Last Updated 02/16/2020

This is a special archive of the story challenges written on and for the long defunct, beloved and still missed, Holy Ground Highlander Forum.

Please Strand By – Write a short story or scene featuring an Immortal HL character who has had an automobile breakdown, and is stranded by the roadside. What happens and where is strictly up to the limits of your creativity. You must incorporate the words "lake" and "ketchup bottle" within your effort. November 7, 2002.

An "Imitation" MWC (guest challenge) – A “guest” challenge from FOM: one or two of your favorite HL immortals and a Forumlander. Now this can only VERGE on being 'bad'. Try to use humor and metaphor and even tongue in cheek type stuff! No insults...only if meant in the nicest possible way!!! This is only a suggestion ... mainly because I have a scene with one of our more famous Forumlanders and a delicious she-male type Immortal. October 24, 2002.

Turnabout is Foreplay – Write a short story or scene involving a character from the HL series (canonical or otherwise) who is trying to write a story about a fictional mortal ... you. October 2, 2002.

Cheap Imitation Mid-Week Challenges – Leah was gone from the Holy Ground Forum for awhile, so the forum members did what they termed “cheap imitation” challenges and Daire kindly archived them at the link. Sadly, the link now seems to be defunct. July thru September 2002.

Burns Night – Your challenge, should you decide to participate, comes to us courtesy of current events: Write a short story, vignette or scene featuring a Highlander character (Immortal or otherwise) and fire as a major element. June 27, 2002.

My Name Is Sue. How Do You Do. – Write a (mercifully) short story or vignette in the Highlander universe featuring a character who is obviously a classic Mary or Marty Sue. Extra points for hitting as many of the typical plot and character clichés as you can manage. Roll up your sleeves and show us your worst!  June 19, 2002.

Forever Jung – Write a short story or scene involving a Highlander Immortal or Immortals, and a psychiatrist or psychologist. Any mood will do. June 11, 2002.

Lytton Things Get Out of Hand – Palladia writes: "Today is the birthday of Edward Bulwer-Lytton, of rather unfortunate writing fame. It was he who began a longish novel, "It was a dark and stormy night. . ." Perhaps we might use this to for an MWC. (Evil grin)" Your assignment, should you choose to participate, is to write an scene or story of NO LONGER THAN THREE insufferably run-on paragraph sentences, incorporating as many foul, overused cliches employed by bad writers as can possibly be used at one time. They must be in the HIGHLANDER universe. May 16, 2002.

Mood Music – Write a short story, poem or scene inspired by a piece of music. There are no other restrictions, just go where the music takes you. Please mention the title of your inspiration and include lyrics if there are any. Any music style, era etc. qualifies. May 8, 2002.

Pass the Seasoning –Write a scene, poem or short story involving one or more of the HL Immortals and the season of Spring. You must include the two following items in some way: A meadow, and a memory. April 23, 2002.

The Howl Nine Yards – Write a short story or scene involving one or more HIGHLANDER characters (immortal or otherwise) and a highly unruly child in a public place. March 7, 2002.

The Gathering for Dummies – Write a short scene or story involving an unexpected advantage or disadvantage of Immortality. It can be serious, silly or just plain inconvenient. It can be something we have always suspected, or something we never would have imagined; but it *should* be something that has never been addressed in official canon. February 21, 2002.

How's Bayou? – Write a short story or scene involving one or more of the HL characters and the following elements: 1) Mardi Gras (anywhere) 2) A vegetable 3) reflection (light or image) February 12, 2002. (added a missing story by Ghost Cat)

Dude, Where's My Sword? – Write a short scene that takes place in the HIGHLANDER: THE SERIES universe...as if it's been completely taken over by producers who are seeking the much-coveted teen demographic. You can adapt the existing characters if you wish, or introduce completely new ones. This is satire, folks. Can ya handle it? January 29, 2002. (added a missing story by Leslie Fish)

Making Scents of It All – This week's challenge, should you care to participate, comes to us courtesy of a suggestion by Hayden: Write a song, short story or scene that involves a scent that brings back a distant memory to an Immortal character from HL. More than one scent or character can be involved. A flashback is fine, if you prefer.  January 23, 2002.

Get My Drift, Take Two – Somewhere in a temperate climate, two antagonistic Immortals meet in an indoor setting and a challenge is issued. Seeking a private place to do battle, they open the door...and are confronted by a massive snow drift. There has apparently been a blizzard overnight that has deposited at least 5 feet of snow with huge drifts. Write a short story or scene about the above. January 9, 2002.

