Ikana Castle - Esava and Tommy Storm the Portal

*Characters involved:*

* *Esava*
* *Tommy*
* *Calix*

**CLOCK TOWN**

Spoof APP [1:44 AM]
The tavern tucked away into the corner of Clock Town is busy tonight. The candles have already melted to half of their length, while used knives stick into the mostly eaten cheese wheels available to consume. Scattered and dirty plates lay about on many of the wooden tables that guests sit at, while weapons use the same tables for leaning support.

The dark red stone-bricked walls blend in nicely with the similarly bricked walls, though the roof appears to be made of thick chunks of wood. The occasional keg can be seen in the rafters - an emergency for when supplies run low. A roaring fire in the corner fills the open space with a light smokey smell, though that is combined with the smell of salted pork, fresh mead and other savoury delights.

The place is abuzz with chatter. Warriors from afar and locals roar amongst themselves in laughter; conversation full of heart and guile. Arm wrestles can be seen on some tables, while at other tables there is a darts throwing competition. Drinks splash onto the table and floor as hearty men and women slam their cups into each other, before downing the booze with gusto.

Seated at one table not far removed from the action at all is a man from the desert. Opposite him? A deku scrub. On the table between them is an old piece of parchment. Despite being stained and torn, it's clear a map of Termina. Or rather, Ikana Valley.

"We land here." Esava says, thrusting the point of a knife into the map. "That gets us on top of Ganondorf's stronghold."

Tommy APP [7:38 PM]
Tommy's been around taverns like this before, but not quite in this context. Usually he's there on some sort of errand, like delivering a letter or a verbal message. Which, in turn, he mainly took on as an excuse to be there, drifting between the tables and 'discovering' valuables that might be 'unclaimed'. I mean, who leaves their rupees in a bag hanging from their chair? That's just *asking* for someone to help themselves, right? And Tommy's not one to refuse the request. ;9

But now, Tommy's actually here as somebody who BELONGS in the setting. He's a seasoned adventurer and professional peril-monger! And he's got a hard-as-nails lackey who'll rip the spleen out of anybody who looks at him funny! >D So Tommy sits proudly at the table, his chair boosted with a small crate, and imbibes an herbal blend popular amongst rough-barked scrubs.

When Esava makes his statement, Tommy sets his tankard down with an appropriately reckless \*THUNK\* and a mild splash, then leans over the table. "Sounds like a gutsy plan, mate. And wot's th'take on this enterprise? Gold? Jewels? Magic artifacts? Gold-encrusted magic jewels?" 8]

Esava APP [4:40 AM]
The lithe figure of Esava leans forward onto the wooden table, ignoring the herbal blend that sploshes over the top of Tommy's tankard and onto the table. The deku scrub isn't alone in behaving in such a wild fashion! Two figures nearby, clearly drunk, are spilling more booze than consuming it.

"You're free to take and keep whatever we find in the castle, Tommy. But my limited exposure to the hallways of that fortress did not reveal much in the ways of currency." Stroking his chin in thought, Esava considers the interior a bit more. "You might have better luck with artefacts. Again, I don't know what's just going to be laying around. But a being of that sort of magical fortitude is bound to have some weaponry or item laying about to help him."

Rolling his shoulders into a shrug, the dark-skinned figure point his index finger down onto the map once more. "But our objective isn't related to pillaging, Tommy. No. We are - or at least I am - will be looking for the portal. In the western wing of the fortress there is a gateway, the only one I know of, that leads us to Hyrule. It's the dimension that Link and his allies were hoping to return to."

Esava clenches his fist around the knife handle. His knuckles crackle in effort, eyes narrowing as he yanks the thing out. "Once in Hyrule we track down Ganondorf. Or at the very least those that aim to bring him down. And we help bring fell the beast that is the King of Evil." Taking a big breath, a smile suddenly creeps across his face.

"I'm sure the royal family of the realm will heavily compensate you for your efforts."

Tommy APP [2:18 PM]
Tommy picks up his mug again and takes a long swig while Esava explains the plan further. Despite the influence of the herbal blend, this is starting to sound a lot like the trip into the desert. Going someplace because Esava wants to, with no target of value in mind, and not knowing what they'll find...and on top of that, there's a virtual *certainty* of running into dangerous enemies, which makes it *worse* than the desert trip. c.c At least with that one they weren't *expecting* to be attacked. Tommy sets the mug down again with a hiccup. "So, erm, lemme get this straight...we're gonna storm th'fortress of the nastiest warlock evah known, t'*chase* 'im through a portal to a place we don't know, an' do wotevah we can t'bring 'im down, which is probably 'Not much'...so that th'royal bigwigs o' that place will hail us as heroes an' shower us wi' riches afterward?" =.=

Esava APP [6:00 AM]
"Ganondorf isn't in Termina. Granted I am sure he did not leave it unprotected, but he will not be at the castle. If all has gone according to his plan, he is already in the other dimension and ruling it - just as he did with ours." While Esava does have a full pint in front of him, it most certainly isn't alcohol fuelled. It's just water, something oddly hard to acquire at this tavern. With a free hand he picks up the tankard to take a few hard gulps, before putting it back down.

"And we aren't storming in from the front. We're going to drop in from above to avoid all the hassle." How exactly they plan to do that? Well, that part isn't explained.

"Tommy, we haven't been together for very long. And you go on about gold doubloons. About rich gemstones and priceless artifacts. But you have seen what that monster has unleashed on our world. You followed me into the harshest of all deserts without promise of any riches. I believe there's an honourable thread in you somewhere that I can tug on. Surely you want to help spare millions of others the same fate?" He pauses then, looking dead serious with his dark eyes. "And to tell you the truth? I need you if Ganondorf is going to begone. Somehow, in all of this, I feel that you have a big part to play in all of this."

Spoof APP [6:17 AM]
That somewhat deep moment is shattered by a brawny ranch hand on the table over. The bearded fellow, who just lost an arm wrestle to his opposition amid questionable tactics, leapt up onto very table he was competing on! Before he has a chance to do anything more though, a wooden chair is smashed onto the ranch hands back. The chair explodes into pieces and sends the bulky fellow forward, sprawling onto the ground with a heavy thud and a drunken 'belllllch'.

There is a moment of pause as everyone takes in the sight. A second passes. Then another. Then? The surrounding drunkards erupt into laughter and song as splinters of the broken chair rain harmlessly down on and around Tommy and Esava. The violins playing their merry tune again and the chatter, dancing and drinking continue. The poor sod just remains laying on the floor, groaning in some pain. He'll probably feel that tomorrow!

Tommy APP [11:07 PM]
Tommy narrows his eyes defensively. "Wossat? Honourable? That's a rank insult where I come from, mate. I followed ya into that blinkin' sandbox because you still owe me y'life -- twice ovah now, I'm sure y'don't need remindin' -- an' I ain't lettin' ya off th'hook wi' a 'Sorry, I lost it doin' somethin' bark-headed'! Why can't we stay here where it's -- "

Tommy nearly knocks his drink over when the commotion starts up nearby. C.C; As a fragment of wood bounces off his snout, Tommy gives a sigh of defeat. "Oh, it's goin' t'pot all ovah, innit? Fine, wot's it mattah where we cork it?" u.u

Esava APP [5:34 PM]
Esava looks into Tommy's eyes for a moment, perhaps trying to decipher exactly what it was that the deku scrub just said. >\_>; Sometimes his accent got really heavy and it was hard to understand him!

As the fragments of wood rain down, the desert figure flicks the pieces off of his shoulders and hair. "I definitely can't and won't just stay here where it's safe..." He starts, though Tommy's relenting attitude causes a small smile. "Don't worry. We won't 'cork' it, as you put. I'll make sure we get out safe. Then, after that, we can come back here and do nothing for the rest of our lives."

As he stands up amongst the bluster and hullabaloo of the pub, he tilts his head a bit. "How long do deku scrubs live for, anyway?"

Tommy APP [7:11 PM]
Tommy drains the rest of his mug. "I dunno, don't think I've ever seen a scrub wilt, come t'think of it. Maybe we always get mulched doin' somethin' bark-headed first." =.= Wouldn't that be funny, a species that has the potential to live for centuries but rarely survives more than a decade or two. Tommy hops off his chair and prepares to follow Esava. "Don't think you're gettin' outta yer obligation by waitin' fer me to keel over of old age, anyway. An' I never said I wanted to stay someplace where it's *safe* or do *nothin'*, that'd be borin'. Just...survivable'd be nice." e.e;

Esava APP [5:27 AM]
"You're surely not immortal." Esava pauses at that statement, looking down at the scrub as he begins to exit the pub. "Are you? And right - I see. Just the perfect amount of survivability for you. Not too boring, but not too dangerous. We can look for your perfect place once we're back from Hyrule." Though Esava has doubts such a place even exists!

Exiting the pub, the now re-energised and re-fueled figure from the desert mounts the stead which was stolen from far out yonder. It stands out amid the others, simply because it's so *big* compared to the others tethered nearby. It's not built for speed so much as it is for power. "We're going back to the swamp first." Esava dictates, waiting for Tommy to jump on.

"Then we're gonna go for a ride on Asena. You enjoyed that last ride we had, right? Up to the top of the mountain? She's our fastest way to Ikana Valley and the fortress."

Tommy APP [4:48 PM]
Tommy takes several acrobatic hops off nearby objects of increasing height, and still just barely manages to latch onto the horse's saddle high enough to scramble up the rest of the way. >.<; "Oh sure I remembah Asena, she's a lark. Like, a gigantic, scaly lark wi' teeth like swords an' claws that could rip an oak outta th'ground. That kinda lark." Tommy settles in and grips tight as best he knows how, which is...better than the first time he rode behind Esava, but still not great. "What're we gonna do wi' this horse when we leave? Asena might think it's a snack if we leave it tethered up in th'swamp."

Esava APP [4:42 AM]
"Doubtful." Esava replies, kicking the horse into gear as the pair erupt off and into the fields that surround Clock Town. "Asena and her kind don't actually eat meat. That's partly why she lives in the swamp. The vegetation there is practically a mammothe smorgasbord of delights." The man turns his head just a bit to look at Tommy over his shoulder. "If she's going to eat anyone, it will be you I'm afraid." He lets a beat pass before looking ahead. "But don't worry. I think she'll be quite full at this time of day. But to answer your question, I was just going to give this steed a good ol' smack and let her run free. I think she has earned some time of her own."

**IKANA CASTLE**

Esava APP [4:54 AM]
"Down there!" Though Esava calls loudly, the wind rushing past both he and his partner in crime make it difficult to hear. The great wyvern beasty known as Asena twirls and rushes through the skies of Termina with heavy grace, wings adjusting to zoom through the clouds. The flight here had been mostly uneventful. Save for the fact that they were FLYING so high in the sky. An uneasy feeling if you're not used to it.

"Hold on to something." Esava calls back again, pointing down to where the group is expected to land. Asena tilts forward and down, coming down atop one of the old castle spires with great force. Her feet and claws drag into the spire tiles as best they can, though any grip acquired is flimsy at best given their age and weathered state.

"Quick!" Esava calls, moving to leap off his wyvern friend and onto the spire proper. "Jump off! Before she brings the whole thing down!"

