[Power Sliders Session 2] [You have just gotten a mission to save the multiverse! Hurray! And your first stop landed you in a field with a forest behind you and a castle in the distance in front of you. Your resident Platforming expert as well as your resident RPG expert have determined that you are in Zelda!] [Begin!] * Lex looks towards the castle. "Well," she says softly, "Let the games begin." Yeah, sure, whatever, look do we have a clue what we are doing? Isn't there usually some stupidly long talk and very annoying and pointless tutorial thing? I think we just got all the tutorial we're getting. In a Zelda game? The first one let you wander off without a weapon... We walk until we find things to hit. We hit them until they fall down. We point and laugh at them while they're down. Repeat. I can do that. Zelda games very good. Allow great exploration and many findables. We may also point and laugh at them while they're still up, but that's only for professionals. *grins* * Lex looks over at Henry and Katsuo. "So should we be heading for that castle, or something else?" * Kyler puts his hands in his pockets and sighs, looking around. Uh, keep an eye out for caves and large trees. I say we head to castle. Things always important at castle in Zelda. Always start there. Except games without castle. Then very confusing. ...well, the trees are behind us, and there's a second opinion on the castle...so we might as well, I guess. * Kyler shrugs, shakes his head, and starts off toward said castle. We can find out if they know who Zelda is yet. Sure, I don't know this shit. * Henry ambles after Kyler. All right then. How can you not know who she is? She's the only bloody female and is wearing a damn crown. * Lex starts walking. * Cassiopeia adjusts the scythe on her back, and heads off with the others towards the castle. Except when not. * Micah shrugs and just follows the group. I wonder how much these worlds are like the games, and how much they're like actual worlds. I mean, those random people that only exist for you to buy items from - do they have lives in these worlds? * Katsuo heads to the castle! Of course! Even if life revolve around standing and say 'Welcome to Corneria!' No, I mean, lives outside what you see when you play the game. Like, do they have kids, do they like to play soccer on the weekends, whatever. Maybe ask. [The trip to the castle would be rather uneventful, except you know, you're in a friggin' video game so every little thing may be interesting to you. As you climb one of the hills you can see a break in the forest to the south that appears to be a large lake. Beyond that lake is a mountain range topped by a huge, ominous-looking peak.] [To the west, the forest wraps around and several small forest villages little the landscape. To the north appears to be an ocean, and the castle is to the east. As you make your way closer to the castle You can now see a bustling city is at the foot of the palace.] Then they tell. * Micah frowns looking around, already bored with this land. * Katsuo points at the landmarks. "Death Mountain, Lost Woods, and Lake Hylia." I suppose. I just wonder how self-aware they are, and if they might be able to help us. * Henry nods. "They seemed like real people in Chrono Trigger." * Cassiopeia walks a bit behind the others, eyeing the brush and grass on the side of road. True. I think we may need help for our quest. Well, hopefully people will at least be willing, given the alternative. * Kyler shrugs rather uncomfortably. Some helpful, some not, all need help. Way of hero. * Lex looks sideways at Katsuo. "I am not a hero." * Katsuo laughs. "Anti-hero?" * Lex doesn't have a reply to this, and looks away. That's my deal. You all are the sugary bubble gum make my puke in the back of my mouth type. That explains your breath. Least it's not tuna scented. Ew. Eh. Can change that if find fishing pole. I think you're more the "too insecure and self-conscious about the fact that you have no friends and a crappy life" type. But that's just me. * Micah stares at the Japanese guy, not sure WHAT to make of that. * Cassiopeia tilts her head at Micah, then shrugs. * Katsuo smiles. * Katsuo thinks. "Landmark... not in right place. Castle usually north. Death Mountain usually east." Very different. Very unusual. ...how can you tell which way is north? * Katsuo points at the sun in the sky. [You eventually find yourself on a cobblestone road instead of the grassy plains that you were traveling up until this point. Ahead, the city gates are unguarded and a large market can be seen with several people making their daily rounds. The castle is beyond a bridge