Prompt

“Once is an accident. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is an enemy action.”
- Ian Fleming

Over the past months, too many issues have been cropping up to be easily explained away. Both JTF Hoth and Satele Shan have seen their neighbors turn against them. That the Vauzem Dominion has is returned is, perhaps, not that surprising. But where was Beldroth all these years? How was Empress Kaltani poisoned just when meeting with the Odanite High Councillor? Why was Alethia, of all people, appointed regent? It seems like someone is trying very hard to pull Odan-Urr into this war. You’re going to find out who, and more importantly, why.

This is a cooperative fiction competition. You and a partner must work together to write a story describing your characters’ attempts to figure out who is behind the assassination attempt on Empress Kaltani, and what their plans are for Odan-Urr. Perhaps they work the cantinas on Kiast and Palioxis Station. Perhaps they wine and dine the scheming Vatali nobles. Perhaps they’re just minding their own business when trouble finds them.

The Tipping Point event fiction gives a partial explanation: Grand Inquisitor Ishanta is involved. However, the how and why remain very much open to your creative ideas. Likewise, it is up to you to decide who else is involved. Is Slynn Keldra, the royal guardsman, a friend or foe? Is the Collective mixed up in all this somehow? Do our characters even make it all the way down the rabbit hole, or do they hit a dead end?

Submissions and Grading

• Your fictions must have a five hundred (500) word minimum per participant. 20k words is the overall maximum for a submitted fiction, not per participant. Participants should post their work to Discourse in the fiction category, with “[COU: Tipping Point]” in the thread title.
• You must work with a partner. Solo entries and groups of more than two will be disqualified. If you have trouble finding a partner, contact the COU summit and we will do our best to help you find someone.
• Submissions should link to the Discourse thread and include the names and dossier numbers of both participants. Only one participant needs to submit to the competition.
• Snapshots are not required but are recommended for featured characters with full Character Sheets.
• Entries must follow the given prompt.
• Grading will be based on the Voice Fiction Rubric.
• Always ask permission before using someone else's character.

This competition is in the Fiction Bin. Participating in a competition in this bin for the first time awards 4 points from participation to you and your house. Tipping Point: Fight Night and Tipping Point: Evade and Resist are also in this bin. Participating in at least one competition in each bin will earn a a bonus of 3 points. See the parent competition for detailed rules.

This competition is worth a relatively high proportion of placement points. Cumulatively, the placements in this competition are worth 10% of placement points.