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beleos ([personal profile] beleos) wrote in [community profile] kenosooc2023-06-23 03:39 pm

JUNE TDM + SETTING UPDATES


BEARING FRUIT (NEW CHARACTERS ONLY)
It starts out as a pleasant dream. You’re in your favorite place, with your favorite people. It’s a moment of idyllic comfort.
And then, it goes wrong. The sky turns dark above, and as you look up, you see the black expanse of space spotted with faraway pinprick lights of stars. Yet, they’re not stars. You’re certain. They’re watching you. A billion eyes all looking down, and they spill forth as if sky itself was a dam holding back those dark waters. You reach back to the people you’re with, but they’re frozen in place. Their eyes are black, reflecting only the expanse of dark eyes.

So you run, even though you know you won’t escape it. You glance back and see it not overtaking, but consuming. The landscape around you is being devoured, and you can see it cracking apart. The world itself is breaking, and it cracks under your feet. You fall, and the billion eyes chase after you until the darkness swallows you whole. There’s agony as if you’re being ripped apart, and then—

You cannot see. You cannot feel. You simply are. Yet even so, impossibly, a woman’s voice speaks gently.

I’m sorry it couldn’t be saved. But, come, it’s time to wake.
You wake with a start, cradled by soft, velvety plants, and sticky with a sap that smells faintly of honey and iron. You can see the veins of the leaves that hold you, lit warmly and gently by what looks like a crystal embedded above you. Yet, it’s odd, because that crystal calls to you. When you reach out to touch it, it’s warm. Familiar. Important. You don’t know why, but you know you must hold onto this, because now it feels wrong for it to be suspended in these leaves. So, you pull it out.

The light starts to fade, but only in time to see as the leaves cradling you immediately start to soften and crumble, and with it comes a torrent of dirt. Soft, loamy soil starts to fill the space around you in the dark as you’re buried. Or, rather, you already were. You reach out through the dirt desperately, and your hands finds a root, so you pull while you clutch that precious crystal so close that it almost feels like it sinks into you (in your panic, you don’t notice that it does). You reach out again, and this time, your hand hits open air and plenty of sturdy roots around to grab.

From a seed you’re born, and like a sprout, you make your way out of the ground.

And once you’ve clawed your way out of the soft earth and the roots, nearby, you see the soil shift. Another hand comes up to grasp desperately for something, anything, just as you had been.


TWO CITIES, ALIKE IN DIGNITY
With the new Shard-Bearers present or en route, it is Kathova and Cetina that approach the established ones, requesting that they form mentorships with the new souls to assist them with the integration process. To this end, they have both provided a centralized zone in both Highstorm and Springstar for a small, casual meet-and-greet to be held before the new Shard-Bearers are unleashed upon Kenos as a whole.

Additionally, as Springstar and Highstorm are holding their events on different days, it is possible for the knowledge-hungry to participate in both informational sessions -- the tones and opinions held by both cities are doubtless to differ, and some Shard-Bearers who have chosen to harmonize with either faction may even find their way to the opposing faction's session as well.

However, for those who have attended such events in the past, they'll note a marked difference—Only newly arrived Shard-Bearers and members of the faction are welcome. If you're a member of the opposite faction, you'll be questioned and ultimately turned away. If you want to join the party, you'll have to be a little sneakier, it seems.

SPRINGSTAR, αιώνιος ήλιος

In Springstar, the Seat of the Tribune becomes available for such a forum. While a section of the building itself has been reserved for the meeting between fresh faces and experienced Shard-Bearers alike, the hustle and bustle of Heliopolis continues around them -- acolytes still gather their robes and tomes, hurrying from their quarters to lessons. A score of young militants march in step across the yard to the training grounds.

Tables draped in white-and-gold-trimmed fabrics fare filled with fare typical to Springstar's mild winters-- fruits and wines, savory smoked meats and roasted vegetables, and large bowls of soups like youvarlakia and fasoalda have been lain out to encourage forum participants to snack as they speak. The atmosphere is ambient with informality and friendliness, though topics will inevitably stray towards philosophic or political, Springstar's meeting grounds are decorated with handsome chaise lounges and slouching klismos chairs in small, intimate groupings. This is a forum in the classical sense, where people are encouraged to speak freely, no matter the topic.

