Ok, so what I did last chapter wasn't nice – as in, not awarding anything out for a guest reviewer for figuring it out in-between update times. Yes, I'm not dead yet, let's get that out of the way first.
I honestly was trying to improve my lifestyle by printing out workout plans online – nerdy ones. I'll provide the links on my profile, if I ever get to it. It's arduous, and difficult, but I find it working very well for me, and I feel better as well.
So, instead of snatching the reward away until the next half of the second Arc, I'll modify it this one time: Because I'll be focused on this and Return to Dust, among other things, I will be unable to write out the in-between part for the 'Black Talon' – also known as training. The idea is that while the main story is produced, the side story shall run alongside it to show a different side.
The rules are these: To be selected for BT: CIT (Black Talon: Counter-Insurgency Training), there has to be a certain aspect of realism, or as real as it can get with the RWBY/Terraria Crossover. You'll be given small use of the Champion for this, but its range will go from speeches to setups – i.e., crawling through the mud with barbed wire overhead while two Chainguns on infinite ammo fire overhead. People will die from the extreme training, which is why I predetermined the fatality rate for this to be at 98%, where 5% leave willingly, and a denial of medical leave. The Champion here will utilize the Obsidian Outlaw armor while training recruits, so don't change the outfit to something casual.
Also, when I say realistic in tandem with the fatality rate being so ridiculously high, consider The Walking Dead. If you have watched the show OR read any of the books, you know how any situation can be flipped on its head, or make something bad become worse in seconds. Use that, and apply it to the training. If you haven't, go watch it; it's not that bad, actually.
Walking Dead aside, the Champion will utilize every resource he can get his hands on, from creating simple bombs and whole digital cities for in-field testing, to androids to mimic Humans and Faunas and kidnapping White Fang grunts for incentive training. He'll push every recruit to the brink with everything he can throw at them; those that succeed will move on to the actual CI Training.
In terms of writing, anything less than 1000 words for chapters – unless its updates like these – will be trashed outright. Grammar needs to be good, alongside the differences between their, they're, there, to, too, two, etc. I'm not even kidding, I've seen stories where people still make that mistake; I've actually followed stories made by writers that have English as their second language, just because they could make that difference! Punctuation needs to be appropriate; there are numerous types out there, so use them. Capitalization: Does This Look Good Anywhere In The Story? Please keep it like this, so people don't think the characters aren't yelling all the time. Of course, if it's. Like. This. Then I'll glance over it, if used sparingly.
That's the gist of it. So, here's your freedoms: With exceptions to previously named characters that will appear in the main story, all trainees and White Fang grunts are yours to play with. Name them, create their personal stories, fears, hopes and dreams, relationships; as long as it doesn't affect the main cast or plot, do WHATEVER you want with them. When it comes to the training, there are no sick or lazy days, but you have power over what they do each day during training. Remember; if death doesn't occur at least a few times in the story, then it's going to look suspicious.
To apply, I'll need a few things from you; first, a few chapters – give me three, and I'll look them over. Second, a solid update schedule – a chapter a week to a week-and-a-half is amazing, if you have the time for it, but I will take anything that is a month or less. Third, your soul…not really. What I will need is your acknowledgement that I have the power to terminate the story if it affects the main plot or characters in any way. If, however, it was accidental, and it actually makes it somewhat better, I'll let it slide ONCE. I'm not entirely heartless…I think.
As a note, the contest begins upon the actual release of 1-09 of this story. Do NOT post a review on this update, as this will be replaced by 1-09.
The winner will be announced AFTER 1-12. Which, I hope to get done soon. That said, good luck to you all, and may the best writer win.