Journey to Toruma

Waking of Friday, August 3, 2018 ~ 4

Journey to Toruma

More Koroks.

More Guardians.

All around the wetlands and up the Sahasra Slope....

I was a little beyond the Pit when I saw the red moon rising....

“Dang it it’s a Blood Moon!” I warped to Satori Mountain and scrambled near enough to its top as fast as I could.

“What?” David asked, confused at my agitation.

But I had already launched off toward Washa’s Bluff.

My paraglide.... could not be fast enough.

“I’m not gonna make it,” I moaned.

“Not gonna make what?” said David. I don’t think he knows about that shrine....

The air began to redden as I was still sailing, approaching the bluff’s edge.

“I’m not gonna make it....”

“What are you trying to do?”

I hit the grass and the strange music began to weep and howl and unholy smoke dripped up into the air—I could see the dais—it was glowing—I was sprinting—the Piano was rumbling—I was almost there—

And the vision started and Zelda’s voice sounded in warning and I came back to the present and the dais went dark and....

I had missed it.

Dang it.

I traveled back to where I had been, shooing up Koroks around a lake southeast of the Pit. I got a few more of them before attempting to swim upriver toward Kakariko Bridge. But the current was stronger than one would think, for just running into a little dead-ended lake like that.

I couldn’t quite make it, even in full Zora Armor....

Just before I ran out of stamina, I warped out of my predicament to the nearby Dueling Peaks Stable, and thought.

I’d already done some shopping to find bits for the Great Fairies to work with.... but I hadn’t seen Hestu in a while. What could he do for me? I had certainly collected a lot of seeds since I’d last seen him.

I warped to Korok Woods to have a visit. But he could offer me no more room for bows. I didn’t want any more shields just now, and another slot for a weapon was still too expensive.

Poop.

I climbed up the Deku Tree’s giant roots and into the Navel; a Korok named Peeks had been waiting for me to show him a pictograph of a Blupee. I did, and he liked that. He liked it to the tune of a hundred rupees, to be precise.... and I liked that.

The day was only just dawning, and so I slept in Pepp’s bed until noon, at which point I decided I had been meandering around long enough.

At noon, I warped to the Sand Seal Rally in the desert.... and started walkin’.

I was going to find Dragon’s Exile.

“Only those who have walked through the desert can truly know its size.” The line from a certain, ah.... Bellena, from Skies of Arcadia, immediately came to mind.

I’d started in a fairly westward direction. The dunes stretched endlessly before me, melting into a blinding ruddybeige haze and rippling in the heat. Fortunately my upgraded Desert Voe Gear was enough to deal with the temperature. I could wander anywhere down here....

The sandscape was not devoid of obstacles, however. There were Lizalfos galore, and more often than not I found myself wearing my mask to keep them at bay. The real trouble came when the Lizalfos began taking up with other breeds of baddies, for I could only wear one mask at a time.

At a giant ribcage I had to stay out of sight up on top of the spine whilst I dropped bombs on a gang of Moblins. But once the Moblins were gone, I had no trouble floating down and looting the place completely. Lizalfos still frozen in sandy-colored camouflage watched me from four feet away, movement betrayed only in their gleaming eyes as I cracked into their treasure chests and carried on my way.

A long jog later, at a tunneled rock formation set low into the sand, I had to hide again while lobbing Bomb Arrows at a small troop of Bokoblins. Some well-placed boomers helped a great deal at the opening volley. But man, that one Black Bokoblin kept wandering off, and took forever to bring down.

But afterward, my mask was enough once again to walk freely among the remaining Lizalfos.

Dusk fell, the sand became a wash of purple-green and grey, and I had to switch from my Headband to my Ruby Circlet.

The desert was truly vast.

In the cool of the night I encountered two men tangling with a couple of Bokoblins, and I dashed in to give them a hand.... but the nighttime came with its own added challenges.

I saw the tiny, crackling, flapping shapes descending fast upon me—“NOT THE KEESE, NOT THE KEESE!”—and immediately ran to put some distance between us. I still had not forgotten that Electric Keese in the rain outside the Honeydell. My GOSH what an ordeal that had been....

From a greater distance I was able to drop the little fiends with my bow, and take care of the Bokoblins. But I rather lost sight of the two men. I ran back toward where I had seen them, near a couple of lonesome palm trees, and I found them standing easily.

