Ahnu Hope

Here is the story this Breath of the Wild divergence blog is dedicated to.  I'll post chapter links, art, theories, and concepts that relate to it.  Feel free to interact!

[ahnu-hope]

Ahnu wanders into yet more ruins, but the decimated ground they tread proves a tad more sacred than the remains of the average villages or outposts they've come across before. But, before Ahnu can think too hard about what they've begun to discover there, the otherworldly glow from a nearby mountain suitably distracts them from an uncomfortable, unfortunate realization.

Chapter 32!!

Only one more chapter before I’m through with the parts that were hells to write!

[ahnu-hope]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapter 31!

See you next weekend!

[ahnu-hope]

In an effort to distance themself from things they don't like to acknowledge, Ahnu resumes their standard of 'Pursue anything remotely interesting and don't think to hard about any inconsistencies you encounter' along the East Necluda mountain range. It earns them an uncannily realistic dream and an even weirder helmet.

Chapter 30 is finally here!  I’ve got the next few chapters written as well, so I’m hoping to actually keep up with my old promise of weekly updates.  This month of Ahnu’s journey (month 5) was always going to be a pain to write, mostly because of just how many chapters have been dedicated to it compared to any other month, but I promise that the pace is gonna pick up again soon, especially after the next Blood Moon!

I’ve been a bit preoccupied with writer’s block after getting a bit of minor dental surgery done over a year ago, and I’ve recently started another personal project on the side that I’ll be posting somewhere else one day, but that latest news about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, has gotten me hyped and finally ready to resume!  So sorry for the wait, but I’m back baby!

[ahnu-hope]

Ahnu passed out somewhere they shouldn't have (again), and isn't all too keen on being so abruptly woken up. They have a talk with the Chief of Hateno, and he says all the right things that they absolutely did NOT want to hear. They take this as a sign that it's time to pack up and get out of town.

Whoops!  Just realized that I never posted a Tumblr link for what used to be the latest chapter of Ahnu Hope!  Thought I might as well do it now, since I’m about to post the one for the latest chapter!!

[ahnu-hope]

Wowee! So sorry for my absence. I hit a writers block and then life proceeded to hit me hard in the teeth. Also, not gonna lie, I sorta slipped back into pokemon, so...yeah. I’m back now though! That new trailer definitely helped! Master Sword/Fi corrosion theory FTW!!

I’ve got nearly two chapters finished, so I’ll try to get them out soonish. I’m working through a point in the plot I was tired of before I even started writing it, but it needs to get done because shit really picks up after the next blood moon! Half a month to go!!

[ahnu-hope]

Ahnu playing with cat--just what we all needed.

[ahnu-hope]

In return for rescuing her sheep and dispatching the monsters that threatened her family's livelihood, Koyin treats Ahnu to dinner and gives them a bed for the night. They finally get the chance to talk to her great grandfather, but expectedly regret it, and after a morning of lending a hand to the farmer folk, they make yet another mournful decision--venturing off to the East most end of Hateno to visit the facility that lies there.

Woo woo!  One more chapter in queue after this!

[ahnu-hope]

tfw bad texture food

(Chapter 24)

[ahnu-hope]

Just a slightly damp Ahnu peeling a potato.  That’s all.

(Scene from chapter 27)

[ahnu-hope]

Taking shelter from the rain, Ahnu meets up with the third eldest individual in all of Hateno. They make stew together, feed a gaggle of children, and Ahnu sets off to explore the East side of the Hylian Village.

Gonna post a picture to go along with this Chapter!

[ahnu-hope]

On the trip back to the renovated house, Ahnu has an interesting encounter with a seemingly malevolent magical being.

Demon stuff and house renovations, woo!

[ahnu-hope]

After becoming the owner of a house for some reason, Ahnu makes another round about Hateno's commercial services before getting partially settled at the local inn for the time being.

Another day, another chapter!  Four more waiting to be posted!

[ahnu-hope]

Ahnu wakes up in the outskirts of the most well-known Hylian settlement, and then proceeds to hit up a few of the local businesses.

Get ready to spend SIX chapters in Hateno y’all

[ahnu-hope]

Heyo! I’m back!!

Sorry for the impromptu half-year plus hiatus. I actually got a job! It’s taken me a while to sort out a balance between creativity and responsibility with a ton of burnout tossed into the mix, but I think I’m ready to continue!

And I think the first think I’m gonna to is post the six chapters I’ve had fully written up, edited, and resting on the back burner lol

[ahnu-hope]

Months of Hyrule:

1.) Month of— Time

2.) Month of— Magic / (Fae)

3.) Month of— Fortune / (Luck)

4.) Month of— Earth / (Rock)

5.) Month of— Fire

6.) Month of— Water / (Oceans)

7.) Month of— Darkness / (Shadows)

8.) Month of— Light

9.) Month of— Sky / (Winds)

10.) Month of— Storms

11.) Month of— Life / (Forest)

12.) Month of— Spirits

13.) Month of— Demons

Patron Deities:

Hylia

Din

Nayru

Farore

Each month is 28 days long, totaling to 364 days in the year.

The alternative month designations listed in the parentheses are some of the more colloquial names used.

[ahnu-hope]

Not gonna lie—l’m kind of debating the merits of making the world of Hyrule a 13 months per year situation.

I’ve said before in the past that I headcanon each month as a uniform 28 days, amounting to 336 days in a year, and I’m still firm on that. Adding another month would turn that into 364 days a year, which is only one day shy of a standard year IRL.

On one hand, I’ve roughly planned out the story to adhere to the 12 month year thing—but it certainly isn’t something I can’t work around since my timeline is only a rough thing for me to loosely stick to. Basically, the only con is mostly a sentimental one. This would be the biggest change I make to what I consider my personally established Hyrule lore.

Otherwise, there are a ton of pros. It actually cuts me a bit of slack in more than a couple timeline events—vastly improving one of the earlier things that happen. It would make the whole “Hylians live longer than IRL humans” thing a bit more veritable, since before, I used to headcanon that the average lifespan of Hylians and IRL humans were actually the same, because Hyrule’s years were just shorter. Also, I’d like to imagine that that mystery 13th month I’d have to come up with a name for is like, the bad omens month of the year. Being born on the thirteenth day of it is unfortunately hilarious. I’d put it at the end of the year for sure, just after December.

It’s not like it would mess with much else, since I also headcanon that Hyrule doesn’t experience natural seasons because the planet it’s on isn’t tilted (something I infer from the path of the in-game sun)—but instead the land experiences “magical” climate shifts occasionally, breifly and rather inconsistently. I imagine that the reason that so many diverse ecosystems can coexist in such close proximity together—as I, again, headcannon Hyrule to be a little over 5,500 square-kilometers big—is because the standard climate of differing regions is partially magically sustained.

Eh, I’m rambling now. Definitely warming up to the idea of a 13 month year. I’d love to hear the thoughts of others regarding the subject!

[ahnu-hope]

Almost forgot, here are the most recent monthly stats!

You get the barest bit of hinting regarding where Ahnu will be heading if you fixate on the “Status” category. Nothing specific, so you’d have to extrapolate and theorize, but still.