<sub>Read it here.

Official Site || Our Corner Store || Forum || Commissions || The Followers List || CONTEST</sub>

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
.:: V E R Y - I M P O R T A N T - N O I T I C E ::.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

To make this tournament viable, we need around 200 participants to go through to Round 2: Amulets. This means that we need you, the fans and participants, to spread the word as much as possible, to get as many people interested as you can!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
.:: R E V I S I O N S - M A D E ::.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Edit: 4th March 2009 - We have decided to extend the deadlines throughout the contest, giving everyone 3 weeks for each part of the Amulet and Final Tournament Round. The Collaboration Round will span over 2 months, and so will the Sudden Death round. If you have any inquiring about the matter, please leave a comment or send us a note. We hope that this will allow more people to participate and join in on the fun.

Edit: 4th March 2009 - Even though this was already written and explained beforehand, we though we should remind everyone that the "comic" entries requested do NOT have to be in full color. Only the Collaboration Piece and the Character Sheet -have- to be in color, the rest is entirely up to you.

Edit: 28th February 2009 - Prize List Added.

Edit: 25th February 2009 - Audition Notes Added.

Edit: 25th February 2009 - References Added.

Edit: 25th February 2009 - Amulet Round Edited.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
.:: C U R R E N T - D E A D L I N E ::.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Audition Deadline: 31st March 2009

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
.:: Y A M A B U S H I - T R I A L S ::.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Welcome to the first Yamabushi: Journey Beyond The Skies Tournament! We hope to make this at the very least, an annual event.

As you may have noticed, this Tournament is in the same style as many other Art Tournaments to be found on DA. Hopefully therefore, you should have no problems understanding the format! However, if you do have any queries, please contact us via the note system and we will respond as soon as is humanly possible.

This Tournament has been based on the Yamabushi Exams that will be taking place within the pages of the Yamabushi Comic. A few things have been changed, both to allow for the format of the contest and to keep a few surprises for the actual comic.

Even though we do have a prize list now online, that might not be the final and full list. We are still taking donations from very generous members. If anyone wants to contribute something, by all means, send us a note. Donations will be very helpful, much appreciated and gratefully accepted. These will be updated whenever something is added to the list, so keep a regular check for those.

All entries to this contest should be submitted to us, here at the Yamabushi Deviant Art Account, via the note system. Title the submission note; ‘CONTEST ENTRY: Round 01 Audition’ etc.

So far the confirmed Yamabushi Trial Judges are Gilles Bone and Hannah King, writer and artist of the Yamabushi comic itself. As we are running this contest and contributing to the prizes, we will not be taking part. In the case of any ties – we’ll argue it out between us.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
.:: S T O R Y ::.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Seiryu has been waiting for fifty years for the signs to appear. Fifty long years since the last Yamabushi exam – and now the comet can be seen streaking across the sky. Bright enough to be seen even in daylight, it heralds this generations chance to become the next guardians of the Land of Seiryu.

It has been said that the Yamabushi – warriors, leaders, holy-men and women – will step up to guide Seiryu in its time of need. Until that time, Yamabushi are venerated, honoured, given respect and acknowledgement by all members of society, even the Emperor gives them respect.

People, contestants, have been travelling from all over Seiryu, making their hopeful way to the Dragon’s Eye City and its surrounding country. People come, from all walks of life – some have come in search of fame, some only to prove themselves, others for the exhilaration and still others because they have been made to do so. Whatever the reasons, there are enough would-be contestants to make the exams interesting to all present.

As you step into your lodgings for the night, you are greeted by an unexpected sight. A parcel, lying neatly dead-centre of your rented mattress. The parcel bears the symbol of the Yamabushi and when opened, is seen to contain a letter of greeting, a talisman bearing your name and a rank number and an amulet of strange design.

The first trial has begun.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
.:: T H E - T R I A L S ::.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

.:: 1. Audition ::.

Will consist of:

A. A complete character sheet – showing your character from front, back and sides, in full garb – weapons included. Information on talents, powers and interests must be included.

B. A two or three page introduction comic, to allow the judges to get to know your contestant.

C. As well as introducing your contestant, the comic should show how they make the choice to join the tournament, and perhaps why. An individualised Talisman will be given to each contestant (artwork will be provided) in their invitation parcel – this talisman must be shown in all proceeding battles.

D. The Audition character sheet and comic MUST BE IN FULL COLOUR.

E. The deadline for the Audition period is March 31st.

This contestant must be completely original – we will not accept any character that is based on any franchise, nor any character that resembles any franchised characters. They may be an original character you have previously created, or a completely new one – this is up to you.

Your contestant must be human – age, gender and appearance, is up to you. Your contestant may have a ‘familiar’ or ‘summons’, but please keep the numbers limited to manageable levels. Your contestant may have "powers" and "abilities" – but please, keep in mind that we favour originality. Being possessed or having spirits bound to them, for example, is something that has been overused. You may use this of course, but it must be in an original fashion, or your contestant may well fail at the first hurdle.

When creating your contestant, you must keep in mind that this battle takes place in a Steam-Punk setting. Any and all technology must fit with this requirement – and it will also have an effect on fashion. Please also keep in mind that Seiryu is predominantly "eastern" in feel – though "western" and "middle-eastern" elements are perfectly acceptable.

The key to succeeding in this round is not solely artistic talent. If you have put in an acceptable amount of effort, created a well liked character that is both original and creative, you will have a chance to pass on to the next round.

Note: Even though new characters are preferred from those who have already made a submission, we will allow the usage of previously submitted characters to the Yamabushi Comic. Some characters which were used for Volume 01, unfortunately, will not be allowed for play.

