Gear Out Of Time - The Knight Proper

Evening of Sunday, March 29, 2020 (comprised of somewhat-finessed note editings during April 28, 2023 that I really hope sound consistent because I left it alone for too long)

Gear Out Of Time - The Knight Proper

Looking for Shrines, I turned on my Hero’s Path in the map just to see where I hadn’t been yet. Or at least.... where I hadn’t been in a while. The Hero’s Path.... it can only record so many hours of gameplay, which I’d discovered myself to have surpassed a long time ago.

That little area just southeast of Zokassa Ridge. Mounted Archery Camp.... I’d always thought it portended Bokoblins, and I never wanted to deal with them. But, seeing the general area to be empty, I went there now.

The top of that little hill really should have had a Korok, I thought, but nothing was there. Hmmm.... I scoped around the base of the hill, and.... ah, there was the flower. As I expected, the Flower Korok led me right back up to the top of the hill. Cool.

Down near where the flower had been, there was a little tent, and two Hylians standing around. Straia and Jini.

Huh. Never met these gents before.

Straia wanted to see a Giant Horse.

Oh did he now? Remembering Zyle, I was hesitant.

Evidently the two of them were conducting an ecological survey of the animals in the region, and heard there was a Giant Horse in the area. They were trying to find it, but had just run into too many monsters to continue. Actually they had even come across a horse-like creature they had thought might be the legendary Giant Horse....

Oh no....

But that encounter did not turn out well. “Oh, it was terrible,” said Straia.

Yeah, I can imagine, buddy.

So while these two were somewhat frustrated in their efforts, they still suspected the Giant Horse was probably to be found in the Taobab Grasslands.

Huh.

Curious, I went there to check it out, just up the Zokassa Ridge and down into the valley.... But there were no more Giant Horses. Mine really was the only one.

....

Surely the game wouldn’t allow for some NPC to spirit away my Giant Horse, were I to bring it here....

....

Jini, meanwhile, wanted to instruct me in horseback archery.

Ah, so the horseback archery didn’t refer to Bokoblins after all.... That was a relief.

He told me to head down that road and I’d find a stable, and to bring back a horse, and talk to him while riding high in the saddle. If I wanted to drill, that was.

I checked my map; the road led to the Highland Stable.

....

I warped there and got Dragmire.

Straia was asleep when I returned to the Archery Camp. I woke him up and showed him what he’d been looking for—

“I’ve never seen one that big! That is definitely an endemic species!” he cried. “Sorry, but can I take a good look at that horse?”

“Go ahead,” I told him as my only option.

“Thanks, I’ll be right back.”

The screen blacked out and a parade of his breathless musings scrolled through the text box....

Hrmmm.... This is impressive.... Ah, hmm.... Quite interesting....

Heh, I wondered what features he must have been inspecting, or what differences he may have found from normal horses.

The screen came back presently. “Wow. With this much info, I can feel my spirit for discovery murmuring in contentment,” he said. Aww, that’s a good feeling. :)

He gave me a silver rupee for helping with their investigation. Very nice. ^_^

Now for Jini.... and horseback archery.

Jini didn’t just run drills, he also sold arrows. I bought some of his stock, and then he set me to the obstacle course—balloons. I’d be hitting balloon targets with arrows. While riding.

He told me to aim to hit 20 targets. If I could do that, he said, he would give me his horse gear.

Oh. :)

....

It was hard.

But he kept milking me for rupees, and I kept paying. 20 rupees a pop. Like they do.

Like I do.

And when I finally hit the 20 targets.... Jini gave me the Knight’s Bridle.

Ohhhohohohhohohhhh....

All metal and shiny....

I wanted the other piece. But Jini never gave me a target number for it. It wasn’t until I quit and came back later (like a minute later), that he told me the target to hit this time was 23, and then I could have the other piece of the set.

Oh my GOSH it was hard. Even with my Phrenic Bow, which I’d either forgotten or never realized had a zooming effect.

But at last I hit 23. Just BARELY. Oh my gosh. I even made Dad stop before crossing the room. Aaaaaughhjhgjkhsjglkfskl....

And I’d made it. And Jini gave me the Knight’s Saddle.

And I took Dragmire back to the Highland Stable—and since he doesn’t like his tack messed with anyway, I got out—of course—Knight.

Oh, Knight looked STUNNING in the Knight’s Tack.

I played dress-up with so many of my horses then.... I now have more tack sets than I have horses.... not that I can change out Dragmire’s anyway....

Stable, Royal, Monster, Extravagant, Ancient, and Knight.

Cool.

And whatever else I did with my other horses, when I finally settled back to Knight in his Knight’s Tack, and I took him out for a ride.... stopping now and again to stir up treasure or Koroks.... at some point near the Dueling Peaks, I changed my own get-up to be a Knight as well, changed my weapon, changed my shield.... ehh stuck with the Duplex Bow, but whatever.... all the others were Lynel Bows—well, the few Lynel bows I had left; I’d shattered so many running that horseback archery course.

But oh we looked stunning together. A Proper Knight on a Proper Knight’s Horse.

It’s almost time for me to go to work. New schedule.

Oh. David doesn’t work today. I didn’t have to wake up this early.

But if I didn’t.... I couldn’t have written this much.

....

I got to the Dueling Peaks Stable very late, and slept until the morning.

 

 

Castle Goods, COD

Waking of Saturday, March 23, 2019 ~ 2

Castle Goods, COD

I looked back at the castle. The current had carried me far to the west. When—

What? There were.... more Luminous stones? There on the more western side of the castle’s back. I could see them glowing in a little clump.

