The Weapon Connoisseur

Waking of Sunday, February 24, 2019

The Weapon Connoisseur

I jumped off Kass’ Landing in Rito Village, and sailed for the western shores of Totori Lake. Making my way back to Gisa Crater and its sleeping Talus, I set out to continue my exploration of the western edges of the Tabantha Frontier. I killed the Talus, kept on northward, killed a Lynel—Silver. Gads, why are they all so strong now?—but could not find any shrines anywhere. Where are the shriiiiines....

I might have spoiled myself some days ago; I’ve heard a number on the shrines. I have 117 right now. Not many more to go, I think.

But I still couldn’t find any just now.

After exploring around far and wide, hunting high and low and still coming up empty.... I decided I wanted to try and finish Nebb’s quest instead. That would certainly still throw me for a world tour; I could still keep my eyes open for shrines.... just passively rather than actively.

I checked my quest log to see what weapon Nebb wanted to see next....

Where the heck could I find an Ancient Battle Axe +?

My Compendium said Hyrule Field and the Akkala Highlands.

Hmm.

So I started checking the shrines around those parts. I found a few with some little Guardian baddies inside, namely KAAM YA’TAK for one.... but none wherein the baddies had that weapon.

So I tried Katah Chuki. A Minor Test of Strength. And to my surprise.... the enemy popped up again! Even though I’d defeated it!

THEY RESURRECT. The Test of Strength Guardians come back.

I wonder if they do that every time you enter, or just on Blood Moons....

Unfortunately Katah Chuki’s Guardian Scout carried only a regular Ancient Battle Axe. And so I decided to bump it up a notch and return to the shrine of Muwo Jeem, way out on the east end—the Modest Test of Strength. My first Modest Test of Strength. The only shrine-fight I had ever run away from....

And this Guardian Scout—IS THAT THE WEAPON I’M LOOKING FOR? I thought madly as I sported with it!

I killed the thing, and.... IT WAS!

An Ancient Battle Axe +!

I took it to Nebb, and let him have a good long look at it, and he gave me a silver rupee! 100 rupees! Man his pockets were deep.

“Grandpa said ‘Give it to the one who shows you how to fight!’” he said happily.

Aww, this kid had such a great grandpa. ^_^

And then.... NEXT, he says.... he wants to see a Frost Spear.

Well that should be easy, I thought, I just saw some guys with that kinda thing over in Hebra when I was wandering around.

And I spent the next very long time bouncing back and forth between Hebra and the Gerudo Highlands looking for a Frostspear. It’s one word. Frostspear.

No.

Luck.

ANYWHERE.

I looked around for so long. David recommened I just turn on my sensor. I told him I didn’t have a picture of one.

“Oh.”

I looked and looked and looked....

Nothing.

I tried jogging out west from Selmie’s spot and paragliding to the big baddie treehouse on the very northern border. I swooped down from higher up the mountain, drawing nearer to the monster-nest, lookin’, lookin’.... oops they saw me.

One of ‘em sounded a horn and they all flew into a tizzy, yowling insults and casting arrows of various types.... Okay just scan, I thought, staying on the move, scan, scan.... Nobody’s got it. I couldn’t see a Frostspear anywhere.

So I dropped to the ground, started from there, and just marathoned it back to the east. The frigid shelf of land was not broad, and there were plenty of baddies. Surely somebody had to have the wanted Frostspear....

I was running, running, there were guys blowing their horns and shooting arrows after me, wolves howling—so many freaking wolves—more baddies, Lizalfos either popping out of the snow or jumping out of their ill-camouflaged hunkerings. None of them had the spear that I wanted.

Man, it’s everywhere except when you’re trying to find it.

I was coming up to a skull-den. Somehow the lookouts didn’t see me until I’d come up the left side and around to the front. Ran right in the open mouth. Three Bokoblins and two Lizalfos. But no Frostspears. Ran back out as fast as I’d run in.

Of course they all started at once and came chasing after me. Monsters were yammering all over the snow in pursuit, the animals were going nuts, every creature was freaking all the other creatures out, a rhinoceros was chasing me....

When suddenly I came upon Lynel country. Silver to boot....

Nope. Not again. Where the heck was I?

I considered my surroundings and realized I’d reached the northern end of the snowfield. I was back in the familiar territories.