that crosses a large river, which flows into the ocean to the north] Oh, that's pretty cool. * Micah has snapped quiet during that, eyeing Katsuo up now. * Henry looks around fairly awestruck. * Cassiopeia blinks. "... that's sure a castle." ...yeah. * Lex 's mouth quirks wryly. "Who wants to go exploring?" * Micah shrugs a bit more staring at it. More to the point, what do we do now? Go around asking people if they've seen Zelda? Fine, what's the biggest most impressive thing in the damn game? How do you normally get it? We go, we grab it. And if any annoying fairies fly over my shoulder I pound them into the ground * Katsuo thinks as he walks into the city. "So many possibility. Many items important." * Henry tears his eyes away from the parapets. "Yeah. Better than asking about the other two... Hey, you ever feel like you're forgetting something important?" * Kyler laughs a little. "All the time, man." * Cassiopeia heads in through the gates! * Lex follows Cass, then looks back at Henry and Katsuo. "A starting point?" * Micah just follows along right now. Nah, not like that. I mean, something stupidly obvious. Yeah, that too. Why, what's up? Too many possible objects important. Master Sword, Zelda, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass, Harp of Ages, Rod of Seasons, Triforce... * Cassiopeia, assuming she makes it through the gates, begins darting to and fro around town, checking corners, barrels, boxes, pots and such for anything interesting and lonely-looking. * Katsuo seems pretty absorbed in his thinking at the moment. So if we can't start with the object, what can we start with? * Micah just seems to be following the group. * Henry looks at Katsuo. "Well, it's gotta be the most important thing right? So that's the sword. Sword always important, yes. Except in game where it doesn't appear. * Lex looks at Cass for a moment, then reluctantly follows suit, keeping an ear on the conversation. Then the answer is fucking obvious. The damn elf boy. He's in all of them. * Lex calls back, "But this is supposed to be a composite world. What're the chances the sword isn't in it?" * Micah starts to look around to see if people are noticing them. The Triforce of Courage then? That's what makes Link, Link. Yes, sword should be here. [As you approach one of the stalls in the market, you hear yelling coming from a storefront. "YOU DAMN KID! How many times do I have to tell you!? DON'T BREAK MY JARS! You got the rupees to pay for that!?" And a young man is consequently thrown from the store. He looks to be about fifteen, and he's wearing a green suit and cap that is familiar to many of you. He rubs his head as he gets up. "Man, some people have no respect for heroes, these days."] Uh... * Lex blinks, then decides she'll let someone who knows something about this world do something first. ...well, *he* looks familiar, at least. Found it. * Kyler looks at Henry and Katsuo. "You guys look like the experts here...one of you wanna talk to him?" * Cassiopeia picks up some chicken feed and chicken feathers from the street, stuffing them into one pocket. She then goes poking around some bushes... "Hey, I think I found some money! Cool!" Hey, kid! Ah, Link! Well, found something anyway. Hey Henry, anything on the dimensional key? * Henry checks his Macguffin! * Cassiopeia finds some loose string. "Jackpot!" She stuffs it into a pocket of her cargo pants. [For the first time all of you hear Katsuo say something that doesn't sound like broken English. It's perfect English to all of you.] * Lex looks at Katsuo, then at her wrist-thing. Looks like it works. [The boy stands up, looks at Katsuo and tilts his head. "Uh... why are you wearing such strange clothes?"] * Micah doesn't seem fazed or even questioning it, but he does seem like he's trying to re-evaluate Katsuo. * Henry blinks and hold up a finger. "That was it! Now I remember." [His eyes then widen and his face brightens. "Wait! Have you come from across the sea? Maybe you've come to help save Zelda!"] * Cassiopeia returns to the group, satisfied that she's found everything to be found. She starts somewhat at the new person. "Hey, we found the missing Link." * Katsuo chuckles at Cassiopeia. "What happened to Zelda?" * Kyler doesn't seem to notice Katsuo's accent, or lack of it, as he's paying close attention to the conversation between him and Link. He does spare a wince at Cass's comment, though. * Lex looks over at Henry. "What was it?" * Henry points at his bracelet. "Fixes the clothes." [Link brushes himself off. "Wow, you must be from far away. She's been kidnapped. Everyone knows that."] Kidnapped princess needs rescuing, what