Hello all! I am Golden/Goldie (they/them, 30+ adult), and this is my BotW/TotK LoZ RP blog! I follow and interact from @augmentedampharos, and my primary art blog can be found at @incaseofart.
I've got a few original characters, my own botw version of Vaati, and I also will RP my Champions Live AU versions of Urbosa and Mipha!
So, some important things to know: this blog is hella pro oc x canon! This blog also loves interacting even if my AU conflicts with your AU - we can just ignore it or meet in the middle, the important part is having fun!
I am happy to take questions for my OCs, have one off interactions (silly or serious) or do RP threads! Either way, I will be posting art, potentially fic, and lore blurbs. So much of it is stuck inside my head!
Below the cut is my lore directory~ I will update this directory over time as well :D thanks for reading!
(my to do list for my own easy access)
Directory
Kakariko Trio
The Kakariko Trio is Wendy, Crystalline, and Vaati. Here is a profile page for them! Basic info and refs for them can be found here! Bonus info about the Triforce they form can be found here.
Sheikah Ancestor is also a key piece of lore.
I love tagging specific relationships - here's the list of tags with links.
Romantic: Wendy/Urbosa (Modern History), Crystalline/Mipha (Wash Over Me)
Familial: Wendy & Vaati (Blacksheep of Kakariko), Crystalline & Vaati (To be Like You), Wendy & Crystalline (Children of Destiny)
Xavier and Mengyao
Xavier and Mengyao intro posts! Mengyao is a Rito who is a fashion designer, and Xavier is her ex-Yiga friend and bodyguard. They travel across Hyrule selling Mengyao's wares, participating in fashion showcases, and finding inspiration for Mengyao. Xavier and Mengyao are mlm wlw besties~
@songs-of-the-windfish 's Fat Fin for day 6 of @adorkastock 's draw everything June! Fat Fin is such an amazing character so I was stoked when they gave me permission to draw him for this 🥰
I present to you a bunch of doodles I did for fun and to practice drawing ships! I was looking up illustrations of ship interiors to get an idea of what the BlackFish might look on the inside. It's still very scribbly so maybe one day I can do a more refined version 👍
Below that was more fun with drawing various paraphernalia, mounted monster kills, drinks, dishes, furniture, and food :9 I'd like to show what kind of monster decor they'd put up around the ship and while drawing this I had a few ideas for food recipes Obryan could make.
And we also have some ideas for weapons that Xander would use. In his human form he carried two swords called the Remora and Barracuda. I wanted to design two new weapons to suit his zorca self! Since his people are immune to lightning I thought a sinister move he would do is have a lightning based weapon by using a thunder gleeok horn. His second weapon is a lynel saber horn used as a parrying dagger since in his hand it'd probably be smaller in size, but just as deadly! I dont have any names for them yet, like the other stuff I just wanted to draw some in-game items :>
Introducing Silgin! He’s inspired by a Helfrichi Firefish that I saw in my local aquarium. This zora oc has been floating around in my head for about six months! But every time I tried to draw him it just didn’t turn out how I envisioned it, until now!
See below for some lore ramblings on Silgin and his small domain.
Silgin is from the Northern Misty Isle, a small domain shrouded in thick mist roughly 75% of the year. Although the mist makes it difficult to navigate to, the serene ocean waters surrounding the domain have caused it to become a popular port stop for ships. One needs only a navigator familiar with the route to get there!
The reason why the ocean waters are so calm around the domain (year round) is due to the local population of water mage zoras (a clann), who have become known as The Tamers of Turbulent Tides. They can calm storms and the currents of the ocean via singing to the water, and the more singers the larger the radius of effect. This is a shared ability amongst the water mages on the island (almost like hive minding, their magic briefly unifies to perform this technique).
The Ballad of the Tides (stealing this from one of my old fanfic titles XD) is a public performance that happens once every few months, however it is never announced, so you simply have to be there at the right time to hear it! But those present on the island will know when it's about to happen, as the clann zoras will begin to congregate in the shallows of the ocean for hours as they work to get a “read” on the “voice” (energy/frequencies) of the water.
