Friday, May 10, 2019 ~ 5
Back to the Outside Track.
I followed it counter clockwise again. I was almost to the entrance to the Dining Hall. There’d be Moblins in there—
Ah—phoo, I’d forgotten that stretch. That stretch of road just off the Dining Hall, that stretch where a dead Guardian had fallen down from above right in front of me before.
It just did it again.
Ahahah....
Now I was back inside.
I wanted to see if I could reach the Malice Balcony. It had been blocked on the west side.... and completely shut off on the south side opening. I had to be able to reach it from here, from the east....
I made it through the Dining Hall, down the corridor to the left, and to a doorway that led into the room below the balcony, some antechamber.
There was Malice blocking the way here, too. But this time there was an eyeball. I shot it, and the way cleared.
The room beyond was new to me.
There was a Moblin. Right in there to the right, squatting at rest on the floor and facing perpendicular to my entrance.
I walked in with my mask. I thought for sure—for SURE—he would see me, but.... Dang. I mean, I stepped into the room right at his 10:30, but he never stirred. Not when I crossed the threshold, not when I walked slowly along the inner wall, further down his left side. Not when I passed his 9:00, nearly brushing his ear. I came all the way down and back behind him.... and sneakstruck him in one.
Well at least it was quick.
Now, the balcony....
A broad and perhaps still handsome staircase led up to the south, opposite where the Moblin had been squatting. No Malice blocked my way here; the path to the last room was open. I started up the red-carpeted steps.
Another Moblin waited at the top. Oh this one saw me all right, as I came straight up his 12:00. And like they do, he started at my mask, and then began lumbering toward me to investigate this new, tiny brother.
I let him come down and draw close, maneuvering him onto lower ground before—“Don’t try it....”—dispatching him on the staircase.
After this I ascended further, but did not leave the mouth of the stairway. There was an eyeball up there, high and away on the far side of the upper room.
My Royal Bow was extremely damaged. But it had at least one shot left in it, if I could be sure not to waste it....
I took aim before the eyeball could spot me, and—“Royal Bow.... fly!” I urged it. And the arrow struck true, as the bow shattered in my hands.
And the eyeball shriveled and died.... and the Malice evaporated.... and I could see....
The rain.
The Observation Room this was called. Fitting.
A crumbled statue of the bird motif from the royal crest, its wings spread back and wild, stood on a plinth in the center of the room.
It must have been handsome once. Was this.... a stylized Loftwing?
I went up one of the smaller side-stairs, which led to the upper platform, and outside. A Thunderblade was embedded in the high, central floor, but I had no room to carry it. I did have room for the bundle of arrows I found just over the threshold, however. Handy.
And that ridiculous longshot Korok was still there. Yeah don’t think I’ve forgotten you, you little guttersnipe.
But....
My gosh, the view.
The balcony was splendid without the wall of Malice choking it closed. This really was a spectacular vantage point from which to look out over the castle grounds, and the town below. How green and alive it might have looked once, with birds chirping and people milling.... soldiers’ armor clinking.... wagons rattling.... melodious voices....
....
The giant gate, on the earthbridge over the moat, had closed its doors again.
The Guardian Flyer still circled, ready to murder in a dun world.
....
The grey waste of Castle Town looked inviting. To escape to.
How ridiculous.
...
I.... don’t think I can find another shrine inside the Castle Town.
....
How am I to do?
....
....
I consult my map.
I think I have visited all the inside areas of the castle.
Observation Room, Guards’ Chamber, the long corridor down to the Grand Staircase, and back to that Shaft Room, the West Passage on into the Lockup.... And on the east side from the Observation Room.... the Dining Hall, the other little Guards’ Room, back into the Library, leading off into the East Passage, and down to the Docks.
And Zelda’s Chambers isolated high on the west side.
....I’ve been everywhere inside.
And a fair number of places outside.
....
I don’t think there’s another shrine in here.
My fear was that it would be like the Toto Sah Shrine, which I did not recall hearing my Shrine Detector brreep-brreep about. Hidden behind that rock barrier below Misko’s Treasure Cache.
But another thing I did not remember about that encounter was whether or not my Slate was even set to detect Shrines at that moment.
Would I be able to hear a hidden shrine?
I don’t know.
....
I’m really low on arrows.
Revali.
Take me outta here.