Hey, I thought, the shrine is right there. That shrine at the north end of Hebra’s big snowfield. And according to my Slate, there was treasure left inside it. I went to check it out....

No luck.

But the shrine gave me an idea—there were other shrines, plenty of other shrines, where I had likewise left treasure unclaimed. Weapons for which I had no room in my hammerspace. Maybe one of those had been a Frostspear....

So I started looking in shrines whose treasure I had left. Not a lot of luck. A whole lot of not luck. In all the icy regions. I searched and searched and searched every icebound shrine I could find.... And in one icy shrine, I found a FLAMESPEAR.

NOT THE KIND OF THING I WAS LOOKING FOR.

So that’s the game, is it?

I went to the volcano for a bit to look at the unclaimed treasures in shrines there. No luck there either.

Where where where where wheeeeerrrrrre....

In my Slate I looked at the shrine at the Spring of Wisdom. It was a Blessing Shrine. It had treasure unclaimed. That would be easy enough to check. Easier than a combat shrine anyway....

So I went there, and I checked.

AND IT WAS A FROST SPEAR.

YES.

I warped straight to Hateno, straight to Nebb, and showed it.

Gold Rupee. 300 rupees. Oh he liked that.

“Grandpa said ‘Give it to the one who can show you the real deal!’”

Where was his grandpa getting all this cash anyway? Must’ve been a real doter....

Next....

Oh man, Nebb, how far can you take this? But I had hope.... 300 rupees was the highest value you could go in one gem. Surely this would be the last thing.

Next Nebb wanted to see.... an Ancient Short Sword. “You can’t get those around here,” he said as my only clue.

Ancient Short Sword?

I had a one-handed Guardian blade in my inventory, but that wasn’t what it was called.

Hm, I could only think of one place to try....

Robbie.

Away to Akkala I went, and checked in at the Tech Lab. The Ancient Short Sword was there. Cherry could make that all right. For a thousand rupees, a bunch of nuts and bolts or whatever and two of my precious ancient cores? (Out of eleven, one of which I’d only just bought from Teli in Hateno on a rainy day.)

I came back out and paused to check my Ancient Armor. It was already upgraded all the way.

....

Hnnng. I could.... spare the cores....

I asked Cherry for the Short Sword. Freakin’ thing so expensive when weapons were so transient anyway....

And she made it. 40 damage. Looked cool.

Back to Hateno.

But Nebb was headed to bed.

Dang it!

Okay, okay.... It had been this long, it could be a little longer. I slept in my house, too. And had Blood Moon dreams.

The next morning I did some shopping around town: arrows, Bomb Arrows, Tabantha Wheat.... Came out of the shop and it was hard to tell all those little running kids apart when they wouln’t stop moving....

But I eventually found Nebb around midday, playing with his sister Narah.

And I showed him the Ancient Short Sword.

And he gave me a diamond.

“Just like in the books!” He thrilled. He was always saying things like that.

He was really pleased.

“Thanks for showing me so many things! I’m sure my grandpa is super happy... wherever he is! Bye!”

I drew a quick breath. Wait.... his grandpa.... who gave him all these rupees, he was.... was he....?

Nebb?

And before I knew it the banner flashed across my screen, the gleaming sound effect sheened, and I’d completed the The Weapon Connoisseur sidequest.

What.... but....

Uh?

The sidequest notes confirmed it for me:

You showed Nebb, the young man in Hateno Village, all the weapons he could ever want to see. He rewarded you with a diamond.

He feels that his grandfather is unquestionably smiling down on him from the next world now.

....

Man.

Nebb.... I’m sorry for thinking ill of you.

It was late and.... I needed to go to bed, and.... it was late afternoon for Link, so.... I’d put him to bed, too.

I took him back to his Hateno House, and because I am a girl, I first had him remove the Master Sword, and the faithful Rusty Shield that has seen me through all the way from Divine Beast Vah Medoh, and the Knight’s Bow. And I put him in his Warm Doublet because it looked warm yet loose-fitting, and his Snowquill Trousers because they looked comfortably warm as well.... and I put him to bed.

Good night, Hero.

In Accordance with Guidelines

Waking of Friday, February 8, 2019 ~ 3

In Accordance with Guidelines

I WARPED TO HATENO.