Did that mean another entrance? Another secret passage?

And what was that hole in the wall over there? Was that real? Or a trick of the polygons? For the polygons had tricked me before, over great, unresolved distances....

I considered the distant gleaming, but.... I had just been INSIDE THE CASTLE.

I had just escaped being inside the castle.

Never mind. I was hungry and my body was tired or it should have been.

I would go to Woodland Stable.

....

No, first.... I pulled up my Sheikah Slate, scoped in on the questionable spot, and tested placing a beacon through it.

The ascending light shaft broke through one of the great stone shelves of the castle’s island.

That was a hole in the wall....

What could it be....?

....

Later.

I hoofed it to Woodland and spoke to Kish, asking him to gimme Memory. It seemed appropriate.

Rode Memory to Riverside Stable, just going by sight mostly. Didn’t even stop for the Korok at Thims Bridge. I did stop for Leekah, though. Like I do.... That poor girl....

I got to Riverside eventually, and boarded Memory with Ember. Good lookin’ guy.

Gotter and Parcy were here, but.... it was raining. I couldn’t cook the royal recipes for Gotter. But I could still visit with Parcy in the Stable.

I showed her the Royal Guard’s Sword.

She was amazed.

So amazed in fact that she gave me 300 rupees for the privilege.

Well that was right dandy!

Then she asked if I’d be willing to trade it for a sapphire.

Dude. Do you know where I went to get this?

I declined.

It was late. I decided I may as well sleep off the rain. I could cook in the morning. Hopefully the wok would be lit....

Ember gave me a bed and I had Blood Moon dreams....

Woke up.

Wok’s not lit.

It wasn’t even raining.

I didn’t have time for this.

I SHOT A FIRE ARROW AT IT.

This startled Gotter, who was standing hard by.

I made a fruitcake. Wheat, sugar, one Wildberry and one Hearty Durian.

(It seemed to be a super-food, as indicated by the extra music and Link’s salivatory anticipation animation.)

Hhhh, and I’d only had two wheats.

That’s okay.

I gave it to Gotter.

“Fruit cake said to have been eaten by the Princess of Hyrule! How can I describe this experience?” he mused as he tried it. “A refreshing aroma reminiscent of galloping across these majestic planes on horseback...”

SSSSSIIIIICCCCC. Planes. Lol.

“No, that undersells the dish’s complexity,” he went on, “It fills me with that heart-thumping intensity that seizes your very soul when you’re spotted by a Guardian!”

Oh gosh I hoped not.

“A truly elegant dish! I never thought I would taste something quite so thrilling.”

And then he told me he must express his gratitude.... and he gave me 100 rupees.

Awesome.

Now for the Chancellor’s dish. Monster Cake—

Oh.... but the quest banner flashed across the screen and said Complete.

....

Maybe I’d make it anyway. Or another fruitcake. For me.

I talked to Gotter to see what he had to say.

“Recipes of the Hyrulean royal family... If there are more of them out there, I’d like to try them.”

Okay then!

One Monster Cake, comin’ up.

There went my last wheat, my second to last sugar, one of only a handfull of butter, and one of another handful of monster exract.

Monster cake!

Said to have been a favorite of the minster of Hyrule.

How had I guessed this recipe correctly when I made it on the first try for Hunnie?

“It tastes...beautiful... How can I put it into words?” said Gotter, “It’s like biting into a Chuchu...”

The heck?? XD XD

“No, no, that would be disgusting and dangerous. It stimulates the brain, much like being pummeled by a Hinox!”

Heh, I like this guy’s way with words. XD

“A truly elegant dish! I never thought I would taste something quite so thrilling,” he repeated, and gave me 100 rupees again.

Nice.

And when I spoke to him again....

“I think I’ll continue to practice my cooking on unsuspecting inn patrons like yourself.”

And that was all.

Heh, good luck, Gotter.

....

I’m going to Hateno to hang up these rare weapons.

Took out Knight.... rode, rode.... Man, rescuing people is a hassle. But I can’t not do it....

I finally get near Hateno, and.... fighting the dang silver Bokoblin what was attacking those sisters.... my weapon shattered.

WAIT.

WHAT.

....

“Your Royal Guard’s Sword broke!”?

NO. NOPE. It was still equipped after talking to Parcy. Nope. I am reloading.

Back to Riverside. Give Gotter the second dish over again.

Just warp to Hateno.

Do. And display all the Royal Guard’s Crap in the center of their respective walls. Bow, Sword, and Shield.

9:50 am. Sleep ‘til noon.

G’NIGHT EVERYBODY!

Kass' Promise

Waking of Saturday, February 23, 2019

Kass’ Promise

I warped to Washa’s Bluff and just climbed up to Kass’s house, because I could now, with my enhanced Climber’s Gear and three full wheels of Stamina.

Kass was not there. But I read his journal. I thought I’d gotten all the shrines he mentioned....

He said he would return to his hometown once he’d learned all the ancient songs.... So I warped to Rito Village. But again, Kass was nowhere to be found. I did meet with Molli, and she told me one of her stories. And I saw Cree, Kotts, Notts, Kheel and Genli running around. They were going to sing on the landing by the shrine. They’re so cute.... But there was no sign of Kass.

So I sailed down to the stable.

Kass was there.

He asked and I allowed him to sing his song for me. Same as it ever was.

....I was missing something. And I thought I had a pretty good idea what it was....

I warped back to Kass’s house again, sailing in this time via Satori Mountain just for the thrill of it.