Tommy APP [5:55 PM]
Tommy's face goes even more wooden than usual, his mouth and eyes becoming perfect circles for a moment. :open\_mouth: "That's...interestin' info. I'll have t'make sure not t'hang about 'er when she's lookin' peckish."

\*\*\*\*\*

Meanwhile, in the castle at Ikana Valley...

Calix is feeling bored. Most of the time, having little to do is precisely how he likes things. After all, what's the point of having money and power if you can't be lazy with it? And there are plenty of minions about he can toy with, either by practicing his enthralling magic upon them or by abusing his authority as one of Ganondorf's generals. But there are times when even a treacherous former nobleman with the cushiest job he could wish for yawns at the thought of another day just holding down the fort, and begins to wish something would *happen*. e.e

\*\*\*\*\*

Tommy slides down Asena's tail immediately after she makes impact on the spire, transferring as much energy from the shock as comfortably possible along the length. By the time he drops off the tip, he's slowed down enough that he can grab onto the edge of the roof. He shimmies around to the spot in front of the turret's door and drops down. "It's clear for now mate, but let's hustle, there's bound t'be somethin' wot heard all that!"

Sure enough, a pair of gangly figures in tattered cloaks are making their way up the stairway inside the turret to find out what's going on...

Esava APP [4:59 AM]
As Esava ducks in through the door to drop down behind Tommy, Asena can be heard pushing off and gliding up into the air. She's done her part in this and is now keen to get back to the moisture and loveliness of the swamp.

The 'roof' of the room rumbles significantly as the wyvern makes her departure; old supports rattling to cause dust to sprinkle all over. Though he shields himself from the dust (bleahhh gross), Esava's attention is turned to the staircase. Footsteps can be heard! Grimacing, the lithe figure *leaps* up into the rafters of the spire. He does this by jumping onto the circular stone wall and then pushing off of it to elevate himself all the way to the top. Once here he stays quiet, waiting for the cloaked gangly figures to arrive below him.

aubrey [10:33 PM]
(OOC: Tommy's base roll...)
/roll 1d8

Dicebot APP [10:33 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*1\*
Dice
1d8
Rolls
1

aubrey [10:34 PM]
(OOC: Hoo boy. X) Rank 3 Thievery to hide...)
/roll 1d6

Dicebot APP [10:34 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*1\*
Dice
1d6
Rolls
1

aubrey [10:35 PM]
/roll 1d8

Dicebot APP [10:35 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*1\*
Dice
1d8
Rolls
1

aubrey [10:35 PM]
(OOC: Ai-yai-yai. XD Garo 1's base roll...)
(OOC: Rank 3 Spy to spot...)
/roll 1d6

Dicebot APP [10:36 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*4\*
Dice
1d6
Rolls
4

aubrey [10:37 PM]
(OOC: Was starting to think the roll system was stuck on 1, but apparently not.)
(OOC: Okay, now Tommy rolls to bluff. X) Base...)
/roll 1d8

Dicebot APP [10:39 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*6\*
Dice
1d8
Rolls
6

aubrey [10:39 PM]
(OOC: Much better start. Thievery...)
/roll 1d6

Dicebot APP [10:39 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*1\*
Dice
1d6
Rolls
1

aubrey [10:40 PM]
(OOC: Garo's base...)
/roll 1d8

Dicebot APP [10:40 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*7\*
Dice
1d8
Rolls
7

aubrey [10:40 PM]
(OOC: The dice do not like me tonight. X) Things are gonna get interesting right off the bat.)

Tommy APP [10:58 PM]
Tommy scuttles quickly down the stairs, acting as scout for the endeavor as per usual. Unfortunately he doesn't get far at all before he hears steps coming up the other way. He tries to scramble out the nearest window, but it proves too narrow for him, and soon his bulbous head is stuck. @.@; A peculiar scene unfolds beneath Esava as the pair of cloaked figures arrive near the top of the stairwell. "You there!" says the first figure. "What caused all that noise?" Tommy blinks rapidly. That's right, some scrubs work for the warlock! They probably think he belongs here! "Y'wouldn't believe it, mate!" Tommy grunts, trying to yank his head free from the window slit. "Some whackin' great flyin' lizard came down on th'roof! I saw it comin' through here an' -- " Suddenly a thin, curved sword blade pops out like a claw from the corner of the cloak and points at Tommy. "You don't talk like one of the master's scrubs!" the figure accuses. "Who are you?!" >{ Uh-oh. c.c;

aubrey [10:59 PM]
(OOC: To make it clear, this is what we're dealing with: https://zelda.gamepedia.com/Garo )

Esava APP [4:58 AM]
Esava narrows his eyes as he watches the scene unfold from beneath him. When Tommy sticks his head into the window and becomes stuck as a result, the man lifts his palm and rubs his face with it in a bit of embarrassment. Oy vey.

Curiously however, the garo don't eliminate him immediately. The hand lowers gently as one of the Garo figures confuses Tommy with a local scrub. Esava's head tilts like a lost puppy at that, before righting as the cloaked guard unsheathes its sword from beneath the cloak - pointing the thing at Mr. Twiggins. Just as the harrowing monsters finishes its question to Tommy, Esava loosens his grip and falls from the rafters above!

The dark-skinned figure falls without noise but plenty of grace. If both of the garo are close enough, he will attempt to land on both in a heap. If not? Then he will simply aim for the one with its weapon drawn.

aubrey [10:15 PM]
(OOC: Just for my own amusement, I tried doing Esava's action in the ASCRS app I'm making, partly because I don't much trust Slack's dice system after all those 1s. X) Esava did 1d13 base and got 7, then 1d8 Fighting (although actually that should've been 1d10, chalk up a bug to fix) and got 5, and finally -1d3 for attacking an extra target and got -2, for a total of 10. I'm going to have to do the Garos' rolls on here because I haven't implemented defense yet in my app. Starting with base of 1d9...)
/roll 1d9

Dicebot APP [10:15 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*2\*
Dice
1d9
Rolls
2

aubrey [10:17 PM]
(OOC: I'll have this one spend a point of AS so he has at least a chance to evade. Using his Rank 3 Spy ability for situational awareness, he doubles roll range for 1d12...)
/roll 1d12

Dicebot APP [10:18 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*1\*
Dice
1d12
Rolls
1

aubrey [10:18 PM]
(OOC: Epic fail. Now for the other one...)
/roll 1d9

Dicebot APP [10:18 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*4\*
Dice
1d9
Rolls
4

aubrey [10:18 PM]
/roll 1d12

Dicebot APP [10:18 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*10\*
Dice
1d12
Rolls
10

aubrey [10:20 PM]
(OOC: Garo 1 takes 2 damage, Garo 2 avoids.)

aubrey [10:31 PM]
(OOC: Tommy's base roll...)
/roll 1d9

Dicebot APP [10:32 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*9\*
Dice
1d9
Rolls
9

aubrey [10:36 PM]
(OOC: Ooo, best possible roll. Unfortunately Tommy hasn't got any especial fighting skill, so he can't add to that or increase the potential damage. He'll target Garo 1 to try and finish it off. Garo 1's base roll for defense...)
/roll 1d9

Dicebot APP [10:36 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*3\*
Dice
1d9
Rolls
3

aubrey [10:37 PM]
(OOC: Spends 1 AS to double his Rank 2 Dual-blade fighting skill...)
/roll 1d8

Dicebot APP [10:37 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*1\*
Dice
1d8
Rolls
1

aubrey [10:38 PM]
(OOC: Okay, and finally, Garo 2 gets to do an attack. Base roll...)
/roll 1d9

Dicebot APP [10:38 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*6\*
Dice
1d9
Rolls
6

aubrey [10:40 PM]
(OOC: It spends 1 AS to try and stab down at Esava with both blades.)
/roll 1d6

Dicebot APP [10:40 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*1\*
Dice
1d6
Rolls
1

aubrey [10:40 PM]
(OOC: Esava's base defense roll...)
/roll 1d13

Dicebot APP [10:40 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*7\*
Dice
1d13
Rolls
7

aubrey [10:41 PM]
(OOC: Automatic success.)

Tommy APP [11:07 PM]
Okay Tommy, don't panic, you've got a mook-mulching lackey right overhead. Just keep them distracted and everything will work out. "Wot're you on about, mate? Just 'cos I ain't from th'same patch o' woods as most o' th'scrubs around 'ere, you think you kin discriminate against -- " "Fool!" snarls the blade-pointing figure. "The master's scrubs are barely ABLE to speak! They're practically zombies! You think you can pass for -- "

While the first figure is delivering his tirade, the second glances up after observing some dust fall. o.o He silently takes a lanky sidestep, leaving his compatriot to be squashed by Esava. Tommy manages to unwedge his head from the window slit at that moment. As he falls backward onto the stairs, he smoothly draws his knife and stabs it into the brown robe trapped under Esava. >.< The figure gurgles dramatically, then rasps, "To die without leaving a corpse...that is the way of us Garo." x.x Then there is a snap and a flash, and the thing disappears from right under Esava.

"Hey! You killed Marty!" the other Garo snaps, in a tone that suggests more annoyance than grief. >P He pops out his swords and crosses them over like a pair of scissors, then stabs them down at Esava.

\*\*\*\*\*

Calix sits up from lounging on the throne of Ikana. He just felt one of his thralls break...something actually *is* happening. c.c

Esava APP [4:59 AM]
Esava's eyes look down at the garo as it writhes and then vanishes completely, perplexed by this behaviour. What happened to it? Did it evaporate or something? Or was Tommy wielding some sort of legendary weapon that disintegrated enemies?!

These thoughts rattle through his mind to such a degree that he nearly betrays his own instincts. Feeling the presence of the second garo lunge at him from the side, Esava ducks down low, letting the blades just over his shoulder. Using the extended garo to his advantage, the dark-skinned figure does a little twist to press up close to the garo, before lifting his foot up from his low-crouched position! This upward foot moves to slam into the cheek of the garo at full force, hoping to do some sort of damage. Either deadly or serious.

aubrey [3:00 PM]
(OOC: Esava's base roll...)
/roll 1d13

Dicebot APP [3:01 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*12\*
Dice
1d13
Rolls
12

aubrey [3:02 PM]
(OOC: Esava gets to do a Rank 1 attack for free because he's currently in tension tier 1, spends 1 AS to boost it to Rank 2 so that it'll finish the Garo...)
/roll 1d12

Dicebot APP [3:02 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*4\*
Dice
1d12
Rolls
4

aubrey [3:02 PM]
(OOC: Garo's base roll...)
/roll 1d9

Dicebot APP [3:03 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*2\*
Dice
1d9
Rolls
2

aubrey [3:04 PM]
(OOC: Garo spends 2 AS to give himself a tiny chance of survival...)
/roll 1d16

Dicebot APP [3:04 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*2\*
Dice
1d16
Rolls
2

Tommy APP [4:19 PM]
\*KRACK!\* The Garo's hood twists completely around under Esava's blow. It's impossible to tell how much actual damage was done behind the cloth...in fact, the Garo himself seems confused about this, as the corners of the robe come up to pat blindly at the head area. p( )q After a moment, the figure shrugs, then stiffens dramatically and falls over. A muffled recital of that mantra about not leaving a corpse is spoken, then it disappears in another flash.

Tommy scratches his foliage. "Those things must 'ave termites in their twigs. Any'ow, thanks fer savin' me, mate...erm, not that it counts for reducin' y'debt, you dragged me into this after all. Let's keep movin'." Tommy scuttles on down the stairs.

