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The votes are in and it's time to congratulate the winners of our twenty-eighth Bionicle RPG Contest: [*]Sunken Cities - The Fourteenth Doctor[*]Trapped in a Map - Toa Kovolta[*]The Voyage of the Requiem IV - Toa Levacius ZehvorThe winners are free to start their RPGs at their leisure. Winners from the previous contest will have a week or so to wrap up, should they choose to do so.Thanks to everyone who entered and to everyone who voted and answered the questions about the future of the RPG Contests.An overwhelming number of you wanted to see us give other RPGs a chance should any of the winners become inactive. Taking that into consideration - for the winners of this contest, if the RPG has no posts for three weeks, it will be closed and the next runner-up will be allowed to start their RPG. We'll see how this time period works out and reevaluate during the next contest. Also, should a runner-up get to start their RPG, they will still have to enter and win the next contest to continue. Again, we'll see how that goes and possibly change it in the future. I'm hoping none of the RPGs get inactive, personally.The majority of you also want to see the RPGs last longer and have fewer contests per year. I will be mulling this over but am not announcing any changes to the timing of the contests right now.Most people voted to keep just three winners for the contest, but there was a sizable group that wanted to increase it to four. Definitely something else to think about for the next contest.Finally, things were very split on the topic of contests versus judging. This surprised me, honestly, but it's good to know. For the time being we will keep running contests but I'll try to keep the results in mind.Thanks again everyone! Hope you had fun.
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RPG Forum Text-Based RPG Contest 28It's June! RPG Contest time! There's a theme: your RPG must feature a villain who turns out to be a puppet controlled by someone else.Any questions about the theme may be asked in this topic.Here's how these contests work:[*]The contest will be run every three (3) months, or four (4) times a year.[*]All members are welcome to enter the contest.[*]Each member can only enter one (1) Text-based RPG entry.[*]The only exception to this is that BZPRPG and RPG Contest staff will not be permitted to make entries.[*]There will be three winners selected in every contest. [*]The winners will be the three RPGs with the most votes after one or more rounds of voting (depending on the number of entries).[*]Whether or not a given RPG wins or not, it will be allowed to run in future contests, with the below conditions and restrictions. [*]For and RPG that lost a contest, the creator must make an attempt to alter and improve their entry before entering it in the next contest.[*]If an RPG has won four (4) consecutive contests that it has entered, it can not enter the next four contests. It does not, however, have to be altered before being entered again after its break, although the creator can do so if they desire to.[*]Example: A RPG wins two contests in a row. It is not entered in the next contest. It is entered and wins the fourth and fifth contests. At this point it cannot be entered into the next four contests.[*]Other restrictions as a result of other rules or administrative action may prevent a member from submitting an RPG. [*]At the end of the three-month interval between contests, if an active RPG does not win again, it will be closed. [*]If a former winner wins again at a later date, the creator of the RPG can choose to continue in the old topic where they left off or start over again in a new topic.[*]If the creator or members of a winning RPG break the RPG forum rules, that RPG will be closed. [*]The next runner-up from the previous contest will be allowed to run for the remainder of the term.[*]The offending RPG will not be allowed to participate in the next contest.[*]This system is designed to be more fair than the TBRPG approval process has been in the past, so absolutely no complaining. TBRPG EntriesThe following is what determines a Text-Based RPG entry. The creator of each entry must provide at least: [*]A brief introduction to the RPG.[*]A description of the setting, the time and place the events occur.[*]A history of what has happened leading up to the current situation.[*]The characters and creatures involved. Does this take place in the canonical Bionicle Universe, or is this your own island with its own heroes and villains?[*]A description on how you plan to further to story. [*]Does it follow the actual Bionicle story or take place in a setting of your own creation?[*]Is there an outline on where you plan for it go?[*]Will the players be allowed to choose the direction the story takes?[*]Is there an ultimate goal or quest, or is it merely a world for members to inhabit?[*]Requirements for those wishing to participate in your RPG. [*]Will members be taking the role of existing characters or characters you have created?[*]Can they make their own characters? If so, what sort of restrictions will be placed on them?[*]What sort of equipment, masks, stats, etc will members get when they begin?[*]Rules determining how players will interact with the environment and other characters. [*]How will the winner of battles be determined?[*]How will members buy and upgrade their equipment?[*]Will members level up? How will they gain experience? The above information can be submitted however the creator prefers. It does not have to be delineated in this way, as long as it is all there.Contest ProceduresHow the contest is going to be run. Here is the format the contest will operate under: [*]Members will have three weeks to draft and submit entries.[*]Entries will be posted in the Contest Submission thread. Any entries posted elsewhere or PMed will be disregarded.[*]At the end of this period, no further entries will be accepted.[*]The entries will be grouped into as few polls as possible for the initial round of voting.[*]Each round of voting will last for two to three days (48-72 hours).[*]The format of subsequent rounds of voting will be determined depending on the number of entries.[*]The three entries with the most votes in the final round of voting will be declared the winners. Any questions can be posted in the Contest Rules Thread or PMed to Contest Host Black Six.NOTE - All current TBRPGs must be submitted as entries if they wish to continue running.Entries can be SUBMITTED from now until 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, June 23rd.You can review other entries and discuss the reviews in the Review Topic.
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RPG Contest #28 PollView the contest thread here.View the full list of submissions here.Poll will run June 24 - 11:59 PM Eastern June 27.You can select THREE entries! [*]City in the Dark - The Lorax[*]The Voyage of the Requiem IV - Toa Levacius Zehvor[*]Tides - Legolover-361[*]Disruption - Canis Lupus[*]Trapped in a Map - Toa Kovolta[*]The Legend of the Thirteenth Island - Lord of Adders Black[*]Reborn in Red - ZakarOMEGA'D![*]SKY/FALL - MjolnirInTheFridge[*]The Trial of Nations - Shuhei Hisagi[*]Sunken Cities - The Fourteenth Doctor
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RPG Forum Text-Based RPG Contest 28 ReviewsYou know the drill. Read the rules here. Submit entries here. Review entries and discuss reviews here.
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Here are some additional questions to get your feedback on the future of the Bionicle RPG Contests. Your responses are appreciated. -
RPG Forum Text-Based RPG Contest 28 SubmissionsAll RPG Contest 28 Entries should be posted here. They will be added to the list as we get around to it; don't fret if your entry isn't on the list immediately after you post it.You have until 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, June 23rd to submit entries.NOTICE: If there is a note by your entry saying that it does not meet the requirements, reread the Contest Rules and then send Black Six a PM if you are still not sure of what is wrong with your entry. You have until 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, June 23rd to edit your post and fix your entry.Also, please be sure to check out the RPG Contest Topic for important updates and announcements.You can review others' entries in the Review Topic.[*]City in the Dark - The Lorax[*]The Voyage of the Requiem IV - Toa Levacius Zehvor[*]Tides - Legolover-361[*]City of the Dead - Grantaire Withdrawn[*]Disruption - Canis Lupus[*]Trapped in a Map - Toa Kovolta[*]The Legend of the Thirteenth Island - Lord of Adders Black[*]Reborn in Red - ZakarOMEGA'D![*]SKY/FALL - MjolnirInTheFridge[*]The Trial of Nations - Shuhei Hisagi[*]Sunken Cities - The Fourteenth Doctor[*]Title - AuthorTotal number of valid entries: 10NOTICE: if you have an entry that is in violation of the rules and edit it to fit, please PM Black Six to notify the staff. Similarly, if you add a title to an untitled RPG, do the same. We are only human (well, okay, the jury's out on that) and are liable to miss the changes.
