[Community Event] Plot Twist: A Game of Exchange

S

Soulserenity20

Guest
Original poster
[dash=#6ee6ca]
SUBMISSIONS CLOSED
Check the second post for posted submissions!


6to7c6.png

Welcome to Plot Twist, an Iwaku Community Event based in creativity and secrecy.

The aim of the game is much like Secret Santa, but for plot muses. The game consists of 3 parts:
Part I: Submit a plot prompt anonymously.
Part II: Receive a random prompt from the pool of submissions and use it as your muse for a short story overview!
Part III: Submit your work and have fun guessing who's work is based on who's muse!

Please try to write at least 500 words on the muse you receive!

15xllxt.png

Plot Prompt Submission Deadline:
Monday, May 15, 2017 at 22:00 (10pm) Mountain Time
(2 weeks after event start)

Plot Prompt Distribution Deadline:
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 22:00 (10pm) Mountain Time

Written Submission Deadline:
Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 22:00 (10pm) Mountain Time
(2 Weeks after plot distribution)

The thread will remain open after all written submissions have been posted for guessing, chatting, and discussion!

9vipuo.png


Submissions for PLOT PROMPTS must follow the format below:
Setting:
Plot Overview:
Plot Candies (Ideas that you would like to be included in the story):

Setting: A medieval haunted forest
Plot Overview: A group of strangers have to overcome their differences to remove the curse on the forest.
Plot Candies (Ideas that you would like to be included in the story): At least 2 baddies that are battling both the protagonist AND each other throughout.

All plot prompt submissions MUST be sent to Soulserenity20 via PM with the subject title "PLOT TWIST PART I SUBMISSION" by the deadline listed above.

Submissions for WRITTEN RESPONSE must be formatted as follows:
*Insert copy and pasted form from plot muse PM*
Submission
: . . . . . . . . *insert writing* . . . . .
Plot Twist: Mix it up! The best part of writing a plot is giving it that twist that makes people shudder, cry, stare in awe, or delete their iwaku account and disappear into the Tibetan wilds for 2 years.
Setting: A medieval haunted forest
Plot Overview: A group of strangers have to overcome their differences to remove the curse on the forest.
Plot Candies (Ideas that you would like to be included in the story): At least 2 baddies that are battling both the protagonist AND each other throughout.
Submission: *Insert 500-ish word plot summary here*
Plot Twist: The two baddies end up defeating each other FOR the good guys.

All written response submissions MUST be sent to Soulserenity20 via PM with the subject title "PLOT TWIST PART II SUBMISSION" by the deadline listed above.
[/dash]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
PLOT SUMMARY SUBMISSIONS

[bg=#deb887]Submission One[/bg]
From its perch atop a broad and grassy hill, the Chateau de Etygien overlooks a beautiful drive paved with colorful brickwork. Those less than socially and financially elite never come close enough to see the engraved warning above the entry: "Nigrum Lunam Agnus Terrore Erit."

Every day, the owner of the countryside palace rented rooms to those who could pay, with the promise of strange happenings that never actually came to pass, brilliant entertainment, epicurean meals, and beautiful lodgings.

With so much wealth in one place, thieves were bound to seek entrance. Con artists were most common. Nobody expected three local farmer youths to hop the wall and break in through a window under the cover of the new moon's darkness.

A waking patron's inability to sleep trapped the would-be thieves within, and when day came with an eclipse, they fled toward the darkness outside. Their feet stopped at the door as beings from the imaginations of a thousand madmen appeared. They returned inside and slammed the door behind them, and discovered the chateau's owner watching them, mere meters away, surrounded by the patrons of the house.

The owner urged everyone to look alive—if the monsters gained entrance, they would devour everyone inside. The patrons boasted that the farmers should cower in a closet, and let them handle the monsters because the farmers weren't armed with 'anything substantial'.

The bolder of the trio of farmers insisted they weren't weak and grabbed their friend. The farmer volunteered their group to fortify part of the home, to the surprise of the patrons, who laughed and jeered, then told them they could protect the kitchen, and they'd check on them.

The farmers secured the kitchen with ease, and then move on to the dining room. There, they discovered metal blinds already pulled over to protect the windows. The rest of the nearby rooms appeared similarly protected. They reached a comfortable lounge, where the patrons and owner laughed and sipped champagne.

This discovery led to an argument, which led to the farmers learning that this was a regular and predictable event, and the house was well-secured early in its history.

In a show of anger, one of the farmers smashed something, and the noises from outside ceased immediately. A shriek followed, and a small child screamed—in a room where there were no small children present, derisive laughter emerged to mock the screamer.

The laughter stopped abruptly when a thick and pock-marked tendril burst through a window and its metal shuttering. It grabbed one of the farmers and pulled them out the window so quickly and forcibly that the inhabitants of the chateau heard bones break as head and legs hit the edges of the portal to the outside of the house.

Screams burned themselves into the others, and one of the patrons grabbed a gun and declared the farmers 'friend-killers' before he leaped from the window.

"Alas," said the owner as he raised his glass.

Remaining farmers and patrons swarmed to peek out the window as the gun-toting man stood over the prone form of the third farmer. The muzzle flash of his gun illuminated the dark forms outside of the house only briefly, and the roar of his gun was punctuated by his shouts of "Get up!" and groans from below.

"Someone get this idiot inside before I mercy-kill the little swamp rat!"

"I'll cover you if you carry it." A woman pushed her way through the throng and stepped outside. She held an assault rifle, and used it liberally for the defense as the gun-toting man slung the farmer over his shoulder and carried them back to the window. Once the farmer was passed through, he shouted to the woman to get in, and they covered each other. Once inside, they shoved heavy furniture over the window.

The owner mentioned replacement shutters for the window, but they were in the attic.

A team was assembled and sent to fetch it, and a patron who happened to be a doctor tended to the bleeding head wound and broken and torn legs on the farmer who was taken. However, the doctor warned that it was unlikely the farmer would survive the night. The doctor pointed out small wounds in lines that trailed around and around the injured farmer's body and stated that it was likely there was some form of toxin.

The other two farmers asked if there was a cure, and the doctor said without knowing the toxin, a cure couldn't be found, but if they somehow banished the creatures outside before the end of the Hour, which was halfway gone, the toxins might he pulled away with the banishment. Chances would still be low, because that was wishful thinking.

Still, it fuels the two farmers to start asking questions. The gun-toting man joins the asking, though he's less obvious about it.

At the 50th minute, when the farmers have been sent on a wild goose chase through the house, the woman with the rifle looked to the owner.

"So, when was it you wanted to tell them?"

The last ten minutes passed, and several minutes beyond the deadline, the farmers returned with the items they were sent to fetch.

The two were greeted by a sun-warmed lounge, filled entirely with people.

Confused, the farmers sought their friend.

Instead, the owner approached them, then stopped short as he stared at them, and the patrons of the house grew silent.

When the owner spoke, it was with a strange voice that echoed through the minds of everyone present. "So, there are now three new people who know about what happens here. What shall we do with them?" The colors of his eyes blended together, then grew black and solid. Green mist rose from them, and his mouth stretched into a blade-filled grin.

