Quest 07 (Open + Closed)

[newmemorywhodis]

i. Making new, wolfy friends [Open]
In the wild areas near Elysium, Link’s been exploring. It’s a common activity for him. There’s mushrooms and flowers to pick, game to hunt, monsters to fight…

…Then one day, while he’s up in a tree collecting some bird’s eggs, he spots a wolf. A big wolf. A really, really big wolf. It’s as big as a horse.

And once he makes that mental connection, Link immediately thinks, I could ride that.

Which naturally means Link now has to find out if he can. He pulls out a Sneaky Elixir, and swiftly swallows it - demeaning the sounds of his movements. Silently uses his paraglider to move from tree to tree, getting closer. And then carefully drops down behind the massive, monstrous wolf.

He crouches down. Creeps forward. Slowly, slowly. Until he’s right behind the beast, so close he could reach out and touch its fur.

And then he leaps up onto its back, and grabs on.

The wolf yelps and snarls - but Link’s got a good position, and he doesn’t let it twist back and bite him. He just directs the beast to run, and keeps a good hold.

What do you know, he can ride it!


ii. A retrieval of memories [locked to Shu]
Shu had spoken to the Admiral. They’d tracked down the Imperial Commander who’d been given Link’s Purah Pad.

And then they’d sneaked onto the Commander’s warship and completely trashed his quarters.

Well, Link had trashed his quarters. Shu was a bit too dignified for such wanton destruction, but Link wasn’t. And he didn’t regret it either, since in the process, he’d found the Pad!

Now, their getaway was nearly complete. Here in a small alleyway in Elysium, they were far from the scene of the crime. The Crimson Portal wasn’t far off.

But Link had to pause. He hadn’t had a chance yet, but - he had to see. Were all of his pictures still on the Purah Pad? Were they safe?

He pulls out the Pad, and turns it on. And turns to the photo gallery.


iii. Link has a slide show and he’s gonna make you watch it [semi-closed]
Later, Link thinks of all the new people he’d met. People who’d helped him grow plants from home, or who’d shown interest in things from his home. Shu wasn't the only one who he knew would like to see his pictures.

Before, he hadn't had any way of sharing these images of his home. But…now he could.

So Link tracks those people down. Says, “Hi,” when he finds them. And then shoves the Purah Pad - with a picture from Hyrule that would interest them on the screen - right in their face.

[[ooc: this prompt is for Nephenee, Ilphyll, Donnie, Maomao and Atom - but could be open to others if there's a reason for Link to decide to share]]


iv. Wildcard!
[[if you'd like something not on her, contact me!]]

Comments

1: Making New, Wolfy Friends

[bearsperminute]

Kanna had had to wrap up quite a bit to even come to Elysium-- her face and name are known, after all-- and had felt grateful for a chance to really explore and come to know yet another climate.

Not only that, she felt a bit honored to have come along with Link, whose prowess she'd witnessed during the escape from Vindess.

This, though-- this was on another level. She'd been ready to punch the giant wolf, and didn't quite feel like this was a particularly safe situation, so she grimaced and took off after him. "Oi. OI!"

... Ah, right.

Where there is one wolf... There are others... "... Should've been worried about myself, huh? Okay..."

[newmemorywhodis]

The problem with accompanying Link on trips to the wilderness was that - unless you were Zelda - he tended to forget that he was with other people. He tended to wander off. Climb trees. Get distracted by interesting looking plants. And in this case, wander off and start riding wolves.

But then she's yelling after him, and he remembers: he's not out here exploring on his own. Whoops.

He blinks in her direction. The wolf paces, agitated.

"...You want a wolf?" Maybe they could find her one to ride too?

[bearsperminute]

"Looks like we've got several, actually." She eyes the treeline. Three, to be exact, including the one Link was riding, all about the same size. She spotted their presence in various places in the underbrush. "Normally I'd toss 'em around a bit and that'd be that, but..."

She'd leave it up to Link; he was the one riding a wolf, after all.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link leans down on the back of his wolf, looking over towards the rest of the pack. Could he catch another one? He thought he could. Well, he could try.

But then he pauses. Looks at Kanna, looks at his wolf, and then looks back at her. His head tilts to the side, and he asks an unspoken question:

Does she want to ride Link's wolf?

[bearsperminute]

"... Friendly, then. Got it." She nods, and then kneels down. She doesn't close her eyes, but she breathes, slowly.

Calm your breath. The wolves advanced out of the underbrush.

The calm breath, calms your heart. Closer. Closer. Yet closer.

Your calm heart, calms your spirit's energy. They sniff, gently, and her arms are spread out, and they decide not to bother attacking. "Well. Didn't expect that to work."

