MagiStream

Posted: **September 20th, 2011, 11:45:00 pm**

The Dragon's Heart.

A legendary gem, said to grant three heart's desires, sealed away for centuries in the depths of a volcano. The volcano's location lost to the passage of time.

Except not really. Turns out some of the older creatures knew all along where it was. All anyone had to do was ask.

You'd think that a legendary artifact sealed away for centuries would be well-protected, right? And it was, but getting to it was no harder than any other quest a magi might be sent on. Though there was that incident with the geese--but that is something we do not speak of.

Anyway, I digress. You see, the Dragon's Heart offers three wishes. Ciara and I are only two. And rather than quarrel over which one of us gets the third, we have decided to give it away. But only to someone we judge worthy.

Well, what are you waiting for, magi? Do you want this wish or not?

If you are resolved, intelligent, and brave of heart, make your way to the summit of Voltar's highest volcano, Mt. Aodhfin, by the first day of the next month. Three creatures shall be guarding the way. Pass them unharmed and you shall prove yourself worthy to compete.

--Magi Lachesis

You're probably wondering. What the heck is a writing tournament?

And the answer is, it's just like any other tournament. Only the skill being tested here is your writing. Specifically, how well you can write using your own characters--and someone else's. Your opponent's characters, to be exact.

Wait, but isn't that--
That's right--in RP terms, this basically means I'm telling you to godmod your opponents.

Okay, but how does a writing tournament work?
This tournament will have four rounds. There will be an audition round, in which anyone and everyone may join by submitting character sheets and writing a story according to the audition prompt. From all the auditioners, eight competitors will be selected and placed at a random position on the bracket. From there on, every participant will use their own character and their opponent's character and write a story based on the prompt for that round. The story must explain how their opponents are defeated. Each round, the judges will select the winning entry from each pair. The winner will get to write in the next round. So half the competitors will be eliminated each round, until only one person is remaining. In addition, the stories that the winners write will become part of the tournament canon.

In summary
Think of it as extreme, competitive roleplaying. You get to control someone else's characters as well as your own. They, in turn, get to control yours. Whoever writes the better story with all the characters will get to have their entry contribute to the main plotline.

Important updates will go here, so check back here often!

Posted: **September 21st, 2011, 12:01:35 am**

Rules and Judges
Rules

Only original characters may be used. That means characters you yourself made up.
Only participants who win the previous round may participate in the next round.
Failing to submit your entry on time will signal a forfeit.
Judges may extend the entry deadline, but do not depend on it.
Judges' decisions on who are eliminated and who move on are final.
Absolutely no plagiarism will be tolerated.
If you wish to write about someone else's characters (other than your opponent's), make sure to ask if it's okay.
All standard Magistream and Tea House rules apply as always.
Ice and I reserve the right to add more rules at any time before the tournament starts.
Have fun! Take as many creative liberties as you wish. Remember, *you* shape the story arc of this tournament as much as Ice or I do.

Judges
Kestrad
Icethornstar

***If you are interested in judging, please PM me, and provide a writing sample. Keep in mind that judges may not compete, and will not qualify to win any prizes.***

Posted: **September 21st, 2011, 12:22:36 am**

Prizes
1st place
TBD

2nd place
TBD

3rd and 4th place
TBD

5th-8th place
TBD

Consolation
TBD

Posted: **September 21st, 2011, 10:25:01 am**

Bracket
Will you be chosen?

Spoiler

Participants This Round
Everyone!

Posted: **September 21st, 2011, 5:37:27 pm**

Character Sheet Templates

Fill out all fields as thoroughly as possible--remember, your opponent will be using it to write about your character, and the judges will use it as one factor in choosing who advances past audition phase.

Each entrant is allowed one main competitor character and up to four creature companion characters.

Competitors must be a human magi or an ally (Centaur, Naga, Mermaid).

Post completed sheets in the character sheet thread, which is found here: [LINK GOES HERE] I will add a link to them in the "Completed Character Sheets" section.