I INVITED BOLSON AND KARSON.

AND THEN IT WAS BACK TO TARREY TOWN.

THERE WAS A WEDDING TO GET ON! 8D

Back in Tarrey Town, I visited with Bolson and Karson again, and then at high noon, I spoke to Hudson.... who started the ceremony.

And the Tarrey Town music was softly taken over by an organ. <3

Kapson officiated, standing at the head of the Goddess Statue Fountain. And Rhondson was so pretty in white! ^_^ She came walking down the “aisle” that was simply the space devoid of guests, and her clothing glittered in a pleasing texture: white top, bare Gerudo midriff, beautiful ankle-length flowing white skirt, white shoes, and a pretty white veil nested into her lovely hair. Heh, and Hudson looked all smart and handsome too, even in his vest and bare chest. It was a happy day. ^_^

“Hudson, Before the eyes of these witnesses and before those of Goddess Hylia...” Kapson began, “Do you take Rhondson to be your wife, to have and to hold, in good times and in bad?”

“I do.”

“Excellent. And Rhondson...” He turned to the Gerudo, “Before the eyes of these witnesses and before those of Goddess Hylia... Do you take Hudson as your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health?”

The camera buckled down unusually close to the old fish’s face, his big glassy fish eyes staring....

“And do you also vow to...name your children in accordance with the Bolson Constrution naming guidelines?” I CAN’T BELIEVE HE JUST SAID THAT.

Rhondson said, “Wait a moment... Those vows are not traditional by anyone’s standards!” Well that was putting it lightly!

“What makes you say that?” said Hudson, turning. Hudson!

Bolson stood up. “They’re as traditional as it gets!”

And Karson chimed in, “I don’t think she means traditional in that sense of the word.”

“A vow of undying tradition!” Fyson cheered. What in the heck, Fyson? You weren’t—

“And a vow of guidelines compliance!” Pelison added. He was still wearing his big ol’ yellow construction helmet.

And, “I’ll take that vow!” said Greyson. Gorons! @⩄@

“Think of future generations!” Hudson said to her.

Rhondson didn’t say anything, but only looked.... doubtful.

The moment hung in the air. Young Karson looked on from behind with his mouth open in anticipation. Everyone was waiting....

Rhondson shook her head, put one hand on her hip, and momentarily lowering her voice uttered, “Well, those are the guidelines... I do.”

“Excellent,” said Kapson with an unruffled grace.

He cleared his throat with an aged little cough, and continued, “And so, dearly beloved, please help me in greeting this newly married couple.”

The bells were ringing, the confetti was flying and everyone was clapping and cheering!

Haha, Bolson was tossing the confetti!

What in the heck just happened? @ဗ@

Kapson sang out, “I wish this new couple nothing but the utmost happiness as they set out on this journey of marital bliss!” As the camera panned up to the blue beautiful sky....

“Hudson and Rhondson’s wedding was a shining beacon in an otherwise dark, dangerous world,” said the Quest Log.

“Rhondson was a little taken aback by a few of the vows, but everything worked out fine and is in perfect compliance with Bolson Construction’s guidelines.

It’s only polite to give your blessing to the lovely couple who just vowed their undying love, so go talk to Hudson.”

I spoke to Rhondson first, though.

“The wedding ceremoy...wasn’t what I expected, but it was special all the same,” she said, “Did you like the dress? I made it myself.”

“No kidding!” I said as my only response. XD <3 ^_^

“Although Hudson wanted me to weave the gems he mined into it, so every step down the aisle was a struggle.”

Heh, but she made it look good.

“Well, that’s life for you, with all its twists and turns. I hope you’ll stick with us through them.”

You bet I would, Rhondson! ^_^

And then Hudson.

“Hey. It’s you,” he said at my approach. “Thank you for attending the ceremony. ...*sniff*”

Oh gosh my CHOICES: “Are you crying?” and “Congratulations!”

I said.... Oh, man to man, I should have said Congratulations! But.....

BUT I’M A GIRL PLAYING THIS GAME.

“Are you crying?” I said!

“What? No. Just something in my eye...” He offhandedly wiped his face. “And now Tarrey Town looks like a real town at long last.”

Heh, yeah, it did.