\*\*\*\*\*

Calix stands up and twirls his hand. A Garo pops up as though coming out of the floor. "We have intruders in the castle," Calix says imperiously. "Two of your brethren have been slain." "Ah, the curse of a thousand missing socks be upon those responsible!" shrills the Garo. "We shall avenge our fallen comrades with the swiftness of the ant upon the baking rock! We shall tear their flesh from their bones like the man of unsettled stomach goes through toliet paper! We shall -- " "Enough!" barks Calix. "Just find them and deal with them!" "Most expeditiously, O dominant one! We shall begin where our lost compatriots were patrolling, if you will but tell me who they were." "Well it was -- now how am I supposed to know that?! You all look the same under those silly robes! Just alert everyone throughout the castle!" >.< "Right away, O appetant one!" the Garo says, bounding away into one of the corridors.

Calix flops back down on the throne. "Of all the addle-brained twaddle," he mutters to himself. "'Curse of a thousand missing socks,' how impotent can you -- " "Very very deplorable curse to be under, master," says the Garo, sticking his head back around the corner, "especially on a bitter night around -- " "GO!!!" >.<;

Esava APP [4:41 PM]
"Of course." Esava smirks subtly when re-assured that saving Tommy's life did not take away from the deku scrub's debt. "Try not to get your head stuck in a window next time." It's a nice little piece of advice as he descends the spiral stairs of the spire which they landed within. "Those were curious beings. I have only ever seen Garo from afar. Certainly I was not aware that they vanished upon death." Weird.

"I know roughly the way to go, but we'll have to be as sneaky as we can. We can't afford to stop and fight every single enemy that we stumble across. Individually they pose no threat, but after a while they will wear us down." Upon reaching the bottom of the staircase, Esava will peek out through the door to examine the cavernous room that it opens up to.

"The room we're looking for is pretty small. It's off of one of the main throne room areas. I think it's that way." The man nods in the direction of where they should go.

aubrey [5:43 PM]
(OOC: I don't even know what I'm rolling against yet, just hoping it'll inspire me. X) )
+roll 1d8
/roll 1d8

Dicebot APP [5:43 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*7\*
Dice
1d8
Rolls
7

aubrey [5:43 PM]
/roll 1d6

Dicebot APP [5:43 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*1\*
Dice
1d6
Rolls
1

Tommy APP [6:07 PM]
"Huh, like t'see wot *you* woulda done in my shoes," Tommy mutters, tracing along the circular wall. "Well, probably woulda snapped their necks wi'out breaking stride, but some of us ain't had decades o' practice at butchering blaggards." e.e;

At the bottom of the stairs, Tommy nods to Esava's directions. "Right-o, then," he murmurs in a low voice. "Here I go again stickin' me trunk out." Tommy dashes quietly out across the open space to the next doorway. When he glances around the corner, he's immediately confronted with the yellowed face of a mad scrub. o.o; "Find intruders," it hisses at Tommy, then shuffles past him. Huh, guess they really *are* like zombies. c.c Seeing several more scrubs coming from down the hall, Tommy gets an idea. "Intruders in the dungeon!" he calls out. The mad scrubs immediately perk up and converge toward a downward-leading staircase. After a minute, the area is emptied, all of the scrubs having gone off on the wild goose chase.

Tommy signals the all-clear to Esava. "Y'know, that lot is like th'distant cousins that nevah get invited to the 'oliday visits 'cause they always topple th'table," Tommy remarks under his breath, "but I hate seein' even them lookin' so wilted. Wot's keepin' 'em here in this dustbowl, I wonder?" c.c

Esava APP [4:16 AM]
Esava remains hidden at the bottom of the spire staircase, occasionally peeking through the doorway to see what lays yonder. The signature voice of Tommy carries through the air quite gracefully, and to Esava's surprise, with apparent authority! For just like that, the many scrubs that had lined the hallways had vacated to a room beneath their location.

With a wry smile on his face, the man from the desert emerges from the safety of the shadow. "That was quite tidy." He remarks in a complimentary tone, before a shrug of his shoulders is made to Tommy's final question. "There is a dark magic over this castle. It goes beyond what Ganondorf crafted during his time here. It is an ... ancient presence. As if death itself lingers in these walls. Continual exposure to it is sure to warp the soul and mind. Your brethren likely lost their minds long ago."

Taking this moment to really look about and get a sense of his bearings, Esava moves to take point and lead the way to where he believes is the correct throne room. "Bizarrely it's right about now when I wish I had been here more often during my imprisonment. Most of these walls look the same to me." He shifts an eye down to the scrub as he moves alongside the walls, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. He is surely not just walking down the middle of the corridor to catch attention!

"I wonder if there are deku scrubs like you in Hyrule?"

Tommy APP [9:06 PM]
Tommy gives Esava a sardonic smirk. "That depends. Y'think there's any money in Hyrule?" ;)

\*\*\*\*\*

After a minute of tapping his finger impatiently on the armrest, Calix has a thought and gets up from the throne. Never hurts to be prepared, he reasons. Taking an ever-handy piece of chalk from a pouch on his belt, he walks out into the middle of the room and begins to draw a summoning circle...

Esava APP [12:23 AM]
"Of course." Esava replies. "It would be a strange world if money didn't exist." Better? Worse? Who knows. But definitely strange.

\*\*\*

The dynamic duo slowly snake their way sneakily throughout the hallways of the castle. Occasionally they come across a dead end, where the passage has simply been walled up to prevent anyone else from progressing. Occasionally they etch their way past a dungeon, where naught but remains aside from the skeletons of old prisoners. The air feels *thick* around these spaces, as if the ghosts of said prisoners still lingered the halls. "Watch your step." Esava mutters, observing that some stray bones are out in the corridors. "These poor souls have been through enough."

Eventually they appear to be making good headway, passing from the dungeons and back out into more open rooms. The dark-skinned figure moves with an air of confidence as they emerge into this zone, lips pursing together. "This is starting to feel a bit more familiar. We shouldn't be far. There." The man points to a room on the far side of the excessively wide hallway that they are in. "That could be it."

Wide hallways, lots of rooms. High ceilings. This place would kill it on the open market.

Tommy APP [9:08 PM]
Tommy has the classical rogue's view of death: he's quick to dodge any threat of it, but at the same time, there's a little part of his core being that can't fathom the concept that it could happen to *him*. It's something that happens to *other* things, things that aren't quite as 'real' as he is. Hence, while the bones of prisoners set off Tommy's survival instincts as signs of danger, they don't register to him as any more deserving of respect than, say...a chunk of firewood (hey, that was alive at one time too). So when they come across a hallway where a couple of Garo are inconveniently loitering about, a humerus goes spinning by overhead and clatters to rest in a far doorway, providing the diversion needed to slip by. Tommy looks innocent as he and Esava hurry along, glad of the need for silence. :innocent:

When they finally reach the throne room, Tommy takes a quick peek inward. "Just some corker drawin' on th'floor in there," he reports in a low voice. "Woddoya say we just bolt for it from here? Y'said it wos in a room just off th'throne area, right? Think we just found that."

Esava APP [5:23 PM]
Though it could stand to reason that Esava may recognise Calix, his squinting eyes suggest that this is not the case. Esava's visits in this Castle were brief, after all. And during his time as Ganondorf's minion, had never run across the relative stranger in front of him. "Drawing on the floor... what's he drawing?" In his experience, drawing on *anything* meant only one thing: magic. Unless you were a child, of course.

"That's right." Answering Tommy's question with trepidation, he considers the option of just 'bolting it'. The idea had legitimate merit. If they could just run and gun into the portal, they could then hopefully lose anyone in pursuit in the Gerudo Desert. Additionally, straight-on combat with this presumably magical foe would doubtless put them at a disadvantage. "We can try and make a run for it." Esava agrees, though he doesn't sound very sure about the decision. "Watch your back though. This guy could use magic. In my experience magic works really well at range. So make sure to zig zag in your trails. You go first."

aubrey [12:27 PM]
/roll 1d11

Dicebot APP [12:27 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*11\*
Dice
1d11
Rolls
11

aubrey [12:27 PM]
/roll 1d6

Dicebot APP [12:27 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*1\*
Dice
1d6
Rolls
1

aubrey [12:28 PM]
/roll 1d8

Dicebot APP [12:28 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*8\*
Dice
1d8
Rolls
8

aubrey [12:28 PM]
/roll 1d24

Dicebot APP [12:28 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*2\*
Dice
1d24
Rolls
2

Tommy APP [12:43 PM]
Tommy gives a wry chuckle. "Wot's th'point of havin' a lackey if *I'm* always th'one stickin' me trunk out? Ah well, guess that's what a good boss does. Here goes." Tommy scuttles out across the throne room.

Calix finishes drawing his arcane circle and looks up to see an unfamiliar scrub running through. o.o *That's* the intruder? Maybe he's jumping at shadows...but then, there *were* two Garo defeated. >/ Calix places his palm at the edge of the circle and utters an occult word. There is a flash and a smell of brimstone, and a vire appears. The winged devil's mind is quickly trained on the brown-and-green target fleeting over the stones, and it spits a fireball. Tommy twists around mid-run to see what's coming, and prepares to dodge...but his boot hits a slanted tile at just that moment, and he stumbles. "OWWWWOWOWOW!!! ME FOLIAGE IS BURNIN'!" Tommy yelps, beating frantically at his leafy head. X.X

Esava APP [7:26 PM]
The dark skinned figure watches the deku scrub scurry about the side of the room, making a run for the portal on the far side. His fingers grip tightly against the doorway as he witnesses the arcane circle stirring to life with a gentle hum. "Tch." It's the only sound he manages to get out, before his legs uncoil like steel springs, propelling him forwards.

By the time the summoned vire is out and in the open, Esava, through either sweet ninja skills or magic, is on the move vertically. He is a flash of movement as he appears to run up the *side* of the throne room wall, reaching into his side pouch to ready some return fire. Before running out of momentum, he throws forth near half a dozen spheres. These spheres, an inch in diameter and made of naught but cardboard, fall down through sky aimed for the loose direction of the summoned beasty and Calix himself. Once in proximity they will explode in a brilliant display of white light, hopefully stunning both enemies. Or at least blinding them for a bit of time.

As he runs out of momentum to carry him further along the brick wall of the throne room, Esava pushes off of the wall to propel himself high into the air. As he arcs through the sky close to the ceiling, he readies one of the knives sheathed by his side, aiming to land on (or at least near) the vire. Hoo rah!

aubrey [9:32 PM]
/roll 1d6

Dicebot APP [9:32 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*3\*
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1d6
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3

aubrey [9:33 PM]
/roll 1d4

Dicebot APP [9:33 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*3\*
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1d4
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3

aubrey [9:33 PM]
/roll 1d7

Dicebot APP [9:33 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*2\*
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1d7
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2

aubrey [9:33 PM]
/roll 1d4

Dicebot APP [9:33 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*4\*
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1d4
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4

aubrey [9:35 PM]
/roll 1d7

Dicebot APP [9:35 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*1\*
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1d7
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1

aubrey [9:35 PM]
/roll 1d2

Dicebot APP [9:35 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*2\*
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1d2
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2

aubrey [9:35 PM]
/roll 1d6

Dicebot APP [9:35 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*6\*
Dice
1d6
Rolls
6

Tommy APP [9:40 PM]
Calix smirks as the intruder is ignited. >) He ponders whether to try to capture the little scrub for questioning -- a bit tricky to put into the vire's mind now that it's bent on destruction, but feasible -- or just turn him to ash and be done with it. But then his eyes are seared by a brilliant flash, and he realizes it was foolish to assume the intruder he could see was the only one. DX The vire is also caught off guard and is neatly split in two by Esava's knife...a little *too* neatly. The halves reform into a pair of keese, one of which goes after Tommy and the other of which focuses its attention on Esava.