They sing exclusively with wordless vocals, as a chorus of ethereal voices resonating with the water. Their singing replicates the energy of the waves as they work to tame it, starting wild and intense and turning calmer and harmonious with time. Hearing the start of their song can be quite alarming for ships unfamiliar with the locals!
Silgin is part of the water clann from this domain. His affinity for water magic is quite powerful, with his most prominent trait being purification. Through purification he is able to cleanse waters of any impurities. He is also skilled at fighting with water magic (should the need arise! Atla water bender inspired style lol), though he is incapable of using weapons of any form (can’t get the hang of them, too rigid).
NOW LET’S EXPLORE SOME OF SILGIN’S HISTORY
In the interest of bridging two water clann’s together, Silgin was married into Aett Strauma (Volica’s esteemed water clann) under dubiously arranged means as a fairly young adult. He was selected specifically due to his purification ability, which would be a boon to Aett Strauma as the ability to cleanse waters of pollutants is an important function of the clann for aiding Volica’s deep sea mining.
Much to each respective clann’s dismay, Silgin proceeded to DIVORCE THE SHIT out of his spouse the second he could. Surprisingly, Silgin’s war path to annual his marriage was met with firm support from his (soon to be divorced) spouse. Neither of them had found themselves compatible, nor wanted to be married so young to begin with. The two have remained close friends since, for they’ve bonded over the circumstances they were placed into.
"Oh him? That's the asshole who divorced me. We're chill tho."
Pissed with his family marrying him off, he stayed in Volica, and thus Aett Strauma, for a while. He found he appreciated the principles of Aett Strauma, and freely continued to work with the clann and offer help, resulting in him being adopted into the clann regardless of the divorce.
Now a bit more settled about what happened, he has returned to the Misty Isle, but often visits Volica as he considers the domain his second home.
Other Silgin/Domain Facts (Ramblings)
Ceremonial Handfasting
Ceremonial handfasting is a tradition observed on the Misty Isle. The handfasting ceremony declares the intention to court between the respective individuals involved. This is done with the partners sitting in the shallows of the water, and once the cords are fasted, they dip their hands in the water, and go for a swim together. The more people, the more complex the knots are, representing the complex nuances that come with having multiple partners. By swimming with their hands fasted together it shows they can work together!
Should the courting fail, and a break up occur, another handfasting ceremony will be performed where the partners will hold their hands together in a fire until the cords are burned off their hands in a glorious display of embers, representing the release from each other's hearts. Not to worry, magic is used to prevent their hands from burning!
If a courtship leads to a successful marriage, the cords may then be worn as an accessory!
Ancestry
I've found I've enjoyed drawing paw feet a lot lol, so I want to give them to him, but canonically Thresh and Fe'nan and Fe'nan’s mom are the only living Zora-Wolfos descendants in the domain, and Silgin is obviously not originally from Volica.
So this got me thinking about more monster bloodlines…
Specifically, the Dark Nut’s from Windwaker! Because in Windwaker they look like dobermans when disarmed!
I thought him having this lineage would be suiting as the long fin on top of his head was specifically designed to look like those ponytail plumes on a knight's helmet! So it’s basically a call back to his lineage.
I’m also thinking about giving him those spiraling tattoos the Dark Nut’s have on their shoulders, as another call back, and as a way to represent waves! All the residents on the Misty Isle will have these tattoos, and they’ll be slightly modified to be more celtic in nature as Silgin has a lot of celtic inspiration.
With his lineage, his voice sounds particularly haunting during blood moons.
Misc. Stuff
Silgin is particular about maintaining the sheen of his fins, and takes time every morning to ensure they are well taken care of.
Aett Staumas tradition to give animal companions upon adulthood extends to members who marry in. Silgin received a snow white fox (he took the dog in the divorce lol).
Merchant vessels who encounter misty zora outside the isle consider the encounter a good omen, for they are seen as a sign of calm waters and thus easy journeying!
Another reason merchant vessels are fond of misty zoras is because they are known to help ships in serious distress. Using their abilities they tame down turbulent waters, and can even part huge tidal waves to prevent ships from capsizing. Doing this has helped the Misty Isle develop a strong repertoire with the merchant vessels that come to their port, which is important because….