needs done..... * Micah trails off like something just occurred to him. [The bracelets, in case it hasn't been mentioned, are now closer to leather bracers. So they do not stand out, particularly.] So, uhm, you're Link right? [Link nods at Henry. "Yes. That's right."] [He then looks around at the six of you. "Um... Who are you people anyway?"] And how do you know who -I- am? * Micah taps Lex on the shoulder tilting his head away from the group a bit. * Lex looks at Micah, back at the group, then steps a little away for a moment. Er...would you believe lost sages from far off lands? * Katsuo nods to Henry. * Micah leans over and whispers in Lex's ear. [Link shrugs. "Yeah, alright. So do you know where the last gem is? I haven't been able to find it." He sighs and sits down. He reaches into a bag that is slung over his shoulder and pulls out a lute. "I've been trying to find it with this."] * Micah nods at Lex when he's responded to and moves back to the group. * Lex moves back as well, thinking furiously. * Henry absently scratches at his face and then winces. "Do you have the right music?" What music are you using to find the gem? * Micah is quiet, just politely standing there letting them talk. [He starts to play a bit and stops. "At each of the ancient dungeons is a gem, and a piece of music. The music is a song for finding the next gem. But in the last dungeon there was no music. The music stand where the sheet music usually is was empty.] Ahh. We're tying to find a thief. He must have stolen it. What are the gems for? And where have you searched? [Link stands up and puts the lute away. "A thief, really? Yeah maybe he did take it." He then looks to Katsuo. "Ah... Well I'll show you. We have to go to the Hall of the Hero. Everyone gather in close." He pulls out the Lute again.] * Henry shuffles in. * Micah gathers in with the rest. * Cassiopeia moves in close. * Katsuo is already close! * Lex moves in too. * Micah will poke Cass, as they moved in leaning in to her. "You got pen and paper?" [Link begins to play a song. It sounds very fast and party-like. Kind of like the kind of song that would be played while people danced around and drank. Soon the worlds seems to blur.] * Kyler nods his head to the rhythm as he listens. * Katsuo listens to the rhythm. * Henry listens to the groovy travel music. * Lex has other things on her mind. * Cassiopeia starts to reach around to her back to get at her bag, then stops when the world starts going blurry. * Micah isn't paying much attention to all this. [When it unblurs you find yourself in what appears to be a large temple except very broken down. There is a tattered red carpet, and it leads to a statue of Link that is about four times bigger than the boy standing in front of you. In addition, this statue looks older and slightly different in appearance. In both his hands and both his legs are gems colored Blue for the Left Hand, Red for the Right Hand, Green for the Left foot, Yellow for the right foot, and there is an indent in the head which appears to be for another gem.] [Link turns to you all. "This is the Hall of the Hero"] * Katsuo looks at the statue. "How many dungeons have you been in?" * Cassiopeia adjusts to her surroundings, then pulls a small notepad and pen from her bag and hands them to Micah. * Micah scribbles something down yanks the page out and hands the things back to Cass, he wasted a second page writing thank you on it. * Cassiopeia puts the stuff back in her backpack! [Link points to the gems. "I've been to four. There is a gem in each dungeon, and each dungeon has an associated element. See? Red was Fire, Blue was water, Green was wind, and Yellow was earth."] So what's the fifth one going to be? And what happens when you get them all? * Micah moves up close to Henry, watching Lex talk. [Link shrugs. "I don't know what the fifth one is. The music was supposed to tell me. But when I get all five I am supposed to get help from the legendary hero who saved Hyrule in ancient times."] What was his name? His name has been lost. He's just called "The Legendary Hero" now. * Katsuo hmmms and puts on an old-man-thinking look. * Henry nods. * Cassiopeia stops gaping at the surroundings, then starts poking around the room. * Katsuo looks at Cassiopeia and smiles. "Oh, break jars. May have rupees in them. Don't worry, they come back." * Micah pokes Henry, and shoves that paper into a back pocket. "Later. It's important." He whispers in his ear. * Henry eyes Micah like he's crazy. * Micah looks like he probably is. * Cassiopeia picks up a chair leg, gives a big thumbs up back to Katsuo, and starts looking around for pots to smash. [Link