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Jazbay is the name of some plant in Skyrim. Always thought it sounded like some sort of bird species. ----- ----- Back Opposite Angle LXF ----- It took some doing to get this within the range of 75% technic parts, but I managed eventually. Overall, I'm extremely proud of the way it turned out. The stand is nothing special, though I can provide pictures and/or an LXF if anyone's interested...Thoughts?
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Note: "exit number 117" is meant to be read as "exit number one seventeen." Exit Number 117 Fortnightly Flash Fiction #5: Branching Out In this wild twisting chasing highway we like to call life I suppose the first time I found myself facing an impossible choice Was the midnight I came to exit number 117 And it wasn't the number that made it particularly special The sign was old and worn and the 7 was sort of scratched As though a bird had flown into it or something And the road was cracked and faded and the puddles of Asphalt I saw in my headlights were gray and older than my parents I slowed down because I was the only one on the road It's an interesting moment when you're the only one on the road Because nobody else can make your choices for you You can walk on glass if you like, or walk by The sky was full of stars and a bright moon and planets and galaxies But I didn't bother looking at them because I was busy Wondering which way was right for me You see, my parents always taught me to follow my dreams And I was sure that my dreams lay farther down the highway Maybe exit number 200, or number 179, or the place where the asphalt ends But exit number 117 had a strange charm all the same The dusty road begged to be travelled And the darkness beyond the highway begged to be explored And how is an 18-year-old supposed to know exactly which exit to take anyway? I guessed that this wasn't my road But who knew, and did it matter? So I put it off for another day, put the engine in gear, and my tires squeaked as I Pulled away from exit number 117 And set my tired eyes back to the highway The wide road was easier to drive And easier than thinking about other places I could go More comfortable than thinking about branching out, diversifying, changing Because, after all, the easiest road to travel Is the one I've been driving all my life And it's simpler to keep exit number 117 in my rearview mirror than to keep it in front of me But every now and then, I'll feel a twinge of regret The bite of nostalgia as I look back and think for a moment I see that exit I passed A faint glimmer on the horizon It's not there of course: I passed it long ago And I've never found the time to go back Who knows if it would even be there by the time I got around to it Now I'm farther along the highway and it's been a fun ride But I'll always wonder what lay beyond exit number 117 I guess that's how it works: you choose an exit, or you don't
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Ambage-Hosted Fortnightly Flash Fiction Contest Entry List Theme #1: Red Star Entry #1:Member Name: Danska: Shadow MasterTheme: The Red StarWord Count: 804Link to Story and Title: The Hole in the SkyEntry #2:Member Name: Quote (Mr.Traveler) [aka: Grant-Sud]Theme: The Red StarWord Count: 998Link to Story: Weeping StarsEntry #3:Member Name: iBrow VoltexTheme: The Red StarWord Count: 804Link to Story: In the MourningEntry #4:Member name: ChroTheme: The Red StarWord count: 995 (approx.)Link to story: SnowfallEntry #5:Member Name: Clockwork KineticistTheme: The Red StarWord Count: 325Link to Story: CheckmateEntry #6:Member Name: TolkienTheme: Red StarWord Count: 985Link: Hue #1471Entry #7:Member Name: Lord DarkonTheme: Red StarWord Count: 557Link to Story and Title: CrimsonEntry #8:Member Name: dotcomTheme: Red StarWord Count: 844Link to Story and Title:Crimson Note
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Ambage-Host Fortnightly Flash Fiction Contest Entry List Theme #1: Pathfinding Entry #1:Member Name: Nuile: Lunatic WordsmithTheme: "Pathfinding"Word Count: 921 (epigraph included)Link to Story and Title: That Extra MileEntry #2:Member Name: Nuile: Lunatic WordsmithTheme: "Pathfinding"Word Count: 868Link to Story and Title: Rugged ExplorersEntry #3:Member Name: Danska: Shadow MasterTheme: PathfindingWord Count: 922Link to Story and Title: A Jaunt in the WoodsEntry #4:Member Name: ZaraynaTheme: PathfindingWord Count: 1,000 words.Link to Story and Title: We Wanted Those Infidels Dead!Entry #5:Member Name: Delicious Chocolate Milk (Eyru)Theme: PathfindingWord Count: 427Link to Story and Title: Beyond the ConstellationsEntry #6:Member Name: AderiaTheme: PathfindingWord Count: 914Link to Story and Title: Someone's Waiting For YouEntry #7:Name: Emissary to the VoidTheme: PathfindingWord Count: 992 (excluding title)Story: Julia's DinerEntry #8:Member Name: dotcomTheme: PathfindingWord Count: 997Story: The Wrong PathEntry #9:Member name: KakaruTheme: PathfindingWordcount: 964Story: Accomplishment
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Wow, it's been a while since I've posted anything here. I've been busy working on three projects, one of which is now completed, but this isn't it. This MOC was actually something I threw together in the last week or so for that MOCPages contest Chro entered with Endymeron, and I had it done the Tuesday before it was due, but never had the chance to get pictures before the due date. Ah well, I can still show it off here! So, the contest was to build a Toa of Life, Time, or Creation, and I just threw this guy together, and decided he would be a Toa of Life. You could also gain bonus points for 1. Building a custom mask, 2. Adding in a non-ball-and-socket joint, 3. Adding a heartlight, and 4. Adding in cloth elements. I managed to get all but the last one. I later found out that "custom mask" could be just using an armor piece as a mask, but I went ahead and built mine with bricks. You're probably getting tired of me rambling on, so I'll just share a bit of story I came up with. Ignahki was the first, and only, Toa of Life. He was one of the original Toa created by the Great Beings, yet when they realized the power he had, they cursed him, limiting his powers greatly and taking much of his own life. Now reduced to a crippled, aged Toa, he was banished to the Southernmost island in the Matoran Universe, where he found a colony of Matoran holding out against many threats. He gained their trust by reviving one of their dead, and has since been revered by all the Matoran, who attempted to help him walk again by using their limited knowledge of rebuilding. Sadly, they only ever got him to walk a few paces, and so he can never leave the island, yet his fame spread throughout the MU, and many beings make a pilgrimage to see him and his mighty powers. All those brought to him are healed indiscriminately, and so even more come. Eventually, Ignahki was killed in a raid by a jealous rival tribe of his village who never realized what they were doing. Now, on to the MOC!! Front, BackIgnahki isn't nearly as impressive as many of the MOCs entered into that contest *coughchrocough*, but I really like many of the techniques used in him, especially the leg design, the torso, and the Rau on the back, but you'll see more of those later. Here you can also see his big, bulky, silver legs lined with pistons, which was the Matoran's attempt to help him walk again. He also uses that (awesome) staff to balance on and channel some of his powers. Details: Custom Mask, Custom Eyes, Staff, LegsSorry for the terrible pictures. This was the only camera I could find at the time. I never really came up with a power for the mask, but the best I got is "Curse Resistance," which can help him walk much better, but doesn't do much against a curse from the Great Beings. Also, while I was working on the mask, to get more connection points, I made a custom eyepiece which doesn't look as nice as one of Lego's, but I decided for some reason to make his eyes clear, and it looks awesome. The staff is really simple, but looks cool as well. I really like the design inside that joint piece. And one of my favorite parts are the legs. Here's where I used a custom joint I recently tried out on another MOC (which I'm going to post soon), but they work much better on smaller MOCs. Those Bohrok eyes are connected to one of these pieces, which when jammed in there will provide enough friction for some designs to look nice. This one, not so much. I also like that Middle East baggy look, it's very much like something I wanted to use on a Dark Hunter MOC but could never figure out. I'll have to try it now. Skeleton: Front, Side, BackHere you can really see that torso I love so much. For some reason, I've been using a lot of limb pieces as torsos lately, and I really like the shaping it gives, and the Vahki torso flows so well with it. Other than that, not much to say here, besides that I like those legs, and now you can really see those knees working as they should. Poses:Come forth, little onePowers in action!What is this?Since Takua wasn't available (haven't put him together yet, and I don't have his mask), and Hahli has her legs in another MOC, Jaller's third best friend gets the privilege of reviving him: Matoro! Also another peek (first being here) at my finished project I'm probably going to post within the next week. Probably could have done more poses, but I couldn't think of much else. Hope you enjoyed, please comment and criticize. And stay tuned for the posting of Project Reignition!