“This was all possible because of you. I can’t thank you enough for all the hard work you did. All right. This is for you.”

And he gave me.... three diamonds!

“These were found inside the boulders we smashed when we were clearing land. Rhondson and I have no use for them. You can take them.”

That was a valuable gift!

And the giant sidequest’s banner flashed across my screen:

From The Ground Up ~ Complete

Well that felt good. ^_^

The Quest Log now read:

“Hudson and Rhondson are happily married, and Tarrey Town is enjoying great prosperity.

As a sign of appreciation for bringing the town together and as compensation for your work, Hudson gave you a hefty amount of gems that were unearthed during the town’s construction.

You wished the couple eternal happiness before heading on your way.”

Aaawwwwwww. ^_^ <3 <3 <3

Tarrey Town certainly was feeling more peaceful. Moggs and Monari his wife hadn’t heard the people across the way argue in quite some time. Moggs figured every time they overcame an obstacle together their relationship grew stronger.

Man I was running out of gas.

I think I’ll spend the night in the inn (it’s 7:00pm-ish, game time), and then go to bed. Got that 10K in the morning....

Kapson is such a kind host. “Link... Are you in need of a good sleep and a hearty meal?”

“Yes.”

“I thought so. Thanks to the benevolence of the Goddess Hylia, I can offer you a place to stay. When would you like me to wake you?”

“Morning.”

“It shall be done.” So officiatious, Kapson! XD “Now then, time for a short rest...”

The screen blacked out and that nice little go-to-bed music played.

.... He didn’t charge me. ^_^

“Did you sleep well? May the kindness of Goddess Hylia be ever with you...”

Tarrey Town’s music was so lovely. <3

The Entry With No Point

Evening of Friday, January 5, 2018

The Entry With No Point

Chasing Koroks sufficed to wear my Flameblade down to nothing until it broke, whereupon I could finally raid the Silver Bokoblin’s treasure chest—a Knight’s Claymore, I think. A fine weapon. Though I do like the one-handed blades.... they are faster. I feel like I can never find enough of those....

Back at the Riverside Stable I took out Brown and rode him all the way back to the Gerudo Canyon Stable.

I thought it miraculous that no one called for rescue along the way.

And we galloped right past the Hinox—I’d been tiptoeing round him up ‘til then. We were too fast for him to give us any trouble, and when we stopped to look behind, it was only to see him flop enormously back onto the ground for another nap. David and I chuckled....

In Gerudo Canyon I finally caved to the sidequest and decided I would gather rushrooms for that old man—Pirou was his name.

The rushrooms were plentiful near the stable, but it wasn’t too much of a chore to find a few more higher up. My climbing for them took me all over, right up to where I swear I’d been before, just before I came to The Tallest Tower.

I was quite high up by the time I’d collected at least fifty-six of them (the old man wanted fifty-five, but I wanted to keep my inventory oriented as it was). And from my altitude I could see a strange little rash of vegetation across the canyon, the green stark against the beige, on one of the great shelves of land leading up to the Wasteland Tower.

Baobabs.

The distance was vast but I managed to paraglide to the shelf just shy of the little copse, and then climbed up to see what I could see.

And what I saw was Guardians—

Paused and switched the sensor to detect Decayed Guardians—

....

Nothing.

There was no beeping.

These Guardians were truly dead.

I was safe.

Or was I?—there was movement over there—

But it was only a Lizalfos.

That was easy enough to deal with; on went my mask and I hunched over, head twitching and bird-like.

But I quickly found that even Kilton’s handiwork wasn’t enough to protect me from the blasted penetrating curiosity of a baddie..... when that baddie was an Electric Lizalfos.

It came close and when its sputtering, fritzing, zapping horn touched me—

Well it hurt more than my feelings, I’ll tell you that.

And so trying to avoid all the friendly advances, in the guise of a lizard I salvaged all I could from the remains of the dead Guardians—and one of them gave me gears!

Excellent.

I wanted to explore further—I even managed to kill one or two of the Electric Lizalfos, and there was a small troop of Moblins further up the hill I wanted to visit, but.... when the Blood Moon started coming on.... I decided it was probably better that I just go. I had the old man’s rushrooms; it was time to paraglide back.

The midnight vision happened to strike me in mid-flight, almost directly above the stable.