Tommy manages to extinguish his 'hair' and sees the bat coming. He swings his knife with what little skill he's picked up, but the fluttering beast gets around the blade. Tommy, fortunately, isn't that easy to catch himself, and the two odd combatants are left dancing around each other for the moment. Esava's keese is making a similar attempt to close in and bite.

Esava APP [4:13 AM]
Esava lands on the ground with nary a sound or echo. His knees bend to the point where his butt is nearly sitting on his ankles, his spare hand going down onto the tiled floor for just that bit of extra support. A glance goes behind him to cast a cursory look over to Tommy to see how he's travelling, before looking back to his enemy. The scrub looked okay. He was just a bit... on fire. >\_>;

His landing has put him in direct proximity of Calix, his eyes looking up to stare at the mage with a narrow intensity. That is until he feels the presence of the fire keese behind him! But it's just a bit too late, feeling the sharp fangs of the beasty sink into his dark skin. Grimace. Startled by the flaming creature, the warrior from the desert moves to swat the thing away in reflex, before rounding on the thing to run his sword through it with practiced precision.

aubrey [9:02 PM]
/roll 1d6

Dicebot APP [9:02 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*6\*
Dice
1d6
Rolls
6

aubrey [9:02 PM]
/roll 1d4

Dicebot APP [9:02 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*4\*
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1d4
Rolls
4

aubrey [9:02 PM]
(OOC: Woo, Tommy gets lucky! n.n)
/roll 1d7

Dicebot APP [9:03 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*3\*
Dice
1d7
Rolls
3

aubrey [9:03 PM]
/roll 1d8

Dicebot APP [9:03 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*8\*
Dice
1d8
Rolls
8

aubrey [9:06 PM]
(OOC: ...And so does the keese. X) I was tempted to not boost that last roll, but it was the only way the keese had *any* chance to keep going, and it was only a 1/4 chance...the dice are fickle.)
/roll 1d7

Dicebot APP [9:06 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*7\*
Dice
1d7
Rolls
7

aubrey [9:07 PM]
/roll 1d2

Dicebot APP [9:07 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*1\*
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1d2
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1

aubrey [9:07 PM]
/roll 1d6

Dicebot APP [9:07 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*3\*
Dice
1d6
Rolls
3

aubrey [9:07 PM]
/roll 1d24

Dicebot APP [9:07 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*10\*
Dice
1d24
Rolls
10

Tommy APP [9:34 PM]
Calix draws back when the swarthy warrior drops into his clearing vision. o.O; Fortunately for him, the remains of the vire serve as a distraction. "Ah! An assassin! Get in here, you worthless fools!" The panicked command surges out along every thrall thread Calix has in the castle, and mobs of beasts and Garo turn from their current tasks and head toward the throne room. Calix continues backing away while the keese squeaks as Esava's blade pierces it, its flame dieing along with it.

Tommy, meanwhile, MAKES A HEROIC (for him) CARTWHEELING SPRING OVER HIS KEESE AND SLASHES PERFECTLY AT IT! >D ...And still doesn't hit the blasted thing. >.<; The keese banks ferociously and rakes its claws at Tommy, but Tommy manages to spin frantically out of the way. "Gettin' burned by a blinkin' bat ain't how I wos plannin' t'cork it!" DX

Esava APP [5:38 PM]
Cutting through the keese like hot butter, Esava turns to Calix just as he calls out for reinforcements. The entire throne room almost rumbles as every monster and enemy in the halls of the castle converge upon it.

Fighting Calix was one thing, but an entire horde of enemies? That was not on the cards. It was guaranteed suicide!

With the room in such close distance, the stealthy figure opts to continue the plan that the desku scrub proposed just minutes ago. Throwing down a collection of deku nuts this time in a bid to distract the dark mage in front of him, Esava turns and spring-heels off towards Tommy and his foe.

"Just run for it!" Esava bellows. "We're about to get swarmed on!" Esava swings his sword once he gets close to the second keese and the deku scrub, hoping to vaporise it in a similar way to the one he did just previously. If nothing else he can hopefully get its attention to help free up the deku scrub to run for it.

aubrey [7:25 PM]
(OOC: One more try. X) )
/roll 1d6

Dicebot APP [7:25 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*3\*
Dice
1d6
Rolls
3

aubrey [7:26 PM]
/roll 1d4

Dicebot APP [7:26 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*1\*
Dice
1d4
Rolls
1

aubrey [7:26 PM]
/roll 1d7

Dicebot APP [7:26 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*1\*
Dice
1d7
Rolls
1

aubrey [7:26 PM]
/roll 1d4

Dicebot APP [7:26 PM]
@aubrey rolled \*4\*
Dice
1d4
Rolls
4

Tommy APP [8:10 PM]
Calix throws one side of his cloak up over his face, shielding his eyes from the flash of the deku nuts. Coward at heart though he may be, he's not unfamiliar with dangerous situations, and having been blinded once he's on guard against similar tricks. When he looks again, he sees Esava running. Hah! The enemy flees! Calix's posture becomes a little more straight-backed. >] He pulls his hunting horn from his belt and blows on it, alerting any nearby denizens of the castle who *aren't* linked to him by thrall (and haven't already figured out that something's up). Not that it's likely to matter too much.

Tommy waves his knife frantically to keep the keese away. "No blinkin' argument here! Just get this flippin' fireball off -- " The keese squeaks and turns into ash as it's plucked from the air by Esava's sword. "Phew, that's bettah! Roight, escapin'!" Tommy and Esava blitz toward the portal room as nasties start pouring into the throne room from the other doorways. They're running to safety, right? There's nobody guarding the portal, right? There's nothing unpleasant waiting on the other side, right? C.C;

Esava APP [8:20 PM]
Sheathing his sword while on the move, Esava follows Tommy Twiggins into the room where he remembers the portal to be. Out of his periphery he can see streams of enemies flowing into the throne room. The hair on the back of his neck stands on end at the impending sense of doom. In a sense they had rolled the dice. If this room did *not* have the portal in it as Esava recalled, or it had been removed or if he was simply wrong, they were in all sorts of trouble!

With that on his mind, Esava doesn't even bother to look if the portal is there upon arrival. As soon as he gets to the smaller room he turns to try and close any attached door. Assuming there is one, of course! Close it and lock it. And then maybe even barricade it for good measure. >\_>; The more time and distance that he and Tommy could put on between themselves and their enemies the better.

Eventually he will turn around, looking at the interior. To hopefully something that is bright and glowing and leading somewhere else.

aubrey [8:21 PM]
(OOC: So am I supposed to decide whether it's actually here?)

Torgem [9:10 PM]
OOC: Sure! If you like.

Torgem [9:23 PM]
OOC: Or if its guarded or whathaveyou

Tommy APP [9:24 PM]
The room they're in turns out to be a relatively small one with a fairly long table and lots of (mostly fallen-apart) chairs around it. Very likely it was some sort of conference room where the king could speak with whomever he chose to allow in with privacy and security. As such, it does indeed have a nice solid door, with even a heavy beam to bar it, although of course the wood has seen far better days. Tommy helps Esava to throw whatever furniture they can in front of the door (the table itself is too large to move unfortunately), then turns his attention to the back wall. There it is, the portal! At least Tommy hopes that's a portal, he doesn't know what a portal *should* look like. 'Big glowy mass of swirling light' does seem to fit the bill, but then, it would also fit the bill for things like a magical minion factory or even a garbage disposal. c.c; Certainly can't be cautious about it right now, though! "If this kills me, you owe me three lives, mate!" Tommy quips, then plunges into the vortex.

(OOC: I should probably let you decide what's on the other side, since this is big G's operation.)

Esava APP [4:23 AM]
Esava similarly doesn't move the table. He's a strong guy, but moving something that big would take time that they didn't have! After throwing a few chairs, the tanned figure casts a look behind him as Tommy takes the extraordinary leap of faith. With his own shoulders rising and dipping, sweat glistening on his skin as the effort used to perform the earlier manoeuvres starts to show, he turns and faces the portal. With an audible gulp he dives through, just as the monsters from behind begin to crack and break through.

The experience of being inside the portal is unlike anything that Esava had felt before. His body is twirling and spiralling, tumbling out of control as if he had fallen down a cliff-face. Magical energies strike at his body like lightning bolts upon a lightning rod, shooting waves of pain up his nervous system. For a moment it feels like his entire body splits into multiple fragments, only to re-form again... and then split... and then re-form again. The man wails in pain, before...

**HAUNTED WASTELAND**

Esava APP [4:27 AM]
THUMP!

Esava tumbles out of the portal upon a sand dune, the searing sun above him biting at his exposed skin with dreadful intent. The harshness of the environment smacks him like a punch in the face, immediately rousing him from whatever state he was in.

"Blurghh--..." Esava, his body literally smoking just a bit from the experience, tries to get to his feet but stumbles, falling onto all fours before vomiting on the dunes. Grosss.

The portal behind him spatters and spits, its blue hue turning a dark purple. Then a deep, dark maroon. It crackles with with a red energy, signalling that it may not be so friendly any more for visitors that pass through it.

"Tommy?" His voice croaks, looking up from his pile of breakfast in a puddle - already disappearing into the sand.

Tommy APP [9:33 PM]
A brief puff of sand goes up as Tommy blows out of his snoot. XO He shakily pushes himself up and pats himself down. "Unnnngh...let's...call that two an' a 'alf, shall we?" XP Tommy staggers over to Esava. "...Y'don't suppose that means they can't come after us, do ya mate?" he asks, waving a hand vaguely toward the portal.

\*\*\*\*\*

Back in Ikana Castle, Calix is pondering the same question. That doesn't look the way it did before. c.c It doesn't take a genius to surmise that going into that portal would be a risky move. But hey, that's what thralls are for. >) Calix lays a hand on top of a mad scrub's noggin. "Go through there, then come back and report the situation," he mutters, impressing the directions on the creature's mind. The scrub quivers as it steps forward, survival instincts struggling hard against the externally-imposed programming. #.# But at last it hops into the doomful doorway.

Esava APP [3:26 AM]
"I don't know." Esava admits with a befuddled shrug. "I've never used the portals before. My understanding was that you are meant to pass between them effortlessly. And they are *certainly* not meant to turn that colour after use." Pause. "I don't think." Rotating his shoulder around to try and get some feeling back into it, Esava casts his outlook out and to his surroundings.

"This is meant to lead to lands that belong to the Gerudo. The Gerudo back in Termina are loyal to Ganondorf. I don't know if we can make that assumption here, but if you see any of them? Be wary." That was one problem. The other? Trying to dissect where they were supposed to go. They were surrounded by sand dunes as far as the eye could see! "...you can fly, right? Or glide? If I can launch you upwards, maybe you can see what's around. If we walk in the wrong direction then the sand will claim us."

