cyclicality | [OPEN] Let the races begin

January 10th is a big day for anyone interested in the races. Or rather, interested in a little bit of gambling. Located in the Southern Water Tribe, the penguin sledding races are the place to make it big or lose everything! Races will be held from dawn until midnight with stalls selling food and souvenirs are set up around the event area. Everyone is free to take place in as many races as they want on one condition — they have to catch their own otter penguin, which might be a bigger challenge than actually sledding through the race track. They take this rule very seriously! Those who hire others to catch their otter penguins for them will be disqualified if they're caught. Just remember that this is the South Pole. The event area isn't around any residential areas, so bring warm gear when you hike to it in the cold.

There's fun in Republic City, too. It's snowing, at least, so a few otter penguins have been shipped in for racing around a smaller track. There's stalls set up in the city, too, selling knickknacks and Water Tribe cuisine. People are free to place their bets here as well, but any penguin sledder who's anybody is probably already in the Southern Water Tribe where the big fish are.

So there are options. People who have free time and money to travel can take a ship to the Southern Water Tribe to see what there is to offer. People who are short on time or money can stop by the penguin sledding arena for a few minutes to see what's up.

[ OOC: Feel free to include a variety of scenarios in your tag. It's an all-day event, so if you want to include scenarios for travel, otter penguin catching, sledding or just spectating. Whatever floats your boat! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So far Mia has had little luck at catching an otter penguin, and clearly her technique isn't going to win the day. As she's out searching, she sees Aang off in the distance looking for his own. Seeing as how the young airbender was the one that hoisted her onto a sky bison to make the voyage down to the South Pole, it seems only fitting that she offer a hand (or even ask for pointers).

"How's the hunt going?" she calls out happily.

"It's going okay!" He quickly gains a smile as Mia nears. "I'm just waiting to try to find the right one..."

Mia can't help but be amused by the young monk, but she just nods and tries to keep her giggles to herself. "The right one, you say? I think I'd settle for just being able to catch one. They're quite the elusive creatures!"

"Have you done this a lot before? I could always show you some tricks!"

Mia just shakes her head. "No, not really. This is very much a Southern Tribe thing. We don't really go otter penguin sledding up in the north. So..." She smiles with a little amusement, "some tricks would definitely be helpful." Leave it to the teenaged monk to give her life lessons about everything.

"That's a shame. You Northerners are really missing out!" He wonders if that's the real reason why Pakku is so grumpy. Of course, he doesn't consider how it might seem that he's so familiar with the South Pole too.

"Don't worry. I learned some expert methods in the past, and I'll be glad to show you, Mia."

"Apparently so," she says, having to agree with him on that one. She had only a little time for fun; her childhood was mostly responsibility, really. Then again, she might have been one of the special cases too. "I guess I'll just have to make up for that lost time now. I would be most honoured to have your teaching, Master Aang."

He smiles sheepishly, and he gives her a polite bow, part-jokingly. "The honor's all mine, Pupil Mia! Now, the way I heard... the best way to get an otter-penguin's attention, is with a little fishy." It doesn't settle perfectly with his beliefs, but he at least goes for ones that already dead.

As if in response, there's a sheepish smile on her own face, as if it was a completely obvious bit that she had overlooked. "I should have guessed. The quickest path to an otter penguin's heart is through its stomach." She laughs a bit. "And then it's a piece of cake after that?"

He laughs right back. "It should be! As long as you're nice and friendly and gentle with them. I'm sure you'll have it covered, Mia!"

"Friendly and gentle," she repeats, almost finding it funny but still trying to retain a degree of seriousness about it. "Got it. I think I can do that. But I will need to go catch a fish first."

"Now that's the tricky part. I don't wanna... you know... do anything to the fish. Not when it's still alive."

Mia tilts her head a bit in surprise, and curiosity is written on her face. "You feel sorry for the fish?"

[OPEN] Let the races begin

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