[complete] Event 3 Task 3

[The Goddess Nike]

Endurance is something not found in all residents of Beqanna. For those who do have it, however, they display it well. The new scores are shown as the sun drifts back down towards the far horizon. 

Team Alpha, Starlin has earned you 12 points
Team Beta, Castile has earned you 13 points
Team Gamma, Jinju and her replacement Hestia have earned you 14 points
Team Delta, Astrophel has earned you 19 points
Team Epsilon, Andulvar has earned you 6 points
Team Zeta, Leilan has earned you 17 points
Team Eta, Durotan has earned you 12 points
Team Theta, Warrick has earned you 6 points
Team Iota, Scorch has earned you 15 points
Team Kappa, Hephaestus has earned you 14 points

_________________________________________________

The final event opens up on the most dramatic scene thus far. The arena has been transformed into an obstacle course, with elements from every kingdom decorating the trials. You must manage your way though, in this last chance to put your team ahead. The obstacles are as follows: 
First, you come to a pool of magma, glowing red in the fading light. There are a series of stepping stones you must cross safely to avoid being burned. 
Second, a swinging rope bridge, swinging over what looks like a deep and wide chasm. Screaming parrots fly across it at regular intervals.
Third, a lake which must be swum. It is cold, but not impossibly wide. 
Fourth, a series of four fallen logs to jump, hung with garlands of red and gold leaves. 
Fifth, a narrow cave with no light, several meters long. 
Sixth and last, your path will take you up a steep cliffside path, at the top of which a cluster of golden feathers has been left. Take a feather, and it will be over, the game done, the points to fall as they may. Good luck contestants. 

The question which must be answered is: If you are part horse and part fish, you are a hippocampus. If you are part bird and part horse, you are a hippogryph. What shall I call you if you are part horse and part rooster? 

Word limit set at 500 or less for this event. No traits permitted.

[Astrophel]

Astrophel is quick to enter into the obstacle cross. He does not take his time to plan while standing still. This was a race, and he would win.
He makes his way to the first obstacle, magma glowing red and fading. The stepping stones lay ahead of him. He crosses them carefully, but diligently. Being burned alive was something he doesn’t plan on doing.
Once safely across, he moves towards the next obstacle. Parrots flying across the bridge that looks like it might snap any minute. Astrophel again makes his way across the bridge, avoiding the parrots that come away and snap at him.
The third course opens up before him within moments. The lake is wide, and when he touches it with his hooves he feels a shiver run down his spine. He enters the course though. Letting the chill be ignored. Swimming was easy. It felt like he was within the stars again. Eventually he reaches the edge of the course.
The fourth course finds himself at ease. He jumps over each of the four fallen logs. He almost slips onto the fourth but makes it safely.
Astrophel then reaches the fifth. He uses his senses; an instinct he has long trusted to find his way through the dark narrow cave.
The last course appears. He follows the path up to a steep Cliffside. Golden feathers are left in a cluster. He takes a feather.
The games are over.
Word Count: 241
Answer: Hippalectryon

[Scorch]

No traits? Scorch had been born that way, and she would gladly return to such a state.
Without hesitation, she begins the obstacle course, coming first to the magma pools. The firey waters lick at her hooves and she is reminded of when she had been burnt alive - this time however, she escapes unscathed.
Second comes a rope bridge, an idea that barely exists to her being a horse and all, but she takes it in stride, forcing her eyes to focus on the bridge itself and not the chasm below. Safely, she crosses.
She feels the cool water of the lake before she registers exactly what this obstacle is, and she's halfway across when the shivers start in, as the icey water pierces her bare hide. But the movement keeps her warm, and she gets across.
The next part seems almost laughable, like a show poney event, but Scorch takes it in stride - literally - and leaps over the log-obstacles, snatching a flower in her mouth as she passed and chewing on it vigorously.
When the cave comes, she wishes she could have her magic, because it is dark and she cannot see; but she lowers her head and trots carefully through, nose probing for the walls, and eventually, making it out the other side with only a few bleeding cuts on her fragile skin.
At the top of the cliff, she searches for the last obstacle, confused by the strange amount of gold fluff lying at her hooves. But when at last she takes one in her mouth, all fades to black, and with relief, she realizes: I have finished.

word count: 271
answer: hippalectryon

[Hestia]

ooc: it is called a A hippalectryon or hippalektryon.

Post:
She sets her jaw, her icy demeanor holds a hint of exhaustion. She is not... used. to this much exertion anymore. She takes off, cantering, because a lady never gallops, to the first obstacle. Her own flame dances burning brighter inside her soul at the sight of a similar element. She spreads out her wings for balance daintily crossing over the stones as deftly as possible. That ones not so bad. The black mare doesn't give it another thought before moving on to the second obstacle. her nose wrinkles in distaste. For the first time since she has received them, she thinks her wings would have come in handy. However she's yet to learn to use them and cannot fly over the bridge. Each step must be balanced swinging her weight with the bridge not fighting against it. When she successfully crosses this she then continues to the lake, here she shakes out her mane and flattens her ears. She hates swimming. her lips thin, why did she sign up for this again? venom colored eyes slit to speculate over other ways to make it across and when she finds none she takes one step, two steps. A third and she is now no longer on solid ground. A growl escapes her maw, its fecking cold. This one takes her a bit longer.