However, there’s a little tension in the air at this particular gathering. Whether you’ve recently arrived or you’ve been here nearly a year, it’s not hard to figure out—Meridian has just lost the Iconoclast Oracle, and though the Blight (see below) is improving, letting such an important things slip through their fingers again is painful. Without the Oracles, they’ll never see home again, after all. Yet to make matters worse, Meridian lost an unknown but not insignificant amount of its Shard-Bearers to Zenith’s sway. Even in the Seat of the Tribune, it’s not hard to overhear conversations about “what should be done to ensure they win the next Oracle” or questioning “if Tribune Cyrus is really up to the task.”

HIGHSTORM, луны-близнецы

Eternally in opposition, Highstorm provides the Manor's courtyard as the setting for their informational meeting. Formality is of utmost importance here, with attending Zenith loyalists and residents dressed in beautiful, albeit austere attire -- they are, after all, standing before Lady Yima's home. A buffet-style luncheon is spread alongside one of the largest reflecting pools, wherein you may gaze and find your memories revealed in retrospect upon the water's surface.

There are few places to be seated in the Manor's courtyard, resulting in a milling of bodies as they flow and ebb between smaller gatherings, clustering in small-to-large groups with small platters and shimmering flutes of drink held in their hands. Yet, as you look, you’ll see that the selection is also quite interesting. The foods and drinks on offer are from a multitude of worlds, and so you may find a new favorite! Or something not suited to your palate at all. It’s at least a chance to be adventurous.

The mood of Highstorm is subdued as always, but still seems to be pleasant and joyous thanks to claiming the Iconoclast Oracle. Again, it’s worth noting, as the Oracle was contested and therefore rightfully theirs in the first place. Congratulations are given to more senior Shard-Bearers for their efforts, and those who have just arrived may be regaled with stories of bold heroism at the first battle in the Scorching Isles or stories of wits and cleverness at its reclaiming last month. However, these stories aren’t always true, exactly, as only the Shard-Bearers have been present for either conflict. It seems they’re getting a bit of mythology built around them by the public.

SETTING UPDATES
In both locations, information passes between all in a forum, spread and disseminated among the masses - it's a good opportunity for city residents, faction loyalists and interested new parties to share and share alike. Once the meet-and-greet has concluded, twin missives from both faction leads are read out -- invitations for all present to explore the cities to their heart's content, and warnings about stumbling ill-prepared ( or at all ) into the Below, or worse yet, the Beyond. As Shard-Bearers new and old take in their cities, they'll all see it change throughout the month...

OOC, these are all updates to the setting at large that players both new and old are free to interact with as little or as much as they wish! Feel free to use them as prompts on this post, in your characters on-going lives and arcs, or just let them go "that's none of my business" and ignore it. The world of Kenos is shaped by our playerbase, and these are some of the wider reaching effects of various player plots and actions.

THE BLIGHT (CONCLUSION)

The Blight, a strange, time-related disease that had been ravaging Highstorm and Springstar both is finally being addressed concretely thanks to the efforts of a few Shard-Bearers (game-locked log) and unknowingly, of Aetós. While the cities are both still affected by the Blight, it’s now on the mend as the knowledge gained in the Scorching Isles is applied. For living things, a vaccine and medicinal potion has been developed, and for the environment, a technique has been developed to reverse the effects. Efforts are ongoing for each to eliminate the Blight from the cities entirely.
FURTHER DETAILS
  • Though the two cities are at war over the Oracles, the Blight is an area in which they’re unified because of the level of threat it presents to everyone. As such, the people of Highstorm and Springstar will both gladly accept help in distributing vaccines/potions or purifying the Blight from objects, regardless of their faction.
  • Distributing the vaccines and potions is quite standard, should you wish to assist with that effort, but both cities are offering monetary incentives for anyone willing to collect or donate its most important ingredients: gold, silver, or platinum (if you’re willing to kindly donate objects containing these materials to the cause), Turquoise Vitalia (a flower that grows in the highlands of World’s Edge), and Blue Lotus (a flower that’s springing up and growing rapidly near bodies of water in Highstorm).
  • You can also assist by purging the Blight from inanimate objects that are under its effects. Any Shard-Bearer who has Harmonized can be taught the process by some of the more senior NPCs that are in the bodies of government, but the basic process is simple. It requires a member of each faction, and similar to the purification of Discord, you’ll both push your faction’s energy into the object. As the process starts, you’ll innately sense that there’s a stronger presence of one energy over the other, and you’ll work together to equalize the energy.