Competitor

Code: Select all

[b]Full Name:[/b]

[b]Age:[/b] 

[b]Gender:[/b]

[b]Species:[/b] 

[b]Goes by:[/b] (If there is a name your character prefers to be called, put it here.)

--Appearance--
[b]Height:[/b] 

[b]Weight:[/b]

[b]Build:[/b] (Muscular? Fat? Thin? Make sure this makes sense in accordance to the height and weight. If your character is 5 feet tall and weighs 280 pounds, he or she should not be skinny!)

[b]Skin:[/b] (Pale? Dark? Any particular shade?)

[b]Hair:[/b] 

[b]Eyes:[/b]

[b]Face:[/b] (Shape, anything else important)

[b]Voice:[/b]

[b]Other important/identifying features:[b]

[b]Clothing:[/b]


--Personality--
[b]General overview:[/b] (At least 4 sentences! Remember, your opponents will be using this sheet to figure out how to write your character.)

[b]Loves:[/b] 

[b]Hates/Fears:[/b]

[b]Strengths:[/b] 

[b]Weaknesses:[/b] 

[b]Personality in one word:[/b]

[b]Quirks:[/b] (List three)

[b]Anything else:[/b]


--History/Background--
[b]Family/Friends:[/b]
(If any, list people who are important to your character and briefly describe their relationship.)

[b]Backstory:[/b] 

--Combat--
[b]Fighting Style:[/b] 

[b]Weapons/Gear:[/b]

[b]Element:[/b]

[b]Special Abilities:[/b] (Rank on a scale from 1-5, with 1 being a weak and/or passive ability and 5 being really, really powerful. No limit on number of abilities, but keep in mind you are being judged on how well you write, not on how easily your character defeats others.)

[b]Physical Attributes:[/b] (Is your character strong? Weak but agile? How is their endurance? How well can they take blows?)


--Tournament--
[b]Wish:[/b]

[b]Companions:[/b] (Maximum of four. Only one may be a donation creature. All companions must have a companion character sheet filled out.)

--Last Words--
[b]List the three most important things about your character.[/b]

Companion

Code: Select all

[b]Name:[/b]

[b]Species:[/b] 

[b]Gender:[/b] 


--Appearance--
[b]Any special defining features:[/b] (Example: larger/smaller than average, super shiny scales/feathers/fur, paler/darker than normal, etc. This section can be left blank.)

[b]Voice:[/b] (If your creature vocalizes. Can be left blank.)


--Personality--
[b]General overview:[/b] (At least 2 sentences! Remember, your opponents will be using this sheet to figure out how to write your character. It doesn't have to match the creature description, but it would be good to give a reason if you have something particularly different, such as a perfectly calm hellhound.)

[b]Loves:[/b] 

[b]Hates/Fears:[/b]

[b]Strengths:[/b] 

[b]Weaknesses:[/b] 

[b]Anything else:[/b]


--History/Background--
[b]How your magi got this creature:[/b]

[b]Describe the bond between your magi and the creature:[/b]

--Combat--
[b]Fighting Style:[/b] 

[b]Element:[/b] (MUST match creature description. If not specified, guess something that fits, or write N/A.)

[b]Abilities:[/b] (MUST fit with creature description. You may make up extra abilities, but no giving, say, hellhounds the ability to freeze water.)

[b]Physical Attributes:[/b] (Is the creature strong? Weak but agile? How is their endurance? How well can they take blows?)

--Last Words--
[b]List anything else important here.[/b]

Posted: **September 21st, 2011, 5:46:55 pm**

Completed Character Sheets

NPCs
Lachesis:

Ciara:

Competitors

Posted: **September 21st, 2011, 6:18:22 pm**

Completed Character Sheets

Competitors

Posted: **September 21st, 2011, 6:26:39 pm**

Round: Auditions
Prompt
First, if you haven't, read the introduction.

