Live Your Own Story in Hyrule

"If? No, no, we did help him." Twinrova displays her work. "He's not happy about it, but he'll be much better for it." She eyes the wolf and then the barmaid. "The answer you are not seeking is 'No.' " Turning away from the group, she hovers along, taking care to avoid the twin scythes spinning in the room. "On the other side of this door is a ferry. It is teeming with shadow beasts. You wish for your wolf to be alive? Then you had best be prepared to fight for him. Not against us, but against them."

"The seal is reliant on the shadow beasts themselves. Only three of them have a seal imparted on them. But there are...many of them. To break the seal, you must find and strke down the ones that bear the seal. The way will be opened once you do. You will know the ones to strike because only they can See the Truth." The man explains. "I will hope your companions are able to help your friend and Impa. If you wish to do so also, you should depart now."

Mipha looked around, seeing that the prisoners had all been freed, but she hadn't had the chance to get to all of them for healing. "Are you certain? Some of them may not make it..." She was distressed at the thought of leaving some of them to pass. "I suppose you wouldn't have tried to urge me so many times if you weren't. I will see if I and my companions here can catch up with the others. Thank you..." She sighed to herself. This must be the only way. "If anyone has any healing items, please leave what you can with the injured. Let's depart."

She spoke into her charm once again, "There's a seal that must be broken to get to Impa. Those that are marked can See the Truth. I don't...I don't know what that means, but I suspect there were reasons why it was spoken that way. We are en route to you all. I hope we can reach you in time."

Irina raises her eyebrows, confused and concerned, as the witches float away. "Why won't you just let him go? What are you planning to do with him?"

With a whisper, she replies in acknowledgement. "Thank you, Your H... Princess Mipha."

"If it will help you any, he is far more valuable alive than dead. We need him in good condition. Preferrably without all the biting and snapping, but maybe those nasty habits will be worked out later." Twinrova smirks at Irina. "You could stay here. We'll take good care of him, we have so far. If you have more questions, we can seal you in here and you can enjoy talking to a welded door. These statues seem lonely too, maybe you can cure that with a healthy conversation?" It's clear she was growing tired of the questions as she turned away and headed through the door to the ferry dock.

The entire place was covered with shadow beasts, crawling and flying. By their presence alone, the dock nearly felt like a different realm. Flecks of black material hovered and floated in the air. A light, pallid fog covered the whole area. Sitting alone on a ghastly river was a ferry, awaiting passengers for its journey.

"Whatever going on here with Impa since she seems to be the source of all this, we _*will*_ save her." _Gatu spoke, determination and unwavering resolve in his voice that echoed the Hero._ "I may have lost my spear to Queen Ice Cubes over there, but that doesn't mean I can't shield bash or punch monsters into purple smoke. I still got my Bow and Arrows, as well as my Boomerang and Magic."

The witches did not reveal why they needed the wolf, and then they were taking him away! For a moment, Irina raised her bow when Twinrova turned around, but lowered it when she realized she could hit the wolf.

As the witches go through the door, Irina puts her bow away, says a couple of words in her language that are best left untranslated, and grabs her spear following them. However, she stops sharply at the door and looks at the witches from there. She knows this fog and its effects.

Wolf Link growls and snaps at Twinrova as her other hand gets near his head. His body language seems more animal than Hylian, much wilder. His teeth gnash and his hindlegs arch upwards trying to grab onto anything that he can. In his fury he growls out something.

Translation available: Wolf

"Don't get too ahead of yourself with the insults," Revali quietly remarked to Gatu. "It's only because we might be needed that we're here in the first place..." He looks around the dock and his feathers begin to stand on end. They...really were everywhere. How were they going to figure out which ones were marked? He could hardly tell them apart.

"I can...barely make out what you're saying. Just hang on. We're going to try and get you out of this mess..." He muttered into the charm to Link. Whatever was said he was trying to parse it out. Tch, this wasn't looking good.

“He reminded us that we are here for the mirror,” Irina replies to Revali, “and to be careful with those beasts. But if we go into that fog, we might turn into poes… and maybe that's why the are guiding us in there.”

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!"

"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.*