tilts his head to Katsuo. "They come back? I don't think so. Old man Muller keeps yelling at me for breaking his jars. He always has to buy more to replace them."] Can't you just tip them over? Of course! You're breaking the jars in a rich man's house! Break jars on the street, nobody cares then. [For the record, all the jars in the temple appear to already be broken.] Or just cut grass. Grass always has rupees in them. * Cassiopeia frowns, then shrugs and shoves the chair leg into her backpack. It sticks out! [Link raises an eyebrow at Katsuo and then goes back to talking. "Anyway, I need to find the last dungeon. I want to be like the legendary hero and save Zelda!" He gets a look of determination on his face. "I know I can do it. I was given the Lute of Legends because I'm supposed to be the new Hero!" He sighs. "But people aren't very willing to help."] People never willing to help. * Lex glances sideways at Katsuo. "Such is the life of a hero, apparently." * Katsuo hmms. * Micah shrugs. He doesn't know anything. Well - where were the last dungeons? And where might another one be? I mean, I'm not exactly an expert, but I would think there are certain places you'd know a dungeon wasn't. * Henry nods. "But you've gotta find where the music went... Hey do you have a map?" [Link looks to Lex "The last dungeon was the Temple of Water. I had to go to Lake Hylia. Then he turns to Henry and nods. "Yeah, sure. I have a map." He reaches into his bag and provides a map of Hyrule.] Yes, map important. Good thinking! * Katsuo looks at the map. "So where have you been? Where have these dungeons been?" [He looks over Katsuo's shoulder and points out some places. "The Temple of Water was in Lake Hylia. The Temple of Fire was in Death Mountain, The Temple of Wind was in the Lost Woods, and the Temple of Earth was in the Great Cavern." He points them out as he says that. The Great Cavern, incidentally, is in a cave upstream from Hyrule castle.] * Katsuo looks in other places on the map that could possibly be other locations. "Last element. Heart? Soul? Light? What do you think?" He looks at Henry, who also knows something about what's going on. Er... do you have an annoying talking si....fuck we're the damn fairies. [At that comment a voice seems to come from out of Link's bag. "Hey! Who're you calling annoying!"] Light maybe? * Henry looks at the bag. [Link cringes. "Aw, man..." And he pulls the Lute out again. "Would you please be quiet. They're trying to help?"] Right, aren't you supposed to constantly say that cloud over Death Mountain looks mighty suspicious till they damn well check it out? Pfft. Like I have nothing better to do than tell this hopeless hero things he already knows. Besides, can't tell him what I don't know. Can I? And I don't know where the last dungeon is. Ah, you're less annoying then. Besides! A lot of help you lot are being. Sages from a far-off land who mysteriously know everyone's names but don't even know what the fifth gem might be. * Micah makes the answer up and sounds official doing it. "It's light, light conquers the darkness and that's what you're trying to do." * Kyler raises an eyebrow, but doesn't say anything. [Link widens his eyes. "Really, you think so? Where do you think it would be?"] * Lex rolls her eyes behind Link's back. * Katsuo thinks for a moment, looking over the map. "I think... Hyrule Castle?" Or is there a desert or temple of light somewhere? * Henry checks the map for the current location of Gerudo Desert. [The map includes these areas that have not been mentioned as previous temple locations. Hyrule Castle, and two islands across the sea. One of them is a desert island, and in the center of it is a barren wasteland where a large black castle sits, and the other is an island far to the north that is covered in ice.] [Gerudo Desert is, in fact, the name of the desert which surrounds the dark castle.] Right, it's probably the castle like they said. * Henry scratches at his face. "Uh... actually that's probably where Zelda's supposed to be." * Katsuo nods. I think so too. In the castle. What ever, you guys are the real experts, but I damn well bet it's something to do with light. [Link is watching the conversation. "So uh... where should I look?"] Do you need the songs to open the door, or do they just tell you where to go? Not to sound like an idiot, but no one got any divination abilities or anything like, did they? [He shakes his head at Henry. "No, they just tell me where to go. Well the Lute tells me where to go after I play the song."] Sadly, no. * Katsuo shakes his head. Not me, but I bet ice comes before big dark evil castle. [Link