Plot Twist:
The owner is one of the creatures outside.
And I DID NOT WRITE THE FINAL END AHAHAHA!


[bg=#deb887]Submission Two[/bg]

In the year 2547, the human race as we know it no longer lives only on planet earth. Haven’t for a good while now, history holograms depict the turn of events happening in the year 2020. When an alien race known as the Kmiwrelz appeared on Earth, the human population had mixed reviews on finding out about life outside of their solar system. But in the end the Kmiwrelz’s were welcomed, because the government wanted the technology the species brought with them. The history holograms get a bit cloudy on what happened next, but it came out that the Kmiwrelz were nothing but monsters. They brought in more aliens, and war started on planet Earth. The human race, as the weaker species was forced into a corner. Which was fine, because the people of Earth were viewed as the underdog. And in a turn of events won, if you could call it that. The Kmiwrelz were forced off the planet, or into hiding. But they never seemed to leave the galaxy, which caused concern for the government.

As years went on, and fights broke out between the races,the Nova program was launched. This program started off with just military being launched into space, as a way to maybe stop the Kmiwrelz from invading. But as the years have gone, it’s become much more than that. Now the Nova program takes those from the colony’s on Earth, that they believe they can shape into the smartest and the best and places them on the Nova station. A high ranked academy for those to learn about the past, how to fight, and how to become great leaders in the fight against the Kmiwrelz.

Our story starts with three eighteen year old boys, two of which have been friends since childhood. The third a transfer from another space station. They become fast friends, and some underlying feelings are shown between two that there could be something much deeper. One night when they go out, doing something they shouldn’t. An accident happens, and in trying to save his friends life. The transfer student reveals his biggest secret, that he himself is a Kmiwrelz and has been acting as a human. He begs them not to say anything, as he isn’t there to hurt anyone. And the friend he saves, has no problem holding onto the secret. While the other isn’t so open minded, he doesn’t come out and tell anyone. But he begins to try and kill his Kmiwrelz friend.

It’s only through a certain number event’s that his anger starts to weaken, and his feelings start to overpower the hurt he felt. Even so, his pride won't let him come out and speak of those feelings for the Kmiwrelz. Until an unexpected death occurs, and rocks his life forever.



Plot Twist: The Best friend is killed instead trying to save both of his friends, who he knows are suppose to be together.

Side note...I wrote out a story like thing too for it... so if you want to put this under a spoiler just for people to read for shit and giggles that would be great...I'm not sure how to do it myself. xD

Everyone says love hurts, but that is not true. Loneliness, Rejection, Lies, Jealousy and Envy hurt. And the worst one, that one that tears you apart the most, is Losing someone. Everyone gets these things confused with love, but in reality love is the only thing in this world that covers up all the pain and makes someone feel wonderful again. Love is the only thing in this world that does not hurt. But even so, as a living thinking thing you stumble around blindly looking for something that you desperately want...you push the blame onto the other, who once loved you with open arms. Until there is nothing left you’ve broken each other, and then blame it on the love. This isn’t your classic love story, or hell maybe it is. It doesn’t matter, what does is you should never stop loving.

Green eyes were closed tight, as a guy with dark brown hair sat behind a computer desk trying to catch his breath. The sounds of fighting on the other side of the room were what were causing him to keep himself hidden. It sounded bloody as if the two fighting, were out for death. And in a way they were, it was just a huge battle of who was stronger. He wanted to jump out and help, but knew that if he did he could lose the cargo they had risked their asses for. A blaring noise rang out, causing Erik Copeland to cover his ears. That was the warning system, which let the whole acadmey know that there was a breach or some other problem. Honestly he hadn’t thought they would have been enough to set it off, since it had only been the two of them. And it wasn’t like they had gone all the way up to the main labs, only to the video rooms. Back against the desk he tried to push the alarm out of his mind, make it back round noise so he could hear if the fighting was still going on. Sadly he couldn’t, which meant he’d have to chance it.

Still pushed against the desk, he knelt crawled toward the end thankful for that stealth training. Slowly he slipped his knife out, and tilted it so he could see around the edge of the desk. Right away a pair of legs appeared, and he pulled it back. No way to tell if it was James, or if it was the officer. Either way, the person was on the ground. So he had to take a chance. Slowly he moved out some more, his heart beating out a rhythm so hard he could feel it in his temple. Erik’s eyes traveled slowly up the legs, that were there. Inch by inch as he creeped out of his hiding spot, until it was clear it had been the officer. He let out a breath he had been holding, and stood up looking around the room until he spotted the boy sitting against the wall breathing heavy.

He had bruises forming on his face, and blood running down from his lip. Anyone could tell he was in serious pain, but his eyes were on Erik. Those brown eyes he had known for so long, said nothing was wrong. He quickly rushed to him, reaching out to grab his best friend's hand as the male heaved himself up. As if they were connected they both turned to the officer on the ground, now that Erik was out he could see the man wasn’t breathing.

“I..I had to, he wasn’t going to let me-” James began to speak but Erik just shook his head, pulling out the display tablet.

“I know, it was you or him. And i sure as hell wouldn’t have wanted him to make it.” his own green eyes darted up toward his friend. He knew James was having a hard time, he didn’t think they should be doing this. And clearly they were breaking some kind of laws, that they clearly were not going to be able to come back from. But the blonde didn’t know himself, or his pride wouldn’t let him make these choices. So Erik had made it easy for him, and said he was going to do it. And James couldn’t let him go alone.
“Where to now?” his friend asked, already peeking into the hall they had ducked out of. Erik wasted no time, and looked down at the tablet in hand.

“Once we get out of here, we head to the left, take the first right and then the fourth right.” James nodded, and Erik slipped the tablet in his pocket. Without a second thought they slipped into training mode, they had been partners forever and Erik could read James like the back of his hand. Together they waited, listening for anything out in the hall. Of course it was damn near impossible considering how loud the alarm was blaring. But it seemed empty enough, James made the single and they started out. Erik tossed a look back at the officer, promising to light a candle in his name before slipping out and following after his friend.


The station itself was huge, but it wasn’t like the two of them hadn’t walked these very halls before. Of course, they had never been this close to the basement levels of the Nova station before. There were plenty of rumors that Kmiwrelz were brought on, and put on lockdown till they could be transferred to the real holding station. Erik’s hand slipped into his pocket, his fingers slipping over the card that was there. That lockdown station was where they were heading, and damn it they were going to make it. James slowed them down as they went down the hall. They were coming up to their turn, but they had to be careful. A quick glance showed that both doors were open, only on a deeper look did they realize their way was clear.

But it didn’t take long, before they had to duck into another room as officers came running down the hall. Their guns were out, and they were clearly looking for business. They went past the two boys, heading back the way they had come. And James moved them along, it was only when yelling picked up behind them that Erik realized they must have found the body of their dead commard. Just like that, they took off down the hall. They didn’t stop running until they slipped into a hall with a single door, and a vent.

