The Day of the Vara is near... Whispers of terror spread across the 'verse... :ghost: The holiday first originated around 27 October 2557 after the disappearance of the Vara, an exploration vessel orbiting the second planet in the then-recently discovered Hades system. Communications from the Vara to the Rhetor system stopped early in the morning, after captain Tisiphone Heptane sent her initial impressions of the ruined alien cities. Systems on board ceased transmitting ship status reports a few hours later. Though search and rescue teams were dispatched the next day, the Vara and her crew were nowhere to be found. No wreckage or remains were ever located. This year, we’re challenging you to step into the void and tell the story from the other side. Imagine life as a crew aboard the dreaded Vara itself, cursed to haunt spacelanes and fill travelers’ hearts with dread. What horrors do you endure? What twisted fate binds you to this ship of nightmares? What were the last day(s) of the Vara? Tell us! How To Participate During the event, we’re calling on every Citizen brave enough to write a tale that chills the blood and honors the dark legacy of the Vara. Please read the contest rules carefully to avoid disqualification. :book: Prepare: Step into the shoes of the Vara’s cursed crew. What is it like to serve aboard this haunted ship? Are you a loyal sailor, a prisoner, or a restless spirit doomed for eternity? What happened and why was the crew nowhere to be found?! :black_nib: Write: Weave your nightmare into a short story written in English (up to 4,000 characters). Make it unsettling, eerie, and unforgettable. :outbox_tray: Submit: Send your entry to the Community Hub with the title "Horror Story 2955" followed by your title, such as "Horror Story 2955 - The Haunt". Keep In Mind! Read the contest rules. Posts must be submitted to the Community Hub, entitled “Horror Story 2955”, and select the Text category on the Community Hub. Submissions must feature a short horror story about the final days of the Vara’s crew, either told from an external standpoint or from the point of view of someone aboard the ship. Your text must be in English. Stories must be original and firmly rooted in Star Citizen lore surrounding the Day of the Vara (Galactapedia). Entries may not exceed 4,000 characters in total length. The use of AI to fully generate your story is not permitted. Grammar or spelling corrections are allowed. Please post your story to the Community Hub. Replies to this thread will NOT count as a submission. Any submission not following the above instructions will not be considered. Group submissions are not allowed. Only the person posting the text can win a prize. Multiple submissions are not allowed. Winning Conditions The CIG jury will judge your submissions on the following: Quality Creativity Mood and atmosphere Rule Adherence Dates The submission period ends on Monday, November 3, 2025, 20:00 UTC. Rewards :first_place_medal: 1st Place: Aegis Sabre Firebird in-game ship with LTI and "Black Magic" Livery (in-game lifetime insurance), Greycat ROC in-game vehicle with LTI and "Harvester" Paint, and Greycat "Harvester" Armor Set, and a Star Citizen Game Package. :second_place_medal: 2nd Place: Mirai Guardian in-game ship with LTI and "Black Magic" Livery (in-game lifetime insurance) :third_place_medal: 3rd Place: Aegis Sabre in-game ship with LTI and "Black Magic" Livery (in-game lifetime insurance) Will you dare tell the story of the Vara?! :book: :book: :book: :book: :book: Winners :first_place_medal: 1st Place: @Riven_Blackwood, with The Humming Stone :second_place_medal: 2nd Place: @droidzeiro_br, with Whispers of the Vara :third_place_medal: 3rd Place: @R3DPhantom, with The Haul