brightens up though as if he has some ideas. "I have lots of other stuff though! Like uh..." He starts to sift through his bag. "This boomerang, and this hookshot, and these metal boots which are way too heavy, and these water flippers, and a couple of bottles..." He reveals all these items as he removes them.] Bottles are important! * Katsuo looks at the bottles. Fairies? How can bottles help us find a dungeon? [There is a fairy in one. She looks disgruntled.] Hydration's important, y'know. * Cassiopeia eyes Link's bag with a bit of a gleam in her eye. * Micah watches all this, really not sure what to do or say, he looks at the fairy and grunts a bit. And you can put things like oil and healing potions in them. And milk. ... and little people with wings. * Katsuo thinks. "You haven't explored off-land yet?" [Link shakes his head. "Um... I don't have a boat." He looks confused. "But wait! Maybe I can get one!"] Do you have one! You came from across the sea right? We got here by magic. ...no one said we took a boat to get here. * Kyler nods at Henry. [Link seems to become disheartened again. "Ah... " Then he perks up again "Could you use magic to get us across the sea?"] I don't know, what say you sage of the sea? I say someone else sent us here, and as far as I know he isn't ready to take us anywhere else yet. Yes, we can't leave until we've helped you accomplish your quest. But how much does a boat cost? I mean, you've been running around breaking pots and getting money, do you have enough to buy one? If not, I think quests may be involved. [Link shrugs. "Um we'd have to go to Mido to find out. They have boats! I've never been there."] I can pilot if we can find a boat. I might be able to help, too. Well, depending on the boat, anyway. Sounds good. So how do we get to Mido? * Henry checks the map. [Link nods. "The only problem is, uh... I can't take you there. I've never been. So we can go to Hyrule castle. It's north of there." You all remember seeing a port town on the way to the castle, and sure enough it's on the map. Mido.] [Link begins to play the Lute again. The same song is played and you all find yourself post-blur at the gates of Hyrule Castle's City. "There we go. Now we just have to head north."] Maybe we should walk there? * Micah almost groans at all this but lets it happen I don't know how to ride a horse anyway. [Link nods at Katsuo and begins walking. "Yeah. It's not a far walk."] * Henry grins. "Let's go then!" * Lex starts walking! * Henry goes north. * Micah follows them, keeping his grumbling to himself. * Kyler gets going. * Cassiopeia wanders along, randomly assaulting shrubbery and overturning rocks as they walk along. * Katsuo walks, thinking and mumbling to himself in Japanese. "More I think about it, the more I think we should head to Mido. Zelda games usually don't revisit old areas until after the 6th dungeon or so." [After some time you all approach the port town. It's a small town on the north coast, there are large ships docked at the port and most of them appear to be unloading various goods.] [As you enter the town, you notice about two hundred crates marked "Pots" and a bunch of others marked "Grass" A smaller number are marked "Bottles" And there is someone being very very careful with a crate that is marked "Bombs"] * Micah stares at the crate marked Bombs. It shouldn't be hard to figure out what he's thinking. No stealin' the bomb crate, "anyone." No playing with explosives you don't know how to use, anyway. But, we should probably buy some before we get on the boat. Or we're gonna have to come back. Yes, bombs very important to game. Come on, it'll be fun. I won't use them on the boat. * Cassiopeia hands Henry the rupees she's gathered since they've got there. "You know what to spend 'em on." * Henry checks to see how many he's got. "Hope they're cheap." [There are three large ships docked at the port, and one smaller boat which looks to be in some amount of disrepair but still afloat. It could fit about five people comfortably and a few more with some discomfort.] [There are about 25 Rupees that Cass has found.] Being as this is not Scooby Doo, do we want to split up? Some of us to check out boats, others of us to go shopping? * Micah stares at the boats. "I'm psychic." Henry leads one group, Mr. Yamamoto takes the other? Yeah. Sounds good. Henry, let's go shopping. And boat people to the boats. * Kyler nods. I guess I'm going sh... to do what he said. Okay. You go shop, I help look for boats. * Cassiopeia plants herself next to Henry. "Lead on." * Kyler looks over at Cass. "Wait, you know about boats, too, right?" Wait, Cass, go with Katsuo. You