Combing through his diary again, I saw that I had gotten all of his shrines.... but not the treasure in Kitano Bay.

I had.... seen David get that one. On another occasion.

I guessed not all of Kass’s sidequests were shrines after all.

So I warped to the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab, visited with Purah.... and then paraglided down off the mountain, right down to the pillar in the sea where Kass stood playing his accordion.

I had Kass again sing the song of that region, and though the telltale shadow in the song did in fact point toward Eventide Island.... the solution was much closer than all that.

After the song, I sailed down to a spot along the more closely encompassing stones jutting from the surf, until I was in just the right position to spot something with my Sheikah Slate’s Magnesis.

It was a chest in the water, with 300 rupees inside. The Hero’s Cache.

I collected it.... and then blinked.

For all I knew.... I could have left this here for myself. o_o

I climbed back up the rockspire to report to Kass again and, the songquest now complete, I took my leave, on foot. Er, by swimming, then on foot.

I just jogged all the way back to Hateno. I don’t know, I just.... didn’t want to appear hasty.

I have a house in Hateno. But is it my home? Hmm.

Safely out of view, I warped to one of the shrines outside Totori Lake and Rito Village.

Baddies, yup.

I ran.

More baddies.

Land Octoroks, what a hassle....

Tabantha certainly was a very hairy environment.... But I made it to Rito Stable without taking a hit.

Kass was not around the stable any more.

He must be in the village, I thought.

It was early in the morning. I walked the bridges and entered the village and started up the spiral boardwalk.... and I saw Kass near the shrine! And I realized as I approached him that.... he was playing the Rito Village Dragonroost music on his accordion! 8D

Oh it sounded nice. ^_^

And Cree, Kotts, Notts, Kheel and Genli, the little singers, came running up in a happy little gaggle, Blue, Yellow, Red, Purple and Green (though they lined up Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow and Red, as they faced the master musician, as he saw them), AND THEY ALL STARTED SINGING TOGETHER WHILE KASS PLAYED, OH MY GOSH IT WAS SO CUTE.

I spoke to Kass then. I’d just been listening but now I wanted in.

“Oh! I’m just taking some time from my calling in order to enjoy some musical frivolity with my daughters,” he said, or some such words.

These are your daughters!

^_^

But, says he, he has a favor he wants to ask of me. Only he wants me to come back here after dark to talk about it.

I meandered around the village in the meantime. Amali was Kass’s wife. A pretty, green Rito. She was happy that I’d brought her husband back to her. How does she know it was me?

I looked at the children’s colors again, out on the landing. So their first child was blue, like Kass. But it wasn’t until their fifth that they got one looking like their Mom.

I did not really pass the time anywhere. I eventually just went back to the shrine landing, and listened to them sing and play for the rest of the day.

I love Rito Village.

When 9:00 struck, the girls all turned and ran excitedly back to their house.

Leaving me alone to speak with Kass.

When I approached him, he stilled his playing, and the night was quiet. Only crickets and nightbirds sounded in the chill pine air.

He said he had a song he needed me to hear. He said he wanted to tell me about his teacher. But that it would take a while.

I told him to go ahead.

He said his teacher was a Sheikah, and that he had been the court poet of the Hyrulean Royal Family before the Calamity. At that time, there was a beautiful princess in the royal family, and they were even around the same age, the teacher and the princess.

And even though he must have known it would be doomed to be unrequited, his teacher grew to be deeply, deeply in love with the princess.

But the princess only had eyes for her escort. The appointed knight who accompanied her. Her own knight attendant.

!

.... Did.... Did she now?

Kass’ teacher became quite jealous. He came to hate the princess’ knight. It stung him that the knight was neither nobility nor royalty....

But then the Calamity struck.

“...My teacher believed a hero would appear to beat back the Calamity. He poured that belief into a song. And that song is what I need you to hear,” said Kass.

And he raised his accordion again:

An ancient hero, a Calamity appears,

Now resurrected after 10,000 years.

Her appointed knight gives his life,

Shields her figure, and pays the price.

The princess’s love for her fallen knight awakens her power

And within the castle the Calamity is forced to cower.

But the knight survives!

In the Shrine of Resurrection he sleeps,

Until from his healing dream he leaps!

For fierce and deadly trials await.

To regain his strength. Fulfill his fate.

To become a hero once again!

To wrest the princess from evil’s den.

The hero, the princess—hand in hand—

Must bring the light back to this land.

The song ended and the night was quiet again. Kass spoke, “My teacher fled the Calamity and returned to his hometown of Kakariko Village. But on his way, he witnessed the knight sacrifice his life to protect the princess.”

I’d heard people talk about me before, talk about my past life before.... But this one hit so.... heavy.

What had happened to me?

“The elder of Kakariko Village, Impa, explained these circumstances to him, and his mind was made up. He would seek the songs of the hero who sealed the Calamity away in an age past... so they could be passed on to the knight once he returned. All so that the princess might be saved...”

Kass’ beautiful bird eyes were so low, somewhere far away. “Those were my teacher’s last words, passed on now through me,” he said.

Then he turned to face me.

“So... appointed knight. Will you accept this song from my departed teacher?”

I stood. “You know,” I said. And then.... “Yes.” My only option.

“Thank you so much!” Kass’ eyes cheered slightly in the dimness. “I knew you would. I was sure of it.”

Through a soft smile he reminisced further, “My teacher would often speak of the princess’s beauty. I would love to meet her and craft a song worthy of her...”

And with a final warm nod, he told me, “Thank you for spending this time with me.”