It’s strange, when you’re up in the air and well away from anything and thus assured in the knowledge that you are safe.... and yet when all that air around you turns so vivid blood red....

I enjoyed the novelty of the occurrence but it was a little like floating tiny and alone and naked under the gaze of Sauron.

When the vision had passed, I quickly dropped altitude and gave Pirou his blasted rushrooms.

Fifty-five bleedin’ rushrooms they take too long to gather....

And Pirou gave me a diamond in return.

....

Well I guess that was.... swell of him.

Not worth it.

Full Circle

Waking of Thursday, April 6, 2017 ~ 6

Full Circle

Well I’d hiked to the dam and across to the north side once already. I could do it again. So I did.

But blast and confusticate that creeping PIANO always following me around! Jumping up from the bare stone whenever I least expect it.... Snaking out of the windswept grass to whisper dreadful nothings up my spine—WHY!

Uhuhuhh.... it gives me the jibblies, man.... .__.;

The world is wild.

The world is wild.

<3

I eventually hiked back toward a part of the winding road I had once traversed—the long road to Zora’s Domain. From there I deviated away from the track and made my way to a high precipice where I could see the last few bridges to the Domain proper laid out below me.

I paraglided in, landing partway along the last bridge—on top of one of its arches, actually. Not by design.... but I enjoyed the view and then hopped down to go the last stretch on foot.

Rivan and Dunma still guarded the outermost gate; I said hello.... and then set about looking for Fronk.

He wasn’t in the square, and he wasn’t back around the sleeping quarters; maybe he was on one of the stairways....

I came back to the deck above the square and descended one of the grand staircases. It was quite empty, but in passing I noticed a Hylian on the adjacent rampway—a separate little footpath that wound in a sinuous course around the staircase.

It was rare to see Hylians here even now, but I had already seen at least one. Maybe more and more would come to visit again.

But I did a double take.

That Hylian was talking to the short, orange Zora. He was talking to Finley.

Why, that must’ve been Sasan!

He made it! 8D

I ran right back up the staircase and vaulted over the railing. It was something like a hundred-foot drop between them, but the staircase and the rampway platform were really quite close enough together that I could make the jump easily.

They were both so happy to see me again. They’d really hit it off it seemed! Well good for them. ^_^ Heh, and Finley was advising Sasan to do lots of swimming and lifting and other exercises—to get those big muscles he’d promised her!

And they told me they’d thought it over, and really wanted to thank me for helping to bring them together—and they gave me a gold rupee.

Ooh-la-la, that was worth three hundred.

Maybe I’d still have some pocket change left over if and when I bought my house after all!

In visiting the other denizens of Zora’s Domain yet again I learned a few more things.

In Dento’s workshop, wondering if he could perhaps just repair the Lightscale Trident I had been given, I found out that in order for him to make a new trident, he would need me to bring him some materials—including diamonds. Two diamonds for the Ceremonial Trident.... probably more for the Lightscale Trident....

So that’s what the diamonds were for. Good to keep in mind....

I also sauntered up to Torfeau for the first time since I’d slain the Ralis Pond Hinox, fully expecting an attaboy and maybe some kind of reward.

But all she said was, “So, ready to give it a try?”

:c

I ran out to Ralis Pond and discovered, much to my dismay, that even great fat minibosses like the Hinoxes must come back to life at Blood Moon.

It was there again.

Ah, poop.

But.... armed with my new know-how, I was able to get rid of it once again using far fewer arrows. And when I went to see Torfeau again—(“That stench,” she said, and knew I had done the deed!)—she gave me a silver rupee. One hundred. Excellent.

And BY THE WAY, guess what the Hinox had dropped....

A Korok Leaf! Ah-HAA!! Oh I finally had a Korok Leaf in my inventory!

I was going to GO places with THIS....! C8

At length among my wanderings, I did find Fronk, away in some unobtrusive corner and hard about his work.

He told me that he wanted to help me in any way he possibly could, and I let him know I would certainly welcome that.

“Where could she be?” I asked, for I really had looked everywhere.

“If Ledo’s group didn’t find her....” Fronk began, and I wondered if that was what Ledo had been doing when I’d first met him, searching for Mei.... (and a strong Hylian for the Prince, of course).

