The Challenge

The 2017 Eternity Authors' Challenge is the first - of hopefully many - general fiction writing challenges.  It is open to everyone on the forum and is meant to be a fun, mostly noncompetitive for now exercise in prose to help stave off writer's block and foster creativity.

Each quarter, a prompt will be posted.  The type of prompt may vary: a set of words, a phrase, a picture, a sound clip, a color...  Some may be vague, while others may be very specific.  Participants will incorporate the prompt(s) into a short story and post them below.  Stories can be about anything and everything.  All genres and styles are welcome.  First person, third person, sci fi, horror, romance, purple prose, and dialogue-heavy - they're all golden.

You may even get a participation ribbon.  (Cue the oohs and aahs.)


General Guidelines

There aren't many rules.  There are a few suggestions which may help participants avoid any confusion, but as this challenge is meant to be a not-so-serious exercise just for funsies, don't sweat the smaller details.  

• Follow the general forum rules regarding topics and language, but remember that you are not limited to the MTRP/NationStates themes of the main Siora forum.  In fact, MTRP/NS themes are discouraged; don't we get enough of that already? Let your imagination run wild, and all that.
  
  
• Stories should be written using the most recently posted prompts.  You can check the end of this post for the current prompt.  Once a prompt is closed, no more stories written using that prompt will be accepted.  (Although you may still post them under the general Writer's Bloc forum if you'd like.)
  
  
• Some prompts may have specific guidelines.  Check the prompt at the bottom of this post for any specific guidance.
  
  
• There is no set length for submissions, but short stories are generally between 5,000 and 10,000 words, so this is a good target.
  
  
• Try to keep submissions contained to one post.  If your length exceeds maximum word limit for a single post and you must break your submission into multiple posts, then include some sort of "part x of x" statement at the beginning of each.  Also, if you must break your submission into multiple posts, try to post them after you've completed the entire story one immediately after the other such that other participants' submissions are not in the middle of yours (ex. If Sal writes a full-on novella that has to be broken into 3 posts because she broke the maximum word limit, she should post them all at the same time, after she has finished the entire novella, and should label them [1/3], [2/3], and [3/3] respectively.)
  
  
• Titles are optional, but encouraged.
  
  
• Feedback on/critique of any submissions, should the author request it, should be done in the "Discussion" subforum of the Writer's Bloc and not in this thread.
  
  
• Participants are free to submit more than one piece for the same prompt. Unlimited submissions, wow!
  
  
• No poetry, please.
  
  
• Primarily English, please.
  

artist unknown


jakub rozalski


museo atlantico lanzarote

• Participants should follow the general guidelines.
  
• Indicate which picture you are basing your prompt on by placing the picture in your submission.
  
• You can write one story about each of the pictures if you wish.
  
• Quarter 3 will stay open until approximately 11:59p September 30.
  

. . : : The Siora Awards 2016 : : . .


Hello Hello, and welcome back to the Siora Awards! This last October marked the second full year for the Eternity community as we know it, and boy, what a year it has been! A full year of larfs and writing, full of highs, lows, one very busy move to a new forum host, and hopefully some memories and friendships we'll be able to carry forward into this year and beyond.

So of course being the end of the year and the beginning of the next, it is time for Siora's Second Annual rendition of an awardsy-type thing! That's right, we're running this again despite my best judgment, folks. We like slapping ourselves on the back for things, and now we can do it in Official^TM Fashion! That's right, if you ever felt that your unfathomable genius has ever been under/unacknowledged, now is your opportunity to rectify that most grievous error! Since these Official^TM Awards are being decided by all the members of the community, now is the chance for your brilliance to shine above and earn utterly meaningless titles and PRIZES.*


Oh boy! How do I participate in this Official^TM Activity?
Great question, you must be head of your class, a brilliant sparkle in the corner of your parents' eyes! All you have to do is copy everything within the spoilered code box below into a PM addressed directly to me, include your ONE vote for each category (which are explained below), and then submit the pm. After a Certain Amount Of Time^TM, all submitted "votes" will be tallied, and winners in each individual category declared - though we all know you'll win, you wonderful person you - to much celebration and fanfare.

Or just pop it in this thread, if you give absolutely zero fffffffffriendly bananas if people know how you voted.

Everyone gets to vote for everything; there are no special people with special votes for certain categories. Furthermore, while it's fine to not vote for a category if you can't think of anything for it, only a maximum of one vote is allowed for each.

WOW! It's so easy, even Soya can do it!**

SSC Napoli - Valencia CF



So for the first time since a while, me and the silly Blac faced each other on the pitch again. Silly Blac picked the even more silly Valencia, and I went with Napoli. This time I did something different than I normally do, I deployed my 2nd favorite formation (4-3-1-2) against Blac. So far I never dared to use it against Blac due to its vulnerability on the flanks, and Blac always kills me from the flanks. But I spent the past few days perfecting this typically Italian formation, and I just had to see how it works out against the most Silly Antiguan.