They offered me no goodies, though. Seemed I’d run so far away, the game had depopulated them.

Ah well, that was all right. But dang, that Silver Bokoblin could hit.

In the end I could only suffice myself with the said Bokoblin’s weapon—a Trilizal Boomerang with an added attack-bonus like crazy.

At length I came to a long, low shelf in the bedrock, maybe a little taller than I was; the topo lines were gentle here. Toruma Dunes was the name of this place. I jogged along the edge on the upper part, and in the lower portion, out some score yards and burrowing around in a circle in the sand, was a Molduga.

There was something.... peculiar.... about its path....

I didn’t want to get close and I did not want it to sense me down in its own element. But there was something there.... I was sure of it. The Molduga was going round and round within the confines of four small, jutting stone formations, and these formations seemed to share a kind of radial symmetry with each other. Equally distanced.

And I could see on one stone, there was a small, dark shape. I couldn’t quite make out what it was, but....

I needed to get closer.

I dropped onto the lower sands when the beast was farthest away in its tiny circuit. Uhuh, it was terrible approaching it! My steps were slow and light and even, but how long would I be able to flout the Molduga’s superior senses?

In the end I curved wide until I had centered one of the stone formations between the Molduga and me.... and then made a mad dash for it.

I made it onto the stone without incident, and the Molduga continued on its course.

You know I think it may actually have been much smaller than that Molduga I had killed for Malena....

Huh.

But I didn’t wonder about it for long. The object I had seen on the stone stood plain before me now: it was a brazier. And I could see on the stones to my left and right, more braziers waiting to be lit. I assumed the one across from me had one as well—they were situated on the outward-facing edges.

But I couldn’t very well light them up with this brute in the way....

So I drew it up with normal arrows, and blew it up with Bombs.

....That has a nice ring to it. Time to write a song stop rhyming.

With the Molduga dead I was free to light the braziers, and when all four of them were lit, up in the center came the Tho Kayu Shrine.

Excellent.

Frozen Goods

Waking of Friday, August 3, 2018

Frozen Goods

I slept at Outskirt Stable until morning, and when I woke up, it was raining.

From there I warped to Cotera to get an idea of what I needed—in essence, to have a look at my shopping list.... White Chuchus and Ice Keese Wings. Those would strengthen my new Desert Voe Gear. Cool. Well I knew just where to look for those....

And I warped to a shrine in the eastern Gerudo Highlands, just beyond the Death Hole Arena.... and started walking westward.

The frilled backs of camouflaged Lizalfos humped out of the snow in blatant arches; I dunno who they were trying to fool. I killed them and collected.... hhhh.... their icy white tails—I wished the normal ones would drop tails for me so readily.

There weren’t very many White Chuchus to go on, but I did find a few Ice Keese as I meandered over the icy plateaus. There were also quite a few treasure chests stuck in the frozen ground up here. I guess since it was such a harsh environment.... hardly anybody had ever come a-looting.

Some sights were familiar, some were new.... and then I came to that giant Lightning Symbol. I had seen it from many directions at many distances, bur now I walked along the shelf at its very foot. It was carved or painted, or both, into the stark red stone of the naked cliff, at least fifty feet above me. At the heart of the radial design was a Sheikah dais....

Along the cliff’s bottom, about a half a stone’s cast to the right, an icy Lizalfos watched me as I started to climb. I decided I would leave him be as long as he wasn’t raising any ruckus.

The way was slow, and I think.... I was not able to employ my Climber’s Bandana—I needed my Ruby Circlet to ward away the cold.

Either that or I just forgot. Like I do sometimes.

It seems I’ve become a man of many hats.

I climbed all the way to the upturned dais, and though I had a decent amount of stamina left, I nevertheless tested whether the tiny shelf of rounded stone would support me.

It wouldn’t.

I clung like a spider to the red, snow-dampened wall, swiveling the camera about me at the views. It was simply a Sheikah dais, turned up sideways and set into the heart of this.... lightning motif. The painted bolts stuck out in four distinct directions.... mmmm Skies of Arcadia woulda had five....

Shock Arrows.

I concentrated before jumping—sometimes I only let go when I mean to leap—and in midair I drew my bow, twisted back round, took aim, and snapped a spattering, zapping bolt of crackling electricity right into the dais.

