Live Your Own Story in Hyrule

Mipha hurried along as fast as she could, using what information she was given to find the others. She can't recall a time she's had to be this quick, but she's trying. She checks to ensure the others that stayed with her are also behind her before moving forward. She makes it to the first chamber and comes to a stop, attempting to check for any danger. "Have you departed yet? I am still making my way there!" She spoke to the others through the charm while carefully advancing through the ossuary chamber and into the four door room.

Red was still shaken up about the whole sparks thing and now this? "I think I prefer the sparks to this..." He gulped. These things looked menacing. "And they're people?" They sure didn't look like it. "So, we can't really uh...hurt them, but I'd bet they're wanting to hurt us..."

"Queen Ice Cubes, you say? Would you prefer to be King Ash?" Twinrova snipes back at Gatu. "It would be so gratifying to present the crown to you," she chuckled. "A well earned crown only fit for you."

She advances towards the ferry and up onto its deck. Once there, she hurls the wolf towards the cloaked skeleton with enough force to cause the figure to shudder and ring the bells in its hands. Naturally, the ringing alerts the shadow beasts and they start drawing close to the boat to investigate what the sound was. "Oh, now look at what you've done. We thought our request was clear about no attacks, but since you are incapable of following them, these beasts will become our enforcers."

To the others, she motions to the vessel, "All aboard!" She grins, "This ferry is due to depart soon!"

Wolf Link yelps as he is flung onto the boat.

He crashes into the skeleton and his animal instincts kick in, and his body twists in a way to facilitate a landing after crashing into the cloaked skeleton.

He looks around trying to get his bearings aboard the vessel. He sees the shadow figures approaching from all directions and he crouches low, trying to count them… 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on and looks at their position and their movement.

He growls in a low tone

Translation available: Wolf

After relaying his message, he explodes in a desperate attack, targeting all of the shadow beasts he could deduce from his position, pouncing back and forth, attempting to take out all of them one after another.

Irina looks back to the deadly mechanisms they just passed by before turning back to look at the boat in front of them.

Then the wolf is literally thrown on it and the bells ring. Seeing the shadow beasts jump on the boat is the last thing she needs to make a decision about the fog she has been warned about.

Tightening her hands’ grip on her spear, Irina runs into the fog in an attempt to jump on the boat and help the wolf.

Revali flies up and onto the boat. He doesn't know what to expect, but that wasn't a concern right now. He looked around, trying to determine how many shadow beasts were present and within the haze. "I get the feeling there's more where these came from!" He can see more creeping aroud the boat and can barely make out others along the walls and floor.

"Hey, you going to just sit there and let us fight all of them!?" He qustioned the hag.

Red tried to give Irina a helping hand, using some wind to give her a boost so she could safely get up onto the boat. He landed and drew closer to Blue, trying to keep close, just in case something happened. "Do we really want her help? She started this in the first place!" He eyed Twinrova briefly and then the remainder of those on deck. "I don't want her to use the sparks again. No telling what else she can do..."

"Shadow beasts?" Mipha was trying to make out what more was said, but her mind was divided between getting to the others. She was in such a hurry that when she arrived in the room with the spinning statues, she nearly met with a scythe to her body. She ducked down, getting nicked by the blade on the way, drawing blood.

"That must be the door..." She can hear the bells ringing, still and the beasts faint cries. "Just a bit more..." She tried to encourage herself. The door was right there...

"Is that your way of asking us for help, blue bird?" Twinrova questioned, watcing all the beasts begin to scratch and claw their way onto the vessel. More were rolling over the edges and onto the deck. "We don't think red bird agrees with you." She pouts playfully, rolling in the air to lay down on her side. "Correction, your wolf doesn't listen. We threw him away from our hands so he'd stop biting them. Now that these creatures are here, they can entertain his wild habits. He can bite, chew, and snap at his delight."

The beasts that have surrounded the wolf are quickly dispatched, each thrashed by a blur with fur. They collapse onto the deck and lay there. Several more beasts cover the deck, leaving little room for movement as they begin their disorganized attack against the crew. With the ferry now boarded, the bells chime once again, signaling it is departing from the dock and making its way down the ethereal river.

Irina is given a very appreciated boost to get to the boat. “Thank you, Red!” She lands safely and looks at the Rito, panting but happy. “You are amazing!”

After the softer-than-expected landing, she hurries to Link. “Are you okay?” She asks while thrusting her spear at the shadow beasts, trying to give the wolf a hand. Or a paw.

Mipha heard the bells, but louder this time. She cursed herself for being so careless to be caught by that blade and she had to slow down to ensure she didn't get caught the second time around.

When she advanced through the door and into the dock area, she could see the boat was already swarming with the beasts. Not only that, the vessel was moving. She immediately got to work summoning water and sending blades towards the shadow beasts, attempting to clear some of them away so she can board.

She gives herself a running start and flips her trident around sending a jet of water from it to boost her up to the vessel.