At that moment, the portal hisses and sizzles from behind the pair. The deep maroon glowers angrily as a strike of red energy arcs out, zapping at the ground right next to Tommy! What follows is what look to be dry pieces, or rather chunks of wood. They fall out of the portal, every piece looking to be uneven in how it was cut. There are a couple of leaves that float out as well.

"One of the scrubs must have tried to follow us through?"

Tommy APP [7:13 PM]
Tommy shakes his head. "Takes a special flower fer that. Tossin' me up ain't a bad idea th -- " Tommy yelps and tumbles aside as the spot next to him gets turned to glass. Then he gapes as chunks of his species' cousin come tumbling forth. @.@ Tommy manages to regain control of his actions and turn swiftly away before he becomes seriously ill. "Prob'ly pieces of furniture an' such," he says stoutly. "C'mon, chuck me up."

While doing his brief aerial reconnaisance, Tommy also lets out a loud "COOOOOEEEEEEE!!!" His reasoning is, even if they end up attracting *un*friendly attention, the direction from which that attention comes might give them a clue where survivable conditions lie.

Esava APP [4:29 AM]
Ignoring the chunks of deku scrub that the portal spat out like a child spitting its chewed vegetables, Esava focusses on propelling Tommy up and into the air as best he can. It's not exactly an elegant manoeuvre, as the human isn't rippling in muscle. But by using the flat of his sword as 'springboard' as it were, the man is able to launch his partner up and high into the air.

Fortunately the day is clear - with bright sunshine piercing through the sky without obstruction. Nothing. Nothing but sand, sand and more sand. But wait... what was that?! Over out yonder, right on the horizon, a discolouration can be seen. It's not sand, but equally not lush forest. Was it... a rock of some kind? A mountain perhaps? From this distance it was impossible to tell. But it was certainly a darker shade than the sand at the very least.

The loud call that Tommy makes carries no answer. His voice just radiates out into the oblivion that is the Haunted Wasteland.

"See anything?" Esava squints, lifting a hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead. This was getting dangerous already.

Tommy APP [6:41 PM]
Tommy peers all about quickly at the apex of his flight, then extends an arm out as he falls. \*THUMP\* "Oof. Thataways. Dunno what it was, but there's a change in color that direction. Better'n headin' toward more sand." Tommy scrapes a furrow in the sand to mark the direction with a tiny bit more permanence than 'I think it was this way', then gets up. "Well, let's get movin'."

Esava APP [6:01 PM]
"A change of colour?" Esava doesn't seem *as* keen as Tommy with that observation, but he cannot deny that the logic is sound. "Right you are. Heading towards more sand would be a death sentence." With a low exhale the man rubs his palms together before trudging forwards.

As the hours pass, so does the sun's position across the sky. It slowly moves across the heavens, eventually casting long shadows as its brightness shifts to more of an orange than white. "This is not unlike the Sunlands back home." Esava speaks as the pair make their way across the hot sand dunes of the Haunted Wasteland. "You saw a peak of it when we went back to my village. If you went even *further* east than that? Well, this is all there is. Just sand. Heat. And death. If you were human I would advise to keep the amount of effort you're expending down, but... I don't know how deku scrub physiology works."

The discolouration that Tommy saw far off slowly yet surely gets closer. Though sometimes it looks like it's actually getting further away. @\_@ That's what all that heat does to the senses! By the time that it becomes a real identifiable structure, the sun has dipped beyond the horizon to cast the area into twilight. Yet still, even in the dimmed light, the Gerudo Fortress is as imposing as ever. As is the wooden door that allows people entry or exit to the structure.

It's shut.

Spoof APP [4:28 PM]
It's not often that visitors come from the other side of the Valley. It's almost unheard of. The Haunted Wasteland is not a popular traveling route, after all. It leads to places, that much is known, but working up the resources to trek through it to discover what's on the other end is nothing the Gerudo wish to invest in at the moment.

So, why have guards there? Because Ganondorf, that's why. Out that way is where his influence tends to grow, especially within the oasis that has been unfortunately claimed by him. As a result, a couple of what appear to ne Vagabonds are addressed from above.

"Who is out there!? Reveal yourselves and your intentions!" A guard spoke up, holding out a torch to view the duo below. Other guards were stationed with bows and other weapons held at the ready.

Tommy APP [10:20 PM]
Tommy gives Esava a raised-brow look, despite not really having any brows. "Fizzy-wot? I think the heats gettin' to ya already, mate."

As it turns out, deku scrubs *are* decently resilient against the desert, at least in the short run. Tommy's bark hide holds water in well, and seeing as plants ABSORB sunlight for energy, having lots of it tends to give Tommy a slight buzz. On the flip side, having been BURNED shortly ago certainly doesn't help.

When they finally reach the gates and are accosted, Tommy is in no mood for formalities. "We're a coupla half-dead tramps an' our intention is t'not turn all-dead! Wot's it look like!?" >.<;

A guard on one of the high turrets peers down into the dimness. "Hey, wow!" she exclaims. "He's got a talking coconut!" "That's crazy talk," a guard on the opposite turret calls over. "Coconuts are native to seaside habitats." "So? We get seagulls migrating by every so often," counters guard A. "Are you telling me coconuts migrate too?" asks guard B incredulously. "Of course not, they could be carried." "What, a seagull carrying a coconut?" "It could grip it by the husk!" "I don't care how it's gripping it, there's no way a one-pound bird could carry a coconut that big!" "A Holodrum gull might be able to do it!" "Well maybe, but they're non-migratory." "Oh yeah...hey, maybe it was several gulls working together!" "Listen you, in order to maintain air-speed velocity each gull needs a clear wingspan of over two feet! They can't all be crowded around a coconut!" "Well they could've been attached to it by bits of creeper!" "WHAT, HELD UNDER THE DORSAL GUIDING FEATHERS!?" "WHY NOT!?"

Esava APP [4:33 PM]
Esava winces as Tommy answers the gerudo warriors with such aggression. "Dial it back a little bit, hey? We want to get through here alive. Or at the very least not get turned away." Though he can admit such a thing would be hard to do given their latest trek through the sands and winds of the wasteland.

The following argument that catches alight in front of him is enough to loosen Esava's jaw, the man just sort of staring at the two guards in a state of wonder. Perhaps the stories and rumour he had heard about the gerudo had become exaggerated? >\_> Regardless, he lifts a hand to wave at the pair, trying to gain their attention amid the bickering.

"My name is Esava Ratugolea. This is Tommy Twiggins. Despite... appearances to the contrary," The man looks down at Tommy with a bit of an apologetic look. "This is not a talking coconut. Nor was he carried from the seaside. He's a deku scrub. I'm from the Sunlands, a land not unlike this one." True enough, he had the dark skin to match the gerudo! Perhaps even slightly darker.

"We came from Termina - through a portal on the other side of the horizon. While I imagine my word will count for naught, you must believe me when I say that we intend to do no harm on this land. We are simply looking for passage. And maybe some information."

Nabooru APP [11:11 PM]
Nabooru, as was usual, was given the word about the two visitors at the gate and came upon it at the time the guards were arguing over bird flight mechanics and coconuts. She motioned for the gate to be opened and the action was performed without much question. As the gate rose, she looked between Esava and Tommy with cold eyes, though once she had time to examine them, their warmth returned.

"You'll have to forgive the guards. They've been undergoing a great deal of education. I desired it to be this way, though sometimes it can manifest in unusual ways among us," she smirked. "If you came through the desert from that direction, you are either friends or foes. However, I get the impression you are the former," she gestured for the two to come inside. "I am the leader of the Gerudo, the Sage of Spirit, Nabooru," she introduce herself. "I expect an explanation about your arrival here. It's rare that visitors come through the northern desert."

Tommy APP [6:55 PM]
"Huh, I'm lookin' fer a good job more'n that," Tommy mutters while the gates winch upward. "A mug o' water big enough fer me t'stand in fer starters, an' some chow wouldn't go amiss." Tommy stands in silence for a long moment, then the clank of the gate latching into place seems to spark his tired brain. "Ratugolea? Really?" =.=

When Nabooru asks for an explanation of their presence, Tommy shrugs. "This 'un's yours, mate. I've forgotten why we evah went on this fool's quest. Didn't find any jewel-encrusted magic artifacts, that's fer blinkin' sure." e.e

Esava APP [4:55 AM]
Though Esava had not mentioned food, his stomach does growl quite angrily when Tommy mentions it. It's one of those growls that can be felt through his entire body. Oof! Yes. Food may not be bad either.

That very topic is on the forefront of his mind as the gates raise, revealing the form of Nabooru before him. Her towering figure isn't met with the same sort of awe that other guests might typically greet her with. It's more one of... surprise. And sadness. His brows raise, mouth opening to gasp a small breath. For a moment that drifts along entirely too long and well into awkward-lengths, Esava just *stares* at Nabooru like she was something he had never seen before.

Then, his brain kicks back into gear. "Uh. What?" He lifts a hand to rub his forehead. "Yeah, we can get some jewels soon, Tommy. Erm --" Esava lowers his eyes down to look at his feet, breaking his gaze away from the Sage and deku scrub both. "We passed through Ganondorf's Castle in Ikana Valley. Once we exited the portal, this is the only sign of civilisation that we saw. So here we are." The normally-stoic figure keeps his eyes strangely broken from that of Nabooru in front of him.

"Are you loyal to Ganondorf?" Seemed an appropriate question. The gerudo in Termina were! Esava's gaze rotates a bit to look at Tommy, his much lower height meaning he can keep his gaze downward. If Nabooru answered 'yes', they would have to get creative on how to get through here.

Nabooru APP [9:00 PM]
"You *passed* through Ganondorf's Castle in Ikana Valley and you're asking me if *I'm* loyal to Ganondorf. That's a bold question, given the position you're in," Nabooru remarked sternly, her guards looking over the visitors warily. "You're wondering if you're safe or if you need to escape. Let's be clear, there won't be any escape for anyone loyal to Ganondorf. Are *you* loyal to him?" She inquired, already aware of the answer.

"Of course you aren't," she slowed in her step and turned to face the two adventurers. "But you've been used by him before," she stated knowingly, looking over Esava in particular. She's familiar with that feeling, having been manipulated and lost her will to him for all those years. "I know from where that question comes." Her eyes land on Tommy next. "You're no scrub I've seen around here, but we can fulfill your request for water. We don't have a tub of it, but we can give you enough of it to drink," she offered to him. "That goes for the both of you. Along with food, we will attempt to make you as comfortable as we can."

She placed a hand to her hip and displaced her weight to one side. "The only reason you managed to get through his castle is because he isn't there. He's now here, having taken up residence in Hyrule Castle. He's responsible for all of this," she gestured to the refugees that are spread about the Fortress area.

Tommy APP [9:33 PM]
Tommy winces inwardly at Esava's blunt question. >.<; Should've taken the initiative to spin a tale that would leave their own allegiances -- or rather enmities, since they don't *have* any allies to speak of -- ambiguous. That's always the best way to play it, in his rogue's mind. But fortunately it seems these people aren't Gan-fans either (or so she says <.< >.>). Nabooru's words to Tommy specifically are a shower of hope, the proferred nourishment worth being captured if it came to that. "Bless y'pointy shoes missus," he says, doffing his acorn, "an' might I say you 'ave mighty sharp ears, hearin' a poor lad's feverish whispers like that." n.n;

Tommy glances past Nabooru to the sprawling refugee camp. "Oh, brilliant, we went through all tha' just t'be a couple more mouths in th'bread line," he murmurs. Then, remembering what he just said about Nabooru's hearing, he clears his throat and says aloud, "Just terrible wot that blinkin' brute does everywhere 'e goes, eh?"

