The Million Duvat Endeavor *OPEN*

Phase 2: The Thief

Please note than the entries and rankings pages for Phase 1 have been updated. I have received all but one of the entries, so I'll go ahead and release the next phase to you. 

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Chief Valior and the Queen were very pleased with the results of the first phase of their competition. They had just finished announcing to the public who would advance to the next phase. To their relief, the people of Glaisse were very happy with their choices- especially with Adrian Karrski and Eristalle Akerri, whom they had found to be crowd favorites.

They sat in a small room on the topmost floor of Icicle Hall, brainstorming ideas for the next phase. However, they couldn't seem to agree upon anything.

"Shush!" Saralee snapped, cutting Selaeyah off in the middle of a sentence. Her whole body tensed up as she craned her neck.

"I hear something..." She trailed off. Extremely alert and slightly paranoid as usual, she leaped from her seat to the large bay window in a split second, peering through the thick glass.

As she scanned her beautiful capital, she found it as it always was at night- save for the blurry shapes of a few teenagers guzzling halfie juice just outside her garden. She decided to ignore their illegal activity- she hadn't been much different when she was their age, and young people had a right to their fun.

However, a small shadow on one of Saralee's Spires, the two colossal glass towers that stood across from Icicle Hall, caught the Ice Queen's attention. She blinked, making sure that it wasn't a trick of the eye. Sure enough, it was still there, and seemed to have moved.

There was only one explanation for an unknown shape so close the buildings that stored Saralee Arystenn's wealth in gold and diamonds.

"Thief!" The Queen spat, pulling away from the window. "There's a thief trying to climb the Spires!"

"How is it even possible to climb those spires without incredible Aural power?" Selaeyah frowned. "They're the smoothest things in the city!"

"I don't know," Saralee shrugged. "But that guy's climbing them." 

"We must send Ice Guards after him immediately!" Selaeyah pronounced. "He must be apprehended before he can reach the Royal Treasure."

"No," Saralee laughed. "That man is already doomed. There is no way he can escape us now. Why don't we kill two birds with one stone and turn this into the second phase of the Million Duvat Endeavor?" 

"Ah, yes!" Selaeyah grinned. "Brilliant, as usual."

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After advancing to the second phase, you are provided with accommodations in Glaisse. Suddenly, you are woken in the middle of the night by an alert on your Aurascreen that tells you to report to a location of your choice near the center of the city.

You are confused, but follow the instructions, and arrive at the location to find your fellow contestants and a recorded message. The message tells you that there is a thief on one of Saralee's Spires trying to steal the Royal Treasure, and catching him is your task for Phase 2. 

This will not be an easy feat. The spires are extremely tall and are made of glass. You will need a special technique to climb them, which is entirely up to you. Remember, the more creative, the better!

Your job is to write a 500-2000 word entry about what happens next. Do you successfully catch the thief? Do you fall off the Spire and sustain severe injuries? The only rule is that you cannot die in your entry. Once again, you will be judged based on the quality of your writing, not your performance in the task. 

You are totally allowed to kill other contestants while climbing the Spires. In fact, this will narrow the field and increase your chances of advancing to the final phase...

Bonuses for this round: 

First entry: +1

Best capture: +1

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Your entries for this task are due at 12:00 AM CST on August 12. As usual, please PM me as early as possible if you need an extension. 

Good luck!

-Queen Sara