The next comes, its a flashy uncomfortable amount of colors and she has to pause a moment before bracing herself for the jump. She clears most of them the third knocking her hoof as she is going over. She speeds up, almos galloping. Dear god how many more could there be? she'd gotten used to just three over the course of the events. Lathered in sweat she pushes on, her eyes widening until they feel as if they are about to split from the strain. So dark, she looks for a source of light, something, anything to relieve the blackness; finally it comes and she sees the final task before her, she strains her legs, just this last bit and she will be there, she pushes herself beyond her capacity. Picks up a feather and raises her head to look for the goddess.

[Aeris]

Castile watches as the arena ripples into something new and extravagant. He would've been startled had it not been the third event. Nike has been able to alter their surroundings so effortlessly that, although intrigued, he isn't shying.

When she has concluded her instructions he quickly looks ahead to the stones protruding through the lava. His steps are meticulous and hesitant. The fire calls to him, it's heat like a blanket wrsppingnaround him, but he doesn't allow the creature inside him to deter his focus. From one to the other, he alternates between hopping and stepping, depending on the size of the sequential stone until he has successfully crossed, his skin slathered in sweat.

The swinging bridge makes him uneasy. If not for flying and his familiarity with great heights, he may have reconsidered and turned away, but he pushes through. The boards creak underfoot, occasionally snapping beneath his weight. As the end looms near, he can hear the ropes creaking in exhaustion. He lurches forward and reaches the grass, stepping away from the bridge with a stronger mentality and braveness.

The upcoming logs question his agility, but he gains momentum to address the obstacles. With his wings remaining idly tucked at his side's, he clears one log after the other with a neat tuck from his limbs.

His breaths are becoming more labored now.

He lopes to the cavern, wanting to impress his team. The darkness looming in its depths is startling, but he eases his way through relying on each of his senses to navigate its winding course.

Exiting the cavern (he was born in one - it feels natural and ok to be enveloped in shadows) he approaches the Cliffside and clambers up its ominous side. The ledges threaten him, but Castile never lets his mind go awry. He wants this. Needs this.

His pace quickens when confident enough until he finally grasps a golden feather and brings it to the finish line, completing the challenge but with his mentality sharpened by the adventure.


hippalectryon or hippalektryon

On my phone so yeah lol. This is for castile

[Starlin]

The grulla mare waits with baited breath, still feeling the strain from her previous exertions. This is it, she tells herself, the final leg.

She can do this.

The first obstacle requires delicate stepping, and she is grateful for her balance. The magma is uncomfortably warm beneath her, but she does not have time to celebrate her successful crossing for long.

Ahead there is a bridge over a chasm. Though she wants to close her eyes she does not, and one careful step at a time she crosses over.

The lake is simple - there are no waves to buffet her like the ocean of Nerine. Still, she is visibly tiring, and her mouth is a grimace as she looks at the logs. Easier to jump than Castile’s tail, she tells herself, though quite a bit taller.

Starlin forges through the cave, her hooves echoing strangely, and climbs the cliff. Her chest is heaving by the time she reaches the golden feathers, and she clamps it proudly between her teeth.

Answer: Hippalectryon

[Durotan]

Finally, the last task.

The arena changes one last time, this time an intimidating obasracle course is set up for him and the others. The golden goddesss lets them statt and he bolts for the forst task. It is a pool of magma,when he nears it the temperature naturally rises, he quickly notices stepping stones layed out providing a aafe route. Luckily for hom he is big and has a long reach, one after another he jumps unil finally on the other side.

Second yask, a swinging bridge. The best way to tackle this is to run as fast as possible, this os the approach he taskes and a few parrots swoop down screaming in his ear and reaching for his mane. He ignored there attempts until he reached the other side.

Next is a lake to swim across, there is little time to think and he jumps in. At first the cold water is refreshing after being around scorching laba and runbibg across the vrisge. But once he is cooled it continues to drop his body temperature. He finally reaches the other side, he shakes his pelt in attempt to remove all excess water.

The next task is simple for his large stature, he tactfully jumps over the four logs, but he is a bit slower than desired due to his body being frozen feom the lake. He rushes to the next event, it is almost finished! It is just a dark cace, he hopes for the best as he enters running theough the cave until he can see ligjt once again.

As he reaches the end of the cave he bolts out striding to the last event! His body is exhausted and he is proud to have put forth his best foot. He reaches a pile of golden feathers and with a smile he reaches his head down to grab one. He holds it with pride, a symbol of hard work, an accomplishment.

Answer: Hippalectryon

[Leilan]

Leilan has not yet fully restored from the dragging race; but at least, he won it! So whatever happens next he feels accomplishment.

What comes next bothers him a bit. Mostly the lake - not that he can’t swim it but the cold will definitely stiffen his muscles. With his enthusiasm downed by a little, he lines up. This is no time to give up!

The stepping stones are first, and honestly he is very glad - he does NOT want to slip there, and right now he has the best coordination left. He sweats like hell when he reaches the end, but he makes it.
The bridge and parrots are mostly timing; he stops to await their passing, then crosses as quickly as his legs can carry him; almost misstepping once, he is glad to make it.
There the lake; badly timed but doable.
He halts a bit to shake the icy water from his fur and to warm his muscles afterwards; he needs to jump over logs and does not fancy a broken leg. He is overtaken by some others right now, but safety and survival are a thing to him.

Through the cave he follows his nose; a trickle of air directs him to the exit, albeit slowly. Then a long climb; carefuly stepped; again, no need to break a leg over a contest. He emerges with his feather proudly and breathing heavily. But he grins widely: he did make it after all! And he’s not sure if the same could be said for others.

Hippalectryon