Nabooru APP [9:46 PM]
"You're speaking to a Mistress of Thieves," Nabooru stated. "We weren't always known that way, but we became good at it. Really good. Keeping my ears to the ground is part of my profession and my position," she winked at Tommy. "But you don't need to worry. I don't bother with commentary unless it's something I need to worry about." She smiled and turned her attention to the refugees, her expression fading just a little. "It's alright," she added to the scrub cryptically. Likely answering more of his murmurings. "This is tame compared to what we had before. If you'd have gotten here anytime sooner, this land would've been bathed in endless darkness. The good news is we got the sun back," she admitted, pointing upwards towards the sky. "But we're going to need to do more work in order to counter what he's done."

Her lips curled up mischievously. "But that's where you guys come in. If you made it through his Castle that means you're both capable. We need more capable people around here. I've got my forces working 'round the clock. Any more help would be welcomed, but it'll have to be your choice. However, I do not condone being here and being a layabout. If you're going to be part of the group here, I expect some weight to be pulled. I've made it clear that we're all in this together. Anyone caught slacking off will be sent to other settlements to be dealt with. I have no time for it here. It's harsh, perhaps, but fair."

Esava APP [5:59 PM]
Let's be clear here. Esava wasn't trained or schooled in the arts of subtle conversation. He was typically just ordered to assassinate things! Though in this case he can at least see the error he's made as Nabooru repeats the question back to him in a different phrase. Phew. Good thing she's not evil.

Letting both the scrub and Nabooru exchange words, Esava runs a hand across the top of his head. Eventually he draws his gaze back up to the Sage, though it's certainly not held with much strength. "Any food and drink you can provide would be welcome." He finally admits. "And perhaps some rest. And yes, your inclinations are correct. We have travelled here to help everyone bring him down." Though the duo certainly don't LOOK like anything that could handle the King of Evil! Esava, sunburnt with grumbling tummy, and Tommy The Deku Scrub.

"The portal that we used to get here sort of seized up after we passed through it." Esava jets a thumb behind him, pointing roughly to where it lays afar. "I don't think you need to worry about anyone passing through any time soon, for what it's worth. It will rip apart anyone who tries their luck. It has this strange feeling of menace around it now."

The man shifts a bit in his footing. "Do you know where Link is? Has he returned to Hyrule?"

Tommy APP [10:59 PM]
Tommy gives Nabooru a surprised and intrigued look. o.o "Mistress of...Thieves?" Looks like for once in his life, Tommy might have found a place where his talents are welcomed. :open\_mouth: Of course, it would also mean he's not a rare commodity around here. Tommy folds his hands behind his head noncommittally and strolls through the gate. "Hate t'be rude, but I'd really like t'get to that food an' water before we keel over." n.n;

**CLOCK TOWN**

Spoof APP [1:44 AM]
The tavern tucked away into the corner of Clock Town is busy tonight. The candles have already melted to half of their length, while used knives stick into the mostly eaten cheese wheels available to consume. Scattered and dirty plates lay about on many of the wooden tables that guests sit at, while weapons use the same tables for leaning support.

The dark red stone-bricked walls blend in nicely with the similarly bricked walls, though the roof appears to be made of thick chunks of wood. The occasional keg can be seen in the rafters - an emergency for when supplies run low. A roaring fire in the corner fills the open space with a light smokey smell, though that is combined with the smell of salted pork, fresh mead and other savoury delights.

The place is abuzz with chatter. Warriors from afar and locals roar amongst themselves in laughter; conversation full of heart and guile. Arm wrestles can be seen on some tables, while at other tables there is a darts throwing competition. Drinks splash onto the table and floor as hearty men and women slam their cups into each other, before downing the booze with gusto.

Seated at one table not far removed from the action at all is a man from the desert. Opposite him? A deku scrub. On the table between them is an old piece of parchment. Despite being stained and torn, it's clear a map of Termina. Or rather, Ikana Valley.

"We land here." Esava says, thrusting the point of a knife into the map. "That gets us on top of Ganondorf's stronghold."

Tommy APP [7:38 PM]
Tommy's been around taverns like this before, but not quite in this context. Usually he's there on some sort of errand, like delivering a letter or a verbal message. Which, in turn, he mainly took on as an excuse to be there, drifting between the tables and 'discovering' valuables that might be 'unclaimed'. I mean, who leaves their rupees in a bag hanging from their chair? That's just *asking* for someone to help themselves, right? And Tommy's not one to refuse the request. ;9

But now, Tommy's actually here as somebody who BELONGS in the setting. He's a seasoned adventurer and professional peril-monger! And he's got a hard-as-nails lackey who'll rip the spleen out of anybody who looks at him funny! >D So Tommy sits proudly at the table, his chair boosted with a small crate, and imbibes an herbal blend popular amongst rough-barked scrubs.

When Esava makes his statement, Tommy sets his tankard down with an appropriately reckless \*THUNK\* and a mild splash, then leans over the table. "Sounds like a gutsy plan, mate. And wot's th'take on this enterprise? Gold? Jewels? Magic artifacts? Gold-encrusted magic jewels?" 8]

Esava APP [4:40 AM]
The lithe figure of Esava leans forward onto the wooden table, ignoring the herbal blend that sploshes over the top of Tommy's tankard and onto the table. The deku scrub isn't alone in behaving in such a wild fashion! Two figures nearby, clearly drunk, are spilling more booze than consuming it.

"You're free to take and keep whatever we find in the castle, Tommy. But my limited exposure to the hallways of that fortress did not reveal much in the ways of currency." Stroking his chin in thought, Esava considers the interior a bit more. "You might have better luck with artefacts. Again, I don't know what's just going to be laying around. But a being of that sort of magical fortitude is bound to have some weaponry or item laying about to help him."

Rolling his shoulders into a shrug, the dark-skinned figure point his index finger down onto the map once more. "But our objective isn't related to pillaging, Tommy. No. We are - or at least I am - will be looking for the portal. In the western wing of the fortress there is a gateway, the only one I know of, that leads us to Hyrule. It's the dimension that Link and his allies were hoping to return to."

Esava clenches his fist around the knife handle. His knuckles crackle in effort, eyes narrowing as he yanks the thing out. "Once in Hyrule we track down Ganondorf. Or at the very least those that aim to bring him down. And we help bring fell the beast that is the King of Evil." Taking a big breath, a smile suddenly creeps across his face.

"I'm sure the royal family of the realm will heavily compensate you for your efforts."

Tommy APP [2:18 PM]
Tommy picks up his mug again and takes a long swig while Esava explains the plan further. Despite the influence of the herbal blend, this is starting to sound a lot like the trip into the desert. Going someplace because Esava wants to, with no target of value in mind, and not knowing what they'll find...and on top of that, there's a virtual *certainty* of running into dangerous enemies, which makes it *worse* than the desert trip. c.c At least with that one they weren't *expecting* to be attacked. Tommy sets the mug down again with a hiccup. "So, erm, lemme get this straight...we're gonna storm th'fortress of the nastiest warlock evah known, t'*chase* 'im through a portal to a place we don't know, an' do wotevah we can t'bring 'im down, which is probably 'Not much'...so that th'royal bigwigs o' that place will hail us as heroes an' shower us wi' riches afterward?" =.=

Esava APP [6:00 AM]
"Ganondorf isn't in Termina. Granted I am sure he did not leave it unprotected, but he will not be at the castle. If all has gone according to his plan, he is already in the other dimension and ruling it - just as he did with ours." While Esava does have a full pint in front of him, it most certainly isn't alcohol fuelled. It's just water, something oddly hard to acquire at this tavern. With a free hand he picks up the tankard to take a few hard gulps, before putting it back down.

"And we aren't storming in from the front. We're going to drop in from above to avoid all the hassle." How exactly they plan to do that? Well, that part isn't explained.

"Tommy, we haven't been together for very long. And you go on about gold doubloons. About rich gemstones and priceless artifacts. But you have seen what that monster has unleashed on our world. You followed me into the harshest of all deserts without promise of any riches. I believe there's an honourable thread in you somewhere that I can tug on. Surely you want to help spare millions of others the same fate?" He pauses then, looking dead serious with his dark eyes. "And to tell you the truth? I need you if Ganondorf is going to begone. Somehow, in all of this, I feel that you have a big part to play in all of this."

Spoof APP [6:17 AM]
That somewhat deep moment is shattered by a brawny ranch hand on the table over. The bearded fellow, who just lost an arm wrestle to his opposition amid questionable tactics, leapt up onto very table he was competing on! Before he has a chance to do anything more though, a wooden chair is smashed onto the ranch hands back. The chair explodes into pieces and sends the bulky fellow forward, sprawling onto the ground with a heavy thud and a drunken 'belllllch'.

There is a moment of pause as everyone takes in the sight. A second passes. Then another. Then? The surrounding drunkards erupt into laughter and song as splinters of the broken chair rain harmlessly down on and around Tommy and Esava. The violins playing their merry tune again and the chatter, dancing and drinking continue. The poor sod just remains laying on the floor, groaning in some pain. He'll probably feel that tomorrow!

Tommy APP [11:07 PM]
Tommy narrows his eyes defensively. "Wossat? Honourable? That's a rank insult where I come from, mate. I followed ya into that blinkin' sandbox because you still owe me y'life -- twice ovah now, I'm sure y'don't need remindin' -- an' I ain't lettin' ya off th'hook wi' a 'Sorry, I lost it doin' somethin' bark-headed'! Why can't we stay here where it's -- "

Tommy nearly knocks his drink over when the commotion starts up nearby. C.C; As a fragment of wood bounces off his snout, Tommy gives a sigh of defeat. "Oh, it's goin' t'pot all ovah, innit? Fine, wot's it mattah where we cork it?" u.u

Esava APP [5:34 PM]
Esava looks into Tommy's eyes for a moment, perhaps trying to decipher exactly what it was that the deku scrub just said. >\_>; Sometimes his accent got really heavy and it was hard to understand him!

As the fragments of wood rain down, the desert figure flicks the pieces off of his shoulders and hair. "I definitely can't and won't just stay here where it's safe..." He starts, though Tommy's relenting attitude causes a small smile. "Don't worry. We won't 'cork' it, as you put. I'll make sure we get out safe. Then, after that, we can come back here and do nothing for the rest of our lives."

As he stands up amongst the bluster and hullabaloo of the pub, he tilts his head a bit. "How long do deku scrubs live for, anyway?"

Tommy APP [7:11 PM]
Tommy drains the rest of his mug. "I dunno, don't think I've ever seen a scrub wilt, come t'think of it. Maybe we always get mulched doin' somethin' bark-headed first." =.= Wouldn't that be funny, a species that has the potential to live for centuries but rarely survives more than a decade or two. Tommy hops off his chair and prepares to follow Esava. "Don't think you're gettin' outta yer obligation by waitin' fer me to keel over of old age, anyway. An' I never said I wanted to stay someplace where it's *safe* or do *nothin'*, that'd be borin'. Just...survivable'd be nice." e.e;

Esava APP [5:27 AM]
"You're surely not immortal." Esava pauses at that statement, looking down at the scrub as he begins to exit the pub. "Are you? And right - I see. Just the perfect amount of survivability for you. Not too boring, but not too dangerous. We can look for your perfect place once we're back from Hyrule." Though Esava has doubts such a place even exists!