CITIES IN RUINS

As part of the disastrous side effects of the Blight once ravaging the cities, large vines and roots have torn through the cities. This has created zones in them that are now uninhabitable because of collapsed buildings (which can be viewed for Highstorm and Springstar). There are efforts to rebuild both cities that are ongoing, but the unusual weather effects that were witnessed seem to be a bit more intense after a new batch of Shard-Bearers have arrived. This “unusual weather” can be pockets of thunderstorms of flurries, but they always carry additional effects such as (but not limited to) causing one to hear voices from the past or future, visual or auditory hallucinations of themselves from different timelines, pockets of space where old injuries, illnesses, or previously known physical conditions are re-experienced as if their body is going back in time. However, there are some new oddities that are also present...
FURTHER DETAILS
  • You may see ghostly specters of Shard-Bearers who have come and gone. Sometimes, they seem to notice that you’re there and flee deeper into the districts and disappear. Other times, they just go about what seems to be daily life in the district, though things don’t always match up. They might be leaning against a counter that’s no longer there, for example. Very rarely, you might even find one that you can have a conversation with, though not for long.
    • OOC, if your character is one that you’ve dropped, feel free to have them make a cameo reappearance. This is more a chance to give a little hello (or farewell!) to CR and is totally optional. We ask that you not make a toplevel for them (unless you’re planning on reapping them), but we’ve made a toplevel for these kinds of interactions here. We also encourage you to give some friendly (or maybe not so friendly) hauntings to new players!

POLITICAL TURMOIL

After new Shard-Bearers arrive and settle into their new homes (so much as they can), those that frequent Springstar will see that the tension of the welcoming forum wasn’t a one-off. Meridian is a faction with opinions and ideals that are as diverse as the worlds people hail from, and so not all are happy with Tribune Cyrus’s performance in leading the faction to lose the same Oracle twice. Debates spring up in restaurants and bars, but it’s only aided by two notable Springstar residents encouraging such debates. Desmond Ó Ruadháin and Agapitos Voreen both draw crowds in public places as they speak to the people that gather. Their talks are peaceful and encourage people of Springstar to talk amongst themselves… But they’re also distinctly political about the future of Meridian and Springstar.
FURTHER DETAILS
  • Desmond is the foreman who oversees how the unique architecture of Springstar is made, and as such as a deep connection and investment in peoples’ home worlds. When Desmond speaks, he brings people together and tells stories from his homeland and well as from others that he’s heard. It’s something he encourages for those gathered, though it does make the sting of the loss of the Oracle more worrying. If Meridian doesn’t get the Oracles, then they’ll never see home again. There’s an undercurrent in his speeches that having been born here and to a noble family that’s living in Springstar for generations, Cyrus can’t truly understand the stakes here. He may be a good Tribune during peace, but this is war.
  • Voreen is a businessman whose family owns several large shops throughout Springstar, and as such has a deep connection to the city and its people. When Voreen speaks, he brings people together by focusing on how Springstar itself is almost a miracle, and how it’s brought people from all walks of life together. His gatherings encourage people to get to know each other and to learn more about the people and the worlds they come from, since he deeply believes that the diversity of experience and knowledge is Meridian’s strength (…and frequent cause of arguments, it’s true). There’s an undercurrent in his speeches of a deep distrust of Zenith and especially of Yima. Anyone that offers you exactly what you want always has strings attached, right? Cyrus is too conciliatory towards Yima, and it makes Meridian as a whole seem weak. He may be a good Tribune during peace, but this is war.
  • This is also a situation that Yima is well aware of, and she’ll send a brief message to Zenite Shard-Bearers to inform them of the unrest brewing in Springstar… And that for those with a deft hand for such matters, it’s a good opportunity to encourage this unrest in whatever way they see fit. She makes it clear that if Springstar is busy with internal politics, it’ll be much easier to stop their occupation of Alenroux as well as ensuring that the city itself may not be able to provide resources or backup to its Shard-Bearers in the fights for the Oracles.