The Misty Isle doesn't have much to offer from their island! The isle does not produce anything unique (such as plants, ores, food, it’s all fairly standard!). They are predominantly a trading stop for merchants on the way to bigger destinations. As a result the residents on the isle rely heavily on bargaining and the trade of services with traders to build resources. Rupees aren't utilized at all on the Isle, as everything is a goods bargaining system!
Contemplating the notion that misty isle zoras get sent out to journey across Hyrule’s seas at a specific age in order to form a deeper connection and understanding with the ocean (which helps with their magic). They are required to visit each sea within Hyrule (Akkala, Lanayru, Necluda, Faron, and the beyond) before returning, and cannot journey with other members of their clann.
I’ve mentioned in my lore post about the Volica Domain that up until the famine, Volica was fairly self-sufficient, and thus didn’t have many/any allies. The Northern Misty Isle is one of their only pre-famine friendships with history stretching back millenniums. Volica was the first to come to the Misty Isle with the request to use their island as a port stop for merchant ships coming to Volica to buy their ores/steel. This would ease the hardship of the long journey to Volica (as it is so far up north), thus making it a more appealing place to obtain materials from. In exchange the Northern Misty Isle would receive specialty items Volica produces.
Volica’s friendship with the Northern Misty Isle was nearly broken by intentional sabotage from the corrupt King and Nobles. Silgin played an important role in helping maintain good relations through his connection to Aett Strauma.
When I say the Northern Misty Isle is a small domain, I mean it is SMALL. It qualifies more as a small island town, having no more than 50 permanent residents of varying species, half of them being water mage zoras. It looks populous due to all the travelers they get, but people are always coming and going! There is no hierarchy, no government, no diplomats, just a small community of people that’ll sit in a circle weekly and discuss/brainstorm solutions to problems and sometimes argue about who makes the better fish dishes. Everybody knows each other and the locals love to watch drama go down between the many people that visit their isle. Tavern fight? They’ll be watching from afar while eating dried seaweed. Then extort the instigators for labor to repair any damages caused (either that or be permanently banned from the isle, their choice).
If you read this entire post, thank you! Here’s the bonus WIP of Silgin I’ve been working on to nail down his face, appearance, and demeanor a bit better.
Phew! I was whittling at this for the past couple of days. I was inspired by @songofnewlife and @the-prairie-rose to get to work on my pirate zora! What started as one sketch became two, and then I wanted to elaborate on Xander's crew, and it spiraled from there! Come with me on a journey to talk about Xander and the crew of the BlackFish :>
Xander
The son of Matriarch Langara of Clan Marin, and younger brother to Luna and Lurona, just a few years older than Leta. As Langara’s only son, the pressure to have children was nonstop when he became of age. He eventually grew fed up with these rigid customs and left his pod to strike out on his own, spending years exploring the world outside his Clan. Once Hyrule had satisfied his curiosity, he turned his attention towards the Great Sea, traveling to islands, underwater kingdoms, port towns and more, making friends and enemies alike.
Xander would do odd jobs for rupees, collecting an impressive fund over the years thanks to being part of a long-lived race. He found he was really good at monster hunting; because he enjoyed it so much, he figured, “why not make it a professional thing?” Eventually he used his funds to commission a ship, though many wondered how he’d make use of something that couldn’t fully accommodate someone of his size. Xander was aware of this, and had his new ship, the BlackFish, made specifically for the crew he planned to hire. After all, while he was well suited to life in the water, if he expected people to accompany him with his business they would need a ship to work from.
Xander himself is a calm and practical individual, but underneath that persona lies a sardonic wit and a taste for the ostentatious. After all, while never having any use for material possessions as a zorca, a pirate’s status is often shown through power, wealth and panache in handling oneself. Xander knows he has to look as well as act the part if he wants anyone to come work for him, so he likes to show off the wealth he’s collected by wearing outfits tailored to his size, often sporting monster parts he’s hunted himself. It adds to his already-intimidating silhouette!