_Gatu gives no comment to the Sorceress of Fire's threat, but gives her a solid glare before she starts something unnecessarily when there's a lot at stake right now._
_He also sprints through the fog after using some magic to do that dash attack he did earlier, and then leaps up into the air to land onto the barge ship Link is on._

_Taking out his Boomerang, he fights using its range attacks while charging it with elemental power, primarily with lightning and light magic. When that doesn't work and they get too close to him, he fights them back using his Hylian Shield and his fists to combat them as well. Any aerial attacks from these shadow beings, he's tactically use the arrows Revali gave to him to fire his bow with master precision._

"Tell you what, I'll think of a surprise and it'll be on the house." Fallon replies to Saria, jotting down 'surprise' and circling it. "Okay, that ought to take care of things and--" her head lowers to see her little one at the table. "Play? That is what you are offering after they have just arrived?" She smiles, giving way to the table so they can all take off. "Of course, they wouldn't say no to that offer."

She chuckles and clears the milk and water cups while she determines what would be good for them to eat. "Make sure you stay close by!!" She called out to them, ensuring her voice could be heard through and beyond the door.

"Okay, now what to feed to them... Perhaps some cuccoo tenders. I think that'll be good. Side of greenery and that ought to cover it."

That in mind, she quickly heads to the kitchen to drop off the glasses and put the order in. She then hustles towards the exit so she could watch them and wait for the order to finish.

"Okay Mommy!" Naomi says as she follows the other two, her brain immediately filing the instruction under 'Things that have been responded to and thus require no further thought'.

Out in the field, Naomi spreads her arms to the others. "So what should we play? How abouuuuuuuut" (points at Aio) "you're the heroic knight," (points at Saria) "you're the pretty princess," (points at self) "and I'M the ferocious dragon?" >:) Naomi raises her hands high like claws and stomps dramatically toward Saria. "IIIIII'M GOING TO EEEEAAAT YOOOOUUUUU!" >:O

Aio stares at Naomi blankly. He clearly didn't understand her. He wonders why this girl is threatening the other girl.

As he doesn't quite understand the rules of the game, he does the same and chases after Saria, holding his hands up like a dragon as well. He calls out "Raaawr!" and something unintelligible in his language.

Saria lets out a scream as both come after her and laughs, running. She looks at Aio and points at Naomi without stopping. "Attack HER, not me! We are the good guys! Dragon! Dragon! " She repeats, hoping to teach Aio a new word.

Aio begins chasing after Naomi, too, and calls her by what he thinks is probably her name, "Dragon! Dragon!"

Fallon opens the door and is immediately met with screaming and shouts of a dragon. She hurries outside, checking the sky and surroundings to see if one had suddenly popped up. Thankfully, there was no such creature and further processing allowed her to realize they were just playing out here. Of course, that's what they intended to do in the first place, but flashbacks of moldugas and spiders said otherwise. Briefly, anyway.

So, she heads back towards the walls of the inn and leans against them, watching them play and enjoy life for the time being. A refreshing change of scenery to what she knows lies beyond.

Naomi blinks at the swift derailment of her CAREFULLY CRAFTED FANTASY WORLD. o.O; At least Saria seems to get the idea and is trying to explain it to Aio -- but it looks like he still thinks _he's_ a dragon. Okay, well, maybe he can be a knight AND a dragon! Like some kind of...dragon man!

<https://i.redd.it/xcbi8yj0nhv81.jpg>

"Ummm...OHNOES IT IS THE DRAGONBORN! BUT YOU WILL NEVER DEFEAT ME UNLESS YOU FIND THE, ummm, MAGICAL HELMET OF RAINBOW FLAMES! IT IS IN, ummmmmmmmmm...aaaaaa SECRET PLACE THAT--THAT ONLY THE ROYAL FAMILY KNOWS ABOUT!" Yeah, Naomi is totally engaging in AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION and not dumping her DM responsibilities on Saria. n.n

Those were a lot of words and Aio understood none of them! He continues to chase Dragon and shouts her name. He giggles with excitement as the air and sun and open space combine to create a volatile reaction of fun.

As the screams of the children echo through the field outside of the Wolfos, a tall imposing Gerudo woman cuts the horizon perpendicularly. She holds a spear and walks in a relaxed pace but with a serious expression. The expression softens when she sees the children playing, particularly the boy.

She stops and observes them by the stables outside of the inn.

Saria laughs and nods, pointing at Noemi! "Yes! Catch the dragon!"

Seeing Risa arrive, Saria hmms, touching her chin with a finger. She approaches Risa and Fallon and brings her hands to her back. "Excuse me, I have a question."

"As you know, Aio is living in the Kokiri Forest now. Do you know of any grown-ups that may help us build a treehouse for him?"

Risa crouches down to become eye-level with the forest child. She rests her elbow on her knee and says, "A treehouse?" She thinks, and says, "Sweetie, I am from the desert. I don't know much about trees. But I will find someone who can help."

Fallon laughed to herself. Of all the things Naomi could've been, a dragon...born was not one she expected. Yet, she could appreciate her imagination. Those bedtime stories must've sounded far more spectacular to her than she'd thought.

