Skallagrim

The Hunt for the Bestial Keys: Penguin

Pongo watched impassionedly as the man stripped down and leapt into the water. Flopping on his belly Pongo slid towards the water, building up a great deal of speed until he hit a small berm and was launched into the air. A second later the majestic penguin dove into the water with nary a splash.

In several powerful strokes he was moving at a good clip. Bass are high in burst speed but are generally slower swimmers overall. However a Bass was faster than a penguin. But Pongo wasn’t worried about speed, he knew he had to go down 600 feet, and his body was designed for diving relatively deep, over a thousand feet. As soon as he hit the water he was diving at a slow angle, even as fast as the human appeared to be, diving deep would be the issue as would be returning to the surface.

That was the insidious trap of the challenge, should the human contend with the Leopard seals he would rise fast . . . rise too fast and he would get the bends. Rise too slow and he would strain his oxygen and fatigue levels in the deeps.

And then there was the matter of seeing the Orcas in the gloom at 600 feet. Even Pongo was limited but he was more adept at seeing at that depth than the human. Or was he? Only time would tell as he continued a steady pace at a down angle towards the thermal vents.

The Hunt for the Bestial Keys: Penguin

Having heard the words spoken by the man, Pongo hopped down from the ice throne, his majestic waddle carried with it all the regal pomp that defied the otherwise humorous sight.

“Hmm. Key seeker you are?” Pongo murmured as he made his way around the human called Kei’taro, eyeballing the questing man.

“You have keys already. Why do you need the frigid key? Do you know what the key unlocks?"

Stopping in front of Kei’Taro, Pongo looked up at him with a wizened and knowing gaze.

“Young you are. This I can see. I also see you are fatigued. Are you sure you are ready for the test for this key?”

Kei’taro would surly notice that the ice floe had become a deep aqua-marine color, and that the temperature had dropped down subtly. Nothing drastic, but very noticeable, every breath the human took from this point forward would be accompanied by condensation of breathe.

“Regardless if you are ready or not, you have come here, requesting the challenge of the key. Thus I am obligated to test your worthiness to possess the key.”

Cocking an eye at Kei’taro he contimued, “Can you swim? I hope so because your challenge is simple. Look.” With that Pongo swept his right wing towards a vast floe of ice nearly a mile away.

“That is the Grand Floe. We shall swim to it. It is a mile away. Half way to the floe is a spot of warm water. At that point we shall dive down nearly 600 feet to obtain a squid from around the vents that push warm water and air into the sea. You must capture a single squid and replace the warming stone with one from the vents. Swim to the surface and onward to the floe.”

Pongo turned around and stared at the seas, “Of course it is not as simple as that you know. There are enemies of the Pengu in the water as well. You must avoid them; the Leopard seals shall see you as an enemy, striving to remove the squid from your grasp. There is also a pod of Orcas somewhere out there; they will also work to hinder you as they will try to hinder me.”

Turning back to Kei’taro, Pongo pointed towards a small glowing stone beside the ice throne, “That is a warming stone. Place it on your tongue; it shall help keep your body temperature stable. But remember you must find another at the vent at the middle point or you shall freeze in the waters. Do you understand?”

Waiting a moment longer, Pongo said solemnly, “When you are ready, you can begin the race by picking up the stone.”

The Hunt for the Bestial Keys: Penguin

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.

“Yes?”

“Mi’laird. Someone approaches. A human comes to the see you.”

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.

“Well I suppose if he is foolish enough to come to see me, I might as well entertain him.” 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.

“Who wishes to see the lord of the Southern Floes, and master of the frigid key?”

Gathering the Bestial Keys

I'll start our dance. It'll be fun, I'll make you work for it, but it'll be fun.

Gathering the Bestial Keys

I can throw down starting Tuesday. If that is ok with you. Tell your girl Happy Mothers Day.

The Dragon who went to Sea (Ranked battle, Anna V Evvie)

I will finalize the card tomorrow. Mother's day and other things have taken my time. Do either of you want a final comment on the fight?

Alphonse vs Anya Faye

If you are, say using emotions as preps, it can be written easily. Remember a prep has to be decernable to a reader but not always obvious to a character. If anger is used there are many literary ways to display it as well as any other emotion.

Gathering the Bestial Keys

No worries. I am busy so I don't mind being in the que, just let me know when we're to rumble.

Arena FAQ/Advice

Read my FIGHT with Rilla that has a throw in it.

Gathering the Bestial Keys

No magic, physical challenge, Antartica. Set the thread I will set the field later.