SMALLER CHANGES

PASTORAL PEACE (ALENROUX) Thanks to the ongoing efforts of both Shard-Bearers and Springstar’s military forces, Alenroux is now a much safer place to stay at night. While the threat of creatures roaming its lands isn’t negligible, the Southern portion of the island (close to the main Cornerstone) is now a place that can be inhabited by those willing to make the effort. Think of living there as being similar to living on the frontier—you have to build your own place to live and once night falls, you’re essentially on your own to protect yourself. Creatures will naturally gravitate towards anyone that chooses to set up a residence there as if they’re drawn to the life force, but so long as a home is well-fortified, it should be safe during the night. However, this does not apply the further North you go.

That said, while the people that work in (or just generally really like) Alenroux may be grateful to Springstar for its help in this regard, it does now seem unnecessary… Which is in large part thanks to Zenite efforts to undermine Springstar’s occupation. As a small town starts to be built around the Cornerstone, Springstar’s military or those that have been seen supporting it are treated with suspicion, if not openly told to leave. While the burgeoning community of Alenroux can’t said to be pro-Zenith (yet?), they’re definitely leaning decidedly anti-Meridian.

THE BALANCE OF POWER (KOWLOON) For those that have been in Kenos for a while and frequented the underground city of Kowloon, it’s been clear for a while that the drug den and bar Draumahol is under new management. Or, should we say, Draumah👁l? The establishment is now very openly owned by Silco, but anyone who spends enough time in the city to learn about its loose form of governance would also pick up that this means Silco has likely scooped up a position on the city’s “council”, though concrete confirmation of that is still hard information to get.

However, in a definitely unrelated point (it’s not), Meridian characters may find themselves running into more difficulty while in Kowloon. There’s no open hostility or even widespread distaste. It might seem more like bad luck unless Meri talk amongst each other. They may be more likely to be pick-pocketed or mugged, may find that some shops offer an arbitrarily higher price to them, etc. These are all free for players to decide, but should be on the level of being unlucky or a particularly bad day down in Kowloon rather than anything more serious.

OOC NOTES
  • Welcome to Kenos! As a reminder, all new players need an invite to apply to the game, which are now open. If you've previously gone through our invite process, you do not need to do so again, that said!
  • This log is Game Canon. Any characters who are not apped to the game will disappear. If Cyrus or Yima are asked, they’ll explain that this sometimes happens since not every soul has a strong tether to Kenos and sometimes return to the Timestream. They may return to Kenos one day, but for now, weren’t able to make the full journey.
  • As a note primarily for current players, closed toplevels/prompts are not allowed in this log. If you would like to interact with the setting changes in a way that isn't open to all characters (new and old), we ask that you instead make a log in [community profile] kenoslogs.

  • FOR NEW PLAYERS:

