approximately 2500 words. You may go under if you are able to complete the story in fewer words. You may go over, but please no more that 4000, remembering that I have to read all of the entries. I would imagine that there will be a number of entries on the last day, so I am giving a few days to read, review and judge. (if you can't get within 4000, but aren't over by too much, ask me first. If you let me know you're only over by a little bit, I won't hit you with an "invalid entry")
* English only; my apologies to non-english writers. I will be fairly forgiving on spelling so don’t let that deter you. I’m interested in the story.
* You may, and are encouraged to, draw from Guild Wars lore for your story, but it is not a requirement depending on the genre of the story (for example, if you decided to go sci-fi, you might leave Tyria completely).
* You may include your own characters in the story if you like. This may be an easier way to work in a plot, because you will already be very familiar with your own story.
* Refer to Grim’s biography for information about background and affiliations. There are some helpful guidelines for this personality.
* Any theme/genre is acceptable, but please keep details PG-13. These will be posted to the public.
* Keep in mind that Part 2 of the contest may involve an artist sketching a scene from your story and enter only if you agree with this.

Deadline and Submission:

Short Stories are due Sunday, May 31, 2009 11:59PM GMT (extensions may be granted under extreme conditions only, but the final results will be announced the following Friday)

Include your in-game name (this will not be posted unless requested), a title and pen name (this will be posted).

Writers responding to the forums may send entries in a PM or post to the thread. I have just been informed that the cap here is 7000 characters, so you may have to submit in parts. If using a PM, end your submission with ***END*** so that I know the entire text has reached my inbox (I would hate to lose half your story in the process). You may request my email address and send entries there also.

Writers responding to the WordPress blog should email me entries (details provided there).

Please specify, if not posting to the thread yourself, when you wish to have your entry posted in a public forum:

* Now
* After the deadline is reached
* When results are posted
* Only if you are in the Top 3

Current Entries: (listed in order of submission only)

"Bonding Over Charr" by DBZVelena
"The Duty of Grim Mortbane" by D.M. Miller
"The Raven's Egg" by Aquabeard
"Grim Mortbane" by Atticus Rayne
"Finding a (secret, heroic, hard-but-fair and extremely not-dull) Purpose" by Ruben Molenaar
"Journeys" by Malavian Kripnar
"Corruption" by Zarak the Fireraga
"Reflection" by Peter Gallant
"The Dark Knight's Prophecies" by Kevin Bontje
"Balance" by Vestius
"Grim Mortbane - The Mortbane Family Legacy" by pumpkin pie
"A Peculiar Stranger" by Morag D
"Fish" by SmartBomb
"Given Enough Time" by S.S. Kelowna
"Six Chimes of the Swan's Song" by Crystal
"Grim Fireside Story" by theflatline
"The Late Tale of Grim" by Dove
"Untitled" by khezial tahr
"The Untolled Story" by Konig Des Todes
"Epilogue" by Tzu

Other Stories: (very long stories, not being judged for the contest)
"Riftwar Saga" by William Koshi

BladeWind · May 01, 2009, 02:37 AM // 02:37

"Tell me Grim, have you ever wandered with an Envoy?"

Hanging Man · May 01, 2009, 02:56 AM // 02:56

Omg this is freaking sweet!

I love writing I am definetely going to get a crack at this

One question though

if I write a story, am I automatically obligated to do the other two parts of the contest as well?
The only reason i ask is because I am not a talented drawer and won't bother attempting.

Woot better get started ASAP.

Konig Des Todes · May 01, 2009, 03:41 AM // 03:41

Finally it comes out! I will enjoy this. 2,500 is roughly 6 pages, rather short in my opinion. But then again, for just a month to work on it, maybe not. Hmmm, I think I have an idea brewing.

I'll test the art "talent" people say I have through your contest, if I win a place *or get close*, I may consider continuing art on the side.

btw, cap on messages is 7,000 characters *just tested* so PM's will be sent in multiples. Especially if holding long words. x)

Edit: @ your biography, fall=season of the scion in Tyria

StarrTheInsane · May 01, 2009, 03:43 AM // 03:43

No one is obligated to do all three parts. I planned this with the hopes that more people would find their area of expertise and get a chance to participate in a contest. I know not everyone can draw as well as they would like to, but might have some great story ideas, so I wanted to bring in the fan fic community too. You are certainly invited to enter the other parts too, or pick and choose. Maybe writing is your gift and you also enjoy coloring, but don't like to draw; just skip the second part and enter the third.