And the moment broke and slipped away like a cut ribbon.

....

“You knew.”

How did he know?

But somehow.... it didn’t surprise me. That it would be a musician. Someone who feels the pull of so many more strings through the world. Someone attuned to see the wondrous, unrevealed. And moreover he was well traveled. He’d seen me around....

And for whatever other poems came out lumpy or lopsided from the localization team.... this one was splendid. And I appreciated that.

Aquas and LousySpy and the Monster Born Of Darkness

Waking of Saturday, January 26, 2019 ~ 2

Aquas and LousySpy and the Monster Born Of Darkness

This had been a long time coming.

I warped to the Dueling Peaks, took out Knight from the Stable, and rode him to Hateno. Saving a few people along the way, of course.... I swear, that stretch of road....

I made it to Hateno, and found Bolson and his crew. Still sitting out by that wok beside the old empty house.

....

Hateno was one of the first places I had visited; Bolson was an early snake in my life. But now I had traveled the world, or at least the country, and seen just about every habitation there was to see.... just on the vague off chance there might be.... someone else making a similar offer.... somewhere.... Though in my heart as time went on.... I think I had known.... there wouldn’t be.

The Deku Tree’s Navel was homely enough, and Pepp was kind to keep a bed there just for me. But.... I was no Korok....

And these Champions’ weapons....

And Hateno still left a dreary, unloving taste in my mouth.

But....

....

It was time.

I had seen the world, and it was time.

I approached Bolson, and I finished what I had started so long ago, and I bought the house. I shelled out the three thousand rupees. I had seen that amount come and go and come again in my purse, but now.... I was finally putting it where I’d meant to put it eventually.

I bought the house.

And Bolson was.... taken aback! By me, spending so much at such an age! He just found it so.... studly.

Lol Bolson is so gay.

And so the house was mine. As was a weapon mount Bolson and crew had left in there that didn’t get sold. “Consider it a housewarming gift,” Bolson said.

A weapon mount.... Hmmm.... I thought I’d seen those in David’s Hateno House....

After the transaction, it was decided that Hudson, one of Bolson’s men, was going to Akkala. Bolson Construction was expanding.

Well that was sudden. :c

I said goodbye to him and bade him good luck.... and he told me to take care of myself.... Nice guy, Hudson. I always liked him.... when I spoke to him. He was always the most cordial.

He even had his own little.... music.... some gentle musical theme.... as he walked off and away into the fade-out.

Aww. :( I’d miss that guy.

Hahhhh.

....

But for NOW....

....

I WENT TO CHECK OUT MY HAUS.

....

I ran inside and it was so bare. But it was mine.

“This is my house,” I said to David.

The wooden floors gaped dustily up at me as I pounded around in the silence.

“This is my house,” I said again.

“....”

“THIS.... IS MY HOUSE. THIS IS MY HOUSE!” I started singing. XD

And David actually recognized it and rolled his eyes hard.

“WON’T YOU GET OUT OF MY HOUSE? THIS IS.... THIS IS MY.... HOUSE THISISMY HOUSE.... WON’T YOU GET OUT OF MY HOUSE—I’LL GIVE YOU.... A GOOD SPELL, FOR YOU TO USE. SO YOU CAN JUMP ON MY ROOFS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS MY HOUSE. PLEASE, GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, IT’S—NOT YOUR HOUSE. I’VE GOT A BIG BEARD! Out of my house.... out.... Ah, don’t stab me....”

....

I don’t think I actually sang the whole thing for/at David but I sure as heck ain’t gonna leave it out of the log.

I ran happily around my new house a few more times, up to the loft and down again, around and around before the initial excitement wore down pretty hard.

Um, the house was all bare. It didn’t even have a door.

I’d finally mounted Mipha’s spear up on the wall, and that was something, but.... where was everything else? David’s house was much fuller than this....

I ran out the doorway to look for Bolson again, getting halfway across the little bridge before stopping and.... hmmmm turning back and grabbing Mipha’s spear again; I didn’t like leaving it alone in a house with no door.

I ran to go find Bolson, but the evening was falling fast and I didn’t find him.

But I did find Kilton.

!

And I remembered.

Now that I’d beaten another Divine Beast....

He should have something new!

Now I could finally see whatever it was that David had seen.... I had guessed and guessed that time, hoping for answers just as much as not. Was it a Hinox Mask? A Guardian Mask? Some kind of Malice-Immunity Potion? But David never said....

I approached the little man in his balloon now....

Kilton was very excited. He’d outdone himself this time. He had created the ultimate monster gear. “I’m actually a bit terrified of myself right now,” he said.

Oh my gosh WHAT IS IT?

He called it.... the dark series.

What?

And he said when I put on this ultimate monster camouflage, I might just become a monster myself. “Have fun being hunted for your organs,” he tells me.

WHAT?

He also said that I might find myself able to move faster at night. “Not sure how that worked out,” he says, “but....” He trailed off.

Oh my gosh....

WHAT IS IT, KILTON?

I clicked through his dialogue until he finally finished his spiel, and I got into his items. Scrolled down.... down.... down....

And....

OH MY GOSH IT WAS A DARK LINK OUTFIT.

Dark Link!

And I studied it a bit more.... “OH MY GOSH THOSE ARE OOT’S BRACERS!” I said to David.

“Who’s Oot?”

“This is OoT’s outfit!”

“Who’s Oot?”

“Ocarina of Time.”

“Oh.”