_{Such characters include Shun and Hirotaka as of right now.}

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

.:: 2. Amulets ::.

Will consist of:
A. Three one-on-one battles, at fortnightly increments (every two weeks, until the last battle has been fought).

B. Each contestant will start off with one (1) amulet. Each battle is to gain your opponents amulet. The aim is to end up with four (4) amulets.

C. Each fortnight, a list will be released, detailing who battles who.

D. Each battle will consist of a comic – you must draw how your contestant retrieves the amulet from their opponent. This can be via any means, from trickery to killing. Comic length is up to your own judgement, but no less than three pages.

E. The two comics in each battle will be voted on, and the winner decided by, the Yamabushi Trial Judges. The winner of each battle will go on to fight again.

F. Comic can be in sketch, line, black and white or colour format – this is up to you. However, keep in mind that full colour format often attracts more attention than sketch or line format.

This round is important. It is the first of the many rounds that may result in your contestant not only affecting the storyline of the Yamabushi Comic, but also appearing within its pages! Those contestants that show true originality, creativity and effort, stand the chance of having anything from a background appearance, to a speaking appearance in the pages of Yamabushi. So make sure you give your all for this, and the proceeding rounds!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

.:: 3. Collaboration ::.

Will consist of:

A. This round is about team work. Each contestant will be paired with another.

B. The two players must work together to show their contestants together in one image/comic.

C. This collaborative image/comic can take any subject – from a collaborative battle move, to sharing an onsen, fighting the local wildlife to even a romantic entanglement. So long as the theme of the image/comic is togetherness and companionship, anything goes.

D. IMPORTANT. As this is a collaborative round, BOTH contributing parties will fail together, or BOTH collaborative parties will win together.

E. It does not matter HOW the collaboration happens – one can draw, the other colour; one can write, the other draw; both write and both draw etc. It is the collaboration that is key.

F. Comic/Image MUST be in full colour only.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

.:: 4. Sudden Death ::.

Will consist of:

A. Sudden Death is a solo effort, once again in comic form, no less than three pages.

B. Each contestant will be privately contacted and given a number. This number will correspond to another contestant. No one will know who is battling whom, until the comics go up.

C. Your contestant will hunt down and assassinate the numbered opponent. This is a kill or incapacitate move.

D. Your contestant must retrieve their opponent’s individualised talisman as proof of their ‘kill’.

E. Each comic is individually judged, voted on, and the winner decided by, the Yamabushi Trial Judges.

F. Comic can be in sketch, line, black and white or colour format – this is up to you. However, keep in mind that full colour format often attracts more attention than sketch or line format.

G. The winners of this round will continue to round five.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

.:: 5. Final Tournament ::.

Will consist of:

A. The overall winner of this round will be named Yamabushi Winner 2009!

B. A full roster of participating contestants will be listed prior to actual round beginning.

C. Each battle will last two weeks, in similar fashion to Round.2.

D. There should be 16 contestants left and the first bout will be eight battles. There will be two weeks allotted for the comics – no less than three pages – to be created.

E. This will continue every two weeks, the number of contestants halving each fortnight, until there are only two contestants left.

F. The Final Battle will take place between the two contestants who have won every single battle previous.

G. Comic MUST be in full colour only.

H. All judging for the Final Tournament (Round 5) will be public. In the case of a tie, the Yamabushi Trial Judges will make the final decision.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - -
.:: R U L E S ::.
- - - - - - - - - - - -

1. You MUST be watching the YamabushiJBS DeviantArt account. This is to ensure that you do not miss any important notices or updates.

2. Each time the contestants are asked to draw – there will be a given deadline. Any participant that misses this deadline will be automatically forfeit and removed from the running.

3. Each participant is allowed one entry only. This means one contestant per participant.

4. Battles do NOT have to end in death – unless otherwise stated. It does however need to end in a significant defeat/incapacitation.

5. Please make sure all your entries are within Deviant Art TOS.

6. If you are a writer, you may enter if you can find an artist to collaborate with you as a two-man team. If you are an artist, you may find a writer to work collaborate with you as a two-man team. Two-man teams may submit ONE CONTESTANT ONLY.

7. Each trial will be given a setting and scenario – descriptions and reference images will be provided. Do not stray from this setting or scenario.

8. While the contest does take artistic ability into account, it is not solely based on this. The participants originality, creativity and effort are large factors as to whether the contestant goes to the next round.

9. If you have a non-public question – perhaps concerning abilities, powers, personality issues etc – please send a note to this account and we will respond as soon as we can.

10. New rules can and will be added without warning. Please keep yourselves updated on a regular basis.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
.:: J U D G E S ::.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
.:: P R I Z E S ::.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

_{We are also accepting donations and contributions towards prizes. Note us if you are interested in helping out in this department. Prize contributors will be able to take part in the contest – Yamabushi Trial Judges, however, will not.}

First place: 1 over-all winner.

- A cash prize of a 100 US Dollars, transferred through Paypal.
- The winning comic entry will be included, with full credits, in the relevant published edition of Yamabushi: Journey Beyond The Skies!

For a full prize list, click here: [link]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
.:: R E F E R E N C E - L I S T ::.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We have also decided to post these links as reference to help spark your imagination.

Fashion References:

[link] [link] [link] [link] [link]
[link] [link] [link] [link] [link]

Ideas for possible architecture and surroundings:

[link] [link] [link] [link]

How to draw Steam Punk technology:

[link]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
.:: S U P P O R T E R S ::.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

_{Below is a list of generous people who have posted information and advertised our tournament in your journals.}

- - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In the meantime, while you wait, if you haven’t voted for us at TOP WEB COMICS yet today, go for it and help us out a little more!!!

View the link at the bottom of this journal!!!