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Hi guys. So, I've decided to partake in the T-Shirt contest for this year. I have four designs overall, but right now, I've only finished one. #1 Front: LINK BACK (If applicable): LINK I feel that the simplicity is effective and cool. EDIT: I fixed the color problem!
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Congratulations to the winners of the 27th RPG Forum Contest. There were a lot of great entries, but only three could make it to the end.Here are the new RPGs: [*]The Best Laid Plans - Tyler Durden[*]Desolation - Lord of Adders Black[*]Undying - Eduard BernsteinAs per usual, current RPGs have a week or so to wrap up and the winners can start whenever.Thanks everyone who entered, and I look forward to giving you all a theme for our next contest!
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RPG Forum Text-Based RPG Contest 27It's that time again. No theme this time, just give us your best Bionicle RPG!Any questions about the theme may be asked in this topic.Here's how these contests work:[*]The contest will be run every three (3) months, or four (4) times a year.[*]All members are welcome to enter the contest.[*]Each member can only enter one (1) Text-based RPG entry.[*]The only exception to this is that BZPRPG and RPG Contest staff will not be permitted to make entries.[*]There will be three winners selected in every contest. [*]The winners will be the three RPGs with the most votes after one or more rounds of voting (depending on the number of entries).[*]Whether or not a given RPG wins or not, it will be allowed to run in future contests, with the below conditions and restrictions. [*]For and RPG that lost a contest, the creator must make an attempt to alter and improve their entry before entering it in the next contest.[*]If an RPG has won four (4) consecutive contests that it has entered, it can not enter the next four contests. It does not, however, have to be altered before being entered again after its break, although the creator can do so if they desire to.[*]Example: A RPG wins two contests in a row. It is not entered in the next contest. It is entered and wins the fourth and fifth contests. At this point it cannot be entered into the next four contests.[*]Other restrictions as a result of other rules or administrative action may prevent a member from submitting an RPG. [*]At the end of the three-month interval between contests, if an active RPG does not win again, it will be closed. [*]If a former winner wins again at a later date, the creator of the RPG can choose to continue in the old topic where they left off or start over again in a new topic.[*]If the creator or members of a winning RPG break the RPG forum rules, that RPG will be closed. [*]The next runner-up from the previous contest will be allowed to run for the remainder of the term.[*]The offending RPG will not be allowed to participate in the next contest.[*]This system is designed to be more fair than the TBRPG approval process has been in the past, so absolutely no complaining. TBRPG EntriesThe following is what determines a Text-Based RPG entry. The creator of each entry must provide at least: [*]A brief introduction to the RPG.[*]A description of the setting, the time and place the events occur.[*]A history of what has happened leading up to the current situation.[*]The characters and creatures involved. Does this take place in the canonical Bionicle Universe, or is this your own island with its own heroes and villains?[*]A description on how you plan to further to story. [*]Does it follow the actual Bionicle story or take place in a setting of your own creation?[*]Is there an outline on where you plan for it go?[*]Will the players be allowed to choose the direction the story takes?[*]Is there an ultimate goal or quest, or is it merely a world for members to inhabit?[*]Requirements for those wishing to participate in your RPG. [*]Will members be taking the role of existing characters or characters you have created?[*]Can they make their own characters? If so, what sort of restrictions will be placed on them?[*]What sort of equipment, masks, stats, etc will members get when they begin?[*]Rules determining how players will interact with the environment and other characters. [*]How will the winner of battles be determined?[*]How will members buy and upgrade their equipment?[*]Will members level up? How will they gain experience? The above information can be submitted however the creator prefers. It does not have to be delineated in this way, as long as it is all there.Contest ProceduresHow the contest is going to be run. Here is the format the contest will operate under: [*]Members will have three weeks to draft and submit entries.[*]Entries will be posted in the Contest Submission thread. Any entries posted elsewhere or PMed will be disregarded.[*]At the end of this period, no further entries will be accepted.[*]The entries will be grouped into as few polls as possible for the initial round of voting.[*]Each round of voting will last for two to three days (48-72 hours).[*]The format of subsequent rounds of voting will be determined depending on the number of entries.[*]The three entries with the most votes in the final round of voting will be declared the winners. Any questions can be posted in the Contest Rules Thread or PMed to Contest Host Black Six.NOTE - All current TBRPGs must be submitted as entries if they wish to continue running.Entries can be SUBMITTED from now until 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, March 24th.You can review other entries and discuss the reviews in the Review Topic.