I realize this contest is setup so that a particularly gifted writer and artist could enter all three and continue one piece of work, but they would have to do it one step at a time.

I had a few reasons for breaking up the contest into segments:
*I want people to have fun doing what they do best
*I want to encourage collaborative works
*I want to get the writing community and art community together
*I don't want people to get overwhelmed by huge, elaborate, colored drawings

I hope you'll enter as many parts of the contest as you like and look forward to seeing your entry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Konig Des Todes

btw, cap on messages is 7,000 characters *just tested* so PM's will be sent in multiples. Especially if holding long words. x)

Thank you

I will make a mention in the announcement.

BladeWind · May 01, 2009, 03:50 AM // 03:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Konig Des Todes

Finally it comes out! I will enjoy this. 2,500 is roughly 6 pages, rather short in my opinion. But then again, for just a month to work on it, maybe not. Hmmm, I think I have an idea brewing.

I'll test the art "talent" people say I have through your contest, if I win a place *or get close*, I may consider continuing art on the side.

btw, cap on messages is 7,000 characters *just tested* so PM's will be sent in multiples. Especially if holding long words. x)

Edit: @ your biography, fall=season of the scion in Tyria

Roflpancakes.

Konig Des Todes · May 01, 2009, 04:00 AM // 04:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by BladeWind

Roflpancakes.

What's so funny, snowman?

Dawn Angelheart · May 01, 2009, 09:30 AM // 09:30

well thats my story out the window, but cool contest.

boarderx · May 01, 2009, 02:15 PM // 14:15

oO, i might have to enter in my 2 cents.

I wanna say, awesome job Mortbane. She is hosting this big bad mo fo with her own GW plat. /bows /kneels /dances /leaves a basket of fruit at mortbane's feet and backs away bowing, lol

Time to see if i can get sometihng together for a short story

StarrTheInsane · May 01, 2009, 04:25 PM // 16:25

Fruit basket! MMM! As long as this does not constitute a bribe, I suppose I can accept this.

Morag D · May 01, 2009, 04:56 PM // 16:56

I used to write a lot when I was young(er). I'm definitely entering, all three if my timetable permits it

StarrTheInsane · May 01, 2009, 06:16 PM // 18:16

Oooh, triple threat! Can't wait

Tzu · May 01, 2009, 08:36 PM // 20:36

Entering! ^^
I've already past 4000 words though

... twice.
I'm gonna have to snip-snip, but Ill save what I removed so you can read the "extended edition" (:P) if you want to (not as a part of the contest, of course).
Really awesome idea, I just hope I have time to enter all of the 3. Either way you'll get my sumbmissions through dA notes, I think they have a higher word cap (?).

DBZVelena · May 02, 2009, 01:39 PM // 13:39

PM-ed you about your email adress.
I'm already finished writing.
And I loved this chance to borrow your guy.
Can't wait to see the other entries.

Mr. Fish · May 02, 2009, 05:29 PM // 17:29

Starr,
This looks like a TON of fun. I love writing...I love drawing...and I LOVE contests

. I will definetly be participating in all three parts of this contest...I already have a idea for a short-story brewing in my mind

Im looking forward to seeing the stories that others have created.

Thanks for doing this,
~ ><> Mr. Fish

StarrTheInsane · May 02, 2009, 06:33 PM // 18:33

Welcome Mr. Fish, Velena and Tzu!
I have received an entry from Velena and will be posting that soon. Others have given me little hints about their stories and I must say I am very impressed by how many directions people are taking this. Very creative minds, I love it!

To everyone, I can't wait to read your stories! As excited as I am, I must still say, take your time so your story will be its very best for the contest, you have the whole month.

Lux Obscuri · May 02, 2009, 10:16 PM // 22:16

i have two questions firstly could your charater become a smaller character in a bigger story we our working on and secondly can he die

StarrTheInsane · May 02, 2009, 10:28 PM // 22:28

It's a character commission contest, much like others that have been posted here in the past, so the story should be about him. He can die in the story.

Massive Impulsa · May 02, 2009, 10:46 PM // 22:46

He can diiiieeee

Story/ - FAIL
Sketch/ - FAIL
Coloring Contest! - FAIL

Darn, no win for me

Also if someone want a superman in their story call him, MASSIVE IMPULSA

(sarcasm ofc -.-'')

Nõôóò

I cant wait to see the end result.D

Btw, Tzu er du Norsk?

Lux Obscuri · May 02, 2009, 11:31 PM // 23:31

i guess what i meant is more of a filler part from grims perseptive where he is the main character