It is oft thought that us lofty literates are above using the lowly
limerick for a light-hearted laugh. But today (or whatever day you
choose to read this) this assumption is to be proved wrong.

For today, all myths will be debunked, discovered, defined, denuded,
disclosed, and divulged. All rumours will be unveiled, unhidden,
unmasked, unprotected, unsealed and uncovered.

Today I announce the beginning of a Sapience-wide limerick contest. All
may enter, from the youngest to the oldest, and all have the chance to
win up to TWENTY-FIVE CREDITS!

(For the less educated among us, an elaborate definition of "limerick"
and an example are at the bottom of this post)

The subject on which you will write your limericks will be "HOUSES OF
SAPIENCE." That's right. You may write on the Spirit Walkers. You may
write on the Arcane Kindred. You may write on the Serpentlords. In fact
you may write on ANY of the 25 houses in Sapience.

Each participant may enter a maximum of 4 limericks written on one
letter, and one letter only. Each limerick you enter must feature a
different house. For example, you MAY NOT write all 4 limericks on the
CIJ. You MAY however, write 1 on the CIJ, 1 on Ty Beirdd, 1 on the Ebon
Fist and 1 on the Ashura.

At the top of your letter you must write your NAME. Any entry that does
not follow this very simple rule will be immediately fed to the nearest
humgii. All letters must be recieved by the 1st of Valnuary, 450.
Results will be posted shortly after the final date.

Note that although the subject matter focuses on houses, the contest is
an -individual- contest. You will all be judged individually, dependant
entirely on the quality of your limericks. Further more, each limerick
will be judged individually. Therefore, someone who enters only one
limerick could still beat someone who enters all four.

Limericks are -not- difficult to write and there are numerous awards to
be given away.

A panel of judges will examine all limericks looking in particular for
clever use of humour, correct rhythm, and originality. Basically they
will be looking for the -perfect- limerick. A witty limerick that
inspires a belly-chuckle and an appreciative smile.

Prizes are as follows:

The Whole Package: 10 credits
Runner Up: 5 credits
Runner Up: 5 credits
Runner Up: 5 credits

Remember! These prizes are awarded for each individual limerick.
Therefore, if you enter all 4 limericks, you have a possibility of
winning up to TWENTY-FIVE credits! How could you go wrong?

And now for the definition of the word limerick. A limerick is a five
line, generally humourous, poem. The first, second, and fifth lines
rhyme and so do the third and fourth. This gives a rhyme sceme of AABBA.
The first, third, and fifth generally have the same verbal rhythm and
length, and so do the second and fourth. Of course, you can play fast
and loose with these rules. All that's really important is that it
sounds like a limerick should sound!

Example:
There once was a man named Vellis,
who possessed not a trace of malice
He posed no great threat
though he had a big net
Of which we're incredibly jealous.

Of course, your limericks will feature in on houses, rather than Vellis.
Your limericks will also be much funnier and more skilful! Think of this
as a fun version of a light-hearted mud-slinging contest and take the
opportunity to jeer at the other houses.

Now, on you way. You have 2 years. Start limericking.

Penned by my hand on the 2nd of Valnuary, in the year 448 AF.