“Okay this is it, we won’t be able to go through the door. But I’ll fit in the vent, you stay here watch for things. And we will come out of that door...James don’t get caught.” james turned a sheepish smile toward him.

“Shouldn’t that be the other way around?” Erik rolled his eyes, shaking his head before going to work on the vent.

~~~time skip cause lazy~~~


It had taken him twenty minutes to get to the right room, and Honestly Erik was still in shock on what he had found. Again his hand slipped to the tablet in his pocket, it needed to make it as much as him. The information he had been able to record...it could change everything...and had blown his mind out of the water about what he had known growing up. Right before slipping out of the vent, Erik recorded a message for James...a Just in case I died type of thing. Once done, he tapped into those sly skills. It didn’t take him long to find the lockdown rooms. Even shorter for him to find the one holding his friend captive, standing in the last one on the right stood a man about six foot or so. His hair was deep black, looking blue sometimes. His eyes were a blue, and grew wide when they spotted him.

“Erik...what the hell are you doing here?” it came out muffled sounding, because of the pixi glass. But Erik gave him a bright smile.

“James and me came to save you. He’s waiting for us, because his fat ass couldn’t fit through the vent.” he saw something pass over the male's face, but it went back to normal.

“You shouldn’t have come...it's dangerous and I’m no-” but Erik cut his words off.

“We can talk about it later buddy, let's get you out.” he dashed away looking for a control panel. It was shocking to think no one was- he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the guard. The man looked just as shocked to see him, and for a split second neither of them moved. Steve must have seen the guy too because, he was making muffled sounds most likely trying to talk Erik out of this...but it wasn’t happening. He lunged for the man, and they broke into a fight. He was pretty proud of himself, he got a couple good punches in. James would be pretty damn proud of him, but he got cocky and the guard gave him a left hook that sent him flying to the ground. The man lifted his gun, ready to shot him.

Erik closed his eyes, he didn’t want to look his death right in the eyes. Only the sounded never came, that bang never filled the air. Instead a grunt and a crash did, he opened his eyes to see the man on the other side of the room. A long black tentacle was stretched across the room, he peeked his head up and over the control panel to see Steve pushed against the glass his arm from his elbow down no longer looking human. So he could have gotten out at any time? His brows lifted, but he didn’t waste any time...Instead smacked the button to release his friend. The glass slid away, and Steve stumbled out. Erik ran over to him, not even flinching at the site of his noodle like arm.

“You okay steve?” those blue eyes met green, and for a second it looked like he wanted to say something.

“It’s Norgav.” Erik blinked, the word sounding weird...he rolled it over in his head...was that his name? “I...I’m thankful for you getting me out, and I wanted you to know..but please keep calling me Steve.” oh god, Erik couldn’t help it. He wrapped his arms around Steve and gave him a hug, it seemed to shock the other boy...or well alien as if he thought Erik would be disgusted...and honestly he should have been..but it didn’t feel right.

“Come on, let's get the hell off this station.” with that they took off back toward the door, that James was waiting on the other side of. When Erik used the card on him, it slid open no problem. James was there, looking ready to kick ass. His eyes spotted Erik and a look of relief filled those baby browns, when they shifted to Steve something else passed over them.

“It took you long enough idiot.” he was saying it to Erik, but it was clear he was still looking at steve...and as much as he wanted them to have this moment it couldn’t last...or really happen right now.

“Yeah, ran into some interesting things...come on let's get to the dock.” that seemed to be the magic words as they all headed out.


~~~time skip again because look...lazy is lazy~~~


“You two stay here, I’ll go get a ship ready.” James only gave the two of them a passing look, but Erik nodded. He didn’t wait for anything from Steve before dashing off, however Erik watched as Steve’s eyes followed his friend until he was long gone. He sat down, crossing his legs to look at Steve who followed his lead.

“I don’t know why you two are doing this.” Erik looked up, meeting blue eyes that seemed electric. Very not human, they had seem to be like that since Steve had saved his life.

“Because you are our friend.” there words were honest, and never sounded so good to say. Something in him, that had always felt so wrong about all this finally loosened up. Finally told him, he was suppose to be here in this moment having this talk.

“But I’m nothing but a monster.” Steve’s tone on the last word was hateful as he looked away.

“The way I see it, a monster wouldn’t have saved me from flying out into space.” Steve just looked at him for a second, before looking off. “And monster or not, I’m still proud to call you our friend...James feels the same, even if...he doesn’t act like it..He just needs time.” Steve made a little noise, one Erik had come to recognize as his whatever sign before it grew quiet between them. The alarms were still going off, and every now and then a voice would come over and state there was an emergency and everyone should remain calm and go to their designated spots.

“You know, I’m really shocked you stayed here. I know you could have gotten out of that holding cell, so why didn’t you?” his voice was a whisper, Steve’s to bright of blue eyes fell down to the floor. “It’s because of James right?” again he was met by those eyes, as a look passed over them. But nothing was said for a good while.

“You know Kmiwrelz, unlike humans mate for life. They spend most of their time as children hearing the tales of those finding their true mates, and then once maturity hits they spend many years if not longer searching for that one partner. As such, we do not care if it is male, female, or of another race. You have seen a Kmiwrelz in it’s main form, but we as a whole enjoy being in others...like this.” Steve slid his hand down his toned shirtless chest. “Your government thought we took this form to ease them, and it’s true...but also not. We had forms that were close to yours already, as there are many other species of being out there. And it depends on who a Kmiwrelz parents are.” his words died out, as if he realized he might be saying to much. But Erik just looked at him, his tan colored skin, those blue eyes, and that black hair. Out of everything the man before him had been telling him, he got the main idea.