actually know how to sail. * Micah grabs Henry and starts dragging him that way. "Go check out the boats green hatted kid and others. I know which one you'll end up on unless the other one has pirates." * Kyler puts a hand on Henry's shoulder before he gets too far away. "Hey, don't let him walk all over you, all right, kid?" He then nods and goes to join Katsuo. * Henry looks up at Kyler. "But I was going to go check the prices on bombs anyway?" ... logic. Desire for stuff. Logic. Desire for stuff. * Lex follows Henry and Micah, eyeing Micah. Well yeah, I'm just sayin'. * Cassiopeia closes her eyes for a moment. "... right. Right item for the job. Katsuo, I'm with you." And she goes over to Katsuo. [Link follows Katsuo, because really he needs a boat! "I don't know how we're going to afford one of these boats. I mean, I spent most of my money on these bottles. It was hard to get through that Temple of Water without some healing potions."] * Katsuo nods. "Bottles are important. Never pass them up." * Kyler grins at Cass. "Besides, didn't you just give all your money to Henry anyway?" Yes. But... things! Maybe you can make a deal for a boat. Things important, but so is boat! Bad boat makes meet Davy Jones." I mean, Henry knows what going on here and all, but... who knows what could be useful in a particularly unlikely set of circumstances? * Kyler shrugs. "There are only so many things we can carry, anyway." That why Henry going with. RPG instinct good for thinking of what needed in silly scenario. * Cassiopeia tilts her head at Kyler. "... I don't follow." [Link nods. "Yeah, maybe!" He seems to brighten at the prospect of doing a quest for the boat. "The Legendary Hero is said to have helped people all over the land and ushered in a great time of generosity and peace!"] * Katsuo nods. "Let's just hope it's not a huge trading quest. Those are annoying." * Kyler blinks at Cass. Agreed. And if we don't get our own boat, maybe we could just get passage. Someone is bound to want some weird magic doohickey on the open sea. There's always someone going where you wanna go. Even if you hafta talk to fifteen people to figure it out. Yes! You know game logic. * Cassiopeia offers Katsuo a high five. * Katsuo high-fives Cassiopeia. HE SO HIP! [As you approach the little boat you see an old man who appears about sixty. He looks disheartened sitting on the boat with his head in his hands. On the floor to his left is a fishing rod.] * Katsuo waits for Link to make the first move. After all, Link IS the protagonist. ... y'know, despite growing up on a fishing boat, I never actually learned how to use a proper fishing rod. [Link moves up to the old man and kneels down next to him. "Sir, what's wrong?"] Yeah...well, kind of the same with me--our family kind of thought of fishin' as an excuse for drinkin', so.... You, lucky girl. I grow up in big city. No water. [The old man looks up at the boy. "Oh... I've given up. I'll never see Gynamo again! I have been trying to catch him for thirty years. When I was a young boy I once saw him but no one would believe a fish could be that big. But now I think they must be right. I must have imagined it. If I could have only caught him to prove to myself he really existed."] * Cassiopeia nods at Katsuo, then turns and grins at Kyler. "I used to sneak sips of my dad's whiskey when I was a kid, 'cause I wanted to be like him and his crew.' * Kyler snerks a snerk at Cass. [The old man coughs and leans against the mast of his boat. "Besides, I don't think this old boat can take much more sailing. And I can't afford a new boat. I barely make enough rupees to get by fishing. What with all these big sailing ships here these days. There's just no business for a small business fisherman like me."] * Katsuo looks at Cassiopeia. "Sound like someone need help." [Links looks sad and then looks back to Katsuo, Cass, and Kyler. "You think we can help him?"] Yes. Maybe look at the other boats first, but I think he's the most likely person we can help. Sure! I may not know how to use a fishing rod well, but I know fish. [Link nods and turns back to the old man. "Hey, don't give up. We can help you. We'll be back in a bit."] [The old man simply shakes his head and puts his hands back over his face.] [Link heads back to the group. "So should we check out the larger ships, then?"] Can't see the harm in it. * Cassiopeia nods. [Link nods. "But we'll help this guy anyway, right?"] Of course. He could give us something vitally important. ...you sure? Yes! Always help everyone out. Even if it's funny. * Kyler shrugs again. "Well, okay then." [Link smiles. "Okay!"] [Session End Over Here]