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RPG Contest #27 Final PollView the contest thread here.View the full list of submissions here.Final Poll will run March 29 - 11:59 PM Eastern March 31.You can select THREE entries! [*]The Best Laid Plans - Tyler Durden[*]Desolation - Lord of Adders Black[*]Transformation - The Lorax[*]Undying - Eduard Bernstein[*]MYSTERY - Toa Levacius Zehvor[*]The Spherus Magna Social Observation Experiment - Clockwork Kineticist[*]It's All in Your Head - Elrond of Rivendell[*]Dystopian - Replicant
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RPG Contest #27 Preliminary Poll PaulView the contest thread here.View the full list of submissions here.Preliminary Polls will run March 26 - 11:59 PM Eastern March 28.You can select FOUR entries! [*]MYSTERY - Toa Levacius Zehvor[*]We Live. For Now. - Canis Lupus[*]The Dead World - ToaOfAwesome[*]Transformation - The Lorax[*]It's All in Your Head - Elrond of Rivendell[*]Riddles of War - Dual Matrix[*]The Best Laid Plans - Tyler Durden
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Entry for fortnightly flash fiction contest since Andrew asked and oh no I don't have any homework at all and wasn't planning on writing one of my other stories for the Ambage at all but who's complaining am I right. Theme: Pathfinding. Wordcount: 964I feel lost. That's not even an awful metaphor either. I literally am not aware of my physical surroundings in their relation to where I want to be. Absolutely lost.The walls are white, painted cement like I remember them being for years. The ceilings are lit by rows of bright fluorescent lights, stretching endlessly down the halls. The floor is black and smells of rubber or crude oil. Petroleum based, anyways. Not like I care. The smell is awful, that's the important thing. When I recall my past in here, it seems --as though a vague mental image-- that it was almost a year ago. The floors have been getting darker and my lungs seem to grate with every breath.I hear footsteps padding down the hall, somewhere around the next corner. I slow down as I approach the next intersection and press myself against the wall. Within seconds the muted echoes approach and I plant a solid fist in the runner's stomach, sending him sprawling across the floor. I look down at his face with an immense amount of guilt as he gasps for breath. There are no mirrors in this place, true, but an external sense tells me that the face of this man is my own. Whether a clone, an apparition, or simply a psychological trick, I no longer care. I put my foot against his throat and do what I've done this entire time, to survive. I know that I am the only one in this maze, quite literally. Every version of myself that I've cut off through decisions in the past have been merged to a single universe, where I've been forced to confront every version of myself and destroy them. I suppose whoever engineered this think of it as am amusing metaphor, that I literally have to kill off every bad decision I've made and come to terms with who I've become in that time, but all I see is a twisted reality where I've become a killer.As his body dissipates into the ground, the stench of rubber seems to grow ever so slightly.I continue down the halls, feeling more cheated with every kill. I feel sick that I'm becoming desensitized to this, that the moral problems and emotional impact is dulled as my methods become more brutal, merciless, and stunningly effective.I make a right at the next intersection, followed by two lefts, a flight of stairs, and another right. There's no method to my choices any more. I used to agonize over the psychology of the maze, how every corner could be a setup to drive me into doing exactly what they want-- whoever they are. But now I just blindly decide on a whim, snapping back and forth, stopping occasionally to listen for the footsteps of myself.Oh, speak of the devil. Another apparition runs past a crossroad ahead, screaming. I lunge forward and give chase. My breaths come heavy now. The death toll of the day is starting to wear. I'll probably take a nap after this one. He's wearing a straitjacket. I quicky match his speed as he turns a corner. I twist my leg around his and plant my foot on the ground, effectively collapsing his gait. I grab his neck and arm as I pull my leg back, slamming him face-first into the ground with a splintering crack. His body slowly disintegrates into a swirling black mass, like a swarm of flies that crawl into the black floor. My stomach is upset and I slump against the wall, directly across from a doorway.Wait. There are no doors in this maze. I haul myself to my feet, wavering, and nearly puke with the excitement of this find. I take one step forward, then two, then I brace myself against the opposite wall with one hand and stop to take a deep breath and calm my stomach. I tentatively slide my fingers around the brass knob. It's cold, shiny and perfectly smooth. It's probably never been touched by my hand. I crack it open, and before I have time to regret my decision, I close my eyes and swing the door wide open.I sit up with a start, my fingers still clenched in midair. The hum of medical equipment fills the silence my ears had been accustomed to in the maze. The walls are still white, but there's something different. My body goes cold as I move my legs, realizing that it feels so different than what I had been doing in there. A doctor stands to my side, frowning."The training was supposed to go on for six weeks more," he remarked. Was he angry, disappointed, or was that just an observation? The feeling of being cheated fills my mind."May I refresh your mind? It's possible that the months in there have erased some of your memories. You are in a military training facility. Here we give you the most difficult of all tasks so that you may be ready for anything in the battlefield. You must know how to kill, and you must see the look in your own eyes as you do so. What have you learned?"None of this sounds familiar. This doesn't sound like something I would voluntarily ask for, and I feel no sense of duty or accomplishment at his words. It all just seems pointless. I stand up and waver for a moment as I regain my balance. Suddenly a new sensation fills my mind and I can't seem to push it back to my subconscious. The feel of solid ground beneath my feet. I'm no longer lost.I grab the doctor by the collar with only a tingling sense of regret in my mind."Let me show you."
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RPG Contest #27 Preliminary Poll StormView the contest thread here.View the full list of submissions here.Preliminary Polls will run March 26 - 11:59 PM Eastern March 28.You can select FOUR entries! [*]Shadows of Fate - ninjamonkey3000[*]Undying - Eduard Bernstein[*]Reborn in Red - Zakar0%[*]Dystopian - Replicant[*]Desolation - Lord of Adders Black[*]The Spherus Magna Social Observation Experiment - Clockwork Kineticist
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RPG Forum Text-Based RPG Contest 27 ReviewsYou know the drill. Read the rules here. Submit entries here. Review entries and discuss reviews here.
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RPG Forum Text-Based RPG Contest 27 SubmissionsAll RPG Contest 27 Entries should be posted here. They will be added to the list as we get around to it; don't fret if your entry isn't on the list immediately after you post it.You have until 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, March 24th to submit entries.NOTICE: If there is a note by your entry saying that it does not meet the requirements, reread the Contest Rules and then send Black Six a PM if you are still not sure of what is wrong with your entry. You have until 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, March 24th to edit your post and fix your entry.Also, please be sure to check out the RPG Contest Topic for important updates and announcements.You can review others' entries in the Review Topic.[*]MYSTERY - Toa Levacius Zehvor[*]Shadows of Fate - ninjamonkey3000[*]We Live. For Now. - Canis Lupus[*]Undying - Eduard Bernstein[*]The Dead World - ToaOfAwesome[*]Reborn in Red - Zakar0%[*]Transformation - The Lorax[*]AfterMath - Strackkorotus Withdrawn[*]Dystopian - Replicant[*]It's All in Your Head - Elrond of Rivendell[*]Desolation - Lord of Adders Black[*]Riddles of War - Dual Matrix[*]The Spherus Magna Social Observation Experiment - Clockwork Kineticist[*]The Best Laid Plans - Tyler Durden[*]Title - AuthorTotal number of valid entries: 13NOTICE: if you have an entry that is in violation of the rules and edit it to fit, please PM Black Six to notify the staff. Similarly, if you add a title to an untitled RPG, do the same. We are only human (well, okay, the jury's out on that) and are liable to miss the changes.
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Seabed below Voya Nui – Two days before the arrival of the Toa Inika. Kyrehx sat on a rock a few bio from her home, the underwater city of Mahri Nui. She and a Po-Matoran friend were tasked with observing the surrounding waters, just in case any possible danger could approach the once-great city. “Tired yet?” asked the Po-Matoran with a slight smile as he walked through the sea floor. “Yeah, tired of you, old friend.” Kyrehx replied, smiling back. A mighty earthquake shook the seabed, the Ga-Matoran was knocked off the rock and was left staring at the heavens. The Po-Matoran was barely moved by the earthquake.“What's the matter Kyrehx? It was just a bioquake.” the Po-Matoran said while laughing. Kyrehx gave the Po-Matoran a look, and extended her hand to him.“Just help me up you silly Kohlii-head,” Kyrehx said. “And let's move it before another quake hits!” Just as the Po-Matoran helped his friend up to her feet, the pair heard a massive growl coming from the darkness of the ocean. A growl that both of the Matoran couldn't recognize. “What was that?” asked Kyrehx. “Uh, I'd like to believe that that bioquake was just the tip of the statue, sister,” the Po-Matoran muttered. “We better move quick and return to the city before--”Before the Matoran could finish that sentence, out of the darkness a Giant Squid had appeared and started attacking the pair with its tentacles.“A Giant Squid so close to the city? Sister, we have to warn the council!” the Po-Matoran yelled as he ducked under a tentacle. Before Kyrehx could start running, the Giant Squid whipped one of its tentacles at the Ga-Matoran's direction. Before the tentacle could hit her, the Po-Matoran jumped and took the hit, protecting his friend.Kyrehx walked to the fallen Matoran, as he helped him to his feet, she noticed his Kanohi mask was shattered to pieces. She gasped, and ducked to evade another tentacle.“Brother, your mask... It's shattered!” the Ga-Matoran said. “I know, I know,” the Po-Matoran replied. “Ugh. But I'm still active. Let's hurry back to the city.” The two Matoran started running through the seabed back to their city. On the way, the two Matoran managed to distract the Giant Squid by going through a field of Airweed and concealing themselves from the beast. They were close to the entrance of Mahri Nui, only having five bio to run. The Po-Matoran grabbed his chest in pain, he had spent too much time without a Kanohi mask."Are you okay?" asked the Ga-Matoran. The Po-Matoran nodded and ran to the entrance. As soon as Kyrehx stepped through the entrance, the Giant Squid attacked with its tentacles and caught the Po-Matoran's leg and started pulling the Matoran back to the ocean. Kyrehx quickly tried to free the Po-Matoran, but she was too weak.“Sister... I don't think I'll make it through.” the Po-Matoran said with his last strength.“Shut up, shut up! I won't let you go, brother!” Kyrehx replied while holding the Po-Matoran's hand. The Giant Squid started growling and pulled with more strength. Kyrehx's hold on the Matoran wouldn't last much longer.“It's okay,” the Po-Matoran muttered. “Just let me go, Kyrehx. I'll be okay. You know I don't go down that easily.”Kyrehx's hand started to lose its grip on her friend's hand. Seeing his upcoming doom, the Po-Matoran muttered his last words.“I'll see you soon, sister.” As soon as the Po-Matoran finished that sentence, his chest light stopped shining and the Giant Squid whipped Kyrehx's hand, dragging her friend back to the depths of the ocean. Kyrehx couldn't help but stare how the ocean had claimed his life-long friend without any explanation why. Kyrehx returned to the seabed where his friend met his demise. There, she found the shattered Kanohi Miru that he was wearing. While sobbing, she recovered all the shards of the Kanohi and left them inside a backpack. She stared to the depths, and wished that someday, the ocean would give her another chance to be with her friend.