Show ContentThe Italian Idea:

EternityRPC Minecraft Server is a go!
*cue fanfare*
It's a basic step, but it's the first one, the hardest one.


Server Status : : Online

Show ContentInstalled plugins and basic commands help:

. . : : Note: to view a list of all installed plugins, type /plugins in chat : : . .

As a rule, you can type /help <plugin name> for all commands associated with that plugin, or just /help for every command you have permission to access.

Plugins with player commands:
- - LWC - -
Allows for protection/locking of doors, chests, hatches, etc., as well as virtually any block or entity if configured to do so. It is purely command-based, unlike certain other lock plugins, and so you don't have signs everywhere ruining your aesthetic.
@ For a list of commands, type /lwc in chat.
@ For help on how to use some commands, and more detailed descriptions, see this link.

- - mcMMO - -
MCMMO brings is inclusion of skills, which will level up as you perform relevant actions, Elder Scrolls style. Higher level skills enables different actions to be performed with those skills - such as the Woodcutting skill eventually allowing to completely fell trees in one swing - but beware; carelessness and death can lead to you losing some of your skill experience! It also has a party system, allowing for teleportation between party members, sharing of items and experience, and more!
@ For information on the plugin and help with its commands, type /mcmmo or /mcmmo help into the chat.
@ For a list of commands and more detailed descriptions, visit this link. Be aware that some listed commands are not available to you, and some do not have descriptions (for some reason).

- - EssentialsX - -
A fork of the abandoned "Essentials" plugin, this plugin ads huge changes and functionality to users...and the things I've allowed for you to do aren't even a fraction of what it can do or allow! You can send/receive mail, use private messages, set home locations and teleport to them at willAs a matter of fact, the collection of commands is so massive, I don't have time to list them all here for your convenience. BUT! I will try to at least give a rundown of some of the most important stuff:
Sign commands:: you can set up signs to perform certain functions! Currently, only trading (which may not work yet, sans an economy), disposal (trash), and mail signs can be made, but more may be added in the future. You can read about how to make these special signs here.
Mail:: You can send and receive mail, for offline private communications! Use /mail in game for instructions and to use your mail.
Private chat:: You can now send private chat messages in game! Type /msg <username> (or /m, /t, /tell) to send a pm to that person; use /r (or /reply) to respond to someone you messaged, but you'll need to use /r <username> to change the target of your replies, of someone else messages you and you want to respond to them, instead.
Create & Teleport to Homes:: The most epic and useful of all, use /sethome <home_name> to set the location your standing on as a home location; use /home <home_name> to teleport to your home location (it automatically defaults to your bed). /delhome <home_name> will delete a home location.
Teleport to Spawn whenever you want:: /spawn
Go kill yourself...:: /suicide
...then go back and get your stuff:: You can go back to the last place you teleported from, or the last location where you died, with /back. Enjoy it while you can, this may disappear around/before the server goes public.
Get your bearings:: Find out where you are without cluttering debug info with /depth, /getpos, & /compass. If you've spent too much time spelunking, you can figure out what time it is with /time.
@ For a list of commands while in game, type /help essentials in chat.
@ For help on how to use some commands, and more detailed descriptions, see this link.

- - ChairsReloaded - -
Tired of ugly-ass minecart chair exploits, or nice-looking chairs that do nothing? Well, now you have working chairs! There are no commands here, just functionality. To make a working chair:
1) Place a stair block. Any stair block, in any number in a continuous string.
2) Place a blank sign on either end of the stair block.
3) Right click the stair to sit.
That's all there is to it.

- - Minepacks - -
Frustrated with having to make, like, fifty trips to a storage chest while mining because your inventory got filled with 20 stacks of dirt/cobblestone and a handful of extraneous items that take up all the rest of your inventory even though they're not stacking? Me to! So I doubled your inventory size through the use of "backpacks!" What's more, you keep all the items in your backpack if you die, even if you die in lava! Convenient, innit?
Commands:
◾/backpack help - Lists all the commands of this plugin.
◾/backpack - Opens your backpack.
◾/backpack clean - Removes all items from the players backpack.

Yes. A thread where I can let you guys know of notable but otherwise minor, or even insignificant, stuff.

"The Prince"
A Historical RP


I was mulling over a medieval/historical RP idea some days ago while driving up here to the in-laws, and when discussing it with Sal came to find that it's very similar to an idea she had (that we'd apparently discussed) some time ago. Simply speaking, it'll take place in I'll skip the fluff, and get to a general overview of how it would work:

Style:
Character/vignette writing; each person participating in the RP would do so as one - and only one - character, where additional npcs may be added and rp'd by me or someone else, as necessary to advance the plot or create a nice story.