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The BlackFish
The BlackFish is a standard brigantine vessel whose sails were designed by Xander to be black on one side and white on the other thereby copying his Zorca colors. He commissioned a flag designed on his dorsal fin’s birthmark, tweaked to look like monster marks to hint at his monster-hunting profession. One side of the ship sports a floating platform he uses when either resting or addressing his crew; the other, meanwhile, has deployable counterweights to prevent his size from capsizing the ship. The Black Fish is large enough to support a full crew, complete with storage, galley, artillery section, and crew quarters (where the captain’s quarters would originally be on any other ship).
Another unique design of the ship is a harness of Xander’s own creation, which he attachess to the ship via a pair of chains when he desires to pull the ship himself. While the BlackFish is more than seaworthy, Xander himself constitutes that extra boost necessary for when there is no wind for her sails, when the ship and crew must be safely guided through a storm, and when chasing sea monsters that the BlackFish isn’t fast enough to keep up.
Xander makes a show of “stripping down” when he dons the harness, since he doesn’t want his expensive clothing getting wet. He’s gathered a loyal viewing party for the occasion.
It’s a regular sight, seeing crew members fighting over who gets to help undress him.
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The Crew of the BlackFish
Because he tends to live several times longer than most Hyrulean races, Xander has seen more than a few crew members come and go. No one is indebted to stay on the BlackFish, and they are paid well for their services (it is, after all, a high risk/high reward job!)
Xander currently has a crew of twenty individuals, six of whom have earned a place in his inner circle. These are the members he has come to personally trust and see as friends.
🦜 One-Eyed Jack
A Jackdaw Rito who arrived just in time for one of Xander’s hiring phases, Jack is a rito with a glib way of speaking. Though he likes to use humor, he doesn’t mince words - and even though Xander is captain, Jack is not shy when it comes to giving the Zorca advice. Rather than let ego get in the way, Xander opts to listen to what he has to say. Jack’s advice, as well as his own merits handling issues onboard the ship, have earned Jack the spot as First Mate and Quartermaster.
His authority is second only to Xander’s own rank, and he is keen to not abuse his position.
♨️ Obryan
Originally hired as an assistant to the previous cook on the BlackFish, Obryan took her superior’s role when the cook decided to retire. Nobody objected to the promotion; after all, Obryan already knew her former boss’ recipes, and even knew how to improve upon them.
She also works as the ship’s surgeon: as a Gerudo, Obryan is a seasoned warrior with plenty of knowledge on how to tend wounds. Her bedside manner is something to be desired, but it's only because she has no time to listen to the whinging of the other crewmates. There is a medic on board who can make potions and use a little bit of healing magic, but Obryan emphasizes nothing will heal right unless bones are set and wounds are stitched.
Obryan has had to tend to Xander numerous times, as evidenced by the number of scars he carries. She does not hold back on her scathing remarks regarding his stunts.
🏝️ Mergan
Mergan started out as a little stowaway who found their way onboard the BlackFish when the crew came upon the remnants of a ship overtaken by monster pirates. She eluded the crew for days, sneaking about and pilfering food and whatever else they wanted. This caused several crewmates to think the ship was haunted - they began to notice several things missing, moved elsewhere, and scuttling noises beneath the floors. Jack, however, sussed out there was more than meets the eye, and soon found Mergan’s hiding spot in storage where she’d made her own living space.
The crew members immediately made her one of their own. Xander, however, objected, saying children had no place on a monster hunting crew. He planned to have Mergan dropped off at the next port, but the crew counter-objected so much that some even considered mutiny. Jack kept the peace, and while Mergan was a sweet child, he also agreed that the BlackFish was no playground.
During the trip to the next port Mergan had a chance to show how tough and handy they could be, helping with various chores on the ship from cleaning and cooking to getting into hard-to-reach places. Her induction as cabin boy arose multiple times, and despite Xander’s decision, he was outvoted.
It wouldn’t have mattered anyway as Xander was slowly but surely won over by Mergan’s cuteness and charm.
🌶️Spicer, 🗺️Pyet and ⚔️Sweetums
Despite being from vastly different regions, these gorons traveled together - and together they added their colorful bunch to the Blackfish crew. It didn’t take them long to show Xander what they were capable of, and over time they earned their roles on the BlackFish.
Pyet, being a rare Alae goron, has the unique ability to float in water! With their nautical know-how of the Great Sea’s currents, they took on the role as Sailing Master, charting courses and sailing the BlackFish herself! Their vast collection of charts became a valuable asset to the crew, something Pyet takes great pride in.