  • When characters emerge from their cocoon/the ground, they may be wearing their normal clothes or nude. Up to you!
  • At some point in the days after leaving the Tree of Life, new Shard-Bearers will have a dream, even if they're usually not capable of sleeping. All new players should read this post since this details how they'll learn about both factions and their goals and should help them make a decision about which Faction they'd be drawn to.
  • As a reminder, your character has a Shard somewhere on their body that encompasses their soul, so keep note of where you're sticking it on their person for reference! Additionally, they have a tattoo of their Aspect somewhere on their body. Please be mindful this Aspect will be assigned to you upon approval and whatever you choose for the TDM may be temporary (for new characters)!
  • For the Highstorm and Springstar prompts, both cities will be fully open and accessible to all characters once they are freed from their rather harrowing ordeal at the Tree of Life. For prompt ideas and any general information about the cities and what you can find there, all locations are listed here, but to make it even quicker! Highstorm + Springstar.
  • New characters will not have access to any canon abilities on the TDM until they Harmonize, AKA make a choice of which faction they choose to support. For some characters, this may be an easy decision, but it make take others time. We just ask you keep this in mind!
  • Finally, while absolutely not required for the TDM, if you'd like to get a headstart on catching up on the events of the game so far, we highly recommend giving the Plot So Far timeline a read. New players have found this page very helpful in orienting themselves within the game and its ongoing plot!

  • CODING
    bakedapple: (screenshot // pensive)

    [personal profile] bakedapple 2023-06-25 03:23 pm (UTC)(link)
    Yes. We can't get home without them. And, the Zenites can't create their new world without them either. So... we're fighting over them.

    [ Link's expression falls to soft distress. ]

    The Zenith claimed the first Oracle that appeared. So... we're already behind the curve. But in order to go home, we have to have hope and keep fighting for them. No matter what.

    [ From his lowered tone of voice, it seems this topic actually distresses him much more than he's letting on. This might not be your Link, Midna, but can you imagine your Link ever abandoning his duty to save Hyrule? Such a thing is just as unfathomable to this Link, too. ]

    ...but, well. When it comes to what the Oracles actually are, we don't know either. The first one was this strange little effigy that we found in an alternate version of Kenos, but... I don't think that was the Oracle itself. Maybe more like a vessel for whatever it really is.
    envoyoftwilight: (michelle; ma belle)

    [personal profile] envoyoftwilight 2023-06-25 04:24 pm (UTC)(link)
    [He looks, and sounds then, familiar all over again. To say she hasn't been thinking of the Hero of Light would be false. It makes it difficult to have an objective conversation with someone who looks similar to him and shares a similar disposition. Midna remembers well enough a distress of her Link's turmoil regarding humanity and discipline, why he was chosen for the fate that he was, if he could live up to such standards. All things she found incredibly human and things she could resonate with. After all, she had questioned her own capacity for her people.

    When this Link, the one before her, speaks, she hears and witnesses a similar sense of courage. Persistence. Altruistic ambition.

    He could knock the wind right out of her if she's not careful.]


    Well, well, well. Don't you sound like a little hero. [It comes out of her perhaps in a tone that could easily be interpreted as mockery, but she seems to be a bit charmed all the same.] So we're on... what, a little scavenger hunt for these trinkets? And we don't even know what they do. I can't help but think this is just more information that's been fed to us and someone got too desperate to question it.

    [Tsk, tsk.]
    bakedapple: (fanart // grief)

    [personal profile] bakedapple 2023-06-26 01:13 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ There it is again. That feeling — of familiarity, of knowing. He feels his heart jump in his chest from surprise and confusion and — is it yearning? What is this? Is it that sultry tone to her voice? The way that she's chastising him, without actually making him feel judged all that harsly? The way a friend would. But... they aren't friends. They're strangers. They've never met before. Right?

    Link glances away, grappling with his feelings. Always a difficult task for him, as preoccupied as he is with keeping his outward emotions in check, to maintain an air of strength and competence.
    ]

    ...yes. Yes, it's possible. There are plenty of people here who are skeptical too. It's the only possible way we know of to get home, though, so...

    [ So he believes it. Because he has to. Because giving up on Hyrule is not an option for him.

    This this answer left his mouth softly, more clearly distracted. For a moment, it looks like he's starting to get lost in his own thoughts, but then a Tribune servant brushes past them both, muttering an 'excuse me', and it rouses him from confused pondering.