I knew them by the broad banding over the forearms, and the boot-flaps, and the tunic-lapels, and the shaping of the bandolier and the broadness of the belt.

OoT!

Kilton said he’d designed these with a monster born of shadow in mind.

Uh muh gush....

What an enormous upwelling of nostalgia.

So I started trading him monster bits for his Mon currency. Fortunately I had over 400 Lizalfos Talons and Chuchu Jellies, over 300 Bokoblin Fangs and plenty of Ancient Screws and things.... I made exactly as much as I needed: 3,997 Mon.

And I bought the Dark Tunic for 999 mon.

And I bought the Dark Trousers for 999 mon.

And finally.... I bought the Dark Hood for 1,999 mon.

And I put them all on and....

Oh....

My gosh....

Well that was right creepy.

I was Dark Link!

....

I swear he bore his teeth more.... when he wore this Dark Series....

So I ran to find some townsfolk to scare. But they only jumped and cowered and then spoke to me normally.

And I finally found Bolson! Inside one of the houses in the morning just before he woke up. I just had to wait a minute because he couldn’t be bothered until he got back to the Hylian home.

And shortly, but not shortly enough.... he did. And I spoke to him. And he could see that I was looking at him like I was displeased, or wanted him to keep working on the house—because I did.

So he said he’d finish making it a real home for 5,000 rupees.

You sneakthief!

“But for you, we’ll just start at 100.”

Uh huh, of course you will....

So I spent that morning having him build me things. First, a door, for one hundred rupees.

I forked over the cash, and he called Karson, and in the ensuing blackout I was happily amused to hear that it sounded like the two of them SERIOUSLY got to work! With much manly grunting and huffing and puffing and yelling and guttural shouts all to the rhythm of the sounds of manual construction! XD And when the scenery faded back in, my house had a brand new door. Very nice.

And for a hundred rupees more, a bed up in the loft. And another hundred rupees for some lighting over the main floor. And with each job, the same riotous blackout occurred, Bolson and Karson both yelling and sawing and hammering and yelling some more until the job was done.

That was it for the installation projects. Next I had him add to the mounts on my wall, and he charged me for each one. Two more weapon mounts on the far wall, three shield mounts on the right wall below the loft, and three bow mounts on the left wall. Not in that order, but that’s where they appeared.

With the mounts—and the door—in place, I mounted Mipha’s Spear, and the Ceremonial Trident, along with the stylish Forest Dweller’s Shield, and my trusty, trusty Phrenic Bow. They would be safe and secure in this house. And kept from cumbering me out on the field.

When I was out of mounting options and other interior projects, I had Bolson do exterior work. Even in the rain. Oh I first moved Knight into the roofed stall off the west side of the house and out of the wet. (He and I looked amazing together while I wore the Dark Series.) But I still made Bolson work, despite the cutscenes being robbed of their vibrancy in the silver haze. Plant flowers! Plant trees! (I could hardly spot the wide-angle differences in the downpour.) And finally, A sign with my name on it!

And Bolson and Karson hollered their way through it all, as the last drops finally began to peter out.

The sign stood neatly on its own little pedestal just to the left of the path from the bridge to my door; and it read, I could see after I’d studied it for a moment:

MASTER LINK

                  PRESENTED BY SAKURDA BUILDERS

And when all that had been done, Bolson said “YOU... HOUSING MONSTER!” Or something like it. “You got everything?”

And since I had worked him for all he was worth, he threw in some free furniture for me. (“Karson! Look alive!”) And that.... was that.

And Bolson and Karson left off.

And my house was a home.

And the sidequest Hylian Homeowner flashed across my screen.... Complete.

My gosh, how long had it been?

I didn’t know.

Home complete.... I rode Knight back to Dueling Peaks. Still in my Dark Getup. And the Bokoblins we passed.... leapt out in blatant attacks.

Um.... they didn’t seem very fooled.

I asked David if bad guys did this when he wore the Dark Suit, but he hadn’t bought this set. It was expensive.

Some field research was in order it seemed. I got to Dueling Peaks, boarded Knight, and ran down the road west between the peaks toward the Bokoblin camp. They were all asleep.

So I woke them up with a whistle. Or... did I? They seemed to come to before I could blow. Hmm.

And they all attacked me.

What the heck, Kilton?

One of them hit me with an arrow, and it HURT! D:<

Good gravy that took off a lotta hearts!

Under further attack, I warped away mid-stun to Cotera. Maybe she could upgrade the stuff.

But it was unupgradable.

-_- What in the heck, Kilton?

The ensemble.... didn’t seem to have any good perks.... that I could immediately discern....

But getting another idea I kept it on anyway, and started having the Great Fairy cast her upgrades on my spare Flamebreaker Armor. I had the materials and I just wanted to see something....

I had her upgrade until the kiss. And the little cinematic gave me a clear view of Link’s red-eyed, black-skinned, dark, evil, behooded face.

Oh....

Yeah he definitely bore his teeth more in this outfit....

Sneering. Leering. Narrow-eyed menacing.

My gosh.

Well that was nightmarish.

I reloaded without saving to just before the Great Fairy because I wanted to keep my Smotherwing Butterflies.

Well.

Now what.

....

As long as I was in Kakariko, I went and tried it on the Guardian out back. The Dark Series.

But nope, the Guardian still saw me and got mad. Piano all riled up.

Hm.

I was running out of gas.

....

I warped to the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab and visited Purah. Scared her and Symin with the Dark Suit all right! Symin says—(uh?)—that I can add pictures to my Compendium for a price.... huh, not sure if I knew that before....