On the shelf below, the Keeha Yoog shrine erupted from the snow, and I received the monk’s blessing.... as well as a completion notification to an either unwarranted or completely forgotten shrine quest. When had I spoken to this “Geggle”....?

Well that’s embarrassing I mean usually I take such note....

When I exited the shrine, the Lizalfos was gone.

I continued westward until with a shock I realized I had reached the northern end of that saddle—the Risoka Snowfield it was called. I found where the little Taluses had guarded the Meteor Rod, but the chest had not respawned.

Well.... no worries there; I still had the weapon.

I still hadn’t gotten enough White Chuchu Jelly, though. I fished for them all over the snowfield, tangling with Lizalfos, with Bokoblins, with wolves, with no blasted shortage of stalmoblins.... with all kinds of things.

And then I checked out that skull-den....

I don’t like to venture into those if I can help it. I’d much rather draw the fiends out of the structure to play. But I was surprised when I drew near to this one’s mouth and saw that it was empty anyway. Empty save for one solitary chest in the middle of the space....

Huh.

I approached the chest and HALF A DOZEN WHITE CHUCHUS EXPLODED OUT OF THE GROUND. Huaghh. Gave me a start I tell YOU what.

But when I had recovered from the shock, as I backed up from their freezing attacks, I grinned to myself—these were just what I needed....

I killed them all and turned over a plentiful supply of White Chuchu Jelly. And by this time, I had gotten my fill of Keese wings, too.

Satori Mountain was alight. For kicks, I warped to it, subdued the Lord of the Mountain, and rode him to the Outskirt Stable. Here I dismounted and tried once again to take its picture, being careful to keep it in my view the entire time. But evidently even just raising the pictobox counted as looking away from it; it snorted, galloped away a few paces and vanished.

Ah that was all right.

I knew where it lived.

I had my frozen goods; it was time to visit Cotera. She raised my Radiant Outfit one level—when had I picked up those Luminous Stones?—and she upgraded my Desert Voe outfit to level two. And two levels of course meant the outfit got a perk.... and the Desert Voe perk.... was shock-damage resistance.

Well wouldn’t THAT have been nice! |D

Another Deal in Contraband

Waking of Thursday, August 2, 2018

Another Deal in Contraband

I’d already beaten the Divine Beast Vah Naboris.

But it wasn’t until this Monday that I remembered the Four Slate Functions’ correspondence to the Four Divine Beasts.

Cryonis for Vah Ruta.

Bombs for Vah Rudania.

Magnesis.... Magnesis was the corresponding function for Vah Naboris.

And that just left....

Stasis.

Owa Daim, what in the world does your Divine Beast have in store....

I was in the desert. Trying to find Pokki.

I ran through the Iceway Pillars to the Icehouse, gathering hecktons of Safflina on the way, but getting no new information from the sleepy Anche.

David asked what I was doing.

“I’m looking for Pokki.”

“Who’s Pokki?”

“She’s been missing,” I say.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Well, I really just want to get the password and get into the clothing shop. The armor shop.” Whatever it was in there....

And David LAUGHED at me! Uh! Why, David?

“You STILL haven’t done that?” he drawled.

I fumed beneath my skin and ran back to Gerudo Town.

I spoke to everyone in the canteen—that poor Gerudo, Deltan, was still crying over whatever stupid voe had wronged her. But the lounge ladies still wouldn’t tell me their password.

I swiped at them with a giant Guardian Axe.

I threw the barrel.

“They won’t tell me,” I said.

“Are you suuuure?” says David.

David you’re so freaking smug sometimes.

I looked around the lounge.... I had tried getting up on the roof and eavesdropping from there, but—

. . . .

There was a window.

I noticed a window in the wall behind them.

A window to the adjoining structure.

I could feel David’s.... regard, as I had centered the view on it, and then more intensely as I leapt down to the street to make my way into the other building.

And as Link is just SO wont to do, I busted in the door, caring not a button for whoever was inside or whether I was welcome. I just made my way over to that danged decorative grate....

The password was G, S, C, and a Diamond shape. I think it stood for Gerudo Secret Club or something like that.... I didn’t commit it to memory. I just booked it straight back to that door in the rear of the clothing shop.

This was it!