The Quickening and the Dead – OPTION 1: Write a short story or scene involving one or more HL Immortal character and an offbeat and unexpected consequence of the effects of a Quickening. OPTION 2: Write a short story or scene where an Immortal's Quickening energy manifests itself in a weird or unexpected manner, independent of any beheadings. January 3, 2002.

The Perfect Gift – A 2nd 2001 Holiday MWC. Check out all the Mid Week Challenge Holiday stories. December, 2001.

Yule Be Sorry – The 2001 Holiday MWC. Check out all the Mid Week Challenge Holiday stories. December, 2001.

The Boy Who Lived ... Forever – Write a short scene or story involving one ore more HIGHLANDER Immortal characters and the Harry Potter universe. November 28, 2001.

The Wetting Planners – Your challenge, should you choose to participate, has two options this week. You may do one or the other, but not both in your submission: A) Write a short story, scene or poem that takes place in the rain. The Immortal character(s) must be out in the rain almost the entire time. B) Write a scene involving the changing of diapers with at least two Immortal characters involved. November 14, 2001.

Square One – An Immortal character returns home (to his or her country of origin)and runs into a surprise. October 18, 2001.

Boxing Day – A short story or scene about one or more Immortals and a 'time capsule'...either a box or some other preserved collection of mementos.  October 8, 2001.

In the Closet – A short scene or story about one or more Immortals locked in a closet. September 26, 2001.

Get My Drift – A short scene or story about any three characters from HIGHLANDER. The focus activity is tubing down a river on a lazy summer day. Any river will do.  July 31, 2001.

Metaphorn – Write a (mercifully) short love scene for a romance novel, using the most absurd, unusual or out-in-left-field metaphors you can possibly conjure, particularly for the euphemisms relating to the act of love (if you dare to take it that far). Let your imagination fly....  July 18, 2001.

Westin Away – Write a short story or scene involving one or more of the HL characters--who has inadvertently booked him/herself into Westin L.A. Airport Hotel on August 24, 2001. Suggestion: Consider making the character someone who was not on the guest list.  July 12, 2001.

Steer Crazy – A short scene or story about one or more Immortals and a traffic violation, or the consequences of a traffic violation. Any mood may prevail.  July 3, 2001.

Garden Variety – Write a short scene or story that takes place in a garden (of any kind), featuring any two Immortal characters from HL.  June 21, 2001.

The Lease We Can Do – The Mid-Week Challenge this week: write a short story or scene about the following idea: in order to get into a very desirable condo your favorite Immie has to present the perfect family... June 6, 2001.

You Can Go Home Again – An Immortal character returns home (to his or her country of origin)and runs into a surprise.  May 31, 2001.

Taking a Stanza –The Mid-Week Challenge this week: poetry only. In Spring, a not-so-young Immortal's fancy runs to thoughts of amore' (or just plain Springy stuff), and you've captured that Immortal's thoughts in a poem that embodies their emotions, their being, their soul. May 8, 2001.

Seriously Malled –The Mid-Week Challenge this week: Write about 2 Immortals in a shopping mall or giant warehouse store (like Costco, Sams etc.). Incorporated into the theme should be one of the following elements: 1) Duncan MacLeod showing a decided Scottish thriftiness, 2) Richie Ryan trying to pick up a gal, 3) A robbery takes place. Any mood or style may apply. May 3, 2001.

Driven Insane – 1) Write a short story about one or more of the Highlander Immortals (good, evil or otherwise) in a very difficult attempt to find an empty parking space or 2) Write a short story that takes place in the HL universe, involving road rage. The setting and circumstances can be anything else you choose.  April 26, 2001.

Topical Application –The Mid-Week Challenge this week: Compose a short story or scene involving one or more of the HIGHLANDER characters, and incorporating the two elements: A) slavery and B) cell phone.  April 18, 2001.

Bring In the Clowns – Write a song, poem or short scene involving a HL character (or more). Somewhere, somehow, you must introduce a clown...and the color purple.  April 11, 2001.

Tuning In –The Mid-Week Challenge this week: HL characters (minimum 2), a public place, and a jukebox. The catch? There can be no dialogue, all communication between characters must take place by way of the songs chosen. April 3, 2001.

Another Gathering – The Watchers are a large organization, presumably working world-wide. The question is, where do they get all their money? Surveillance equipment does not come cheap, and the travel expenses alone must be a fortune. Write a short story or scene that shows a major fund-raiser/income for the Watchers group.  March 21, 2001.