Next, make your character sheets. Post them in the character sheet thread. I will link to them in this thread.

Done? Okay, good. Now, to put it succinctly, your goal this round is to get to Mt. Aodhfin. Here are the details:

There is a small, rocky path up the mountain, at least at first. There will be three guardians in your way. The first, at the base of the mountain, is a female Dusk Cinersi. The base of the mountain is thinly forested--the path cuts through it, and there may be other magical or non-magical creatures in the forest who may help or hinder you. The second, when you've climbed about halfway up, is a male Light Raiju. The trees will have thinned out for the most part by this point. This particular encounter takes place on a small outcrop, meaning you will need to be careful not to fall off.

Assuming you get past both creatures, and you will, because you want a chance at winning that wish, you will climb further up a short distance to find that all soil and vegetation has been stripped away for the last bit of the trip up the mountain, so that all that is left is stone. There is no snow, oddly enough, but it's still very cold this high up and the rocks are slippery with ice. In addition, the path stops, and the face of the mountain becomes incredibly steep--almost vertical. It is up to you to figure out how to climb to the summit. While you are ascending, a female void dragon will swoop in. That will be your third encounter.

When you finally make it to the top, either Lachesis or Ciara will welcome you and take you to a small "camp" where you can rest and mingle with others. There are small tents set up for competitors; you are allowed to choose any unoccupied one to rest in. Be sure to have your character interact briefly with at least one of the judges.

All of the creatures you bring may participate in the audition story.

Points to keep in mind when writing about how you reach the summit:

You do not have to fight the guardians. The guardians do not have to want to fight you.
Unless your character has super strength, it will probably be a tiring trek. Especially if you carry lots of stuff with you.
It is COLD at the top of the mountain. Even though it's a volcano, and in Voltar. Since it's high up, and this particular volcano has not erupted recently, and there are no lava flows at the moment.
There is sufficient oxygen at the summit (Lachesis and Ciara have set up a spell to temporarily make it that way). On the path up, though, not so much. Once you get to the higher altitudes you may want to keep the thinness of the air in mind.
The height of the volcano is about 5000 meters, or 6,400 feet.
Contrary to what the intro implies, you do not have to get to the top unscathed. Just as long as you survive, Ciara and Lachesis will consider you for entry in their tournament.
Feel free to interact as much as you want with Lachesis or Ciara (or both) at the top of the mountain. Also feel free to interact with other competitors, as long as you have permission to use those characters.

***POST YOUR AUDITION STORY AS A REPLY TO THIS THREAD, AND THEN PM ME WITH "AUDITION" AS THE SUBJECT TO LET ME KNOW YOU'VE ENTERED. I WILL ADD A LINK TO THE STORY IN THIS POST.***

Okay, now go forth and write. Have fun!

Due Date:
TBD

Entries:

Posted: **September 21st, 2011, 6:30:15 pm**

Round 1
Prompt
Will be posted when the winners of the audition round are decided on.

Entries:

Posted: **September 21st, 2011, 6:30:31 pm**

Round 2
Prompt
Will be posted when the winners of round 1 are decided on.

Entries:

MagiStream

Writing Tournament [On hold]

Writing Tournament [On hold]

Re: Writing Tournament [UNDER CONSTRUCTION, DO NOT POST]

Re: Writing Tournament [UNDER CONSTRUCTION, DO NOT POST]

Re: Writing Tournament [UNDER CONSTRUCTION, DO NOT POST]

Re: Writing Tournament [UNDER CONSTRUCTION, DO NOT POST]

Re: Writing Tournament [UNDER CONSTRUCTION, DO NOT POST]

Re: Writing Tournament [UNDER CONSTRUCTION, DO NOT POST]

Re: Writing Tournament [UNDER CONSTRUCTION, DO NOT POST]

Re: Writing Tournament [UNDER CONSTRUCTION, DO NOT POST]

Re: Writing Tournament [UNDER CONSTRUCTION, DO NOT POST]