Fronk hypothesized a possibility or two about where she could have ended up along the Zora River before admitting, “Worst-case scenario, she might have washed all the way to Lake Hylia.”

Lake Hylia?

Where in Hyrule was that?

And the Zora River.... That seemed to be what it was called above the wetlands.... Was that what it was called downstream by the Woodland Stable as well? I couldn’t tell because my map didn’t extend that far, blast it....

Maybe she really had washed further down that river....

....

And maybe I should’ve spoken with Fronk in the first place—

It was in the past.

And my wanderings had not been fruitless.

But....

But.... in following the river.... in following that road along the river, I had come closer, and closer, and closer to Hyrule Castle.

I had seen the signpost right beside the stable: “Hyrule Castle ➔”. Straight up the road. Not even the mystery-hungry Zorona ever went that way.... he always stopped his horse within breathing distance of the stable, if he was heading that way.

Leastways every time I saw him.

What if the river wound too close to the castle? What if it ran right through it?

What if it passed right through the den of the beast?

Free Enterprise

Waking of Thursday, April 6, 2017 ~ 2

Free Enterprise

I hung around the stable a bit longer, visited with the people again, loved on the dog some more—it started following me around a bit....

And then I went inside, and found Beedle snoozing away on the floor in the back. I remembered I wanted to check on the price of ten Luminous Stones versus the price of one Diamond, and so nudged him gently awake.

I did not expect his reaction then.

I don’t even remember how or why it happened; I didn’t feel like we really knew each other that well, but he just seemed so excited to see me....

He gave me an Ancient Arrow.

8O

I recognized it.

I recognized it from the teaser I’d seen ages and ages and ages ago! The one with Aonuma’s introduction—the one where Link was running from that terrible Guardian, riding away on a horse until he was cornered, whereupon he vaulted from his horse’s back, nocked the baffling arrow to his bowstring—it whirred and moved and glowed—and let fly.

Oh my gosh, Beedle just gave me one of those.

He told me he got it from a man named Robbie, at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab.

!

Oh my—Robbie....? Purah had recommended I visit one called Robbie.... I’d forgotten all about him.... And I’d heard the name Akkala said here and there, but I wasn’t quite sure where it was.

But Beedle clued me in—he said Akkala was waaaay north of Zora’s Domain, and he told me that this Robbie was completely obsessed with ancient technology, always studying and experimenting and constructing things like this arrow....

North of Zora’s Domain? Those shrines I had seen from the clifftops of Upland Zorana.... And that Sheikah Tower patrolled by the hovering, red-lighted terror....

Were those Akkalan lands?

o__o

I certainly had a lot to think about.

But.... to the business at hand....

I looked at his wares and he looked at mine, and the going price for a Luminous Stone was seventy rupees, but a Diamond’s worth was five hundred.

So the Luminous Stones were more valuable by the tens.

Huh, perhaps I wouldn’t trade them all away to Ledo after all.... but I didn’t want to sell them to Beedle either.

I don’t know, I felt like I might want to keep them for something, their elemental values.... I felt like they must be used for something else, later....

Then again I know it is a bad habit of mine to hold in reserve, hold in reserve, hold in reserve for the WORST emergencies, until I simply find myself with unused hoards of stuff.

But I decided to lighten my pockets at least a little. I could spare a few Ambers, and I was not short at all on monster-bits. Bokoblin fangs and lizalfos horns might go for cheap, but when you’re carrying several score of each.... it adds up pretty quick.

And then suddenly I had over three thousand rupees.

I could buy that house in Hateno.

And instantly my mind began to make war on itself—Did I really want the house? Did I like the flavor of Hateno? Were there other places in Hyrule for me to live? Better places?

Because for some reason Hateno had always left a weird taste in my mouth. Maybe it was that I was so exhausted when I first got there. Maybe it was the sense of unease I’d had at the time. Maybe it was the proximity of the Yiga encounters, or the dread close hills haunted by that dratblasted Piano....

Maybe it was that encounter with SATAN.

But.... there were nice folks there, too, like that man who’d been so happy to show me around town. Or.... or.... um.... Karson and his fellows; they’d seemed pretty decent. And I guess that little kid who’d shown me the horned statue was pretty cute, albeit seemingly misguided in his sculptural preferences.