Indestructible –The Mid-Week Challenge this week: Write a SHORT surprise alternative ending to the movie HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME. The further your concept comes from out in left field, the better. March 14, 2001.

Everyone's a Critic – Take two or more characters from the HL universe. They have just seen a movie, and have very differing viewpoints on what they saw, and they are debating about it between themselves. Attention should be paid to the setting they are in, as much as the content of their arguments and observations. Just sitting around somewhere amorphous won't do. February 28, 2001.

Growing Pains – Write a short scene or story featuring one or more Immortals who unexpectedly find themselves sharing space within a community garden. The outcome of the developments in this challenge should strongly reflect the stamp of the participating Immortal in character.  February 22, 2001.

Be My Valentine –The Mid-Week Challenge this week: poetry only, befitting a Valentine’s Day theme! February 14, 2001.

Gathering Schmathering – Write a short story or scene involving any HIGHLANDER character, and the winning of the Grand Prize of some sort of contest or competition (other than the traditional one of the series). Extra stipulation: The word "mousse" must be included somehow. February 7, 2001.

What The??? – Write a short scene or story involving one of the HIGHLANDER characters, unexpectedly encountering a supernatural, allegedly mythical or strange phenomenon. This can be of any nature or form.  February 1, 2001.

First Watch – Write a short story, scene or vignette featuring a Watcher we have not yet met or seen, who watches an Immortal character who is known to us. The only element that you *must* incorporate is...breakfast.  January 23, 2001.

Forever Young –This Mid-Week Challenge required our intrepid writers to write a song or scene about one of the Highlander characters as a baby.  January 9, 2001.

Cold Comfort –This Mid-Week Challenge required our intrepid writers to write a scene, vignette, limerick or short story about extremely cold weather (are you sensing a theme?) and how one or more Immortal must deal with it. January 2, 2001.

Snow Problem –This Mid-Week Challenge required our intrepid writers to write a scene or short story centered around a blizzard and one or more Highlander Immortal. December 27, 2000.

“Happy” Holidays –This Mid-Week Challenge required our intrepid writers to write a scene or short story about Immortals and the holiday season. Loneliness was required as an essential element. Check out all the Mid Week Challenge Holiday stories. December 20, 2000.

Not for the Faint of Heart –This Mid-Week Challenge required our intrepid writers to write a scene or short story revolving around the character from Highlander that they personally dislike the most, preferably from that character’s point of view. December 13, 2000.

Barging In –This Mid-Week Challenge required our intrepid writers to write a scene or short story that explains why the name of Duncan’s barge varied between “Nobile” and “Amadeus.”  December 4, 2000.

Shop Your Head Off –This Mid-Week Challenge required our intrepid writers to write a scene, poem or short story involving Immortals and the holiday shopping season. The following elements had to be included: toe socks, moose and terra cotta. November 30, 2000.

There Can Be Only One… By a Narrow Margin –This Mid-Week Challenge required our intrepid writers to write a scene or short story involving an election and Highlander Immortals. November 8, 2000.

All Souls Night –This Mid-Week Challenge required our intrepid writers to write a scene or short story about something spooky, taking place on Halloween.  October 31, 2000.

Who Wants to Live Fur Ever? –This Mid-Week Challenge required our intrepid writers to write about an Immortal of a non-human species!  October 11, 2000.

I’m Game –This Mid-Week Challenge required our intrepid writers to write a scene or short story where the author discovers they are an Immortal.  October 4, 2000.

My-Landers –This Mid-Week Challenge required our authors to write their hometown seen through the eyes of an Immortal. September 27, 2000.

Perpetual People –This Mid-Week Challenge required our authors to write a People magazine interview with an Immortal! September 20, 2000.

From Here to Eternity –This Mid-Week Challenge required our authors to write a beach scene using three of the following elements:  seaweed, ice cream, a letter, the odor of jasmine, dog tags, nail polish, a child's block, a laptop computer, a prayer.  September 14, 2000.

Endmaim –This Mid-Week Challenge required our intrepid writers to write “what happens next” at the end of Highlander: Endgame.  September 6, 2000.

At the Sound of the Bell… –This Mid-Week Challenge involves Immortals and…wrestling (of course!).  August 9, 2000.