Pyet, while having no definitive gender, prefers to take on a female identity. They’re friendly, studious and always willing to talk someone's ear off about their adventures alongside Sweetums and Spicer.
Sweetums is slow-going, but that feature is perfect for their fastidious nature, which earned them the role of Master Gunner. They are responsible for maintaining the artillery of the ship; its cannon-, weapons- and gunpowder quality are thanks to their discerning eye. With the help of Pyet and Jack, they even designed a fat, stout cannon, capable of firing a goron like a cannonball to reach rival ships. They lovingly refer to this weapon as “Mama Thunder.”
Spicer is the bossiest of the goron trio. He means well; being the larger of the three, he naturally takes on the role as leader. Spicer didn’t know what to do with himself at first when joining the crew’s ranks; while trying every job he could to see what worked, he instead found himself guiding others to do their jobs to the best of their ability. Jack noticed this, and after speaking with Xander, he made Spicer the Boatswain, putting him in charge of the ship’s maintenance, all its goings-on, and reporting it all to the captain.
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Extra Info
⚓ Originally Xander was going to be a twin to either Luna or Lurona. I decided against it, but its Lurona he's closest to due to their closeness in age and both being the middle children of their family.
⚓ The whole crew was originally from the Final Fantasy universe, Xander was a sky pirate who ran a ship called the Black Shark. I changed the name to BlackFish because that's a name used for killer whales!
⚓ Some of the names of the crew originated from The Muppets Treasure Island roll call scene; One-Eyed Jack, Sweetums, Clueless Morgan (Mergan), Big Fat Ugly Bug Face Baby-Eating O'Brian (Obryan). The others such as Pyet and Spicer had filler names when I was looking to throw in random npcs during my chat roleplaying days such as Pirate Jim and Pirate Pete 😂😅
⚓ With permission from @semirampant-dwickery, Pyet comes from the same isles as Danmalaak. Spicer is also a goron like Dwick with the zonaite rocks on their back. He's just not as wide or trollish as Dwick can be!
⚓ I dont have any "BIG" story plots for this group, I just want to play with them in the sandbox. For now, Xander is only one open to shipping. He can be a shameless flirt but he's also a guarded individual so I'm interested in finding fun and interesting ways to have him lower his guard around someone he starts having feelings for 👀They'll definitely have the whole crew watching everything unfold like its their personal novella!
old sketches of human Fat Fin! I was playing with his hair and made a little headcanon that he'd wear it to be matchy matchy with his current SO. The purple hair tie and jacket in particular was to copy human! Thresh who belongs to @chaotic-zora!
Over the past few weeks, I've received numerous comments, questions, and messages all centered around one topic: Why does my Zora OC have breasts when canon Zoras don't?
Though factually incorrect, the frequency that the question has been raised and the air of misogyny which often accompanies it has made it increasingly frustrating to see repeated in the comments of my personal art.
Because this misconception appears to stem largely from unfamiliarity with the series' history and character designs, I've decided to put together a brief overview of the long and surprisingly consistent history of Zora breasts within the franchise. My goal is not only to address the question once and for all, but also to provide context for newer fans who may not have been involved with the fandom for as long.
So, let's talk about Zora knockers.
The Downfall Timeline
Zora have been a part of The Legend of Zelda series since the release of the original game in 1986. Due to the technological limitations of the time, their appearance in early titles was ambiguous. However, the game's official instruction booklet describes them as "half-fish, half-woman," providing one possible insight into their intended design. [Citation]
Thankfully, clearer understanding of their appearance can be gained by examining later games within the Downfall Timeline where the Zora are depicted in greater detail while retaining many of the characteristics established in the series' earliest depictions.
One notable example is Queen Oren, the Zora Queen who appears in A Link Between Worlds. Oren is a distinctly full-figured character who features a prominent chest further emphasized by her shell-like bra. While her appearance is somewhat unique among the Zora seen in the Downfall Timeline, there is no indication within the game's canon that she is an exception to the species' biology.
Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask
The version of the Zora species most fans are familiar with today was introduced in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) and later expanded upon in its direct sequel, Majora's Mask (2000). These games established many of the visual and cultural traits that would come to define the Zora for years to come.
While the majority of named Zora characters featured in both titles are male, players are also introduced to two prominent female Zora characters: Princess Ruto, the heir to Zora's Domain in Ocarina of Time, and Lulu, the celebrated singer of the Indigo-Go's in Majora's Mask.
Notably, both characters are depicted with traditionally feminine body shapes, including prominent breasts. This is evident not only in their in-game models but also in official renders.
Twilight Princess
Twilight Princess was the best-selling game in the franchise until Breath of the Wild dethroned it in 2017. The game was widely praised for its striking visuals, compelling storyline, and more mature tone. But although it possesses many strengths, one stands far above the rest in this writer's admittedly biased opinion: Queen Rutella.
Despite her limited screen time, Rutela leaves a lasting impression. Her design is graceful and regal, while her role in the story is imbued with a quiet tragedy that makes her one of the series' most memorable supporting characters. (At least in my opinion 😊🩷)
More importantly for the purposes of this discussion, Rutela's design continues a visual tradition that had already been established by earlier female Zora.
Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom
The two most recent mainline entries in the franchise, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, are landmark titles whose influence can be seen throughout the gaming industry. Breath of the Wild in particular was celebrated for reinventing the traditional Zelda formula, embracing a level of player freedom and open-ended exploration not seen in the series since the original game.
Among its many innovations was a vast open world populated by a diverse cast of NPCs. This represented a particularly significant change for the Zora in particular, as in previous titles, most Zora NPCs shared a model. By contrast, Breath of the Wild introduced Zora with different body types, color palettes, silhouettes, ect- allowing players to recognize them as individuals and giving us a clear look at what constitutes the species' visual baseline.
And do you know what's included in that baseline?
That's right: boobs. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Female Zora throughout Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are routinely depicted with visible breasts of varying sizes. They are no longer reserved to important story characters. Once Nintendo finally moved beyond recycling a handful of generic models and began depicting the Zora as a diverse population, breasts became a standard feature of female Zora design.
And of course that's just npcs. Zora girls with more significant roles in the story (Mipha, Yona, Qia) share the same traits.
In Conclusion.
From the very beginning, Nintendo has consistently portrayed female Zora with visible chests as part of their character designs for three decades. The characters listed above are clear examples that breasts have been a recurring and intentional feature of female Zora depictions throughout the franchise's history- effectively proving that Zora may exhibit secondary sexual characteristics similar to those of humans.
This isn't new. So stop acting like it is, for the love of god 😭🙏
Man I would like to have more energy for this blog but alas 😅 I did send a few feelers for if folks wanted to rp which I think I could manage but I never heard back on any of those so! If you do want to feel free to hit me up and we can discuss~
For a great many people at the Shattered Mast Keys, the break between Farore Class’ third and fourth matches felt shorter than those previous.
For some, it was from all the opportunities to gawk. Six (no, seven!) entrants (can’t forget Vuk!) had debuted for the Keys’ middleweight division, and even watching S.M.A.S.H. Event Staff lashing tow lines to raise each victorious fighter’s portrait up to the Tournament Wall’s second tier was an exercise in excitement. Each portrait, affixed to ornate granite frames (when not tossed about by enthusiastic delivery rito), was handled by a small cadre of strapping individuals, mostly of the Goron and Gerudo persuasion. As such, even the act of recording victories came with its fair share of rippling muscle, grunts of effort, and sweaty backsides. Seeing those portraits raised to the second tier, knowing all the while that a fourth would soon be making its way up those rope cables, made people itch to see those work crews in action again.
For others, it was the lines and crowds. Early afternoon had arrived on the Shattered Mast Keys, yet there was still little respite from the blazing sun. Sunbrellas flew off concession stands as soon as they could be stocked, and cool drinks, korok leaves, and other libations were in high demand for anyone who couldn’t score a seat with at least partial cover from the elements above. A swim area enjoyed regular activity on the main islands’ west end, taking advantage of a cool inrushing tide, and Hylian, goron, and zora alike sighed in contentment as the sweat and grime of island life washed off in the rolling waves.
