[OPEN] Let the races begin

[cyclicalitymods]

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! ]

Comments

[lavamylife]

Good advice never goes unheeded. Well, except for when it's Bolin hearing it, but even Bolin can understand super good advice when he hears it, and so he will definitely hold on for dear life. He manages to recover thankfully without too much drama.

He pushes hard, and he gains a little momentum as he's heading down one of the slopes, pushing ever closer to the penguin in front of him. And it almost looks like he would make it. But after one of the jumps [There are jumps in otter penguin racing, right?], Bolin misaims the jump and falls directly behind the person in the lead, pushing him further ahead as he slides across the goal line.

But really, second place isn't all bad, right?

Bolin seems pleased, and he reaches down after shifting off the otter penguin to give it a congratulatory pat.

"You did your best, buddy."

[airyopalescent]

The crowd can't help but follow all of it. The jump comes up, the crowd holds their breath... and then Bolin misses amidst a few slight disappointed noises. Others cheer though and soon everyone is as all the participants pull up to the finish line.

The otter penguin seems pleased enough with the pat, flapping it's stubby flippers. Opal herself is nearing the edge of the track.

"You really did well out there! I never knew you knew how to race otter penguins."

[lavamylife]

With the otter penguin looking pleased, Bolin lets him head off back to the track so that other people can "capture" and race him around. Bolin walks over to the fence and hops over to the other side of it, cheekily grinning at Opal.

"I didn't really know how to race otter penguins either until a little bit ago. Turns out, it's not all that hard if you put your mind to it. And it's loads of fun!"

[airyopalescent]

"I've never really thought about the intricacies of otter penguin racing until just now actually. It looks like it's fun though!"

Opal herself wasn't exactly dashing over the fence to try it out though. It's much better getting to chat with Bolin after their spat of silence.

[lavamylife]

"Well, it's... not exactly complicated," Bolin says as he takes in the sudden attention from Opal like a koi fish to water. "I mean, some of them might say it is, but... apparently according to the Southern Water Tribe rules, the hardest part is actually catching your own otter penguin first. Which... we kind of didn't have to do fully. So really, we just had to do the easy part and let the otter penguins do all the work."

He grins widely to Opal, suddenly feeling like he's the knowledgeable one at something. "You want to give it a try? You won't experience anything else like it!"

[airyopalescent]

"I wish I could have seen the Southern Water Tribe races." She couldn't go of course, not when she needed to return to Zaofu soon anyhow. This was a good substitute though and she didn't seem to mind it.

Bolin's question garners a moment of surprise. Try it herself? The thought had never dawned on Opal but... well, it did look fun. She looks back out over the track, then gives something of a small smile.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to try really."