I guess I hadn’t really taken a lot of time to get to know the people there, either.

Except for Purah.

And she was weird.

But, with three thousand rupees in my pocket, the option was now open to me.

And that was more for me to think about.

Errand Boy

Waking of Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Errand Boy

The unholy smoke started curling from the ground, and I began to sprint up the stairs, accidentally chasing a poor hapless fox up in front of me. There was a bed up on top of the Reservoir wall, and I really wanted to sleep in it before the Blood Moon shone—

I was five feet from it when the final crash of darkness sounded, and the Princess’ voice warned me to once again please be careful.

Oh but I was being careful, I thought as I came back to myself. I was going to have a good long sleep in this bed. You see because I wasn’t feeling very well, because a Hinox had fallen on top of me.

The rest I had until the morning was most welcome....

Earlier, I had paraglided down from Vah Ruta’s high spring and begun combing the Domain once more for those historical tablets, only becoming distracted by the other Zoras’ issues once or twice.... or thrice.... along the way.

I found a few new tablets, with some interesting and informative histories on them! But there were still a few more, somewhere waiting out there. Jiahto offered to tell me where some of them were, but I told him it was okay; I’d find them.

In fact, I was finding quite a lot in my searchings, including more luminous stones. But Ledo was still sleeping when I came back to him again.

One of Mei’s and Fronk’s children, Tumbo, was selling frogs to raise money while his mother was.... not working, so I donated some of my Hot-Footed Frogs to him. And in the square by the fountain, one Zora child named Keye, while at play, unintentionally gave me a helpful hint about the pedestal at Veiled Falls—perhaps I should try thrusting the trident into the pedestal.

Well, I tried it, with Mipha’s Lightscale Trident, which I had been loathe to actually use. But nothing happened. And now the Lightscale Trident doesn’t have its pristine luster in my inventory anymore. However, Dento assured me that I could come to him if it ever broke, and he could remake it for me. He’s handy in a workshop, that one.

But I’m still not sure if I’ve ever seen the Ceremonial Trident Trello keeps talking about; he said he dropped it somewhere under a bridge....

Guess I’ll just keep looking.

From Veiled Falls.... well, I was close enough to Ralis Pond to go try and have a go at Torfeau’s Hinox.... so I goed.

It was Torfeau who had asked me if I would try and kill it.

Of course it had been Torfeau. She’s the one always practicing with her spear, the first Zora I had seen wearing armor. Tula and Tona were only concerned with their Prince Sidon Fanclubbery.

Well, it started with the letter T anyway.

I drank a sneaky elixir and crept up to the big sleeping Hinox, my heart thumping madly, thinking maybe I could crawl on top of it to steal things off its necklace. And I did come quite close to it. Right next to it, touching it, even walking into it in fact. But I could gain no purchase to climb.

Instead, I thought Oh just blow it and began hacking at it with my Special Thirty-Eight Big Stick. It got to its feet....

Never hack the legs out from under a Hinox at close quarters.

You will regret it.

After a narrow escape and a good long rest and for my second attempt at the Hinox.... I just took David’s approach. Which, honestly, was kind of my approach too, or it would have been if I’d engaged a Hinox before now. It was a good approach—why would I think to go and start attacking one directly? In reach of its—oh Farore they’re so ugly....

Instead! I speared up through the Veiled Falls, made my way to the clifftop above Ralis Pond, and invoked the beautiful aid of Ja Baij.

Of course, the bombs were slow, and the great brute kept wandering—didn’t have a clue who was pelting it with tiny explosives. And so I switched to arrows. A bit faster, and more damaging, so that in a few moments.... I had slain my very first Hinox.

Felt good to clear up Ralis Pond of that filth.

Ralis....

There was a name I respected.

When I finally caught Ledo awake and at his work, I gave him the ten luminous stones. He made a great and humorous fuss about counting them all out—and then he rewarded me with diamonds.

Oh my, but I must look into what those could be used for, or how much they could be sold for—

I might finally claim that house in Hateno Village to be.... a home for me....

Ledo invited me to bring him any more luminous stones I might find, though he said any other sets of ten he’d only trade me one diamond for, not two.

Well that was fine with me! C8

I had eleven more on me just then, but....

Yes I should like to research this.