Incoming waders were warned, however, by numerous signs and volunteer zora, to never venture north of Chell’s cove. Any that did so of their own volition would not be helped if they were caught in the Maelstrom’s currents.
After all, nothing came back from the Maelstrom.
For a great deal of the island’s guests, however, there was only the love of the sport. The thirst for action, the desire to see who could beat the living daylights out of who, and how spectacularly they could do so. These guests were here exclusively for the competition, for Chell’s machinations, and Ruidoso’s elated repartee. No barebacked labor, tidal swell, or offers of Noble Pursuits would block them from that noble pursuit.
Thus, as the bellbird’s familiar form began circling the skies, and Ruidoso’s summons echoed across the skies, the crowds flooded in to see the latest entrants in Chell’s sport of open combat.
“Well, well! Couldn’t keep you away, now, could we?” S.M.A.S.H.’s announcer joked, miming the pull of a rope in as the audience arrived. “Farore Class beckons - and as if rushed in by the Goddess herself, here you are.”
Ruidoso’s miming ended with an elaborate stumble backwards, as though the object he’d worked so hard to tow in had abruptly been cut loose. He crashed into the ceremonial instrument at dais’ center, great white shoulders catching around the kettle drum’s massive canvas rim, and he panted, his chest heaving a few seconds before playacting at regaining composure.
“Three battles! Six–six–warriors!” he intoned, raising a warding finger to those who would point out Chanticleer’s exclusion as he rose from the kettle drum to stride about. “Three are down, CAST ASIDE in the Tournament of Farore - and by Round’s End, a fourth shall join them!
“But do not weep for them,” he continued, pointing a dramatic finger to individuals in the crowd. “To lose in the Farore bracket is to accept the Trial of Courage: to stand tall in the face of uncertainty, to CONCEDE that you might LOSE IT ALL…and persevere nonetheless. To acknowledge the cruel whims of fate, to say damn the consequences, I will FIGHT - that is the HEART of courage, the HEART of Farore, the HEART OF S.M.A.S.H. itself!”
Ruidoso paced about the dais, his head down, his hands behind his back. He soaked in the melodrama, basked in it, allowing it to thicken as the torches on the Farore Tournament Bracket flickered in the early afternoon haze. When he turned to address the crowd next, he wore a grave expression, grimly shaking his head as though he hadn’t just performed a vaudeville routine a moment ago.
“I will not ask for a moment of silence on their behalf,” he said, raising his hands. “No. Nay!--I ask for celebration! A JOYOUS KEENING for those fallen in Farore’s honor! My magnificent S.M.A.S.H. audience, you lovely spectators, WILL YOU NOT JOIN ME?!”
Their shout was a cacophony of pealing screams, shouts, laughs, and howls.
“THREE ARE DOWN!” he continued, holding up three fingers as he shouted, just barely audible over the din. “...But THREE REMAIN - and A FOURTH SHALL SOON JOIN THEM!
“Now which one shall it be?!”
“Will it be THIS towering exile?” he asked, silencing the crowd with a sweep of his wing. “This Lady of the Desert, she who has chosen a life of asceticism and penitence over honor and protection? Could it be that Farore will grant her blessing upon this disgraced Royal Guardswoman, she who has sacrificed everything upon the Altar of Sand? Will SAHMIIRA THE EXILE beat the odds and become the final contender of our vaunted Farore Bracket?” @felczerzy
“OR SHALL IT BE THE FIST OF THE NORTH?!” he belted, swinging out his other wing. “Shall KOGORO be the Sheikah’s last chance for redemption? Kogoro, the last of his clan with the opportunity to CONFRONT the calamitous Balali, who so decisively claimed victory in our VERY FIRST MATCH of the Bracket? @songs-of-the-windfish
“Will Kogoro become our final warrior of the Farore Semifinals, or shall he be ground down by the self-described Sage of Sand? Shall Sahmiira emerge victorious, or will she meet her end at the hands of the snow-coiffed Sheikah?!”
Ruidoso brought his hands together, observing his ever-attentive crowd over the feathers of his fingertips. One could almost hear the onomatopoetic shiiiiiing of light reflecting off his eyes an beak before he finally spoke again.