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Okay, so over the past few days I've managed to radically improve my team. Here is my current lineup, with bolded players being new additions: Offense: QB: Kurt Warner (96 overall), Steve Young (93 overall), Cam Newton (85 overall) HB: Adrian Peterson (85 overall), DeAngelo Williams (84 overall) FB: Stanley Havili (63 overall) WR: Randy Moss (84 overall), Lance Moore (82 overall) TE: Vernon Davis (95 overall), Jason Witten (93 overall) LT: Joe Staley (87 overall) LG: Justin Blalock (85 overall) C: Scott Wells (89 overall) RG: Brandon Moore (89 overall) RT: Bryan Bulaga (89 overall) Defense: LE: Calais Campbell (93 overall) RE: Osi Umenyiora (88 overall) DT: Tommy Kelly (86 overall), Terrance Knighton (84 overall) LOLB: James Anderson (87 overall) MLB: Sean Lee (88 overall) ROLB: David Hawthorne (88 overall) CB: Leon Hall (89 overall), Patrick Peterson (84 overall) FS: Pat Tillman (79 overall) SS: Ronnie Lott (96 overall) Special Teams: K: Graham Gano (72 overall) P: Donnie Jones (78 overall) KR: Patrick Peterson (99 overall), Brandon Banks (99 overall) PR: Patrick Peterson (99 overall), Brandon Banks (99 overall) Other: Head Coach: Vince Lombardi (99 overall) Jerseys: Carolina Panthers Overall rating: 89 As you can see, a lot of new additions. Vernon Davis was priced insanely low at about 1,500 coins, and Kurt Warner was an even more absurd 3,400 coins. I'm a big Kurt Warner fan, so I'm really glad I could get him, and Vernon Davis makes a great TE duo with Jason Witten. You may be wondering why the Adrian Peterson card is rated only an 85 - it is a 'Treat' card, much weaker than any other AP card. Regardless, he and D-Will make a good one-two punch at running back and I'm not too conerned there. My biggest holes are at FB and WR currently - I wanted to get Mike Tolbert at FB, but all fullbacks are priced insanely high. I'm not as concerned about WR, given I run a lot of two-TE sets. Also, I'm going to hold a little contest here. Right now my team name is "Panthers4Life", obviously a pretty lame name. So basically I invite any and all of you to suggest a name here - I'll take the suggestions and hold a poll here to determine a new team name. Update: I've managed to acquire both Lawrence Taylor and Dick "Night Train" Lane since this post. -TN05
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BS01 Contest 5: Sleeping Awake Fall of a Toa 18,000 years ago...So this was Xia. Behind the motley assortment of stores and dwellings, intimidating factories belched black smoke out of their tall, iron-gray chimneys. Devastator’s mouth settled into a wry smile. Of course the Vortixx would be polluting. They didn’t care the slightest about anything except business. It was a wonder their Toa protectors had not turned on them yet. Of course he had needed to research these potential obstacles -- his mission, after all, was to keep them occupied while Triglax and Orion snagged the weapon they had come here to get. Xia’s Toa team -- unimaginatively dubbed the ‘Toa Xia’ -- consisted of three Toa: Spinner, a Toa of Air; Zaria, one of those hated Toa of Iron; and Varian, a Toa of Psionics who would no doubt enjoy meeting the mentally-shielded Dweller. Speaking of Dweller, where had he gone to? Devastator shifted atop his perch on one of the taller residences in this southern Xian city. The mission was simple, as far as missions for Dark Hunters went. They were to meet their contact, retrieve the weapon, and eliminate any and all obstacles. ‘Obstacles’, much to Devastator’s satisfaction, happened to include Toa. Below Devastator, numerous beings, ranging from Vortixx to Matoran to the occasional Skakdi, crowded the streets, jostling one another as they went. Knowing Dweller, he would be far from the midst of that crowd, likely right along the edge... There. Only a particularly dark shadow could be seen in the alley, and to most eyes it certainly looked like a shadow. But could shadows watch the hustle and bustle with a sinister eye? At that moment a Toa appeared between two Vortixx, pushing through them and beyond, into the remaining mass of bodies. All of a sudden Dweller darted out from the shadows of the alleyway, slipping into the crowd almost effortlessly and disappearing amidst all the bodies just as quickly. The hunt was on. * * * To all appearances the alley several meters ahead of Varian was the same as every other in this city. But if the rumors were right, there was something going on back there in the shadows. It was Varian’s job to find out. She stretched out her senses toward the alley, but felt nothing. Good; it was easier to complete a mission without anyone getting in your way. As casually as she could, Varian directed her steps toward the alley. With a last surreptitious look at the crowd behind her, she slipped into darkness. For a few moments only a mixture of Vortixx, Matoran, and other beings Varian didn’t care to recognize moved past the alley entrance. Just to be sure, she reached out with her powers, gently touching the minds of those in the immediate area. Satisfied that no one suspected her, she turned around to move further into the alley. She took a step; that step was all she got. Suddenly she found herself in the arms of someone stronger than her; a hand covered her mouth, preventing her from crying out, and the unseen being pushed her further into the shadows. “Shh,” he whispered, the words barely audible above the hissing of his breath. “We don’t want trouble, now, do we?” The being gave a sinister chuckle. “The name’s Dweller. I know your kind, ‘Varian’ -- yes, I know your name,” he added as an ice-cold shock went through her body. “You never cloak yourself in darkness unless it is necessary. So what are you doing here, of all places?” She didn’t answer; she was too busy easing her sword out of its sheath using her mental powers. But before it could exit the sheath, Dweller grabbed the hilt and shoved the blade back inside. “Let’s try again,” said Dweller, his voice suddenly carrying an edge. “What are you doing here? His fingers parted enough to let her talk through them. “None of your business,” she snapped, her voice muffled by his hand. “If you know what’s good for you, you will let me go. Now.” The other’s answer was silence; that, and closing his fingers again to silence her. Gritting her teeth, Varian stretched out with her powers. If she could just tap into her captor’s mind, she could implant a feeling -- a feeling of pain. But no matter how hard she tried, she felt nothing. But that’s impossible, thought Varian, even as she double-checked, and then triple-checked, to make sure she had felt right. How can anyone escape being sensed? She had a serious dilemma: How was she to escape this being when she couldn’t affect him with her powers? As Dweller began moving her deeper into the alley, it hit her. She had been looking at it all wrong. Why affect her captor directly when she could affect her captor’s surroundings? There was a window nearby. It was boarded up from the inside, so she would not be able to escape through there. But if she concentrated hard enough... The glass began to vibrate. Then the vibrating settled into a steady wobble. Even as Varian passed, the wobble became more marked. Just a bit more... CRASH! The windowpanes blew out, showering the being behind her with a hundred shards of glass. As Varian had known he would, her captor flinched backwards, away from the fragments, not realizing that in doing so he would be weakening his grip on the Toa... She darted forward and suddenly found herself free. She glanced back; a being not much bigger than her was recovering from the surprise attack. His armor was all but black, blending his figure into the shadows quite effectively. And his eyes were fixed on her. “If I were you,” he hissed angrily, “I wouldn’t go doing that to a Dark Hunter.” Varian didn’t hesitate. She bent her legs as far as they could go and pushed off, leaping high into the air. The buildings in this area of the city were a mere one story; as she reached the apex of her jump, she grabbed the edge of the roof and half-pulled, half-swung herself over the edge and onto the top. Then she bolted for the next roof over. Leaping from rooftop to rooftop, she made it to the end of the block. Varian leaped down from the roof of the building and looked back around the corner. Her