1. What is this?
The Twelve Labours of Heracles is an Artemis Fowl fanfiction challenge. The Labours are a way to encourage and direct authors towards writing fics about little-explored aspects of the world of Artemis Fowl.
2. Why twelve?
Because Heracles (Hercules in Roman mythology) was given twelve incredibly difficult labours as penance for killing his wife and children. Even if you haven't killed your kin you're still eligible for participation.
3. If I joined, would I have to finish all twelve?
No, not at all. When a participant finishes a single Labour they get an image commemerating their feat. If a participant collects all twelve images they fit together, proclaiming the author as having accomplished a Freakish Feat of Fishlist Fic, and given praise and adoration.
4. Why are there twenty-four challenges, when I'm only meant to complete twelve?
Having more options and challenges than necessary means that individual authors can write what they want to write. This way no one will have to write a ship or idea which they are uncomfortable with in order to complete the challenge.
5. I've already completed a Fic which fufils one of the Labours - can it count towards my 12?
Already completed Fics are allowed for three out of the twelve Labours, so long as they directly and properly fufil the Labour they are answering. If you have completed a story which is your best work on a particular topic, then it can count. Shoving an existing Fic into a Labour it doesn't quite fit is not acceptable.
6. Are there any timelimits, deadlines or restrictions?
No, none. However, the livejournal group Heracles' Labours, the fanfiction.net forum, and the Heracle's Labours subcategory on the Orion Awards Forums are designed so that continuous work on your own Labours, as well as involvement in other people's Labours, is encouraged.
7. I'm writing a Fic with a friend - can this count as a Labour?
Any co-written story can count towards your Labours so long as it fufils one of the challenges. If your co-author is also participating in the Labours a single fic can be acknowledged by both authors.
8. Can I write an essay, instead of a Fic?
Essays are allowed. However, the essay must be focused around one of the Labours, and it must be of a high standard. Quotations, evidence and analysis must be used appropriately; an 'essay' cannot just be an opinion column. Speculation is welcome in essays, but it must be supported.
9. Are the Twelve Labours of Heracles linked with Criminality?
The Labours have a home on Criminality because of the 12LH's small size. The advantages in this - such as not having to find a compatable webserver - helped us set up the 12LH quickly. Criminality and the 12LH also share common values and goals concerning AF fanfiction.
10. Do you archive all Completed Labours on Criminality?
No, it was decided that completed Labours will be linked from the main Twelve Labours of Heracles page instead. However, Completed Labours can get recommended and dwarfed in the normal Criminality manner, and get onto the site that way.
11. From whence did the Labours spring?
The Labours started as a 'wishlist' (which rapidly morphed into 'fishlist') thread on the Orion Awards Forums. Dim Aldebaran is responsible for coming up with the concept of the Labours, and the twenty-four Labours were agreed upon by the original participants of the thread - Anordir, Blue Yeti, Dim Aldebaran, Fairy Hunter, Gus, Kitty Rainbow, The Toaster, and The White Lily.