Paraglided to.... my house. Scared Bolson on the way.

I have a house now.

And it does look nice.

And it is inviting.

I changed out of my Dark Suit and into my Champion’s tunic, Hylian Hood and Hylian Trousers.

It was 1:10 in the afternoon.

I slept in my very own bed for the first time, until the morning.

Good night.

And at church the next morning, Shelene and I sang. A beautiful song about how by serving the needy, we truly serve Christ, and enrich our own lives as well. And throughout the rest of the cracks between church, women kept coming up to me, and I assume to Shelene as well, to tell me that our singing had moved them to tears.

The Princess Irate

Waking of Saturday, January 5, 2019

The Princess Irate

It was raining in the morning when I woke up at the Tabantha Bridge Stable.

Happy though I was for my new mount Knight, I left him boarded as I set out for the day. This was exploration time, and I would be more agile on my own.

I crossed the Tabantha Bridge to the west, no longer afraid of the Guardian Flyers patrolling between the ridiculous rocky hills on the other side. Their range of vision was nowhere near as far-reaching as I’d initially thought.

I still gave them a wide berth, though.

I climbed up the cliffs on the left, and found at their rolling, grassy crest... the Ancient Columns. Just like Pikango had said. And there was the shrine as well. The Tena Ko’sah Shrine. This was the spot depicted in Princess Zelda’s pictograph.

I’d known this place was here. I’d even heard the shrine’s siren signal brreep-brreeping as I’d crossed through this area looking for the fairy fountain before. I’d left it alone, then.

But now I was here for the land.

I was here for the map.

I was here for Divine Beast Vah Medoh.

The light of the lost memory was easy to find.

I stepped into it....

Zelda stood before the shrine’s pedestal, and held the slate up to it.

The unchanging breeze blew on in its whispersong.

“Nothing. Just like before.” She looked disappointed as she drew the slate back and continued to murmur to herself. Something about that it seemed the structure would only activate for the master of the sword....?

“How can I get inside?” she wondered aloud....

They say Hylians have long ears to better hear the voices of the Gods. I guessed mine must have been extra long to pick up even the princess’ murmurings, because I then came galloping up on my horse from over the hill. My brown horse.

Zelda’s white was already there. Had she ditched me while riding somehow? Couldn’t really put it past the abilities of the white steed....

Zelda saw me coming and.... she looked kind of pissed....

Link dismounted and came up to her.

“I’ve already told you I don’t need an escort!” she started. And like the growl of a harried cat she lowered her volume but not her venom: “It seems I’m the only one with a mind of my own.”

Or some such words.

Looking anywhere but at Link, she blustered on and insisted from so many angles that she was fine on her own, no matter what the king’s orders were.

“Go back to the castle,” she told me.

But Link didn’t. He only followed softly after her as she stalked angrily away.

She turned around—“And stop following me!”

So angry....

Hhhhh.

The Black Stallion

Waking of Tuesday, January 1, 2019

The Black Stallion

It was the Rose Parade.

It was seeing all those danged beautiful horses with the luscious garlands of brilliant, colorful flowers hung all around their necks and flanks....

Augh.

I’d taken enough pictographs to somewhat flesh out my Compendium. I’d seen the animal section. There were horses, white horses, giant horses, donkeys, the Lord of the Mountain, stalhorses.... and I think that was it for the equines if you could count the Lord of the Mountain as an equine.

I knew I could register up to five horses, and I still had room for one more.... But it didn’t look like there were any more special horses to find, the one blank space yet to explore on my map notwithstanding.

I wanted a new horse.

I wanted a steed to wear my Extravagant Tack.

It was late, it was past my bedtime, and I had work in the morning, but.... I wanted to culminate the little zeitgeist I felt about it.... zeitgeistchen? Zeitgeistlein—I DON’T KNOW GERMAN.

I skimmed around my map. Where were there horses? I blinked as I realized it was never really something I took any special note of. I knew they could be found somewhat near to stables most of the time. And I knew where I’d seen that black one that one time....

It was the Valley of Terror then. Though the terror was all but gone for me, I think. If I did bump into the one decayed Guardian out in the field, I’d be able to take care of it.

I ran out to find the herd, but there were no all-black ones. A second herd grazed a bit to the north, but that one didn’t have any black ones either.

Where else could I warp? I really didn’t pay attention to where the horses were.... I’d always just stuck to talking to the people, waiting for clues about where the rare breeds roamed.

Those fields north of Jeddo Bridge looked promising, so I warped over to the Odyssean Sheem Dagoze Shrine, and started truckin’ it up the hill.

There were a couple of herds here as well, but again I could find no black ones.

From here I could think of nothing else but to warp back to the Ha Dahamar Shrine at the Dueling Peaks Stable, and again check the herds in the Valley of Terror. Their coats had changed upon the reload! But there were still no black ones.

I wanted a black one.

I bounced back and forth between these two fields for a while. It was most troublesome at night; it took a couple of incidents before I remembered to anticipate the dark with my Radiant Gear. That still didn’t stop the keese, though. And the dang Yigamen didn’t care what time of day it was.

At some point I added another field to search to my cycle: the Fural Plain just adjacent to the Highland Stable. I had been hesitant to go there because every previous visit to that place, at least via the road, had been plagued by that little troop of mounted Bokoblins. But it was the only other place I could think of that I was pretty sure had horses....

I was happy to discover this time, however, that the Bokoblins seemed to have gone! It had been quite a few Blood Moons since I’d cleaned them out.... but they hadn’t respawned. Huh. They reappeared in other get-rid-of-the-monsters sidequests—why hadn’t they reappeared here?

