Emperor Pongo lounged on the vast ice floe, devouring the squid that had been caught earlier. It was a gorgeous day, the skies a light blue with traces of wispy clouds. The sea a deep aqua color, cresting to foam, as it surged against the ice floe. The air was a cool -6 degrees Celsius with little wind and the water a delightful 4 degrees Celsius. In the water splashed a few of the Emperor’s comitatus. 

It was truly a perfect day. The floe had moved slightly away from land, the 28-inches thick floe of ice carried along by the waves towards the Grand Floe where the majority of the penguins had gathered.

As Pongo slurped down another squid, a shadow crossed him, glancing up at the penguin that had waddled into his sun. 

[color=00aeef]“Yes?”[/color]

[color=82ca9d]“Mi’laird. Someone approaches. A human comes to the see you.”[/color]

Twitching his head a moment then standing, Pongo reached his full height of four-feet tall. The messenger lifted a wing and pointed towards the leeward side of the floe. Turning, the great Emperor penguin made clicking sounds of mild displeasure. 

[color=00aeef]“Well I suppose if he is foolish enough to come to see me, I might as well entertain him.”[/color] Pongo muttered as he crafted a large ice throne beneath him. As he rose in height he tapped the arm of the throne impatiently waiting for the human to reach him.
 
Seeing that Pongo had taken the ice throne, the comitatus hastily clambered out of the water and made their way towards the Emperor. 
By the time the human arrived, the comitatus had formed into two ranks of 12 on either side of the ice throne.
 
The penguin that had informed the Emperor stepped before the human, blocking his path.

[color=82ca9d]“Who wishes to see the lord of the Southern Floes, and master of the frigid key?”[/color]