Exiting the pub, the now re-energised and re-fueled figure from the desert mounts the stead which was stolen from far out yonder. It stands out amid the others, simply because it's so *big* compared to the others tethered nearby. It's not built for speed so much as it is for power. "We're going back to the swamp first." Esava dictates, waiting for Tommy to jump on.

"Then we're gonna go for a ride on Asena. You enjoyed that last ride we had, right? Up to the top of the mountain? She's our fastest way to Ikana Valley and the fortress."

Tommy APP [4:48 PM]
Tommy takes several acrobatic hops off nearby objects of increasing height, and still just barely manages to latch onto the horse's saddle high enough to scramble up the rest of the way. >.<; "Oh sure I remembah Asena, she's a lark. Like, a gigantic, scaly lark wi' teeth like swords an' claws that could rip an oak outta th'ground. That kinda lark." Tommy settles in and grips tight as best he knows how, which is...better than the first time he rode behind Esava, but still not great. "What're we gonna do wi' this horse when we leave? Asena might think it's a snack if we leave it tethered up in th'swamp."

Esava APP [4:42 AM]
"Doubtful." Esava replies, kicking the horse into gear as the pair erupt off and into the fields that surround Clock Town. "Asena and her kind don't actually eat meat. That's partly why she lives in the swamp. The vegetation there is practically a mammothe smorgasbord of delights." The man turns his head just a bit to look at Tommy over his shoulder. "If she's going to eat anyone, it will be you I'm afraid." He lets a beat pass before looking ahead. "But don't worry. I think she'll be quite full at this time of day. But to answer your question, I was just going to give this steed a good ol' smack and let her run free. I think she has earned some time of her own."

**IKANA CASTLE**

Esava APP [4:54 AM]
"Down there!" Though Esava calls loudly, the wind rushing past both he and his partner in crime make it difficult to hear. The great wyvern beasty known as Asena twirls and rushes through the skies of Termina with heavy grace, wings adjusting to zoom through the clouds. The flight here had been mostly uneventful. Save for the fact that they were FLYING so high in the sky. An uneasy feeling if you're not used to it.

"Hold on to something." Esava calls back again, pointing down to where the group is expected to land. Asena tilts forward and down, coming down atop one of the old castle spires with great force. Her feet and claws drag into the spire tiles as best they can, though any grip acquired is flimsy at best given their age and weathered state.

"Quick!" Esava calls, moving to leap off his wyvern friend and onto the spire proper. "Jump off! Before she brings the whole thing down!"

Tommy APP [5:55 PM]
Tommy's face goes even more wooden than usual, his mouth and eyes becoming perfect circles for a moment. :open\_mouth: "That's...interestin' info. I'll have t'make sure not t'hang about 'er when she's lookin' peckish."

\*\*\*\*\*

Meanwhile, in the castle at Ikana Valley...

Calix is feeling bored. Most of the time, having little to do is precisely how he likes things. After all, what's the point of having money and power if you can't be lazy with it? And there are plenty of minions about he can toy with, either by practicing his enthralling magic upon them or by abusing his authority as one of Ganondorf's generals. But there are times when even a treacherous former nobleman with the cushiest job he could wish for yawns at the thought of another day just holding down the fort, and begins to wish something would *happen*. e.e

\*\*\*\*\*

Tommy slides down Asena's tail immediately after she makes impact on the spire, transferring as much energy from the shock as comfortably possible along the length. By the time he drops off the tip, he's slowed down enough that he can grab onto the edge of the roof. He shimmies around to the spot in front of the turret's door and drops down. "It's clear for now mate, but let's hustle, there's bound t'be somethin' wot heard all that!"

Sure enough, a pair of gangly figures in tattered cloaks are making their way up the stairway inside the turret to find out what's going on...

Esava APP [4:59 AM]
As Esava ducks in through the door to drop down behind Tommy, Asena can be heard pushing off and gliding up into the air. She's done her part in this and is now keen to get back to the moisture and loveliness of the swamp.

The 'roof' of the room rumbles significantly as the wyvern makes her departure; old supports rattling to cause dust to sprinkle all over. Though he shields himself from the dust (bleahhh gross), Esava's attention is turned to the staircase. Footsteps can be heard! Grimacing, the lithe figure *leaps* up into the rafters of the spire. He does this by jumping onto the circular stone wall and then pushing off of it to elevate himself all the way to the top. Once here he stays quiet, waiting for the cloaked gangly figures to arrive below him.

Tommy APP [10:58 PM]
Tommy scuttles quickly down the stairs, acting as scout for the endeavor as per usual. Unfortunately he doesn't get far at all before he hears steps coming up the other way. He tries to scramble out the nearest window, but it proves too narrow for him, and soon his bulbous head is stuck. @.@; A peculiar scene unfolds beneath Esava as the pair of cloaked figures arrive near the top of the stairwell. "You there!" says the first figure. "What caused all that noise?" Tommy blinks rapidly. That's right, some scrubs work for the warlock! They probably think he belongs here! "Y'wouldn't believe it, mate!" Tommy grunts, trying to yank his head free from the window slit. "Some whackin' great flyin' lizard came down on th'roof! I saw it comin' through here an' -- " Suddenly a thin, curved sword blade pops out like a claw from the corner of the cloak and points at Tommy. "You don't talk like one of the master's scrubs!" the figure accuses. "Who are you?!" >{ Uh-oh. c.c;

Esava APP [4:58 AM]
Esava narrows his eyes as he watches the scene unfold from beneath him. When Tommy sticks his head into the window and becomes stuck as a result, the man lifts his palm and rubs his face with it in a bit of embarrassment. Oy vey.

Curiously however, the garo don't eliminate him immediately. The hand lowers gently as one of the Garo figures confuses Tommy with a local scrub. Esava's head tilts like a lost puppy at that, before righting as the cloaked guard unsheathes its sword from beneath the cloak - pointing the thing at Mr. Twiggins. Just as the harrowing monsters finishes its question to Tommy, Esava loosens his grip and falls from the rafters above!

The dark-skinned figure falls without noise but plenty of grace. If both of the garo are close enough, he will attempt to land on both in a heap. If not? Then he will simply aim for the one with its weapon drawn.

Tommy APP [11:07 PM]
Okay Tommy, don't panic, you've got a mook-mulching lackey right overhead. Just keep them distracted and everything will work out. "Wot're you on about, mate? Just 'cos I ain't from th'same patch o' woods as most o' th'scrubs around 'ere, you think you kin discriminate against -- " "Fool!" snarls the blade-pointing figure. "The master's scrubs are barely ABLE to speak! They're practically zombies! You think you can pass for -- "

While the first figure is delivering his tirade, the second glances up after observing some dust fall. o.o He silently takes a lanky sidestep, leaving his compatriot to be squashed by Esava. Tommy manages to unwedge his head from the window slit at that moment. As he falls backward onto the stairs, he smoothly draws his knife and stabs it into the brown robe trapped under Esava. >.< The figure gurgles dramatically, then rasps, "To die without leaving a corpse...that is the way of us Garo." x.x Then there is a snap and a flash, and the thing disappears from right under Esava.

"Hey! You killed Marty!" the other Garo snaps, in a tone that suggests more annoyance than grief. >P He pops out his swords and crosses them over like a pair of scissors, then stabs them down at Esava.

\*\*\*\*\*

Calix sits up from lounging on the throne of Ikana. He just felt one of his thralls break...something actually *is* happening. c.c

Esava APP [4:59 AM]
Esava's eyes look down at the garo as it writhes and then vanishes completely, perplexed by this behaviour. What happened to it? Did it evaporate or something? Or was Tommy wielding some sort of legendary weapon that disintegrated enemies?!

These thoughts rattle through his mind to such a degree that he nearly betrays his own instincts. Feeling the presence of the second garo lunge at him from the side, Esava ducks down low, letting the blades just over his shoulder. Using the extended garo to his advantage, the dark-skinned figure does a little twist to press up close to the garo, before lifting his foot up from his low-crouched position! This upward foot moves to slam into the cheek of the garo at full force, hoping to do some sort of damage. Either deadly or serious.

Tommy APP [4:19 PM]
\*KRACK!\* The Garo's hood twists completely around under Esava's blow. It's impossible to tell how much actual damage was done behind the cloth...in fact, the Garo himself seems confused about this, as the corners of the robe come up to pat blindly at the head area. p( )q After a moment, the figure shrugs, then stiffens dramatically and falls over. A muffled recital of that mantra about not leaving a corpse is spoken, then it disappears in another flash.

Tommy scratches his foliage. "Those things must 'ave termites in their twigs. Any'ow, thanks fer savin' me, mate...erm, not that it counts for reducin' y'debt, you dragged me into this after all. Let's keep movin'." Tommy scuttles on down the stairs.

\*\*\*\*\*

Calix stands up and twirls his hand. A Garo pops up as though coming out of the floor. "We have intruders in the castle," Calix says imperiously. "Two of your brethren have been slain." "Ah, the curse of a thousand missing socks be upon those responsible!" shrills the Garo. "We shall avenge our fallen comrades with the swiftness of the ant upon the baking rock! We shall tear their flesh from their bones like the man of unsettled stomach goes through toliet paper! We shall -- " "Enough!" barks Calix. "Just find them and deal with them!" "Most expeditiously, O dominant one! We shall begin where our lost compatriots were patrolling, if you will but tell me who they were." "Well it was -- now how am I supposed to know that?! You all look the same under those silly robes! Just alert everyone throughout the castle!" >.< "Right away, O appetant one!" the Garo says, bounding away into one of the corridors.

Calix flops back down on the throne. "Of all the addle-brained twaddle," he mutters to himself. "'Curse of a thousand missing socks,' how impotent can you -- " "Very very deplorable curse to be under, master," says the Garo, sticking his head back around the corner, "especially on a bitter night around -- " "GO!!!" >.<;

Esava APP [4:41 PM]
"Of course." Esava smirks subtly when re-assured that saving Tommy's life did not take away from the deku scrub's debt. "Try not to get your head stuck in a window next time." It's a nice little piece of advice as he descends the spiral stairs of the spire which they landed within. "Those were curious beings. I have only ever seen Garo from afar. Certainly I was not aware that they vanished upon death." Weird.

"I know roughly the way to go, but we'll have to be as sneaky as we can. We can't afford to stop and fight every single enemy that we stumble across. Individually they pose no threat, but after a while they will wear us down." Upon reaching the bottom of the staircase, Esava will peek out through the door to examine the cavernous room that it opens up to.

"The room we're looking for is pretty small. It's off of one of the main throne room areas. I think it's that way." The man nods in the direction of where they should go.

