Chop to the Top OCT
is an Original Character Tournament founded by CornoftheBreads on deviantArt. It focuses on the magical land of Tantaba, a land that literally worships food. Eons ago, the five gods of flavor (Savory, Sour, Spicy, Bitter, and Sweet) were engaged in an epic war that nearly destroyed the land. The war was ended by a Master Chef, who cooked a special dish for each god. Thus sated, they agreed to cease their war if the chef would make a feast for them each year using special ingredients from around the world. So it has been for time immemorial... but the former Master is now gone, and their five apprentices are all unworthy to take their place. With the feast fast approaching, they decided to invite chefs from around the globe to compete, retrieve the ingredients, and become the next master.
This tournament provides examples of:
- Alien Among Us - Jerry.
- Anthropomorphic Food - Cook E. Oddly, the fact that he's a giant, walking cookie has led to far fewer people trying to eat him than one might expect.
- Axe-Crazy - Cha. Soooo much.
- Badass Adorable - Applies to almost every contestant in some way.
- Beyond the Impossible - Scoot defies all the laws of physics, which Tantaba already plays pretty fast and loose with.
- Carnivore Confusion - Inevitable in a world of magical and often sentient food. One character (Tako) actually tastes herself at one point.
- Character Development - All the characters remaining in the tournament have grown in some way or another. Except maybe Scoot.
- Cloudcuckoolander - Kalla looks this way to most people, who can't see Azabroth. Azabroth even comments on this.
- Cool Old Lady - Mara is nearly eighty and still energetic enough to help run the tournament.
- Crippling Overspecialization - The judges. Each is so set in their flavor they were utterly incapable of learning the other four, and thus all failed as the Master Chef.
- The Cutie - Many characters are sweet-natured (no pun intended), but Millie is especially adorable.
- Dad the Veteran - Oz is a veteran explorer and itches to return to adventure.
- Determinator - Tako is gonna get that tuna and look adorable doing it!
- Eldritch Abomination - Azabroth. In spite of this, they seem to be on decent terms, if snarky, with Kalla, who may be the zanier of the two.
- Friendly Ghost - Baxley, at very least to Millie. He's been polite to everyone who doesn't threaten her as well.
- Genki Girl - Kalla.
- Gentle Giant - Meikhel.
- Honor Before Reason - Depending on the writer, Yedren.
- Idle Rich - Averted with Solomon; in most comics he is leading the competition, and he is a successful businessman back in Opebe.
- Jerkass - Basile, again, depending on the writer. Some portray him more as a Jerk with a Heart of Gold.
- Even more so, Cook A, who nearly killed his own brother to take his place in the contest.
- Let's Meet the Meat - Bagwis is an adorable, timid talking bird whose species is considered a delicacy in universe.
- No Name Given - Sarah's partner, who is just called ??? on her reference sheet.
- Obake - Nori-Ko. Though not Japanese, Ghroc and Ja'Nitchi as well.
- Our Monsters Are Different - What Vance in particular is setting out to prove.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni - Vance and Andi.
- Robot Buddy - U.S.P. to Jerry.
- Tarot Troubles - Subverted with Andi, who gets a variety of readings. Their artist even puts explanations in the description as to what the various cards mean.
- Team Dad - Oz and Bill both have shades of this.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork - The judges, to a great extent. They can't stand each other.
- Voluntary Shapeshifting - Ghroc and Ja'Nitchi, though all we have seen them turn into so far is a pair of humans who look suspiciously close to their spirit forms.
- "Well Done, Daughter" Girl - Poor Sarah just wants her dad to notice her...