“Your mate is James.” Steve looked away a little guilty, but before Erik could say anything James was back whispering about them needing to go now if they planned to get out of there.

~~~~~lookkkkkkkkk lets just say it was getting late and I needed another skip because I ran out of time~~~~


“Look boys, you have to understand. We can not let this monster go, now I know you two have been through the training. I know you won’t let our people down. But you are putting us in a very weird predicament here.” the General of the Army said, his dark eyes leveling with them. Erik knew why such a high ranking officer was here, because Steve had been on here...had taken classes, had been right under everyone's nose...And after what he had found out, there was no way he was going to let this man take his friend. Something must have showed on his face, because the General turned to James. “Here’s what we can do, you boys want to go home...see some family.” who didn’t want that? “Then shot him, shot him and end this. Then both of you can be on the next shuttle home and this can be put all behind you.”

Surely James wouldn’t believe that, sure they’d be on a shuttle...but he highly doubted it would be to go home and relax...more like be sent to jail for treason or something. But when his friend didn’t say anything, Erik turned to look. He was seriously standing there...looking as if he were thinking about it. Steve himself was looking at him, and Erik got the distinct impression that if James decided he wanted to take this crazy deal. Then Steve would let him do it. These two were the biggest dumbest idiots he had ever met, and he wanted nothing more then to drop kick them both back into a rightful state of mind. As it was he did the next best thing.

“James” just saying his name, had the blonde looking over at him. Breaking whatever moment the other two were having, Erik hoped he saw it...the answer in his face. And was thankful when it seemed he did, because his own face went steely clearly ready for whatever was about to happen. One second everyone was fine, the next all hell broke lose as the fighting started. Erik had never been the best fighter but he did his damndest, and before long it was the three of them. And only the General and his right hand man. James and him were in a shouting match, his friend trying to get them out of there why the General tried to stall them for more people to arrive.

Erik wasn’t sure why, but he glanced behind them. His life was like a movie in slow motion, as he spotted the man with the gun. He wasted no time, he tackled the man fear gripping him. They tumbled down to the ground, struggling with the gun. It went off, but it must have missed. Never in all his life did he fight as hard as he did, but it wasn’t enough. The person flipped him to his back, his hands wrapped around his neck. He cut off Erik’s air, and he wiggled under him trying to get him off. He was beginning to panic when the man was ripped off him, and air was allowed to fill his lungs again. He was gasping for air when James face appeared right next to him, his friend grabbing his hand terror on his face.Erik opened his mouth to tell him it was all good, he just needed to get his breath. But James shook his head

“Don’t talk...it will be okay.” what the heck was his problem? Of course he was going to be okay. What the heck was he holding on to? Erik lifted himself a little, following his friend's hands until they ended at his side. His once clean shirt, was now stained red...Blood..whos? Suddenly he knew, when the gun had gone off. The ache that had been at the back of his mind. The tightness in his chest...telling him it was pretty hard to breath. Looking into those brown eyes of his best friends a sadness overtook him, he was going to die. His stomach lurched on a wave of pain, as his friend clearly tried to figure out what to do. Steve appeared over his shoulder, and Erik knew they needed to go.

“We need to leave....” James ignored him… “James.” His best friend exploded.

“NO! WE AREN’T GOING ANYWHERE, THIS IS YOUR FAULT...IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT.” his voice was lost in the alarm, but he pulled Erik toward him causing a new wave of pain. Steve had a moment of pain flash over his face, but Erik wasn’t going to let it end like this.


“James...He’s right.” He finally found his voice, but his blonde friend shook his head. As if he didn’t want to hear it, Erik lifted his hand to his friends head to pull him closer so he wouldn’t have to talk so loud...When did he get so tired?

“We could take him with us, I can carry him.” Steve tried but Erik shook his head.

“It will be ok; you two have to get you out of here. I’ll only pull you guys down. “ He dropped his hand, and pulled the tablet out of his pocket, and pushed it toward his friend's leg. “Just a quick trip down the hall, and then you are scott free. ” his words were softer, as he started to realize it didn’t hurt that bad. He could do little more then look at his pale face, reflected in the eyes of his longest friend. He knew James favorite color, and what he had once wanted to be before the world had gone to shit. Knew that until a month ago, he had had a little sister. All these things he had learned as they had made their trip here, to this moment. To bad he never thought he’d not get to learn more. They locked hands, his hand squeezed James as if that could keep it from happening and he tried to fight the tears building in his eyes. Erik wasn’t weak, but it was hard to get use to death like this. Pointless death, he had only wanted to be free and with those he loved. Only wanted to live...now he was going to die.

“James listen to me, you make it out of here. Don’t mind me, it was bound to happen at some point. I’d rather it happen protecting something important.” he coughed, and blood slipped from his lips. “You get that ship, and Norgav out of here...and you don’t look back...You have to fix this...you’ll understand when you watch it.” his eyes locked onto his friend, this would be the last time he saw him.He wanted him to understand but knew there wasn’t enough time. Shouting sounded from down the hall, and Norgav{steve} pulled on James. His friend fought for a second, before leaning down and hugging him. “Don’t be scared to love James.” the blonde pulled back, wide eyes as he was pulled to his feet. Erik could only give him a smile, as the world around him started to darken. A single tear rolled down his cheek, as he realized...he was never going to see his best friends again.


[bg=#deb887]Submission Three[/bg]
PI Duncan Brown, heading home late one sweltering August night, hears gunshots and finds a pizza delivery boy dead on his doorstep. The police arrive late; busy night, they say, a lot of calls coming from all over Los Angeles, though they seem more interested in the cold pizza than the case. Just a robbery gone wrong, they say, nothing to see here. Something about this doesn't seem right to Duncan, so he decides to conduct his own investigation. Business hasn't been very good anyway, nothing but insurance claims and cheating spouses, so why not?

The next day, Duncan gets his first client in weeks: a Gabriela Winslow, whose husband died the night before. The police are calling it a suicide, but she insists that's impossible, he had plenty to live for and someone was out to get him. She's not sure who, but thinks it has something to do with his job as a building inspector. Companies are racing to put up Los Angeles's first skyscraper, and unlike a lot of his colleagues, her husband took the rules seriously.

Duncan starts looking into the case, and in doing so discovers just what was keeping the police so busy that night. There were three more deaths that night, all within a few hours of each other. An electrician, a lawyer, and a janitor at a local gym. All took place under suspicious circumstances, but none of them are being seriously investigated. Duncan approaches a police officer who will at least tolerate him, and despite some difficulty gets enough information to start piecing together what happened that night, with the help of Gabriela, who starts getting very close to him. Maybe a little too close for someone who just lost her husband.

Duncan learns that Mr. Winslow had recently had a meeting with a banker named Mr. Greaves, who had started construction on a skyscraper and was going to have it inspected to make sure it was up to the fire code. Mr. Greaves is not willing to speak to Duncan, but he's able to sweet-talk his secretary and learns a few interesting facts: The meeting went badly, Mr. Greaves had also had a recent meeting with the murdered lawyer, and they used the same janitorial service as the gym. Duncan spends a lot of time running around town to check schedules and work rosters, all the not-fun parts of being a detective, though Gabriela's attention helps some.