I didn’t know.

I was just happy to see them gone.

And happier to see that there were indeed horses here!

None of the ones I saw were black, though.

Poop.

I warped back and again, around and around, Ha Dahamar, Sheem Dagoze, Ka’o Makagh, Ha Dahamar, Sheem Dagoze, Ka’o Makagh....

I did this for so long—How else do you think I memorized these shrine names?

At some point I cut out the Sheem Dagoze Shrine, though. It was too long a jog to get to the horses; and the stal-creatures, keese and Yiga seemed to appear more frequently there.

So it was back and forth between the Valley of Terror and the Fural Plain. I saw reds, creams, greys, piebalds, skewbalds, appaloosas, gypsy cobs....

There!

There was a black one in the Fural Plain! But.... it had four white socks.

I chased it for a while, desperate. Had I only imagined that all-black horse before? No I hadn’t imagined it; it had kicked me in the face pretty hard. But had I imagined the color....?

I thought about just.... letting the socked horse suffice me. Maybe there were no all-black horses.... Just like there were no common all-white horses.

But....

No.

I kept warping.

And after a great, weary long time.... LO! There really was an all-black horse!

FINALLY!

It showed up on the Fural Plain on a sunny afternoon, and the flamerosy glow played havoc with my view of it through the scope—was it really black? Or was it a brown or a grey, only painted darker by a trick of the sun’s glare?

But I got closer and it was all black. There were subtle color variations on its muzzle and around its hooves.... but so were there for Memory. I didn’t think I’d find a blacker horse than this.

This chase was on.

The problem with the Fural Plain was that the grass, most of it, was remarkably short. This made sneaking up on the black horse deucedly difficult, especially as he had one other horse friend on the lookout with him. Several times I sent him trotting and galloping away into the boundaries of the field, many of which were comprised of sizeable stone cliffs. But it was a real fear of mine that the horse might come to an open spot and bolt down a road or somewhere leading out of the field. But I wasn’t sure how justified that fear really was.... Would the game keep it hemmed in?

I chased the horse for [game-] days, trying to maneuver it into one of the grassier spots where I could approach it more stealthily. The intermittent Yiga did not make things any easier.

But at great length I was finally able to mount the black stallion and soothe him into submission, whereupon I took him straight to the stable for to register him before anything else could happen.

I thought for a long time about his name. Jett? No, too literal. This was one of the harder conniptions I’d had over naming a steed! I wanted something strong-sounding, something ancient, something kingly, something like one of those archaic words that has a CH pronounced like a K....

Archeantus?

Mmm.... I didn’t even type it in. A strong name, but.... maybe not the strongest namesake.

Archibald?

That wasn’t a K sound....

I was just stuck on this Arch- usage....

Somehow in all the archaisms I swayed into the possibility of Oberon. Mmm, the deep vowels matched his coat and color.... and the reference matched the mystique of an all-black horse!

But I also thought of the name of Knight. Strong and royal to be sure.... though the pun was perhaps not as sophisticated.

I swiveled between these two for a while. Oberon and Knight. But Knight felt more alive, sharper, keener, and faster. Not so serious or reserved as Oberon. Or as wise-sounding, but that was okay.

Knight it was!

I rode him around the Fural Plain until his trust in me was such that I could alter his mane and other trappings. And back at the stable.... on went the Extravagant Tack.

....

Knight looked embarrassed in it, too.

Hmm.

I.... fiddled with it....

....

A look at Knight’s statistics showed me that he had.... four of five points in speed.

That was faster even than Memory.

Dang he was a fast horse. I could see the difference as I rode and spurred him into a gallop—how fast the land flew by around us!

Hah hah, he truly was a Knight!

I rode him to the Dueling Peaks Stable, just to get a look at him in motion in this momentary tack and mane-style....

And then I remembered upon arrival Uh, no mane-changers here.

So I rode to Outskirt, took him to the girl by the manger, and played with his mane some more....

“Oh my gosh you’re ridiculous, you spend three hours finding a horse and playing dress up with it. This is why I’m ahead of you in getting shrines.”

Beautiful lines from David.

In the end, I just stuck with the mohawk and the Extravagant Tack. The mohawk suited his wild temperament. And Knight could stand the Extravagant Tack. He could make up for the flamboyant red feather springing from his crown. He was the fastest horse in my team. And a glorious, powerful midnight black besides!

Knight could wear the Extravagant Tack with welcome challenge to any who scorned.

But a horse named Oberon would never have been able to abide it at all.

I rode to the Tabantha Bridge Stable.

I was ready.

Riding the Dragon

Waking of Thursday, May 25, 2017

Riding the Dragon

Hm, maybe I’m getting too in-depth with these entries. I feel like they might be stressing me out. Maybe I’ll try and sparse ‘em up like they were at the beginning....

I warped to the Dueling Peaks Tower, paraglided through the rain over to Giro’s Woods, and made my way back to Deya Village Ruins. It didn’t take too long to recolate the Two Statues memory. Luckily the sun had come out by then, and I was able to get a few decent pictographs.

A wonderfully scudded sky blew indecisive sun and shadow over the hill as I remembered....

But in my memory.... it was raining after all.

Zelda sat beneath the tree, beside the statues. “This won’t let up any time soon,” she said.

I was standing. Moving. Honing my skill. My sword was in my hands, and I cut and sliced through various stances, ending on a deep exhale as I brought the blade in before me.

“Do you ever wonder if you’ll wake up one day and realize you’re not a fighter?”

