Contest January-February 2026 Contest (Entries February 1st)

Discussion in 'Fluff and Stories' started by Scalenex, Dec 21, 2025.

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  1. Scalenex
    Slann

    Scalenex Keeper of the Indexes Staff Member

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    On this, the day of the Winter Solstice, the eve of the longest night of year, I present the theme for January-February 2026 Contest.

    "Chaos Dwarves/Chaos Dwarfs"

    The Rules
    -We would like you to try to keep your story between 500 and 2000 words. I am requiring that entries do not exceed 2400 words. This is counting title, poems, quotes, any add-ons. If I get a submission that exceeds 2400 words, I will trim it till it meets the limit, and you may not like what words I choose to cut. Even prepositions are not safe...

    -Your name must appear nowhere with the story. There is no point in having an anonymous competition based on skill if we know whose entry is whose.

    -You must send your story via private message to Scalenex before by early morning February (4:00 AM, US Central time) on February 1st 2026
    -The story must be new. No dragging up a story you wrote months or years ago.
    -No plagiarism. This means no stealing a story verbatim. You are free to use characters or settings from other works including other writer's fluff pieces and past short story contest entries.
    -It bothers me that I have to say this but it's current year, so no AI writing.
    -The story must involve Lizardmen (or Seraphon or Salamanders or Saurian Ancients or Rangos), at least a little.
    -The story must stick roughly within the theme, at least a little.
    -No comics or illustrations. This is a short story contest. Visuals are limited to fonts and text colors.
    -Only one entry allowed per person.


    Once again, the winner of this contest has the honor of choosing the next contest theme if they so choose.

    If you want to talk about the theme or your eagerness to write or read something. Please do so below!
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2025
    Scalenex, Dec 21, 2025
    #1
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  2. Imrahil
    Slann

    Imrahil Thirtheenth Spawning

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    Well I think I had that coming...

    We will see how I deal with it ;)

    Grrr, !mrahil
     
    Imrahil, Dec 22, 2025
    #2
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  3. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    well, this kinda even the field...

    but this theme is an extraordinary win for @NIGHTBRINGER :p

    ...and it kinda undermines my will to challenge a chaos dwarfs' story with a non-CD story.
     
    Killer Angel, Dec 22, 2025
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  4. Imrahil
    Slann

    Imrahil Thirtheenth Spawning

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    We can technically still undermine it by just writing about Dwarfs :D ;)

    Grrr, !mrahil
     
    Imrahil, Dec 22, 2025
    #4
  5. Scalenex
    Slann

    Scalenex Keeper of the Indexes Staff Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    Scalenex, Dec 22, 2025
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  6. J.Logan
    Salamander

    J.Logan Well-Known Member

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    Hmm... I shall peruse my library of ideas and see if I can work something out. *Ponder pose activate*
     
    J.Logan, Dec 22, 2025
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  7. NIGHTBRINGER
    Slann

    NIGHTBRINGER Second Spawning

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    [​IMG]


    There is no escape from the Chaos Dwarfs. They mark us all!
    !.gif !.gif !.gif !.gif !.gif !.gif !.gif !.gif


    [​IMG]

    It appears that fate has stepped in to spare you from certain defeat.
    97ho36.jpg


    An interesting interpretation. I read the "Chaos Dwarves/Dwarfs" topic as Chaos Dwarves or Chaos Dwarfs, rather than pertaining to vanilla Dwarfs. @Scalenex likes the alternate non-Warhammer spelling written as "Dwarves". I did not write it though, so you'll have to ask @Scalenex .

    Plus, choosing to be the only story not to include the Chaos Dwarfs would be literal competition suicide.

    If all the stories contain Chaos Dwarfs, then I can't derail (unbalance) things with my antics. I could choose Chaos, but that would sully the victory that the Chaos Dwarfs have achieved on this day. For the first time, I will read all the stories and rate them purely on literary merit. Of course I say this and watch someone release a story about a Chaos Dwarf born from the unholy union of Hashut and Slaanesh, who names himself the NIGHTBRINGER (all capitalized of course). Such an obvious attempt at flattery would admittedly erode my resolve. So for once, let's not and have a fair contest. May the best Chaos Dwarfs story win!

    Hashut awaits your offering!
     
    NIGHTBRINGER, Dec 22, 2025
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  8. Scalenex
    Slann

    Scalenex Keeper of the Indexes Staff Member

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    That's not what I meant, so for clarity I rewrote it as Chaos Dwarves/Chaos Dwarfs.

    I was making a joke about sticklers who care about the plural form.
     
    Scalenex, Dec 23, 2025
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  9. Imrahil
    Slann

    Imrahil Thirtheenth Spawning

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    Loophole closed ;)

    Grrr, !mrahil
     
    Imrahil, Dec 23, 2025
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  10. NIGHTBRINGER
    Slann

    NIGHTBRINGER Second Spawning

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    Another person saved from self-sabotage! :)
     
    NIGHTBRINGER, Dec 23, 2025
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  11. NIGHTBRINGER
    Slann

    NIGHTBRINGER Second Spawning

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    NIGHTBRINGER, Dec 24, 2025
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  12. NIGHTBRINGER
    Slann

    NIGHTBRINGER Second Spawning

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    [​IMG]
     
    NIGHTBRINGER, Dec 27, 2025
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  13. Scalenex
    Slann

    Scalenex Keeper of the Indexes Staff Member

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    Don't take your victory lap until we see how many entries we get. This was a gamble.
     
    Scalenex, Dec 27, 2025
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  14. NIGHTBRINGER
    Slann

    NIGHTBRINGER Second Spawning

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    It's a short story contest, I'd imagine we'll get 3 or 4 stories. That's pretty much par for the course. Unless you have different expectations?
     
    NIGHTBRINGER, Dec 27, 2025
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  15. J.Logan
    Salamander

    J.Logan Well-Known Member

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    Cue the record low of 1 whole short story... :p

    Doubtful... I have a feeling you're imagination of 3 or 4 will be accurate.
     
    J.Logan, Dec 27, 2025
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  16. NIGHTBRINGER
    Slann

    NIGHTBRINGER Second Spawning

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    And we would celebrate the sole Chaos Dwarf entry... champion. Pushing boundaries where all others feared to go. ;)
     
    NIGHTBRINGER, Dec 27, 2025
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  17. Imrahil
    Slann

    Imrahil Thirtheenth Spawning

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    I was considering not entering a story to stick to my no Chaos Dwarfs-policy ;)

    Grrr, !mrahil
     
    Imrahil, Dec 27, 2025
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  18. NIGHTBRINGER
    Slann

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    [​IMG]


    Now imagine for a moment that everyone does as you do and the contest is without participants. On the last day a certain someone submits an entry. Not a real story mind you, just sufficient wordage to meet the bare minimum requirements of the contest (mention Chaos Dwarfs, mention Lizardmen, 500 words). A terrible excuse of a story, but a piece standing unopposed. Without a challenger, the story wins by default. The new author then gets to pick the next theme... and guess what... it's some variation of Chaos Dwarfs... again... and again... and again. Chaos.
     
    NIGHTBRINGER, Dec 27, 2025
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  19. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    I've already wrote an excellent trve CD story... now it's time to push some boundary ;)
     
    Killer Angel, Dec 28, 2025
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  20. NIGHTBRINGER
    Slann

    NIGHTBRINGER Second Spawning

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    Have fun with the theme! Everyone is starting on a level playing field this time around, so let's see what you can come up with.
     
    NIGHTBRINGER, Dec 28, 2025
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