Finally, he has a case. Duncan calls in his cop friend and lays out the case for him, and it convinces him to at least ask in Mr. Greaves for questioning. In the police station, Duncan confronts the man. He was cutting corners on his skyscraper project in order to hurry it along. He hadn't been able to bribe Mr. Winslow into allowing his subpar construction work to pass, and so had ordered a hit on him. The lawyer and the electrician were loose ends, knowing about the faulty work, and the janitor and pizza boy had been potential witnesses, having worked at Mr. Greaves's offices around the time of his meetings.

Mr. Greaves, however, laughs at this elaborate plot. He reveals that despite a “heated discussion” with Mr. Winslow, the latter already completed his inspection and turned it in, and that aside from some trouble with the wiring his building is up to code. Trouble that got the electrician fired from the project, in fact. He has the memos to back everything up. His project is going just fine, there's no reason for him to start murdering people.

A humiliated Duncan returns home, wondering if he should even bother being a PI anymore. Nobody's going to take him seriously now. Gabriela tries to comfort him, says it was her fault too for being in denial about her husband's suicide. Duncan starts packing up all of the paperwork, which is when…

The Plot Twist:

...he notices that Mr. Winslow's listed as single. No marriage certificate, no mention of a wife, not even a wedding ring on the corpse. He checks his office, and discovers that one of his older case files has been completely removed—one pertaining to an insurance claim he'd investigated for an apartment fire. He confronts Gabriela, the only other person who's been in his office recently, and initially she claims a common-law marriage, but at the mention of the file she drops the facade and attacks him. He's able to overpower her. The cops arrive, because even if they don't trust him, they'll respond to a domestic disturbance call from one of his neighbors.

Duncan finally puts together the real plot. The wiring issues in the skyscraper weren't an accident, they were the result of deliberate tampering in order to start a fire that would spread down the street and wipe out several nearby buildings, allowing the owners to claim the insurance money. The lawyer had consulted with them, the janitor had worked for them and the electrician had tried to report the tampering. Duncan himself was one of the targets thanks to his old case, but the pizza boy had gotten to his house before he had. Gabriela was hired to find out what he knew and steal the files. Duncan visits Gabriela in jail, and they flirt briefly.


[bg=#deb887]Submission Four[/bg]
It's the early years of the Protestant Reformation. Word of Martin Luther's radical opposition against Pope Leo X, outlined in his Ninety-five Theses, has spread throughout the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Leo has excommunicated Martin Luther from the church, however Lutheran and Calvinist denominations began forming all across Europe. On a small archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea is a city whose people are under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church. Amongst the people of a city an uprising has formed by the hands of Lutheran doctrine to deny the Pope's rights to sell indulgences.

Two priests, Father O'Malley and Father Donner, run the church within this fictional city and are faced with hardship once the Reformation hits their town. They earned most of their living through selling indulgences. However, their congregation is dwindling and the church will have to shut down if nothing is done about the Protestant insurgence. Father Donner, who is O'Malley's closest friend from when they were both young children in the church, acceps the fact that they are losing money and suggests to simply cut their budget and make do with what God provides for them. On the other hand, our protagonist O'Malley is conflicted between staying with the Catholic Church or joining the Lutheran Church in their opposition.

This choice is made more conflicting by a letter O'Malley received from his sister. His sister and mother have both abandoned the Catholic Church (and his father) and joined the Lutherans. This letter is followed by many more as the two correspond. O'Malley's sister insists that he come join the two women, while he affirms his loyalty to the church. Eventually, his sister goes so far as to send a copy of Martin Luther's The Ninety-five Theses in one of the letters.

O'Malley then brings this letter to Donner to discuss. He seeks Donner's advice on how to proceed. The two priests discuss on the pros and cons of Luther's words and eventually decide for themselves that they are blasphemy and heresy. They also agree to keep this discussion a secret between their ears and God's. Donner advises that O'Malley sends one final letter to end all correspondence with his mother and sister. O'Malley does just that, but discovers the following day that he has been excommunicated from the church for supporting Lutherine doctrine. Dejected, he joins his mother and sister in their Protestant church.

Plot Twist:

Eventually, O'Malley's father joins the Protestant church as well. From his father, our hero discovers that the price of indulgences has been rapidly increasing since the day that he was excommunicated. He also learns that Donner, his close friend, is the one who called for his excommunication. Not only that, but for his service in protecting the Catholic Church against "corruption and libel," Father Donner is getting called to the higher seat of bishop.


[bg=#deb887]Submission Five[/bg]
Mark was completely average in every way, and perhaps that was the most interesting thing about him. He was in his 30s, unmarried, and had a dog. She was a Golden Retriever, and her name was Sally. She went pretty much everywhere with him, and if that wasn’t a sign of how lonely he was, he didn’t know what was.

Mark worked for Darkness Inc., partner organization to Light Inc. Yes, the names were unimaginative, but he wasn’t the one who came up with them. To be honest, he didn’t know if he could have done any better.

He wasn’t very high up in the Darkness ranks. His actual job title was very convoluted, but in essence he was the second in command of his local neighborhood Darkness... headquarters, for lack of a better word. It was somewhat prestigious, if one looked at it the right way, but there were many many people ahead of him, and so Mark didn’t get too excited over his position. It was a lot of work, to be honest.

It was Friday night, and he gave a small sigh as he whistled to Sally and grabbed his jacket. He was finally off of work, and planned to go to the bar by his home (Yin, Yang, and Spirits) as was his weekly routine. They knew him by name there now, and Mark wasn’t going to deny that it was a nice feeling that at least some people seemed glad to see him week after week. Well, he definitely needed a drink after that depressing thought, and so he locked his door behind him and began to walk.
---
Basically, the two characters (Mark and Adam) meet outside the bar (Yin, Yang, and Spirits) and have some sort of tense stand off before they both avoid a drive by shooting. Teaming up, they try to figure out who shot at them and why, in the process pooling both organization’s resources together and creating a unity that will last for long after they find the culprits. And, of course, Sally has a starring role in all of this nonsense!

Plot Twist:

The plot twist is that they end up together! (No, I’m kidding, that’s not it. But if you want to, I wouldn’t mind...) The actual plot twist is... the shooting actually had nothing to do with Mark or Adam, and was in fact directed at the owner of the bar, and they were just completely unintended targets!


[bg=#deb887]Submission Six[/bg]
Not far from a small town in Northern Canada there’s a place the locals refer to as Everlane. People go there to escape the toils of the day, to relax and unwind, some even go to get lost, far away from reality, for a time. Everyone from town swears by the bliss-bestowing aura of this long, tree-lined road, leading out into the country for days and days. Some of the older folk claim it’s the road to heaven, others think it’s magic, but nobody is really sure. They can all agree on the calming and revitalizing effects of a trip down Everlane, but one thing nobody can agree on is where Everlane leads. Some venture down the road for weeks on end and pass landscapes unimaginably beautiful and vibrant. Others find themselves in a thickly wooded forest that goes on for an eternity. Most can agree that whatever they see, it pleases them. And so they take it as a gift, rarely questioning its nature, rarely bothering to entertain the tourists who so desperately wish to know more. There is but one rule amongst the locals, however: no one is allowed to venture down Everlane more than once a year. Only the elders know why this rule exists, but it’s been followed closely and reverently by the townsfolk for generations.