Setting:
Jekabpils, Videjszeme. It is summertime, and the "court" as it were is away from the capital of Nereta to the Grand Prince's summer home, a manse and surrounding lands near the riverside city. This is where our story begins.

Plot:
Videjszeme and Valisfoldek have endured a long history of peace, warfare, trade, raids, separation and intermingling for centuries, ever since the Valisfold first settled in the "southlands" and came into contact with the Seļi. Recent generations, however, have known very little other than prosperity and peace as the two peoples have grown closer and friendlier with each other, but old rivalries rarely completely die.

Now, though, tragedy has struck Videjszeme, as the young King Viljams, last of his line (as far as we know) is dead before his time, the victim of a horrible hunting accident...or was it an "accident?"

Only three people, the same people that were with him in his last moments, know of the king's death, but can they keep the secret from the rest of the manor - and the public - until a new king can be found...one way or another?

Objective:
The objective of the RP changes based upon your character, whether you're one of the three main named characters who know of the king's death (who each have their own separate, secret objectives), or a custom-made character who doesn't know of the death (yet). Generally speaking, the RP will end once a new King has been found and successfully accepted.

The outcome is not predetermined, even though this is a "historical" RP.

Characters:
There are a few set cast members for this story, while others may be made-up. These "main characters" are as follows:

The Statesman : Duke Aleksis no Pljavinjas - Pljavinjas as a province lies just west of Iluukste, in the historical Selji heartland, and has always held a prominent place in the politics of Videjszeme. Aleksis is no different: an elder statesman who can trace his lineage as lords of the region all the way back to tribal times. Poor King Viljams looked up to the man as both an accomplished official and as something of a father figure. Ambitious but loyal, Aleksis served his lord faithfully and well as his Lord Chancellor and has the earned respect of many in the Saeima, but with the King now dead and no known heir available, it's not a far stretch that such a distinguished servant of the State might make a natural replacement...but surely any sudden suggestion would prompt harsh resistance and calls for an investigation for an heir. One must play these things carefully, after all...

The Warrior : Field Marshal Mikus Vasiljjevs - Commander of his armies, Mikus started life as a farmer's son. Rare is it for someone of low station to gain recognition, but exceptional skill and persistence served him well as he repeatedly distinguished himself in service of the realm through three successive Kings, serving faithfully and well. With the King now gone and none ready to replace him, some might say it's a small step to go from commanding an army to commanding a nation, but surely very few of his aristocratic peers would relish a baseborn scoundrel seeking to leap far beyond his station, and surely even fewer in the Saeima would even consider such a coronation. Even were he not an ambitious man, surely his duty to his country might see him too preoccupied with keeping the King's death quiet for as long as possible, should the land-hungry powers around Videjszeme seek to take advantage of a government in chaos...

The Outside Bet : Reinis Peetersons - King Viljams met this strapping young lad while attending University in Valisfoldek, and they became fast friends. When Viljams went home to be crowned King, Reinis followed, and has been a close friend and advisor in the court since then. Reinis has a secret, though, a secret that could cost him his life if he's not careful. Can he navigate these dangerous next few days? (Whoever plays as Reinis: speak with me about the "secret" when you choose this character.)


Here we have the character submission form. Regardless of whether you're looking to play as one of the above people or create your own, fill this out. Yes, for anything not shown above, you can make up stuff, within reason.

Click here for the old thread (why you want to, I don't know.)

CK2 SUCCESSION GAME

First things first: what is a succession game? Each player takes a character in the dynasty. When your character dies, you send the save game to the next player, who plays the next character. When their character dies, they pass the save on to the next, and so on.