keen eyes caught movement in a nearby alleyway, small but existent. Was it just some shadow, or her attacker? She would not wait to find out. Only one Dark Hunter had attacked her; but knowing that organization, she felt sure there were others out there, just waiting for their chance at her. She did her best to blend into the crowd. Suddenly she felt something in the back of her mind, something akin to a dark, foul touch. Frowning, shaking her head to expel the feeling, she moved off. Another feeling, however, still dominated her thoughts. Never before had walking down a crowded street felt so much like running a gauntlet. * * * Devastator finally met up with Dweller in a near-empty side street. The other was staring into the crowd, an absent expression on his face, as if he were concentrating hard on something else. “So you lost her,” growled Devastator. Dweller shook his head. “I know where she is,” he replied. “But following her so closely is a bad idea. She might spot us.” He looked up into Devastator’s face. “Besides, I’m sure you want a chance at fighting her,” he said. “Correct,” said Devastator. “After all, you messed up the last time. Or did you not realize?” From Dweller’s silence Devastator could tell that his comrade saw it differently. Now, however, was not the time for such arguments. They had a job to do. Besides, Devastator was so very eager to catch a Toa. * * * It took fifteen minutes of searching, but Varian finally found Zaria -- or rather, bumped into him at a corner. “Ow.” Zaria grimaced and rubbed his forehead. “Next time, look out.” “Sorry,” Varian apologized. “But now is not the time. We have a Dark Hunter -- maybe more -- running around this city, and--”Abruptly Zaria frowned, his gaze shifting from Varian’s face to the street behind the Toa of Psionics. “What’s that?” Varian turned, scanning the scene. Vortixx, Steltians, and Matoran walked the streets; nothing unusual there. Steeling herself, Varian thrust out with all her power, her brilliant green eyes closed in concentration behind her blue Calix. For a moment she nearly lost herself amidst the torrent of consciousnesses. A small thrust, however, and she was beyond that. In turn she sent her mind down each alley, searching for the consciousness that should now be harboring dark, foul thoughts. Nothing there... or there... but here... “I feel someone,” she said, her voice coming out almost as a grunt. It was one thing to sift through a group of minds for some general feeling. It was a different matter to look for one particular mind amidst a large crowd. Her frown deepened as she double-checked the location. “Down the alley directly ahead of us,” she told Zaria. “Then let’s give them a piece of my mind,” he said. He started forward, weapon in hand, but Varian grabbed his arm before he could cross the street. “What is it?” he snapped. Varian pressed her fingers to her forehead in a gesture of concentration. “They’re moving -- into that building.” With her left hand she pointed at a particularly ramshackle dwelling that had definitely seen better days. Zaria frowned. “How many?” he asked. “Three,” she muttered. “No, wait... four. And their mindsets are those of people making a deal...” Her eyes snapped open and she pulled Zaria along with her. “What’s the sudden rush?” he asked, nearly stumbling as he tried to keep up. The reply was only one word, but that word was enough to widen Zaria’s eyes. “Spinner.” * * * From his rooftop perch, Devastator grinned. So he would get to attack two Toa, not just one. Maybe he should let them burst into the building where Triglax and Orion were bargaining for the weapon, just to see the looks on their faces... Dweller was already behind the Toa, much closer than either of them probably thought. In the moment before Devastator willed his body to become a million grains of sand floating on the wind, he wondered which of his powers he should use to dispose of these ‘obstacles’... * * * Triglax had been waiting for a full ten minutes before the Vortixx trader finally came. “You wish to make a Dark Hunter wait?” he asked as the Xian stepped into sight from behind a pile of junk. “Do you know what I could do to you right now?” The Vortixx started. “You need me to tell you how to operate the weapon,” he breathed. “You wouldn’t dare harm me.” Triglax shrugged. “Maybe I’m just bored,” he countered, and grinned as the Vortixx took a quick step back. Beside Triglax the air began to shimmer. The Vortixx’s gaze shifted to the spot -- and he took another step back when Orion came into existence, grasping the wrist of a clearly unconscious Spinner. “He kept this from us, too,” Orion growled, fixing his eyes on the trader. “Perhaps we should cancel the deal?” “No, that won’t be necessary,” the Vortixx stammered, his scared eyes darting from Dark Hunter to Dark Hunter. “P-perhaps I should show you the weapon?” he suggested. “Why do you think we’re here?” Orion snapped. The Vortixx’s head twitched in a sort of nervous nod, and he turned to walk back around the pile of junk. Triglax, however, hesitated a second. “Orion, give me Spinner,” he said, taking the wrist of the unconscious Toa of Air. “You stay invisible. Watch the Vortixx. The moment I’m done with this scum... kill him. He strikes me as the telling sort...” Orion nodded. “Agreed,” he said, and vanished as Triglax turned to follow the Vortixx. * * * The building was even more ramshackle than most in these parts. Its walls were half-hidden behind piles of junk and rubble, and the central hallway was practically split in two by a ceiling cave-in of years past. Triglax doubted even a Toa would want to come in here -- which was a good thing. “The weapon is in here,” said the Vortixx, gesturing to a doorway on the left. Triglax made to enter, but suddenly found his way blocked by the Vortixx. “What--!?” “You took the Toa from my business’s premises,” said the trader. “I’d like a little extra money in return for the extra... ‘loot’.” “That was not part of the deal,” Triglax growled, dropping Spinner’s body and stepping forward. Surprisingly, the Vortixx held his ground. “You made it part of the deal,” he accused, “when you took that Toa. It was my guards who captured him. Your invisible little friend stole him. If I don’t get payment in exchange for that Toa, you don’t get the information you need to operate the weapon.” Triglax stifled a sigh. Of course. All traders and merchants were like that -- afraid of you one moment, but standing up for themselves once money was called into play. “Fine,” he muttered. He reflected, though, that it wouldn’t really matter just how much they paid him -- they could take all the money he had with him, once the deal, and his life, were done. “Now can I see the weapon?” The Vortixx nodded and made to enter the room, but suddenly froze in place. The expression lasted only a moment -- the next he had fallen to the floor, crying out in pain and writhing from a blow he had not received. Triglax frowned at the sight. Had the trader lost his mind? Suddenly he understood. Turning toward the pile of debris in the center of the hall, he transformed into a rhino-like Kikanalo; letting out a deafening roar, he charged the rubble head-on, smashing it to smithereens. With the fragments of rock and protosteel went two Toa -- one a Toa of Iron, the other a Toa of Psionics -- who smashed into the floor in a dazed heap. Triglax morphed back to his normal form and bared his teeth in a triumphant, malevolent smile. “So, Toa,” he began, spitting out the word ‘Toa’ with contempt, “you truly believed you could stop Triglax?” The Toa of Iron, Zaria, had made it to his knees; beside him, the Toa of Psionics -- ‘Varian’, Triglax believed -- was still on the floor. As Triglax gloated, she murmured something that made the Dark Hunter frown. “What was that?” he asked, leaning forward just a little. Abruptly he found himself practically glued to the floor, unable to get up. Zaria was standing over him, a grin on his face. Varian now stood beside him. “I said, ‘Don’t celebrate yet,’” she said with a smile... even as a shadow stealthily but steadily bore down on her. Zaria nodded. “Just because an enemy is down doesn’t mean they’re out,” he added as the shadow raised its hand. Triglax nodded -- and favored the two Toa a devilish smile. “You have me,” he said. * * * At the words Varian frowned at Zaria. Zaria met