    When he looks back up at her again, he's gained a bit of resolution. This is a shot in the dark, but he may as well come out and ask it.
    ]

    Miss Midna... you and I haven't ever met before, have we?
    envoyoftwilight: ('til we're together)

    [personal profile] envoyoftwilight 2023-06-26 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
    [His reaction is something she takes note of, though isn't arrogant enough to presume she knows what's going through his head. Instead, she simply observes him with curiosity and intrigue alike. With her own Link, she spent more time as an imp than she did as a woman. That too, makes the situation feel just a touch different. So many things about this feel the same and yet different.

    To her, it wasn't that long ago that she parted ways with Link, thinking she'd not see him again and he would seem little more than a fever dream, but if the Hero of Time had come to her realm to watch over it, then certainly, there is nothing stating the same could not occur with the Hero of Light.

    It is all too easy to drown in her thoughts, all brought upon by a familiar visage and all of the feelings that come with placing her sights upon it. She could address the notion of scepticism, of wariness, of foolishness, of desperation, but his question is more than worthy of a pause as she considers how to address it.

    Instead of an immediate reply, she simply smiles then. Something a little more warm and sincere, filled with only the fondest of feelings where those memories are concerned.]


    Hm... No. I should think we haven't. You remind me of someone, however, that I once knew. I had a good little pet who was very much like you. Seeing you now makes me wonder how he's doing. If he's living as he's always wished he could.

    [Free, without the constraints of his past weighing down upon him.]

    Do I seem familiar to you? Just how many breathtaking beauties have you seen?
    bakedapple: (fanart // brood)

    [personal profile] bakedapple 2023-06-26 03:07 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ For some reason, he feels vaguely disappointed to hear her answer, although that too he does not fully understand. So, they haven't ever met, then. It's good to hear her confirm it, even if it saddens him. Link cannot trust his own memories, after all. He doesn't have memories to trust in the first place. He barely remembers anything of his old life, the first life, before the Calamity happened. The possibility of finding an old friend, someone who could tell him more about the person he used to be, did occur to him... but only briefly. That isn't really the full explanation, is it? There seems to be something else, something more, when he looks upon Midna's face.

    A bit sheepishly, he nods in response to her question. She is very beautiful, in an otherworldly and alluring sort of way, and he quietly hopes that she isn't teasing him because he'd been gawking too much.
    ]

    You do. [ just gonna, um, skip over the breathtaking beauties thing. u////u ] But I don't understand why. There are many different peoples who live in Hyrule, but I've never even seen anyone like you before.

    [ So surely, it shouldn't be possible for her to be familiar to him at all, right? Even discounting the fact that he might have met her before and lost that memory. ]

    ...I'm sorry. I don't mean to dwell on it. [ His memory issues are not her problem. This situation is frustrating, though. If only he could still remember everything that happened before he was resurrected. Perhaps that is the source of this odd, misplaced yearning. ]
    envoyoftwilight: (of dawn and dew)

    [personal profile] envoyoftwilight 2023-06-26 03:37 pm (UTC)(link)
    [And there it is. That singular connecting point—Hyrule. This meeting, perhaps, is not a coincidental one. Or so one might say if they were seeking reason where it may only be a chance encounter. Midna isn't sure which one she seeks, but she's willing to wager that the lonely heart of a woman bound in darkness seeks the companionship of those with whom she feels closest. There can be no doubt, when she assesses herself, that she misses both Link and Zelda immensely.

    Even knowing they are always with her, in their own way, Midna finds herself reminded of that feeling. Yearning and want, something akin to completion, where a hole in her heart resides without them and the adventure they'd gone on.]


    Hardly something to be sorry about. [She scolds him with a gentle affection.] It would be quite the feat if you had seen me before. My people are a little kept secret by an old kingdom of your Hyrule. There would be no reason for you to know of us.

    [At least, that's the simpler way to put it. In truth, if he has a connection, regardless of the magnitude, to her Link, or any other grand warrior of history, then in some way, he would likely be familiar with the Interlopers and the Twili they evolved into. Surely, Zelda has plans to document the happenstance involving the Twilight Realm and how both realms came together for a common cause.]

    Perhaps you are connected to that young man I knew, or perhaps you read books. A Hero of Light, chosen by the Gods, so goes the story.