Today, however, there’s a young man who’s been spending a lot of time down Everlane. He found a little road that splits off and it leads to his favorite place in the world: a beautiful forest filled with mystical plant life, animals he had never before seen, and the most beautiful cottage that hasn’t seen a resident in an eternity. This young man has fallen in love with this little piece of paradise and so, he continuously returns, time and time again, down Everlane, down to where he longs to be. . . despite the warnings of the elders.


There’s a girl. A mechanic who lives and works in the nearby town, and he knows her well. He’s fallen in love with her over the years and more and more each day he longs to bring her out to his piece of paradise. Except that nobody sees the same thing in Everlane. He’s always spoiling his car, wrecking it, driving over glass, just to get a chance to see her. Only this time, he calls her from several miles down Everlane. She comes, sadly announces she can’t fix it and tries to head home to get better tools. When she heads back to her truck, she discovers it, too, has broken down and from there, her world changes.


Nobody sees the same things in Everlane, it’s as if the road is a personal paradise, an escape, a gift from whatever divine there might be. But when the girl arrives to where the young man’s car has been “accidentally” stuck in a ditch, she sees a beautiful forest with mystical plant life and animals she had never before seen. In awe, she walked down the path towards a cottage that took her breath away.


The pair realized that they were seeing the same thing and rejoiced, but quickly the dream turned into a nightmare.


There’s a reason the elders tell everyone not to go down Everlane more than once a year. Everlane gives but if too much is taken, it takes back.


When the time comes for the couple to try and return home, the road becomes endless. There is no escape and they quickly find themselves trapped in a world of wonder and horror.


Everlane is an afterlife. It’s each individual’s paradise but each time a person ventures in, the lane steals life from the individual, pulling them closer to death. When the girl ventured in to see the young man, the young man was claimed by the lane for his greed and she was sucked in with him, trapped in “paradise.”


Quickly, however, they find out it’s not paradise. Now that they’re trapped in Everlane, they see that Everlane is actually an eternity put into a physical form. The road goes on forever because it is forever. The duo are tasked with exploring this strange world, facing horrifying creatures from the beyond (nobody said the afterlife was all sunshine and rainbows), and exploring villages and towns they find in the depths of this magical forest. After meeting local races of gnomes and monkey people and all manner of unusual peoples, they find out that the own way back to their real world is to seek out the Thessalon, the being responsible for time and space, life and death, and convince it to return them.


This will require a sacred ritual of summoning (collecting sparkling soul stones from all over the land), an offering (choosing two lives from their hometown to take their place) and a vow that one day they’ll return to Everlane to live out their afterlife. The Thessalon, a being made of what looks like light in the form of tendrils, eventually grants them their right. The pair fall in love during their journey but when they get home, they’re changed. Their love remains strong but they live their lives out in fear of their return to Everlane. Years later, they’re married, they have children, but Everlane does not so easily let them go.


Plot Twist:
They accidentally chose their own future children to take their place, trying to worm their way out of sacrificing any of the people they knew at home, they convinced the Thessalon to take someone from the future and it ends up being their own kids. The pair cannot live with the loss of their young children disappearing one day and so venture back into Everlane to save their children, thus, beginning another adventure.



[bg=#deb887]Submission Seven[/bg]
Elysium: An islanded, ancient country of paradise in a world inhabited by pokémon. Pious temples once dotted the land, to be supplanted by towering castles and palaces – but such was long ago. Elysium now serves as a quiet home to the quiet pokémon of Tao Village; at least, until the veil appeared. A gloom curtain of stormy clouds ringed the land’s waters; and from it they came.

Several boats trickled through the haze, a damaged, motley fleet of yet floating vessels amid tattered rafts and balloons. The pokémon aboard came bearing a terrible message – the world was gone. The varied, scattered lands of before now obliterated by powerful, extra-dimensional beings from above… The arriving, foreign pokémon, numbering in less than the hundreds, were the spare few to escape the world-ending chaos; their exodus steered by one patchwork Exploration Guild, a motley compromise of surviving rescue teams, former cities’ administrators and merchants, even ex-criminals who all banded together in the face of catastrophe. This disparate collection of teams was steered by the venerable explorer Raime, and his map to the hidden land of Elysium, now the world’s last bastion of life. Only, little time remains… Through the storm, one can see an encroaching, fiery surge. The end.

The world’s last Exploration Guild had become every surviving pokémon’s final hope – an unendurable weight to bear for many. A number of what few Teams remained succumbed to the despair and quit, while other weaker, inexperienced survivors stepped up to fight the inevitable. Though a shining star and testament of willpower, their courage alone would have been directionless without the christened Guildmaster Raime. The last guild searched day and night through the land of Elysium for rumors of hope, all the while inhabitants new and old of Tao Village slowly maddening with knowledge of death’s approach. In the end, the world's final hope produced one thing from their efforts – a time gear, a once imperative artifact to regulate the flow of time in the Pokémon World. Now, a crumbling, mossed stone.

End approaching, even those courageous enough to have stayed with the Guild all this time began to waver. No hope was left. In a hysterical fit, refusing to acknowledge the truth, guildmaster Raime fled into the wilds. His panicked mania led the pokémon to a buried vault. It was here Raime discovered the ruins of Temporal Tower, home to the guardian of time and time gears; though, now devoid of all but overgrowth and a stricken explorer. On placing his decrepit gear into a pedestal, Raime found himself flung back in time to three months before, just days after their arrival to Elysium.

Raime was ecstatic. Marshalling his guild, they set out to reclaim the time gear as well as the others, no doubt lost from the passage of time. Except they didn’t. Three months passed, the end drew near, but the guildmaster instead brought as many villagers as possible to the temporal vault. If everyone could be brought back, they could keep working on a solution, search where they’ve yet gone, or perhaps find other ways to combat the tide. On setting time back, the guildmaster discovered he alone had recollected being sent back.

Three months passed. Another. Another. Another. Raime relived the same three months over and over searching for answers that may well have never existed; overtime, his body steadily changing. With each pass he would become younger and younger, until no longer recognizable as Raime, the legendary explorer; and became a psychological husk. The child-version of Raime, operating under a pseudonym, would quietly wait for the end and reset time for another loop, again and again. The Exploration Guild itself struggled without Raime’s leadership. His old partner, distraught with Raime’s disappearance, assumed the mantle of leadership but was yet inexperienced. The new leader, unlike Raime, sought to pacify Tao Village instead of preventing the apocalypse. Whatever the guild could do to comfort pokémon before the end.

Someone wishes to confess their feelings to another? The Guild would deliver that letter. One’s child, or even parents, ran away from fear? The Guild would reunite that family. Did the village need something to take their mind off it all? The Guild would organize a play. It all became menial, simple work unbefitting of an Exploration Guild yet it was all the guild’s flustered new leader could organize…


And then one day, out of the ring of storms, you came – an amnesiac pokémon afloat their patchwork of planks and netting. To the other pokémon of Tao, you were just another refugee here awaiting death, but to a peculiar and young pokémon named Grey you were special. Though the two of you never spoke much, he would always be watching with a confused look in his eyes, but then no one in Tao seemed very normal. Why would they be in these strange, horrible times.