And Now, For An Important Word… –This Mid-Week Challenge on The Holy Ground Highlander Forum (the original Rysher Highlander Forum seems to now be defunct; please go to the link provided to find the “refugees”!) was to write a public service announcement starring either 1) The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse 2) Kalas 3) Hugh Fitzcairn 4) Xavier St. Cloud or 5) The Kurgan.  July 31, 2000.

Very Highlander –This Mid-Week Challenge required that an Immortal from the HL universe have a 'close encounter' with an alien from another SF media TV show or movie series. July 25, 2000.

Highlander: Endgame Lyrics –This Mid-Week Challenge required that lyrics be written for the hypothetical music of Highlander: Endgame. We’re anxiously anticipating the MOVIE! MOVIE! MOVIE! July 18, 2000.

Happy Trailers – Immortals go to the movies…  Here are the results from yet another Mid-Week Challenge on the Rysher Highlander Forum. July 12, 2000.

Good Cop, Bad Cop – While Leah and I were on vacation, some of the Forumlanders missed having the Mid-Week challenge, so Robin jumped in and inspired everyone to write these submissions! Here are the results from yet another Mid-Week Challenge on the Rysher Highlander Forum.  July 6, 2000.

Deal With It – Immortals and garage sales! Here are the results from yet another Mid-Week Challenge on the Rysher Highlander Forum.  June 28, 2000.

Highlander Haiku – This one is just what it sounds like. Give it a try! This also proved to be one of our most popular Midweek challenges! Here are the results from the Rysher Highlander Forum.  June 19, 2000.

Mission ImprobableHighlander actors in our real-life universe??? This proved to be one of our most popular Midweek challenges! Here are the results from the Rysher Highlander Forum.  June 14, 2000.

Build a K’Immie – What do Basil Fawlty, Elmer Fudd, Kenny, Sleeping Beauty, Mulder and Scully, and Frankenstein all have in common? You’ll (sort of) find them somewhere in this set of stories! The “Midweek” fiction challenge this time around required “building” your very own K’Immie in any manner you wished! There were lots of wonderful entries. Here are the results from the Rysher Highlander Forum. June 7, 2000.

Doughboys – The “Midweek” fiction challenge this time around required Duncan MacLeod; a loaf of French bread; a paper shredder and the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes. Amazingly, some folks managed to write serious stories on the subject! Here are the results from the Rysher Highlander Forum.  May 31, 2000.

Brake Dance – The “Midweek” fiction challenge this time around required four Immortals stuck in a huge traffic jam on the highway. Here are the results from the Rysher Highlander Forum.  May 22, 2000.

A Racy Story – The “Midweek” fiction challenge this time around required a relay race taking place in the Highlander universe. Here are the results from the Rysher Highlander Forum. May 17, 2000.

Home Ec – The “Midweek” fiction challenge this time around required a scenario involving Joe, Methos and… housecleaning? This was an “early” midweek challenge offered up by Celedon one week. Here are the results from the Rysher Highlander Forum.  May 16, 2000.

Just Teasing – The “Midweek” fiction challenge this time around required writing the opening teaser for an episode of Highlander! There were tons of wonderful entries. Here are the results from the Rysher Highlander Forum. (Some folks have written Tag Scenes for their original teasers! The Tags are right after the Teasers for each person who chose to write one. Just scan through and you should see them. Check them out!) May 2, 2000.

A Man Could Get Kilt – The “Midweek” fiction challenge this time around required Duncan MacLeod, a kilt… and an allergy! Oh, yeah. And it was supposed to be written in poem or song form! Here are the results from the Rysher Highlander Forum. April 26, 2000.

Chicken Soup for the Immortal Soul – Some of the Forumlanders were longing for something funny rather than the serious challenge directly below, so Leah issued an alternate “Midweek” fiction challenge on the Rysher Highlander Forum and here are the results!  April 19, 2000.

Methos, We Hardly Knew You… – What if Methos was secretly still a “Horseman,” so to speak? And what if Duncan found out? Leah began issuing some “Midweek” fiction challenges on the Rysher Highlander Forum and here are the results of the third one! April 19, 2000.

The Pledge Drive From… – What happens when Duncan MacLeod decides that his friends (and a few enemies!) are going to help him raise money for a local PBS station? Leah began issuing some “Midweek” fiction challenges on the Rysher Highlander Forum and here are the results of the second one! April 12, 2000.

Snapping Turtles – Leah began issuing some “Midweek” fiction challenges on the Rysher Highlander Forum and here are the results of the first one! April 5, 2000.

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