    [If wielding the Master Sword shared the memories and feelings of those who wielded it prior, then that too, is a feasible explanation for such a sensation. Perhaps what he feels are not his own feelings, but of someone who came before him. Although she can only speculate. It is as feasible that he is, in some other way, related to the hero she grew so close to.]
    bakedapple: (fanart // stunned)

    [personal profile] bakedapple 2023-06-28 02:58 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Hearing this, Link's mind screeches to a halt. Every lingering thought in his head relating to her appearance, whether they've met before, whether she's teasing him... they all evaporate instantaneously. ]

    You know of Hyrule?

    [ Later, he will realize that this possibility should have been obvious to him — unless she's someone he's met before in Kenos (which cannot be the case, since she has only just arrived), then she must be someone he met before Kenos. Or at least, that strange sense of familiarity must have something to do with his home world. But Link has spent the better part of three months asking anyone and everyone he meets whether they are from Hyrule, or even just heard of it. Not a single person has said yes. Not even people with Hylian-like ears. So to finally meet someone, it's... well, it's uplifting in a way that Midna might not be able to comprehend.

    Link stares at her like he's barely containing himself.
    ]

    Hero of... Light? The warrior to fought back haze of twilight that threatened Hyrule. [ The story has become rather vague by the era that this Link is from. ] It's a story from the Era of Myths... the most notable thing about it is that it supposedly happened at a time when Calamity Ganon was still human. They say he was a male Gerudo. [ which is another phenomenon that no longer occurs in the Hyrule he knows. ]

    I've heard the story before, but... if you're saying you knew that Hero... You'd have to be from tens of thousands of years in the past!
    Edited (omg sorry for the edits) 2023-06-28 14:59 (UTC)
    envoyoftwilight: (to her husband)

    [personal profile] envoyoftwilight 2023-06-28 04:26 pm (UTC)(link)
    [His very initial question, perhaps a bit innocent and earnest, provokes a quiet laugh out of her.

    She knows it well, though prior to her own adventure through it, she had only ever been able to admire it from afar. Stories have said that darkness yearns for light, and that light reflects a similar sentiment. Midna can look back on her youth and even later years to agree with that. Even here in this world she can appreciate the light, even if she cannot find herself enduring it easily or well.

    He stirs her attention with relative ease and swiftness, referencing what he knows or what he's made discovery of. To him, the tale of Hyrule and the Twilight is mythos? She ought not to be surprised. Hyrule had worked so tirelessly it seemed to keep the Twilight more a concept than a reality. A part of her feels disappointment and a touch of that remaining anger and grudge that has lingered.]


    My, if that's true, then I have to say that I look astounding for my age. [Which is to say, she doubts very much she is tens of thousands of years old, and Gods have mercy on anyone else who would dare imply otherwise.] I assure you that what I've said is as it was. What a curious thing that you appear to be a great deal like him. By which, I mean the hero, of course. Not that despicable banished demon king you made mention of.

    [She sure is familiar with Hyrule. And the Hero of Light. And Ganondorf. Some of those things a lesser pleasant familiarity.]
    bakedapple: (screenshot // HAPPIE)

    [personal profile] bakedapple 2023-06-29 11:44 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Link is practically hanging on her every word at this point. It's not just the tale of the Hero of Light that has devolved into myth and legend, but every other prior Hero too. To be meeting anyone at all who lived during that era is unfathomable, but someone who knew a Hero personally is —... and who knew Ganon himself, too?
    "Banished," she called him; there must be a grand story behind a label like that —
    ]

    I wish Zelda were here to meet you.

    [ He mutters the thought quietly, not even intending it as a response to anything she has said, being a little too overwhelmed to keep it to himself. Then he takes a breath, downs the rest of his champagne, and looks up at Midna with an intense air of purpose. ]

    ...Please, tell me everything! Everything you're willing to tell! About the Hyrule you know, and your Hero, and everything else!
    envoyoftwilight: (and 'til the day I do; love)

    [personal profile] envoyoftwilight 2023-06-30 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
    [That makes two of them, honestly, though it occurs to her that the Zelda he quietly makes mention of is likely not to be the one she's familiar with. That comes with its own plethora of questions. What would another Zelda be like? Would she have the same similarities to the childhood friend she knew? Or would the differences be more pronounced?

