Once upon a time, there was a mighty man named Thor who, though born of mortal parents, seemed anything but mortal to those around him. He was stronger than any ox, faster than a pack of running wolves, and more clever than a fox. His friends praised him, and his enemies greatly feared him.

One of his greatest admirers was his brother Loki. Loki believed that Thor was destined for greatness, but not simply the greatness of men but the greatness of the Norse gods. He believed that Thor's prowess would impress even the Ice Kings. Thor was a bit. more skeptical, but after much coaxing and reassuring on the part, of Loki he agreed to approach the Ice Kings to demonstrate to them what he was capable of.

And so a great journey, to travel to the mountains where the throne of the Ice Kings awaited, began. Thor, with his brother Loki, completed the journey in but a few weeks despite attacks by bandits, goblins, dwarves, and dragons. Encounters that any other man might have called an adventure.

As the mountain of the Ice Kings began to loom in view, Thor once again expressed his doubts about trying to impress the Ice Kings. The Ice Kings were very powerful. Not like the power of mortal men, but power beyond anything Thor felt he had seen. How could they be impressed with him? Once again the flattery of Loki convinced Thor to press onward, especially so close to the journey's end.

So Thor soon found himself standing before the Ice Kings with Loki introducing him. The Ice Kings sat upon their icy thrones, rather unimpressed with the two mortal men standing before them. "So you say that this man Thor is more than a mortal man?" boomed one of the three Ice Kings.

The other two began to laugh. "Yes, my Lords," Loki continued, "Thor is stronger then any ox, faster than a pack of wolves, more clever than..."

"Please spare us the rhetoric," laughed another of the ice Kings.

"Actions speak louder than words," added another.

"Can your man Thor drink?" asked the third.

"Can Thor drink!" answered Loki. "Why, Thor can drink more than ten men, he can..."

"Bring the cup!" shouted an Ice King.

Two small goblins dragged out a rather large cup. Huffing and puffing, they brought it to Thor, bowed before the Ice Kings, and then left in a rush. "Drink up this cup... if you can... sneered an Ice King.

Thor almost laughed out loud. It was a rather large cup, but Thor had drunken more in his time. He lifted the cup and began to drink, and he drank, And he drank, and he drank some more, until his belly was full and at last he could drink no more. He put down the cup proudly, but alas he had but lowered the cup by no more than an inch.