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EDIT: see the first post, Ponch, better now?

Yes. But how appropriate that I had to coerce you to make the trophies!

I'm sorry, misser, I'm sorry. Please don' hit me with 'dat cowhide swagger stick no more! Ow Lawdy!

No second place?
No third place?
No trophies?

Congrats, Sinitrena.

Ah, I wrote the post while at work, sorry about that.
I'll add the full list of people AND trophies on the first post by end of the day.

EDIT: see the first post, Ponch, better now?

Aye matey! I spoke like a scurvylicious pirate for the entire day, and people at work were... well... surprised!

[Sinitrena]

The results are in!

And the winner, without a doubt, is Sinitrena! Congratulations!

Thank you to all who participated, see you around next fortnight.

[LostTrainDudeDurindeBogdanSinitrena Baron]

Hear ye, hear ye!

The entrants are in and the voting is on! The participants this time around were:

LostTrainDude
Durinde
Bogdan
Sinitrena
Baron

Really glad to see some new names (...or are you people new? Have I just missed you until now!? Whatever: WELCOME!)

As before: CATEGORIES!

Character: You find one or several characters really believable/captivating/magnetic/unique, etc.
Plot: The story arc was well-organized, coherent, and well-executed with appropriate pacing
Atmosphere: This is all about feeling: did the story evoke strong feelings due to excitement/humour/intrigue/wonder/emotional intensity?
Background World: The best setting or milieu for a story; a place brought to life.
Word Choice/Style: The technical art of combining words in clever or gripping ways
Topic: How faithful or creative a story takes on the given topic

You can vote up to three people per category. Every vote counts as one point. Whoever recives most points, wins.

Voting is open untill thursday, if that's okay with everyone. That would mean that a new comp can be started on friday, and I like to write on fridays. If you can't find the time to read all the entries until thursday night and reeeally want to vote, drop me a line and we'll fix that.

(Oh! And I have a trophy design in mind! So, maybe, trophies! Yay!)

Efff! I had all the time in the world but, beyond a very generic library that was so boring I decided not to finish it, no good ideas and no progress.
I'm out!

Ze deadline, it looooms!
Great entries so far, hoping to see a few more before we end the competition!

-W

I don't think Lovecraft ever actually drew it, so we'll never know what his idea really looked like, but that's the one Wikipedia shows, and it's an approximation based on the written description of the sign.

But enough thread hijacking and Lovecraft geeking, on with the avatars!

Mine is a distraught United Earth Federation grunt from the Infection game mythos which I will probably never have time to actually finish.

@Frenzykitty: Did you know that the eye&star Elder Sign isn't actually Lovecraft's own design. His was more like a branch of a tree, and the eye&star design was created after his death. It's far more awesome and eldritch -looking, though, than the actual lovecraft design, so I don't really mind.

[The winners!]

The winners!

	SINITRENA
	DURINDE
	BARON

Thanks for participating and welcome back!



COERSION
Or: How I was forced to do something against my will.

Write a short (or long, we won't mind) story in which the protagonist is coerced to do something against his/her/it's will. The most classical example would be the bank teller being forced to shovel cash money into a bag at gunpoint, but I'm sure you guys will come up with more creative methods, settings and characters than that bland example of the concept.

Simple as that, get to work!

The deadline is September 15th, 2359 PM, earth-standard-time


Random mood-setting picture FTW!

Yaaay! I think this is my first FWC win, so it's doubly sweet!
I'll think up a new comp during monday and get things going again.

I feel like drawing something, so count me in.

Good comp, guys!

Character: Chef
Plot: kconan
Atmosphere: Chef
Background World: kconan
Word Choice/Style: kconan
Topic: kconan

I would love to know who is putting Icey on, answering his e-mails, posing as an actual Square Enix employee. This is reality TV worthy material right here!
Then again, with the rate that SquareEnix is decaying and losing audience, profits and skilled employees, maybe they ARE so desperate as to hire random nutjobs off the internet.

"So, you say you have released thirty-four games so far Mr Isiah?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"And three of these have been highly successfull MMORPG's with code-based microtransactions, unlockables and hats?"
"U-huh."
"And you are a skilled artists, animator, video editor, programmer and also the son of Zeus, the ancient greek god?"
"Yup!"
"And you current fanbase consists of a loving community called 'the AGS forums'?"
"I also have a 162 likes on facebook! I post a lot of pre-made SquareEnix content on my page to promote you guys, so I am partially responsible for your success already!"
"Well then, welcome aboard, we'll have your creative team of monkeys assembled by monday and the release date for 'Final Icey Fantasy Studio 3 quest - the mystery of the oceanspirit' is by december 2013."
"YEAH! See this, Khris? Who's the big man now!? "

Twilight Struggle, Labyrinth, Eclipse, Race for the Galaxy, W40K tabletop, Mansions of Madness, Arkham Horror, Space Hulk, Horus Heresy, Descent...
just to name a few... Love 'em!

Sounds fun, but I'm neck deep in reading the Game of Thrones books and I've still got a ton of Black Library stuff to cover, so I'll have to give this fine idea a pass.

  Good to see WHAM back in the writing comp 

I sneak in every now and then.
Nice work on the story Kconan, by the way! My only gripe is that I'm still not sure when the story takes place. It might be taking place in the modern days of 2013, but I like to imagine the characters in an 80's setting.

[Serial arsonist apprehended!]

Thee segments, thee sources, three different takes. I hope you enjoy.