[newmemorywhodis]

Ah. She wants to get her own wolf! Here Link had been thinking that he could give her his, and go get another wolf. But if she wants to get her own, that's good too.

Her approach is interesting; Link hadn't tried to let the wolf sniff him. He'd taken more of a sneaky approach. But he has done the same kind of gesture, with his horses.

The thought reminds him; he should give his wolf a little pat. And another one, just for good measure.

And then he stays quiet, and watches; this is Kanna's moment. He's not going to interfere, or risk spooking the wolves.

[bearsperminute]

"Looks like I'm lucky this winter. There must have been plenty to eat." She rubs at the necks of the giant beasts, and definitely has calmed down herself. "Still, I didn't expect you to want to take one for a mount-- or neglect its family when you did."

"... Come to think, I wonder why they're not more wary of people? You'd think the nobles would want 'em gone..."

[newmemorywhodis]

"I wanted to ride it." Did Link need any more reason than that? He didn't think he did. And if it hadn't worked...well, he'd just have gotten a little mauled or something.

He can only shrug in response to her wondering. He hasn't the faintest idea why the wolves aren't particularly wary.

He's getting a little antsy, though. He's got a wolf. He's riding it. Which means Link wants to be moving, not chilling in a wolf circle. Even if the wolf circle is also fun.

"...Want to run?" He says, looking at Kanna intently.

[bearsperminute]

"-- Yeah, let's move!" Kanna took off without another word, and true enough, she could keep pace with Link atop the wolf easily enough on her own two feet.

Come to think, this gave her a good chance to get a look at all the cool places in the wilderness around Elysium.

Picking their way through the trees and the underbrush would have been a little bit tough for anyone but these two, and they took even the forested foothills at a dead run. Not all that much different from the jungle back home! ... Though a bit colder, Kanna thought.

They passed by a small pond, and Kanna skidded to a stop in the scree and gravel. Was that--

It was a decent size waterfall, about twice Kanna's height, the noise making itself known only now that they'd stopped crashing around the forest. "Well, wonders never cease."

She'd heard there was one at all from Ilphyl, not too too long ago, but hearing about it, and seeing it, are two very different things.

While Kanna wasn't that exhausted, she spared a glance for the wolves. Were they...?

[newmemorywhodis]

Link had actually been expecting Kanna to ride a wolf too, but...oh well. This works too. He nudges his wolf into gear, and they start to run.

It's not the same as riding a horse - but it's still something Link has missed. There's something that calms him about moving through the landscape this way. Even if it is on a deadly predator rather than a horse.

But then Kanna finds the small pool. He comes to a stop before her - and immediately hops off the wolf so he can go stand at the side of the pool. Is there anything behind that waterfall? Are there any fish? He needs to look! Where's his Purah Pad? He can take a picture...

The wolves, meanwhile, flop down in a circle. Seems they'd like a rest.

[bearsperminute]

"Looks like our buddies need a minute, anyway. Least they've got good water, right?" Kanna feels the cool water, the way it flows, trailing her fingers along the surface, eyes closed. "Yeah, this is perfect. Clean, flowing, won't stagnate."

She stretches while she paces the waterfall, trying to get a good idea of its size.

She pauses, though, on getting a closer look at the Purah Pad. "-- izzat a new model of ENC?"

[newmemorywhodis]

"Purah Pad," Link replies, as he raises it and - SNAP! - takes a picture. It's a serene, tranquil picture.

One that gets almost immediately ruined by Link dive bombing into the pool.

[bearsperminute]

Well. If it's dive-bombing into the pool, there's just one thing for that!

Kanna cannon-balls in after Link, laughing loud enough after she comes up for air that the wolves howl along with her.

... That's likely to start a few local legends. "So not something from here?"

Since she's never heard of a 'Purah Companie', nor has she heard of an inventor named 'Purah', nor any principle named 'Purah', it's an assumption, but a decently educated one.

[newmemorywhodis]

Emerging from the water, it soon becomes clear just why Link felt the need to launch himself into the pond: to grab the fish that is now wriggling in his hands. Apparently, this is how Link goes fishing.

Giving no comment at all on the fish, Link shakes his head. No, the Purah Pad isn't from here.

"From home," he says.

[bearsperminute]

"Oh, hey, fish tickling. That takes me back." Kanna looks out in the water. Of course her cannonball spooked some of the fish, but curiosity and lack of sudden death will get the better of them eventually.

As to the pad itself, Kanna's interested, but didn't see any of the photos just yet, so how could she know the Pad can do it? "So what's it do?"

[newmemorywhodis]

Link's fish gets swiftly put away into his trusty Korok-enchanted pack - although since it's currently underwater, it might be a little hard to see. Either way, the fish isn't in Link's hands anymore.