I gave the correct password, and Greta let me in.

The door opened onto an abrupt wall—I’d come into the side of a narrow hallway. This opened up further to my left. The air was filled with a strange purple haze like perfumed heat....

I walked the length of the passage to the dimly-lit room beyond, and saw.... something.... mounted on some mannequins on the far side, what the clothes were those? Glowing skeletons like Day of the Dead....

“Oh, haven’t seen you around here before,” said Greta. But she welcomed me all the same. She told me this was the only place in town to find Gerudo clothes for voe, which was illegal.

Oh dear, contraband, is it? >:)

Greta continued, “But I’ve never seen a voe disguise himself as a vai, like you have.”

I jolted backward in shock!

“Don’t worry,” she said, “I won’t give away your secret.” She said she had plenty of secrets herself, and I gathered that if we could just let each other be with whatever we wanted to hide, we’d get along famously.

Turning from the Skeleton set, I looked behind me at some mannequins I hadn’t seen clearly from the hallway. They held DESERT VOE TROUSERS, SPAULDER, AND HEADBAND—AND THEY OFFERED HEAT RESISTANCE!

THIS COULD BE MY DESERT GEAR! :D

Mmmm but I didn’t have enough on me to buy the Desert Gear and the Skeleton Suit. I needed to choose.... What were those Skeleton Clothes for....?

I hemmed, and decided that.... the Desert Gear was more readily useful, and so I bought that first. All of it.

As for the Skelesuit.... excuse me, the Radiant Suit.... its three components were eight hundred rupees apiece, of which I could only afford one at the moment. But what in the world was its purpose? I dared say you couldn’t very well hide in it, not with it glowing so brightly....

And then all I could think of was that Halo developer, remarking on the Flaming Helmet you could earn. Sure, it didn’t make for very good camouflage, and everybody on the map could see you, but on the other hand.... You got to run around with your head on fire!!

Hmmmm.

May as well start with the head.

I bought the Radiant Mask. But then.... agh, confound it all—not wanting to leave the set incomplete, I fished around in my pockets for things to sell back to Greta, until I had enough to buy the other two pieces.

When I was done, I had all the Desert Voe Gear, the complete Radiant Suit.... and eighty-three rupees to my name.

That felt dirt poor—hadn’t been there in a while.

I said goodbye to Greta, and left town to try on my new clothes—since I couldn’t very well try them on in town. I didn’t even want to attempt it in the sealed-off confines of Greta’s shop! That Merina and Dorrah.... I didn’t trust them!

Outside in the night sand, the Radiant Suit did look pretty awesome glowing in the dark! And the Desert Voe Gear looked right manly after running around in that sirwal.

Of course, new clothes could mean only one other thing—time for a visit to Cotera.

After the warp I shot a few Blupees on my way into her woods to pick up a little extra money, but.... there wasn’t much to go on there.

I had Cotera do up my Desert Gear one level, but I didn’t have enough Luminous Stone to level up the Radiant Suit all at once.

(Just by the nature of the menu, and its placement of recently upgraded items.... I’ve become rather partial to doing them in sets.)

Looked like I’d need to go mining again. But Luminous Stone was easy enough to find.

I wandered Kakariko Village until I chanced upon Cottla, whereupon I was FINALLY able to play games with her to her satisfaction, which brought the long-suspended sidequest to a close, and that was nice.

I think she gave me a carrot or something in return.

Mmmm I needed money....

A lightbulb struck, and I warped over to the Outskirt Stable. Trott was still happy to buy Gourmet Meat from me for a hundred rupees a pop—though he did stop after three cuts of it. I guessed there was only so much even he could take in a day. But that was all right.

And then who should I see over in the shade by the manger but.... Zyle!

Zyle that guy I had sold the horse to! :D

I went up to speak to him, and he thanked me again for my help in getting him a horse. He really appreciated it. I was his hero—

Where was the horse, Zyle? :D

He continued to talk a little longer about it than he meant, and then—“....plus I made a niiiice profit selling it to—”

What? D:<

Zyle stopped himself and looked at me. “I mean—”

HE SOLD IT? >8[

He spun some lame tale—

WHO’D YOU SELL IT TO, ZYLE? D8<

You opportunistic, TENDERFOOTED CHARLATAN! ಠ⩄ಠ