Deciding to be proactive, you joined the Exploration Guild. Grocery lists were filled out, homes improved, plays staged, and runaways found for a good part of three months. As everyone in Tao held their families close, or ran in terror, you were taken by the young pokémon from before. Arriving at an overgrown vault, Grey showed you a time gear, and suddenly it was three months prior. You couldn’t believe what had happened. Neither could Grey…

Throughout the story, you would build your team of explorers and set out to save the world from disaster. Doing what Raime couldn’t, new artifacts were discovered that led to different times and even places. Your team discovered the portals from which these otherworldly creatures – Ultra-Beats – came were a result of parallel but separate universes colliding with one another a number of years ago and, through many adventures, sought to stabilize this fragmented reality.

PLOT TWIST:
1) The otherworldly, ultra-beasts did not cause the catastrophe, they were merely enraged, wounded entities forced from their multi-dimensional home by the machinations of others.
2) Raime, now called Grey, spirals into madness. Instead of fading away through time loops, he wishes to die properly and therefore refuses to let you activate the time gear.


[bg=#deb887]Submission Eight[/bg]
Rizal, the emperor of the galaxy, and otherwise known as the Red Fist, has sat on his throne for the past 30 years. During that time, rebellions have become as regular as clockwork, nearly rising up as soon as the previous one has been put down. Though these rebellions may have once posed a threat in the first ten years or so of Rizal’s reign, that is no longer the case. He can put the rebellions down easily, and there hasn’t been a real threat to his throne in the past twenty years. Really, he should be content, but he isn’t. Maybe that isn’t so surprising after all. While rebellions are certainly stressful for the man in charge, they also provide a challenge, and Rizal loves a challenge; something he hasn’t had in twenty years.

Then, one day, he receives an anonymous message. It starts by saying simply that these words came to the sender in a dream, many years ago.
In the 30th year of the Red Fist’s reign, a hero will rise. Born into military might, raised in the Emperor’s own home, she will be exiled for treason and travel among the outer planets, gaining the favor of the common people.
In the 31st year of the Red Fist’s reign, there will be a new rebellion, greater than all the others, with the hero at their head. They will reach the emperor’s seat before they fall. The hero will flee and wander once more, this time with considerably less favor from the common people.
In the 32nd year of the Red Fist’s reign, she will return again, this time unseen and unheard. The emperor will not see her coming until she has already engineered his doom. The only sign of her coming will be this: The third moon of the Red Fist’s planet will turn dark, permanently.



After reading the message, Rizal considers it. If the prophecy comes true, it could very easily lead to his downfall. Technically, he could stop this hero before she even starts. For example, he could avoid exiling her once she commits whatever treason she plans and execute her instead. But...it’s a challenge at last.

So, he watches and waits for this supposed hero. And, soon enough, a young woman commits an act of treason by attempting to kill him in his sleep. However, she is his eldest daughter, and she was supposed to succeed him on the throne. He had been training her for it for all her life, and never once did he expect her, of all people, to betray him. He’s trusted her with everything, including the prophecy. Nevertheless, he still chooses to carry the prophecy out and banish her, though he does not banish her without a heavy sense of dread. His dread, however, is outweighed by his excitement. For parents love to see their children succeed, and she seems about to do just that. Not only that, but this is indeed the best challenge he’s had since he took the throne. In fact, it’s about to be the best challenge he’s had in his entire life…

A year later, his daughter comes at the head of a rebellion, just as the prophecy foretold. They come in secret, keeping hidden by secret paths Rizal taught his daughter long ago. In fact, despite Rizal telling his underlings to keep a look out, the army is not discovered until they are actually on the planet and inside the palace. In the later struggle, Rizal loses several soldiers and underlings. As the prophecy predicted, a fragment of his daughter’s forces makes it to Rizal’s throne, and he fights his daughter in single combat briefly. Her strength and cleverness are overwhelming, and only outweighed by her sheer hatred for her father. Indeed, Rizal would have lost if he had not prepared a small army of bodyguards and had them waiting in the shadows. His daughter’s army is defeated, but his daughter escapes in the chaos despite Rizal’s orders to guard every conceivable exit. He is left to wonder at his daughter’s conviction and the few stinging insults she flung his way before disappearing.

It is now a year after the last great rebellion, and Rizal waits for his daughter once more...

Plot Twist:
The person in the prophecy is Rizal’s own daughter and the heir to the throne.


[bg=#deb887]Submission Nine[/bg]

The Golden Apple

Melanion managed to gain Atalanta’s hand in marriage with three golden apples given by Aphrodite.

In exchange for a golden apple Aphrodite gave Paris the love of the most beautiful woman, which lead to the fall of Troy.

Now two of Aphrodite's offsprings are competing for the famed golden apple for their own romantic endeavours.

However, this time the gods are helping a hand in where Aphrodite refuses to step between...


“I would give it to the eldest. They are wise and knowledgeable, with a sensitive heart and feel for the arts.”

“No, no, the youngest should succeed. They are charming and full of tact, and holds a presence that demands both respect and leadership.”

The gods had gathered on mount Olympus, snickering and bickering with each other over the fate of Aphrodite’s youngest two. Both had reached a marriageable age and announced their interest in another mortal. The goddess of love would have gladly given her blessing over the courtship. After all, who was she to deny such emotion to one of her beloved? However, it had so happened that both had wanted the same mortal, making the other their rival in love. A grave coincidence that put the mother into split. Her fellow gods found it hilarious, however, taking great joy in debating who they deemed the most worthy.

“Think about it, humans love music, their heartstrings are easily tugged by poetry. Words are the way to the heart,” one of the gods spoke, sighing blissfully at the thought of the songs the older sibling would write in the name of love. Another shook their head, disagreeing as they gestured in the air. “No one cares about pretty words if they can’t survive. They need strength and fortitude, characteristics to provide for a family. Not a lullaby!” Another snickered adding in a joke: “I certainly wouldn’t mind crossing sword with that one.”

More disagreements followed surrounding Aphrodite who seated in silence, staring in front of her pensively. She loved both her children dearly, but she could hardly promise both of them the same person. That was just not how it was done within the mortal realms. Perhaps in the future, but in the Greece of today this was simply not yet accepted. However, how could she ensure the happiness of her children without breaking the heart of the other? It was a rare sight for the normally confident goddess to be so far away in thought.

“With strength like the youngest has there is no doubt in their fertility!” another goddess chirped in, eyes twinkling as she suppressed a giggle. “Reproduction, that is all what matters with humans.”

Another god rolled his eyes at her, releasing a deep sigh. “Humans are emotional beings, you can’t be a brute without a feel for the finer pleasures of life,” he argued. Some hummed in agreement, while others scoffed. It was clear that the room was split on who they would rather support.

“It doesn’t matter who you root for,” Aphrodite broke her silence, a determined expression replacing the look of thought. “Neither of them shall have the mortal if they can’t pass the test,” she continued, standing up in grace as she turned towards one of the pillars, leaning against it as she stared down to where the humans lived. “I told both of them to prove their love to me,” she explained, eyes still fixated at the world below them. “Whoever shows the purest form of love will have the mortal.”

The gods all reacted in glee, whispering to each other on what they thought the champions would bring forth. A masterpiece? An act of heroism? They weren’t sure, but they sure were excited! However, also a little mischievous, of course. There was a lot of time to waste as an immortal, after all. So, why not dabble and help out some love sick apples?