her gaze and frowned in return-- Suddenly his eyes widened. “Watch out!” he snapped, lunging forward. It was Varian’s quick reflexes that saved her. Even as Zaria cried out, she spun around to see a fist coming down toward her face. She didn’t hesitate; she activated her Mask of Fate and half-ducked, half-slid to the right, both avoiding the blow and putting her in perfect position to attack. But she never got the chance. Another warrior smashed straight through a stone wall beside her, sending debris flying through the room. Again activating her Calix, she managed to evade a particularly large piece and leap clear. Zaria, however, did not have a Calix. He was also very much not in the clear. In desperation Varian looked down the hallway. Triglax was standing now, but he seemed uninterested in joining the melee. Varian wondered at that before realizing that he was watching her. “No tricks, Varian,” he said. “Devastator wouldn’t like you to leave so soon.” He gestured over her shoulder, to where the third Dark Hunter was tangling with Zaria. The Toa of Iron’s weapon was lying on the floor, unused. Varian glanced back to the hallway. Suddenly she heard the sounds of another scuffle. Triglax spun, but before he could move an inch a Vortixx flew out a doorway with a cry, slammed into the wall, and slid to the ground. A second later Spinner jumped out after him. “What--” A spur-of-the-moment cyclone slammed into Triglax then, sending him flying. He hit the ground at an awkward angle and rolled, while Spinner came running down the hallway. Before Triglax could make it all the way up to his feet Spinner had slammed into his torso, sending him back to the floor. Varian moved to help, but before she had even taken a step her senses cried out again. She turned back around in the direction that the unconscious Vortixx lay. For a moment she frowned, wondering just what she had sensed...and then she understood. She grabbed her sword and threw it like a spear down the hall; assisted by her mental powers it flew straight and true, toward the target that even now tried to escape... There was a thud and a strangled cry. The fourth Dark Hunter appeared out of nowhere and fell to the floor roughly, still clutching in his hands a weapon that was now beyond repair -- as was his body. His eyes were still wide in surprise, his mouth still open in a last groan. Even as Varian took in this sight, something suddenly clutched at her heart, something colder than ice. She had killed; she had broken the Toa Code; she had killed... She turned, to see that everyone in the room was looking at her. Spinner was shocked; Zaria, freed from Devastator’s grasp, wore a stunned look. Triglax’s expression, however, bordered on curiosity. “A Toa that kills,” he murmured. “No big loss -- Orion was stuck-up anyway, and I believe you prevented him from escaping with the weapon and leaving us here. But, all the same, he was a Dark Hunter... And the Shadowed One wants you dead.” Varian took a deep breath. “But you will need compensation for this ‘Shadowed One’, correct?” “Perhaps,” replied Triglax, his eyebrow raised in a quizzical expression. “If you promise to leave this island,” Varian said, “I will come with you -- as that compensation.” “That would help,” Triglax muttered. Suddenly he turned to Dweller. “Grab her,” he said. Even as the Toa of Iron was let go, Varian found herself again encircled in arms stronger than hers. Yet this time she had accepted it willingly... There was no turning back now; even with her powers, she was outnumbered. She could do nothing. Even as she was taken back into the alley, through the backstreets and to the secret harbor where the Dark Hunters’ boat waited, she could not help wondering if this choice was the right one. * * * Varian was dumped roughly to the ground. She landed on her hands and knees and gasped, more from her fear than from any pain. Here she was, being presented as if she were no more than a piece of loot -- and she had chosen this path for herself. Dimly, she wondered if she was going insane. “So you are the great Toa Varian,” said a voice. It was deep and powerful, carrying the strength and wisdom of years upon years of experience. Yet there was a sinister edge to it that somehow stirred up Varian’s hatred. “I welcome you to Odina, Toa. I am the Shadowed One, leader of the Dark Hunters... and I would like to recruit you.” His voice grew smoother. “Look at me.” She didn’t move. To the last breath Varian would deny this -- this criminal the pleasure of seeing her cooperate. “I said look at me,” the Shadowed One repeated firmly. Suddenly her head was forced up, so that she looked straight into the other’s eyes. The Shadowed One smiled, an expression that sent a chill through Varian’s spine. “Thank you, Devastator,” he said. To Varian he asked, “What do you say to that?” “Never,” she bit out. The Shadowed One’s smile vanished. Yet he did not seem angry. “I expected as much from such a noble Toa,” he said, somehow keeping the contempt out of his voice. He cocked his head to the side, studying Varian closely. “Of course, I have a backup plan. I always do.” Somehow, someway, Varian managed to find the courage to spit out angrily, “I don’t care if you kill me.” The Shadowed One smiled again. “But I have no intention of killing you.” Another chill went through Varian’s body. Still smiling, the Shadowed One gestured to the side, to where an empty stasis tube sat against the wall. “You see,” he said, “I have to deal with many Toa. Surely they will be more disposed to cooperate if they see the fate of one of their own. Besides”--here his eyes seemed to grow bright--“I have always wanted a Toa of my own. You would serve as a fine trophy...” He paused. “Good-bye, Toa Varian,” he said as Devastator, Dweller, and Triglax dragged her toward the canister. As the Dark Hunters shoved her in, and a cloud of green smoke filled the stasis tube, Varian could only hope she would someday see the light of day once more. * * * 1,000 years later... “I understand your Dark Hunters saved me and repaired me,” said Spinner. In his new, bulkier form he shifted from foot to foot. It would take some getting used to, but already he liked the new feeling of strength that came with the extra armor and weapons. Still, the loss of his power over air was a big blow; and having a heavy, almost toxic cloud of air around you was another downside. “Of course,” said the Shadowed One with a nod. “I understand those mutated Rahkshi were rather... unpleasant to fight. You were found by operatives that were searching the village for valuables.” Spinner nodded, mentally steeling himself for what he was going to say next. There was no telling what the Shadowed One would do to him for his decision. “I want revenge,” he began slowly, “against Toa.” He took a deep breath; even the mere memory of that horrific day he had been abandoned by his team still brought back a feeling of terror -- terror, and anger. “Toa are not perfect, no matter what they say. I want to make them see the error of their ways -- but alone, without anyone getting in my way.” “I understand,” said the Shadowed One slowly. His tone, as always, was unfathomable. “But, still...” Casually his gaze drifted to the side of his throne room. Spinner followed that gaze -- and gasped. A stasis tube sat against the wall. Inside stood a Toa, adorned in blue and gold armor, that Spinner had never expected to see again: Varian. Her eyes, normally a striking green, were closed, as if she were asleep; but she would not be awakening any time soon. She might not awaken ever. “You know her,” said the Shadowed One. “Varian, who gave up her freedom to save her friends, according to the three operatives that came back from the botched mission. She refused to join the Dark Hunters, too... but look at her now.” Spinner felt his throat go dry. “I see,” he forced out, even as his heart skipped a beat. “Allow me to reconsider...” The Shadowed One smiled. “Excellent.”* * * * *This was my entry to BS01 Contest 5: Sleeping Awake. It placed runner-up in the contest, though, while I'm overall happy with how this turned out, I wish I could have made it longer, so as to allow more time for characterizations. Since Dume and Kualus don't appear in the story, I've edited out their mentions.Though this is an older story of mine, constructive criticism would still be appreciated.