[CONFIDENTIAL] - [Property of: ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ police department ââ€"ˆ.ââ€"ˆ] Date: 07.23.2013 First-hand account of the ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ mall explosion, which killed ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ individuals and fatally injured ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ individuals on ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆPM ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ.ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ.ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ. ----- Subject ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ. Age: ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ. SSID: ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ-ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ Interviewing officer: ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ ----- Q: Can you please state your name for the record A: ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ Q: Can you tell us what you were doing at the time of the explosion? A: I was  talking to the clerk staffing the deli meats section. I had almost finished shopping and was about to leave, when I heard shouting. Q: Could you see who was shouting? A: No. It was a man, a low gravelly voice. Q: What was he saying? A: I don't remember all of it. It was something about it ‘all being lies' and how we were all blind to not see it. He said he would make us see. Q: I see. What did you do then? A: I heard someone saying they would call the police. That's when it happened. Q: Can you describe in any detail what followed? A: No. There was a loud noise, a flash of white light, then orange, then red. I remember the pain, shards of glass and the feeling that I was flying. Then I think I blacked out for a moment. Q: You came to your senses later? A: Yes, I woke up to the sounds of sirens. There was shouting and crying. I was lying in the broken glass near the back of the store. It was very dark, save for the faint red glow of the flames. I remember being wet and cold, despite the fires. Q: How long did it take for rescuers to arrive? A: I don't know, I didn't have my watch with me. It felt like an eternity, and all I could do was sit there, listening to that man. Q: Man? A: I think it was him that set off the bomb. He said so. Q: He did? A: Yes. He said he did it so that we could see the truth. He said there were more like him, people who wanted to speak true and be free of lies, and that the police would try to cover everything up. Q: I see. I'm sure that will not happen. Did he say anything else? A: He said others would take over for him now that he was done. I don't think he was too injured, but he seemed to be sure he was going to die. Did he make it? Q: can you describe him? A: A tall man, skinny. Thick beard and glasses, I think. I'm pretty sure he was pale. Was he rescued? Q: I can't be sure based on that description. I'll see if I can find out. Did you get his name? A: No, he never said his name. He got awfully quiet later, but I'm sure he was breathing. I could smell his breath. Q: What happened then? A: We just sat there. I couldn't move with both my legs broken. It's funny, really, the pain doesn't kick in until after, when you're out of there. I remember the firemen and the paramedics, the gave me painkillers and took me out of there. Q: Thank you, you've been very helpful. A: No, thank you. It helps to talk. Can I go now? [Interview ends]

-

1 month later ----- Six unmarked vans drive at high speed, entering the quiet suburb just before dawn. The six vehicles part ways at predetermined waypoints and approach their targets. The six vehicles park next to six houses, each unloading a team of special forces soldiers and federal agents, all armed with bulletproof vests, gas masks, silenced submachine guns and laser sights. “Okay, listen up!” The men's breaths form a thin fog before their eyes as they encircle their squad leaders behind the cover of their armored vehicles. “One month ago an international terrorist cell attempted an act of bioterrorism in this very town. Intel boys have worked hard and we now have six houses to strike, and a total of fourteen persons to either detain or terminate. All persons within these houses are deemed armed and extremely dangerous, so lethal force is authorized on all persons resisting arrest.” The men click their weapons' safeties off and nod silently. A dog barks somewhere in the distance, the sound abruptly cutting short. A shiver runs down the squad leader's spine. “I want CS gas in through the windows, entry through the front door. Fast and efficient. We have two minutes to secure the house, two more the extract. Clear?” A whispered acknowledgement. “These are evil people we're going after, suicide bombers and madmen. Keep that in mind. Let's do this.” The men move, like living shadows in the night. The thin morning fog is sliced by the bright red beams of laser sights. The following minutes are filled with breaking glass, hissing gas, crying children, surprised gasps and muffled thuds of silenced firearms. Three minutes and sixteen seconds later the van's engines start again and the vehicle drives off unceremoniously. Flames lick the air, flickering in the shattered windows, reaching after the thick black smoke drifting up into the sky.

-

ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ Times - Special edition	Sunday / 08.25.2013
Serial arsonist apprehended! A suspected serial arsonist was apprehended last night, by local police forces patrolling the western suburbs. The suspect, an unnamed male, has apparently used a motorcycle to quickly move from site to site, setting off homemade firebombs near people's homes. Six homes were destroyed and so far the police have reported no survivors in any of the sites. According to police the arsonist had prepared to destroy up to 20 homes, arming himself with a large stash of propellant and other materials in his home. Read more on page 4.
NATIONAL NEWS A group of has-been Hollywood celebrities making a group-comeback  this year? It's more likely than you think, as Michael Bay has revealed his latest movie epic: Lord of the Flies, will be starred by a cast of over forty ex-hollywood child stars grown adult. The rumor mill is running and names are being tossed, but so far the cast of the upcoming blockbuster is a well kept secret. Cont pg 2.	LOCAL NEWS ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ  resident gather to pay their respects at the site ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ  mall, destroyed in the tragic gas explosion only a month earlier. At the site, having been demolished for safety reasons and currently undergoing a large-scale paving project to prepare the area as a parking lot for the new shopping mall scheduled to begin construction just two months from now, workers held a solemn silence to honour those who lost their lives in this tragic accident. Cont. pg 21.
SPORTS ââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆââ€"ˆ  local high-school basketball team a hotspot for state-wide talent? Coach says “Hell yes” and intends to prove it. For a full high-school basketball team roster, including player bio's, for the upcoming season, see page 10 and onwards.	ECONOMY Bradford & Sons security systems reports massive increase in home-security system sales over the last four weeks. News of nationwide terrorist threats against suburban America have shocked the residents of even the smallest suburbs and Stephen Bradford of Bradford & Sons Security says this has led to his business booming. Read expert's opinions on home security on pages 6 through 8.

Late entrant, but I just got an inspiration and will do my best to write something short over the next couple of days.

Booya! Congrats, Ghost! Now that's what I'm talking about!