I didn’t.... quite understand.

I think I still don’t understand. What she was talking about.

Of all the memories I had revisited, I recall this one the least vividly. Perhaps because there was one thing she said that seemed to blot out all others—so strong, I don’t even remember the way she worded it. Just the raw concept rings in my mind:

She said I take after my father.

I have a father.

I was born into a house of the Royal Guard. It had been expected all my life that I would become a Knight.

Then why was Princess Zelda saying these things....?

I took after my father, I had great skill, prowess....

“It’s no wonder that you would be the chosen one,” she said.

Chosen one?

It was always expected that I would become a Knight.

That was how I was raised.

“But if you had been told that your entire life....” she said.

Why did she look so.... sad?

“Do you think you would have chosen a different path?”

Why did she look so sad?

I came back to myself in the half-sun, took a few more pictographs, forgot to scare up the Korok that would have photobombed them, and moved on.

Now that I was so close to it again, I really was curious about that huge, dark-stoned bridge. I climbed the tree over the Two Statues, and leapt from its branches to paraglide across the river toward it....

I bypassed the bokoblin’s treehouse and went for the bridge’s north end. The Bridge of Hylia it was called. An impressive structure.

But the whole time as I crossed it, I kept looking over the edge, and straining my ears for that beautiful erhu.... Where was Farosh? Wouldn’t he rise? He did for David....

I had a brief party with three Lizalfos in the middle of the bridge, and a troublesome scuffle with their stal-counterparts at the south end, and some stalbokoblins. Nearly knocked me off into the lake! That annoying one with the swinging spear....

But I put them all down, and considered the nearby Sheikah Tower....

Nnnnnghyeahhh I would do the tower north of Upland Zorana first. I was pretty sure that would show me Akkala.

But while I was on the bridge I decided to climb up on top of the south bridge-tower just because of.... curiosity.

“That’s a good reason,” David affirmed.

As I climbed onto the last parapet—“Hey there’s an updraft!” I said. It had blown up out of nowhere.

“That’s because—!” David started, but he didn’t need to continue.

As I got on top, Farosh was right there, twining before my eyes!

“Isn’t that a sight!” I beamed.

I remembered—how David had said he’d encountered a simliar updraft when Farosh flew by, and followed it out of curiosity. How he’d said he’d gotten too close to Farosh, and been zapped by one of his little lightning balls.

Well, the next time Farosh came around, erhu in tow, I decided that.... I wanted to see where that updraft would take me too!

I leapt after Farosh and it was a turbulent affair! Getting close! LIGHTNING BALLS! Dodging, dodging—and how he twined all about! And I was too low and he was above me! And there were so many lightning balls! Beeeennnding to the right to follow his course—and I zipped around one lightning ball so close I thought for sure I’d had it—

And then Farosh dipped lower—I was weaving, darting, dodging and—wonder of wonders—I got above his back.

Maybe it was just the lightning balls that were dangerous. Maybe he’d acknowledge me somehow if I actually made contact....

Now or never—I let go of my paraglider.

SIZZLE.

I bounced off his back with a painful choking sound.

But his back was still beneath me.

SIZZLE. “Hlck!”

I bounced again as he continued in his perfect, sinuous course.

SIZZLE. “Agck!”

Bounce.

SIZZLE. “Gmff!”

Bounce.

SIZZLE. “Hrack!”

Bounce.

“Oh my gosh, Farosh! Let me OFF!” If I could just tip down over his flank—

“It doesn’t keep hurting you!” David pointed out. And I looked at my hearts. I was down one from those stal-fiends on the bridge, but I wasn’t going down any further.

SIZZLE. “GYAAAH!”

That was so comforting.

Farosh’s long, long body and tail finally passed out from under me and I fell through the cool, soothing air, and parachuted toward a little dock on the central southern shore. “I RODE THE DRAGON!” I cheered. 8D

“I wouldn’t exactly call that riding,” said David.

I warped to the Bosh Kala Shrine—the shrine by Proxim Bridge—and had a nice visit with Brigo. He wasn’t so skittish this time, but dutifully patrolled the bridge, as it constituted part of an important route.

After that I decided to chase down a beacon I had left in my scope—I had placed it on a shrine just a little north of Proxim Bridge, between Proxim Bridge and the Floret Sandbar.

And heading north from Proxim Bridge, sporting with a few octoroks and a rich little camp of bokoblins, I came upon the Riverside Stable.

So this was the Riverside Stable that bored kid at the Wetland Stable had mentioned!

A couple of people spoke to me, such that I gained a couple of new sidequests:

Gotter, a food connoisseur who was strangely obsessed with beauty and whose grandfather’s grandfather had been the Royal Family’s chef, asked whether, if I ever got inside Hyrule Castle, would I please keep my eyes out for a cookbook?

“Gotter.... you nuts,” I said, and fled inside the stable, where I met Parcy.

She told me she used to sneak inside the castle all the time for all the cool treasure there.

ò__O ????

But no longer, ever since it had become so dangerous.

But she asked me, if I ever went inside the castle—what was wrong with these people?—would I keep my eyes out for the Royal Guards’ gear?

Hey, I was a Royal Guard—you filchin’ my stuff, Parcy?

I spoke to the innkeep, thinking maybe I’d just take a little nap. His name was Ember.

Huh, Embry had been the name of the one at the Outskirt Stable.... I hadn’t been keeping track otherwise. Were all their names somewhat similar?

It was in the nine o’clock hour. I slept until noon.

It was overcast when I woke up.