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The Wrong Path They called it the Pathfinder.Or at least, most people did. Like most things shrouded in myth, it had no single name. Some called it the Ghoul of the Forest. Or The Seeker's Last Lucky Break.Most called it the Pathfinder.Maybe it would be more appropriate to refer to it as her. According to every account from the few Seekers that had seen her and come out of the forest, it always took the shape of a young girl made of stone, but moving like a person. The people of Town do not want to think of her as living. So she was an it.She would appear from between the trees, if you were too (un)lucky, and lead you astray. She would do nothing but talk to you. Of anything that could make you lose yourself. Eventually she would begin to talk about things she shouldn't have known. Things no one knew but you.And you would follow her, in anger, hope, or desperation. And then you would be lost.Of course, almost everyone who wandered into the Forest of Infinite Paths would be lost from the beginning. The forest, made of rock and utterly uninhabited, was what lay between us and paradise.Or so the legends go.I live in the Town. It's a huge settlement, closed off from the rest of the world--if there even is such a thing. The Forest stands in the way of glory. There is nothing around us, nothing beyond the horizon, but the forest. Those brave enough to transverse the forest and attempt to reach glory are called Seekers.As its name would indicate, the forest floor is covered with twisting paths, thousands at a time. No two paths are the same, and they change perpetually: You could be observing the forest for hours, but as soon as you turn away for even a second, the paths will shift.Most paths lead you back to town, but some don't. According to the Seekers, there are some paths that lead directly to paradise.And it's these paths that the Pathfinder targets. They call her the Pathfinder because if you see her, it means you have found the right path to glory. All you have to do is continue walking. But she's also called the Pathfinder because she will always find every potentially successful path and lead its traveler astray.At least, that is what I heard from a Seeker one day while I was in the tavern. He and his brother had taken parallel paths in the forest (no two people can take the same path), and set out for the other side. "It was mostly just boring" he'd said.Then she came.His brother was in a "good"; path. She led him away. And he was lost.I heard that Seeker went back into the forest. I never saw him again. --- I'm writing this from just outside the forest. I am about to enter it myself.I know I can do it.If I don't, I have nothing.I look at the ground before me. The rock trunks of the trees loom all around my field of vision. Snaking around them are the well-tread paths. No two alike.No turning back. --- The Seeker was right. It really is mostly boring.There's nothing alive in this forest. I sometimes spot other Seekers in their paths, but it's very rarely. They don't pay any attention to me, though. I'm marked, and they can see that plainly.I keep walking for what seem to be hours. The forest always looks the same. Even at nighttime, the forest is bright and blank, eerie in its uneven uniformity.I'm not tired. Or hungry. Or thirsty.The forest seems to negate every basic human need. It's as if the ones who travel this phantom realm start becoming rock themselves: no needs, no desires, just pure undemanding existence. It's mind-numbing.And then it happens.And I see her, for the first time.She's not after me. A Seeker on a path several yards away from mine exclaims loudly when he sees her.He's on the right path.But he isn't, for long. She begins to talk. I can't understand what she says, even though I can register her words clearly. I am hearing her, but cannot listen.The Seeker turns and runs. He runs until he's out of my sight. Whatever she did, worked.And then she herself turns, and I am able to see her clearly for the first time. She's beautiful.She's beautiful, and graceful, and wonderful. I can't explain it, but when I saw her, every weight dropped from my shoulders. Her sole image was comforting and welcoming. I'm about to call out to her.But then she's gone, just like that. --- A path will supposedly disappear if you step off it, once you stop looking at it. It will shift and never come back.But I was still looking.And I knew it was the right path.I ran. I hit the path and kept running.I ran from the Ghoul of the Forest. I ran from the society that had rejected the poor and maimed orphan that I had been so many years ago. I ran from the nameless slave I had been. I ran from the scar that marked my face, denoting me as property only. I ran from the ghosts of all those I knew that were lost in this cursed forest. I ran along he only path that could somehow lead to my freedom.But then I saw her.I had taken the right path. And now she was there to take me way.She spoke only one word. A name.A name I'd never heard, but knew to be mine.It was all it took.I stepped off the path, knowing that I would never see it again. Knowing I would never see paradise.She turned away.I followed. Procrastinating writing this down was probably a bad choice?
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The tyrant has arrived. Front: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Flaredrick/Bionicle-Chronicles/Zexlar/103_0923.jpg Left: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Flaredrick/Bionicle-Chronicles/Zexlar/103_0924.jpg Right: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Flaredrick/Bionicle-Chronicles/Zexlar/103_0930.jpg Lower Legs: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Flaredrick/Bionicle-Chronicles/Zexlar/103_0927.jpg Upper Legs & Torso: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Flaredrick/Bionicle-Chronicles/Zexlar/103_0928.jpg Tail: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Flaredrick/Bionicle-Chronicles/Zexlar/103_0931.jpg Size Comparison: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Flaredrick/Bionicle-Chronicles/Zexlar/103_0936.jpg Pose 1: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Flaredrick/Bionicle-Chronicles/Zexlar/103_0921.jpg Pose 2: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Flaredrick/Bionicle-Chronicles/Zexlar/103_0933.jpg Fight: http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Flaredrick/Bionicle-Chronicles/Zexlar/103_0938.jpg Brickshelf (when public): http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=522438 Once the tyrannical ruler of a small island in the Southern Islands, he was later over thrown. He was imprisoned on an island, until he escaped and joined the Dark Hunters. His current mission: Assassinate the new ruler of his island. This MOC is based of a scorpion. The head design, I was going for Chro's Deadlock Locust. Hope he wins. The masks and rahkshi heads are all kills that he made. The trans-green eye crystal symbolizes that person as a king.