Spotting movement in the distance, she looked towards it and found it was a friendly face upon closer inspection. She smiled as Risa approached, acknowledging her presence with a nod.

With Saria now approaching, she then pondered her question, "You need help with one, hm? Well, I'm not much of a builder, but I can assist in whatever way I can. I'll have to ask my husband if he has any suggestions or ideas. All else fails, I could just read about trees and houses and then attempt to replicate it."

Saria grins, her hands on her back while she listens to them. "You are big and strong women, so I knew you could help! Thank you." With this, she goes back to playing with her friends.

GUUUHHHH!!! &gt;_&lt;; Being a DM is so FRUSTRATING! You put in all this work to give the players an intricate world to interact with, and they just want to be MURDER HOBOS that solve every problem by charging at it swords waving! "Okay, fine! TAG, YOU'RE IT!" Naomi shouts to Aio. Then she turns and dashes away.

_-OOC- QUIET 9s, A 10 IS SPEAKING._

*The Evil King is surveying his dark kingdom from some precipice, watching the creatures and monsters he cultivated scuffle among themselves.*

"Boring."

*He is impatiently waiting for Edu, who he summoned at his whim and no care for whatever the Twili might have been involved with.*

Edu had received a summons from his supreme overlord, whom he so desires to please. Riding on top of a guardian, he quietly sits until the guardian arrives at his master’s throne, in which the guardian leans forward to allow Edu to slide off, landing on his feet only to kneel on one knee in front of him, bowing his head.

“Lord Ganondorf… I have come, just as you asked!”

The spider whispers while the grown folks start talking, "A spider's name cannot be enunciated by your species' tongue. But you may call me Belinda." She hides back into the shadows.

"That is a pleasant name." Artifa whispers back, also deciding to just tuck herself away someplace nice and unquiet. She gets the distinct feeling there's no real peace to be found down here, so a nearby boulder will just have to do.

*A grunt is all Edu is graced with, as Ganondorf continues to stare over the Depths before he finally glances over his shoulder.*

"You did well draining that overgrown puddle."

*The waters of Lake Hylia are now a raging, roaring river; seeking to carve a bed for itself or an exit. It drowned the weakest and slowest of the Depths' denizens to the Gerudo king's amusement.*

"New job for you: Take this."

*Ganondorf holds a crystal in his hand that he sends to hover in front of Edu. Artifa would recognize it, as it was integral to her test to gain entry to his domain.*

*It vibrates before splitting up into 4 identical copies still hovering in front of the kneeling figure.*

Artifa definitely recognizes those crystals. She didn't even know more were going to be used. This was going to be fascinating to watch unfold and keep record of.

Darkness thickens along one of the jagged stone structures overlooking the gathering. It does not move. It simply exists — heavier than the surrounding gloom.

If one were to look long enough, they might notice the faint suggestion of a figure leaning against the structure — arms loosely folded, one shoulder resting against stone that seems to absorb her rather than support her. Red eyes glimmer once in the dim, observing.

Dark Irina says nothing. She does not step forward, does not interfere with Ganondorf’s commands, does not acknowledge Artifa’s quiet fascination.

She watches the spider, the scholar, the summoned dark guy, and the splitting crystals, and a faint curl of a smile touches her lips.

The shadows around her remain still, as if unaware she was ever there at all.

The spider's laser eye catches the glow of the crystals. Pretty. Her hind legs rub silently with excitement.

Edu glances up at the praise from his master. How exhilarating this was! He was actually being recognized for his efforts, which brought a smile to his face.

_New job..?_ Edu wondered internally, before a crystal is sent floating to him. Edu reaches out to grab it before it splits into 4, a small gasp escaping Edu’s lips. “Yes, Lord Ganondorf.” The words slip from him out of habit, before he reaches again, attempting to grab one of the four crystals.

*Turning slightly so the Twili is more in sight, Ganondorf gives a slow cruel grin.*

"Set these up. Wherever, whenever. When you do, the only thing I want ... Is to make sure it hurts as many people as possible."

*He chuckles deep in his chest.*

"I'm sure you'll all enjoy the results when they've all gone off."

A low chuckle rattles in Edu’s chest as a massive grin stretches across his face. He quickly gathers the crystals, and bows once more to his master. “I'll get right to it!” He shouts, stumbling backward as he raises up from his kneel, however he manages to clean it up with a nice spin that would have looked really cool if he wore a cape. Unfortunately he did not. He hops back on the head of his guardian. “I'll get started on my work right away, m’Lord.”

Dark Irina just rolls her eyes and scratches the side of her neck idly, looking a bit bored now.

"That kind of excitement is admirable for such a daunting task. I almost died from mine and it wasn't even the crystal that was the most concerning..." Artifa remarked to herself while peering over the boulder.

"I'm sure he'll do fine."

*The Gerudo male shrugs lazily, acknowledging Artifa's words as he opens a portal to his next destination;*

"Either the job gets done or he dies."

*Ganondorf disappears into the magic, leaving the question if the bomb or the Evil King himself would be the cause of Edu's death.*