    The same kinds of questions apply to Link as well. Midna can't claim to know the details about how and why traditions are the way they are. The Gods must have a sense of humour, however.

    And so too, does she. She meets Link's excitability with mirth.]


    I've only just arrived and here you are prying me for information. I believe we have time to cover these subjects in time. You wouldn't wish to run me ragged now, would you?

    [It's difficult to determine whether she's willing to discuss such things or if she's simply stalling for time.]

    Although, I suppose I can say a little to satisfy you for the time being. The Hero of Light is a kind boy. Very dedicated to his friends. Devoted. Protective. And very human. Each place he goes, he touches the lives of those around him in little and large ways. In the face of all of that, he's very humble. If you're anything like that, I imagine you would like him quite a bit.
    bakedapple: (fanart // apple)

    [personal profile] bakedapple 2023-07-01 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Whether she's teasing him or stalling for time, Link tries his best to wrangle his enthusiasm. She's right — it isn't proper to grill a new arrival with questions, even if they seem to be someone from his own world. Blinking, he glances away and collects himself. He let his emotions get the best of him... which is unbecoming of both a soldier and a Hero. ]

    Ah. I see. He sounds like an incredible person...

    [ Nothing like he is, he thinks to himself, failing to see the obvious parallels when it comes to humility, at a minimum. But in the same way that this isn't the time for Midna to loredump on him, this isn't the time to feel insecure about his failures. ]

    Regardless of which faction you choose to align yourself with... I'll look forward to hearing more about the Hyrule you know.
    envoyoftwilight: (clutching her hankerchief)

    [personal profile] envoyoftwilight 2023-07-02 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
    [He sure does. Because he is, though she's almost certain if she were to say it, it would only be due to her being incredibly biased when it comes to him. Regardless, she preens and does very little to hide it. Link would be incredibly modest and likely would find a way to avoid that kind of attention, but she is more than happy to accept it on his behalf.

    What a very charitable person Midna is.

    Her expression relaxes just a touch. Hyrule is filled with its own complexities where her feelings are concerned, but there is no denying that to her, it's still beautiful in its own way. Like a part of her that she just can't hold onto, no matter how she might reach for it.]


    I can't say I care too much for the alignment nonsense. I won't let it be an issue either way. When it comes to Hyrule, however, I feel it's worth noting that I'm not from Hyrule. I might not have as much information as you're seeking. I can, however, tell you a great deal more about the Twilight.

    [A pause, as she grins.]

    If I feel like it.
    bakedapple: (fanart // knight)

    [personal profile] bakedapple 2023-07-03 03:27 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ ...was that a joke? In the way a tease is a joke. Link blinks in response, but once he gets it, he huffs a chuckle. ]

    I'll endeavor to encourage you, in that case. [ he gives her a little smile and a nod. ] I might have heard about the tales of the Hero of Light, but... truthfully, I don't know any of the details. They said he fought back an encroaching twilight, but... well, it's always seemed like almost a metaphorical kind of thing...?

    [ But perhaps it wasn't, if Link is understanding her right. In all fairness to the Princess Zelda of Midna's time, the full story probably was well-known, but Link's era is just so far in the future that it's akin to myth now. ]
    envoyoftwilight: (I'll be coming home)

    [personal profile] envoyoftwilight 2023-07-05 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Midna sighs dramatically into her glass. Metaphorical. The Twilight seemed metaphorical. Is that what the people have come to think of her and her people? How unfortunate, and yet not wholly unexpected.]

    I see. So that's how it's been. I'll have to take the time to properly educate you. I'm hardly metaphorical in any sense of the world. I assure anyone here that I'm very much here in the flesh.

    [Finishing off her glass, Midna tilts her head with a gentle smile, a little tight, but still sincere.]

    Either way, I'll be sure to put it on my to-do. I can't have you thinking something that's incorrect.