GAME ONE: VON HABSBURG (Restricted game: Click Here DLC: Way of Life, Charlemagne, Rajas of India, Sons of Abraham, The Old Gods, Legacy of Rome, Sword of Islam, The Republic; additional dynasty shields are used. (none of these are required) Restrictions: -- Aargau and Castle Habsburg must belong to the main Habsburg line for the entirety of the game. - If held, the Duchy of Austria must remain the primary title. - May not hold king-level titles, except a created Austria. - Succession within the HRE must remain Elective. If not elective when becoming emperor, one must make it elective. - The main Habsburg line must remain of German culture. - ALL independent Habsburg rulers must remain Catholic Christians, otherwise they must be converted/purged. - One may only fabricate claims on the Duchies of Austria and Tyrol, or the counties thereof. - If Austria and Tyrol are in Habsburg hands, one may fabricate claims on historically Austrian provinces. - If Kebab exist, remove Kebab. Hard Mode (additional optional restrictions): - All fabrication of claims are forbidden (claiming the Duchy of Austria is the sole exception). - Land acquisitions cannot come from military action, except via Succession wars (Carinthia and Tyrol are the sole exceptions). - France must not control Burgundy. - Free investiture is forbidden. Close for restrictions & applicable DLC) 1. Werner von Habsburg, Count of Aargau - Oertha/Seperallis 2. Otto I "the Ill-Ruler" von Habsburg, Duke of Austria - Hahk/Severyane 3. Otto II "the Confessor" von Habsburg, Duke of Austria - Flo 4. Adolf I "the Great" von Habsburg, King of Finland - Oertha/Seperallis 5. - Adolf II von Habsburg - Flo 6. - Hahk/Severyane Victory Conditions: - - The main Habsburg line controls the Duchies of Austria and Tyrol. - - Austria rules over the de jure Duchy of Carinthia. - - The Austria is independent, or a direct vassal of the HRE. - - The HRE is held by Habsburgs for 100 consecutive years, more than 50 of which are held by the main Habsburg line (reigns of non-elected rulers are not counted). Extra Victory Conditions: - - Entirety of de jure Frisia is held by Habsburgs. - - "Empire of Hispaniola" exists and is ruled by Habsburgs. - - Can into Bohemia & Hungary? - - Kebab removed.

GAME TWO: D'IBELIN (Restricted game: Click Here DLC: Way of Life, The Sword of Islam, The Republic, The Old Gods, Sunset Invasion, Rajas of India, Legacy of Rome, Charlemagne Restrictions: -- The Barony of Beersheb, and the County of Beersheb must remain in the hands of the family d'Ibelin - Jerusalem must remain in the hands of the family d'Anjou - failing this, it must remain in the hands of a Catholic monarch at least - The main line of the family d'Ibelin must be French culture - May not hold king level titles - All owned titles must be of the Cathloic faith - May only fabricate claims on the County of Jaffa - once Jaffa has been regained, may only fabricate on the Duchy of Ascalon Close for restrictions & applicable DLC) 1. Balian d'Ibelin, Count of Beersheb - Hahk/Severyane 2. Lusignan "the Rash" d'Ibelin, Count of Beersheb - Oertha/Seperallis 3. Sigismond d'Ibelin - Hahk/Severyane 4. - Oertha/Seperallis . . Victory Conditions - Regain control of the Barony of Ibelin, and the County of Jaffa - The Middle Eastern Coast, including the coasts of Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria, must be in the control of the Kingdom of Jerusalem - The Kingdom of Mesopotamia must be under the rule of the King of Jerusalem - Sack Mecca . . . . . .

The Galasian Civil War started in late 1579 and still going on. You can find the IC thread here. Although maybe not many people is interested in this RP, this thread is to serve to answer (and discuss) this conflict.

I wrote this wiki page about it, which I believe would reply any doubt about the conflict: http://wiki.eternityrpc.com/wiki/Galasian_Civil_War

• RED | The Alsace government, ruled by the Council of National Unity which is formed by military leaders who were behind the 1580 coup d'etat which deposed the former monarchist government (that is not what they claim, of course, but it is to you to believe them or not). As you can see, they control Drazen (the western region) but barely any areas in Eastmarch (the eastern region). It is important to say, however, that they control most of the Air Force and the Navy.
  
• Soft red | They are mostly allies of the Alsace government, but the territory is not directly controlled by government forces. It is limited to a few areas nearby the western Angirisian border, but it may expand in the future.
  
• BLUE | These are local monarchist forces which not accepted the Alvan 1580 coup d'etat. They are not to be understood as an united force, and they would be more dependant to foreign support than other factions. Officially, their aim is to reestablish the monarchist constitutional order, although most of the royal family have been either killed, disappeared, or arrested. Their leader is the former governor of Eastmarch, and they may setting a government-in-exile soon, if anyone is interested.
  
• Soft Orange | Areas controlled by minority militias, such as the Arberians or Messanic armed groups. They are likely to have more pragmatist aims than other forces in the conflict. Both "soft orange" and "soft red" are to be underestood as disputed areas.
  
• YELLOW | Separatists, which proclaimed the Rojadavi Republic. They aim is the independence, and their are formed by a coalition of ethnic nationalist and (more or less) Akhadic religious conservatives. The "soft yellow" colour means disputed areas but which large presence of separatist forces.
  
• GREEN | The last group are radical Akhadist armed groups. They aim to establish a theocratic state in Eastern Galasia. They are not to be understood as an unified, both militarily and ideologically, force. Some of them are more radical ideologically and formed by foreign fighters, while others are more tribal based.