(Neither is the Purah Pad, actually - it too seemed to appear and disappear mysteriously...)

"Pictures. Compendium. Notes. Map. Teleporting," he says, as he starts swimming over to the waterfall.

[bearsperminute]

She nods along with his explanation. Damn. Pretty usefu-- TELEPORTATION!?

Okay, no, she only knows one person who can teleport on their own, this needs investigation. She starts to swim after him.

Hm. How's the ground under the waterfall? Decently solid?

[newmemorywhodis]

Link was already moving on ahead, blissfully unaware of the kind of response his offhand comment was provoking.

And besides, he's much more interested in what's behind the waterfall - which, as it turns out, isn't solid. Because behind the waterfall is a cave, a void of hollowed out rock and sediment. It becomes all too clear now why the pond outside is so small - the rest of the water is flowing into the cave.

There's a pleased hum of surprise from Link, before he reaches into his pack and pulls out a brightbloom bulb. He tosses it into the darkness within, and when it hits the ground it grows into a flower that glows a soft, ambient green.

[bearsperminute]

She pauses, looking inside the cave, and sees the Brightbloom growing. "Oh, that's a neat trick."

The cave is somewhat tall, but not quite tall enough that Kanna can stand without ducking her head. Still, as the water runs through the place, it glistens and glimmers in the light, giving the features an unearthly cast.

The sound of Kanna's walking, splash, splash, splash, filled the air as she headed deeper into the cave. A few bats, disturbed by the sound, fly past. Kanna dodges them, and they dodge her.

The watercourse is heading downwards for some ways, it looks like. "Don't suppose you brought some rope? Slipping on the way down would be trouble."

[newmemorywhodis]

Link, on the other hand, does not have to duck. He is not tall.

He also reaches into his pack, and pulls out two mysterious looking potions. "Sticky elixir," he says, handing it to her. The other one he swallows immediately before charging ahead.

And indeed, if she watches him closely - it will become clear that Link's not skipping from the wet surface at all. He also clearly has considerable skill in climbing, as he deftly clambers over the rocks. But even when the surface looks utterly drenched, Link's holds are rock solid.

[bearsperminute]

She shrugs and takes the potion and for a brief moment makes the most scrunched up awful face you've ever seen.

For a second, she gives Link a bit of a look, but as she makes her way downwards, she discovers that yes, in fact, her grip is quite stable.

Okay, it's worth it, then.

Down, down, down, towards the bottom of the island. The darkness is only broken by distant bio-luminescence as they head away from the Glowblossom; this does not so much light up the features as highlight the darkness.

Despite this, it's not long before they hit water. "Sea level...?"

[newmemorywhodis]

Fortunately, Link has a lot of Brightbloom seeds. Whenever they move from one area of light into darkness, he pulls out another one and tosses it ahead.

He also frequently stops to pick up any mushrooms he sees. Or lizards. Or frogs. Really, practically anything and everything. All of these are whisked away into the small pack at his belt, which really isn't big enough to fit all of these.

At the water, he shrugs. "Could be an underwater river." He's seen those before, back in Hyrule. There were a few he knew of that twisted through underground spaces, before eventually reaching the sea. It happened.

[bearsperminute]

Lizards get a quick double-take of a look. Okay. These still had legs. We're fine.

As for what kind of water--

"Well, easy way to find out--" Kanna hums, pulls out an empty flask, fills it, closes her eyes, and focuses her Ether into her palms, setting the entire place alight with a healthy, earthen glow. Don't be hasty. Don't hold on to the flask.

She doesn't need nearly enough for the Eruption Strike, but she does need enough to...

The water begins to bubble inside the flask, and a small gout of steam erupts. "Ha! Knew it still worked."

She gingerly picks it up, and then sips it, and nods, dumping the hot water out. "It's fresh. Wanna see where it goes?"

[newmemorywhodis]

Link watches her use of Ether with curious fascination, making a hum of pleased surprise when it starts to bubble. Hot water! Useful. If he had such an ability, he wouldn't even need a fire to cook...

And yes, of course he wants to see where it goes! When would he not? He nods - but his enthusiasm soon turns contemplative.

"...No boat," he says. It's at times like this that he really missed Ultrahand. But they'd still need something to help keep them afloat as they go down the river...was there anything around nearby?

[bearsperminute]

"Oh, huh. You can't swim too well?" As for Kanna herself, it'd be fine, but if Link has trouble going long distances, that's an issue.

"Njord and Jord having their fun." Let's see... "We could probably drag some logs down, I guess?"

She walks the edge of the water for a good ways, both trying to see the path of the current, and see if any previous explorers have left rafts or other such equipment.

Surely they can't be the first?