“Art is the purest expression of a human’s emotion!” one of them whispered enthusiastically. ‘The eldest shall woe the mortal with a masterpiece!’ A honing laugh followed. “No, bravery is the true test of love!” they exclaimed, shoulders broad and hands on their hips. ‘They shall literally sweep the mortal off their feet with both wit and courage!’ With that the gods started to bicker again, arguing why they believed the other would win.

“Want to bet on it?”

“You bet.”

And thus a game started between the gods. Bets were placed and claims were made. All were confident in their choices, but had the same thing in mind. To ensure their win they would had to interfere.

Meanwhile two young demi-gods were sent out on a journey to show their love. Two children born from the Goddess of Love and a human were about to find out what true love truly meant.


Plot Twist:

Several plot twists possible, depending on preferences, how the story goes itself, and organisation.
- It aren't two males, or two females falling for a female, or a male. It is one female and a male demigod that falls for the same person.
- One of the other gods ends up falling for the mortal.
- The two of them fall in love with someone else.
- The mortal is in love with someone else and marries them, breaking both their hearts and have them both fail the test.


[bg=#deb887]Submission Ten[/bg]
The angel, Shiana, was cursed with aging after loosing the soul of a human to a demon named Issac, and is given the quest to seek the lost. Issac, a greater chaos demon, has been on a steady campaign to earn the mantle of Demon Prince, but requires one thing to finally complete his ascension. The heart of an angel. Being banished to Bren (The planet that the plot will take place on), Shiana finds herself target number one for Issac’s cohorts. After bring ambushed by squad of ‘fetch’ demons, Shiana finds herself rescued by a squad of three ‘merry men’ named Achilles (Water), Edric (Earth), and Garret (Air). The trio, aptly named “the wild bunch,” had made the Kingdom of Reil too hot for them to handle, despite it being the dead of winter. It was only by chance that they found the woman being attacked. After some negotiation they decided to take the strangely tall, well fed, and obviously well armed women with them to the neighboring kingdom. After several weeks, the group reaches the capital city of the Kingdom Velipoli, Hethantinople. Tired and low on coin, they came to the cheapest inn looking for a work, after abandoning the seemingly crazy woman they decided to bring along in the town square. Entering the inn, the trio find a pair of scoundrels looking for able men for a job. It was under these pretense did the battle mage Rayleonard (Fire) and the pauper scholar Baelor (Spirit) convince the wild bunch to help them plunder the royal palace. In truth, the two only had one thing in mind. A drake’s egg. While this is happening, Shiana decides to find solace in the local place of worship. The priests, noticing her holy symbols, question her and are shocked to hear what she has to say. Reil being a partial theocracy, Shiana is quietly helped into the royal palace by the priesthood, and is shown into the royal archives. There she is given a map leading to the portal leading to the fountain. Shiana is then asked to dine and stay the night so she can be refreshed to travel in the morning.

A two points of exposition are required past this point for anyone to understand why the events that follow are important.

1. In this story’s continuity, a dragon is a immortal drake or wyvern that has followed “The Way,” which is a series of trials that test if the drake or wyvern is worthy of being immortal. The tests are physical, logical, and spiritual. Each trial is accessed through a portal which requires the potential dragon run his claws along a portal stone. By doing them in order, a dragon is able to enter the final portal which leads to the fountain of youth. Each portal stone is located across Bren. I should also note that in this continuity, dragons were given the responsibility of being guardians of the planet.
2. Angel’s weapons have the same portal opening powers that an almost realized dragon does, as Angels are guardians over the magical or ‘otherworldly.’

Now that we are done with exposition, things can get interesting.

After the castle had gone to bed, the thieves broke into the palace to steal their prize, but soon after they had successfully retrieved the egg, chaos broke out. Demons had infiltrated the city and had got into the palace as well, lead by none other than Issac himself. After a brief skirmish with lesser demons, the group of thieves and Shiana found themselves facing Issac, who had killed the royal family. Issac goes for Shiana, disarming her (not easily, but I can’t write every detail of the battle now). Backed into a corner, Issac is about to dispatch Shiana, when Baylor picks up the angel’s weapon and deflects the demon’s. Both weapons shatter, injuring both Issac and Baelor. Issac and the demons teleport away (because bad guys) and a fresh set of guards rush the palace, finding our heroes covered in blood with the royal family dead at their feet. Miraculously, the party escapes to a safe place out of the kingdom.

From this point on, the party’s goal becomes hatching the drake and having it run the trials to become a dragon, so that Shiana can return from her banishment. After hatching the drake (who can talk, because magic…), the party would travel around Bren to each portal stone, being pursued by Issac and his minions who steadily get stronger the whole time. A relationship between Shiana and Baelor develops during this time, as Baelor had read many books about the afterlives and the Gods. (This could be significant, but…. meh) It also becomes clear why each member of the team is required, as fate intervenes to have a specific hero in a specific spot to help the dragon learn what it needs to know to pass the trials.

At the final portal stone, they would find it guarded by a suit of empty suit of armor that belonged to a long dead dragon slaying hero, and his blade. Issac is also there waiting with several greater demons. An epic battle ensues as the armor and the potential dragon battle apart from our mortal heroes and the demons. Our dragon, which we will name Arkay, defeats the armor and allows the party into the fountain, but is not allowed to intervene (because of something about the balance of good and evil and having to be neutral because of Shiana’s punishment etc.). After even more exciting combat Shiana and Baelor are the only two left able to fight Issac. Affirming their love in one another, the pair attack together. Issac bats Baelor away and strikes down Shiana. As he tries to rip the heart from her chest, he finds that her heart is not there. Enraged, Issac turns to Baelor who is also livid that he harmed his beloved. With a flurry of blows, the enraged Baelor slays Issac. Baelor quickly takes the dying Shiana into the fountain, and she is revived.

I have two endings that I feel if the story, so I will let the reader choose which one fits best.

1. Having killed a greater demon in anger and have had won the heart of an angel, Baelor quickly transformed into a Demon Prince as Shiana revived. No longer allowed to remain with Shiana or remain in the mortal plain, Baelor went on to create havoc in the demon realms, taking his anger out on the kind he had become. Shiana returned to her previous duties, only sometimes seeing her beloved, now a twisted demon.
2. After reviving in the fountain, Shiana was surprised by the higher angels that came down to congratulate her on her recovery. After being informed that she would return to her duties if she want, Shiana asked if she could be made mortal, so she could live her life with Baelor. They agree, and the party goes out to seek another adventure. (Because this is the nice ending…)


[bg=#deb887]Empty for now[/bg]
Blurb
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ended up being useless. . . . XD
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Just a fun little community event ^_^ you'll find out soon enough!
 
The suspense is killing me!! ARGH WHY YOU DO DIS! *waits until May 1st*
 
What time is it starting? I have to hope it's not during my college class that morning. >.>
 
Hm.... My curiosity doth take me here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Soulserenity20
Ill consider this as my birthday present from Iwaku... :Do
 
  • Love
Reactions: Soulserenity20
Satisfaction brought it back.
 
Something something something ack
 
  • Love
Reactions: ShadeFira
Something else something else something else at
 
  • Love
Reactions: ShadeFira
Something something rhyme.
 
Okay folks. The original post has been updated with information, you can all have a read over and begin working on your submissions :D Let me know if you have any questions, I'm more than happy to answer them!
 
...This is brilliant. Wow.
 
Is the Plot Twist field not a part of the story itself?