Tommy APP [6:07 PM]
"Huh, like t'see wot *you* woulda done in my shoes," Tommy mutters, tracing along the circular wall. "Well, probably woulda snapped their necks wi'out breaking stride, but some of us ain't had decades o' practice at butchering blaggards." e.e;

At the bottom of the stairs, Tommy nods to Esava's directions. "Right-o, then," he murmurs in a low voice. "Here I go again stickin' me trunk out." Tommy dashes quietly out across the open space to the next doorway. When he glances around the corner, he's immediately confronted with the yellowed face of a mad scrub. o.o; "Find intruders," it hisses at Tommy, then shuffles past him. Huh, guess they really *are* like zombies. c.c Seeing several more scrubs coming from down the hall, Tommy gets an idea. "Intruders in the dungeon!" he calls out. The mad scrubs immediately perk up and converge toward a downward-leading staircase. After a minute, the area is emptied, all of the scrubs having gone off on the wild goose chase.

Tommy signals the all-clear to Esava. "Y'know, that lot is like th'distant cousins that nevah get invited to the 'oliday visits 'cause they always topple th'table," Tommy remarks under his breath, "but I hate seein' even them lookin' so wilted. Wot's keepin' 'em here in this dustbowl, I wonder?" c.c

Esava APP [4:16 AM]
Esava remains hidden at the bottom of the spire staircase, occasionally peeking through the doorway to see what lays yonder. The signature voice of Tommy carries through the air quite gracefully, and to Esava's surprise, with apparent authority! For just like that, the many scrubs that had lined the hallways had vacated to a room beneath their location.

With a wry smile on his face, the man from the desert emerges from the safety of the shadow. "That was quite tidy." He remarks in a complimentary tone, before a shrug of his shoulders is made to Tommy's final question. "There is a dark magic over this castle. It goes beyond what Ganondorf crafted during his time here. It is an ... ancient presence. As if death itself lingers in these walls. Continual exposure to it is sure to warp the soul and mind. Your brethren likely lost their minds long ago."

Taking this moment to really look about and get a sense of his bearings, Esava moves to take point and lead the way to where he believes is the correct throne room. "Bizarrely it's right about now when I wish I had been here more often during my imprisonment. Most of these walls look the same to me." He shifts an eye down to the scrub as he moves alongside the walls, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. He is surely not just walking down the middle of the corridor to catch attention!

"I wonder if there are deku scrubs like you in Hyrule?"

Tommy APP [9:06 PM]
Tommy gives Esava a sardonic smirk. "That depends. Y'think there's any money in Hyrule?" ;)

\*\*\*\*\*

After a minute of tapping his finger impatiently on the armrest, Calix has a thought and gets up from the throne. Never hurts to be prepared, he reasons. Taking an ever-handy piece of chalk from a pouch on his belt, he walks out into the middle of the room and begins to draw a summoning circle...

Esava APP [12:23 AM]
"Of course." Esava replies. "It would be a strange world if money didn't exist." Better? Worse? Who knows. But definitely strange.

\*\*\*

The dynamic duo slowly snake their way sneakily throughout the hallways of the castle. Occasionally they come across a dead end, where the passage has simply been walled up to prevent anyone else from progressing. Occasionally they etch their way past a dungeon, where naught but remains aside from the skeletons of old prisoners. The air feels *thick* around these spaces, as if the ghosts of said prisoners still lingered the halls. "Watch your step." Esava mutters, observing that some stray bones are out in the corridors. "These poor souls have been through enough."

Eventually they appear to be making good headway, passing from the dungeons and back out into more open rooms. The dark-skinned figure moves with an air of confidence as they emerge into this zone, lips pursing together. "This is starting to feel a bit more familiar. We shouldn't be far. There." The man points to a room on the far side of the excessively wide hallway that they are in. "That could be it."

Wide hallways, lots of rooms. High ceilings. This place would kill it on the open market.

Tommy APP [9:08 PM]
Tommy has the classical rogue's view of death: he's quick to dodge any threat of it, but at the same time, there's a little part of his core being that can't fathom the concept that it could happen to *him*. It's something that happens to *other* things, things that aren't quite as 'real' as he is. Hence, while the bones of prisoners set off Tommy's survival instincts as signs of danger, they don't register to him as any more deserving of respect than, say...a chunk of firewood (hey, that was alive at one time too). So when they come across a hallway where a couple of Garo are inconveniently loitering about, a humerus goes spinning by overhead and clatters to rest in a far doorway, providing the diversion needed to slip by. Tommy looks innocent as he and Esava hurry along, glad of the need for silence. :innocent:

When they finally reach the throne room, Tommy takes a quick peek inward. "Just some corker drawin' on th'floor in there," he reports in a low voice. "Woddoya say we just bolt for it from here? Y'said it wos in a room just off th'throne area, right? Think we just found that."

Esava APP [5:23 PM]
Though it could stand to reason that Esava may recognise Calix, his squinting eyes suggest that this is not the case. Esava's visits in this Castle were brief, after all. And during his time as Ganondorf's minion, had never run across the relative stranger in front of him. "Drawing on the floor... what's he drawing?" In his experience, drawing on *anything* meant only one thing: magic. Unless you were a child, of course.

"That's right." Answering Tommy's question with trepidation, he considers the option of just 'bolting it'. The idea had legitimate merit. If they could just run and gun into the portal, they could then hopefully lose anyone in pursuit in the Gerudo Desert. Additionally, straight-on combat with this presumably magical foe would doubtless put them at a disadvantage. "We can try and make a run for it." Esava agrees, though he doesn't sound very sure about the decision. "Watch your back though. This guy could use magic. In my experience magic works really well at range. So make sure to zig zag in your trails. You go first."

Tommy APP [12:43 PM]
Tommy gives a wry chuckle. "Wot's th'point of havin' a lackey if *I'm* always th'one stickin' me trunk out? Ah well, guess that's what a good boss does. Here goes." Tommy scuttles out across the throne room.

Calix finishes drawing his arcane circle and looks up to see an unfamiliar scrub running through. o.o *That's* the intruder? Maybe he's jumping at shadows...but then, there *were* two Garo defeated. >/ Calix places his palm at the edge of the circle and utters an occult word. There is a flash and a smell of brimstone, and a vire appears. The winged devil's mind is quickly trained on the brown-and-green target fleeting over the stones, and it spits a fireball. Tommy twists around mid-run to see what's coming, and prepares to dodge...but his boot hits a slanted tile at just that moment, and he stumbles. "OWWWWOWOWOW!!! ME FOLIAGE IS BURNIN'!" Tommy yelps, beating frantically at his leafy head. X.X

Esava APP [7:26 PM]
The dark skinned figure watches the deku scrub scurry about the side of the room, making a run for the portal on the far side. His fingers grip tightly against the doorway as he witnesses the arcane circle stirring to life with a gentle hum. "Tch." It's the only sound he manages to get out, before his legs uncoil like steel springs, propelling him forwards.

By the time the summoned vire is out and in the open, Esava, through either sweet ninja skills or magic, is on the move vertically. He is a flash of movement as he appears to run up the *side* of the throne room wall, reaching into his side pouch to ready some return fire. Before running out of momentum, he throws forth near half a dozen spheres. These spheres, an inch in diameter and made of naught but cardboard, fall down through sky aimed for the loose direction of the summoned beasty and Calix himself. Once in proximity they will explode in a brilliant display of white light, hopefully stunning both enemies. Or at least blinding them for a bit of time.

As he runs out of momentum to carry him further along the brick wall of the throne room, Esava pushes off of the wall to propel himself high into the air. As he arcs through the sky close to the ceiling, he readies one of the knives sheathed by his side, aiming to land on (or at least near) the vire. Hoo rah!

Tommy APP [9:40 PM]
Calix smirks as the intruder is ignited. >) He ponders whether to try to capture the little scrub for questioning -- a bit tricky to put into the vire's mind now that it's bent on destruction, but feasible -- or just turn him to ash and be done with it. But then his eyes are seared by a brilliant flash, and he realizes it was foolish to assume the intruder he could see was the only one. DX The vire is also caught off guard and is neatly split in two by Esava's knife...a little *too* neatly. The halves reform into a pair of keese, one of which goes after Tommy and the other of which focuses its attention on Esava.

Tommy manages to extinguish his 'hair' and sees the bat coming. He swings his knife with what little skill he's picked up, but the fluttering beast gets around the blade. Tommy, fortunately, isn't that easy to catch himself, and the two odd combatants are left dancing around each other for the moment. Esava's keese is making a similar attempt to close in and bite.

Esava APP [4:13 AM]
Esava lands on the ground with nary a sound or echo. His knees bend to the point where his butt is nearly sitting on his ankles, his spare hand going down onto the tiled floor for just that bit of extra support. A glance goes behind him to cast a cursory look over to Tommy to see how he's travelling, before looking back to his enemy. The scrub looked okay. He was just a bit... on fire. >\_>;

His landing has put him in direct proximity of Calix, his eyes looking up to stare at the mage with a narrow intensity. That is until he feels the presence of the fire keese behind him! But it's just a bit too late, feeling the sharp fangs of the beasty sink into his dark skin. Grimace. Startled by the flaming creature, the warrior from the desert moves to swat the thing away in reflex, before rounding on the thing to run his sword through it with practiced precision.

Tommy APP [9:34 PM]
Calix draws back when the swarthy warrior drops into his clearing vision. o.O; Fortunately for him, the remains of the vire serve as a distraction. "Ah! An assassin! Get in here, you worthless fools!" The panicked command surges out along every thrall thread Calix has in the castle, and mobs of beasts and Garo turn from their current tasks and head toward the throne room. Calix continues backing away while the keese squeaks as Esava's blade pierces it, its flame dieing along with it.

Tommy, meanwhile, MAKES A HEROIC (for him) CARTWHEELING SPRING OVER HIS KEESE AND SLASHES PERFECTLY AT IT! >D ...And still doesn't hit the blasted thing. >.<; The keese banks ferociously and rakes its claws at Tommy, but Tommy manages to spin frantically out of the way. "Gettin' burned by a blinkin' bat ain't how I wos plannin' t'cork it!" DX

Esava APP [5:38 PM]
Cutting through the keese like hot butter, Esava turns to Calix just as he calls out for reinforcements. The entire throne room almost rumbles as every monster and enemy in the halls of the castle converge upon it.

Fighting Calix was one thing, but an entire horde of enemies? That was not on the cards. It was guaranteed suicide!

With the room in such close distance, the stealthy figure opts to continue the plan that the desku scrub proposed just minutes ago. Throwing down a collection of deku nuts this time in a bid to distract the dark mage in front of him, Esava turns and spring-heels off towards Tommy and his foe.

"Just run for it!" Esava bellows. "We're about to get swarmed on!" Esava swings his sword once he gets close to the second keese and the deku scrub, hoping to vaporise it in a similar way to the one he did just previously. If nothing else he can hopefully get its attention to help free up the deku scrub to run for it.

Tommy APP [8:10 PM]
Calix throws one side of his cloak up over his face, shielding his eyes from the flash of the deku nuts. Coward at heart though he may be, he's not unfamiliar with dangerous situations, and having been blinded once he's on guard against similar tricks. When he looks again, he sees Esava running. Hah! The enemy flees! Calix's posture becomes a little more straight-backed. >] He pulls his hunting horn from his belt and blows on it, alerting any nearby denizens of the castle who *aren't* linked to him by thrall (and haven't already figured out that something's up). Not that it's likely to matter too much.

Tommy waves his knife frantically to keep the keese away. "No blinkin' argument here! Just get this flippin' fireball off -- " The keese squeaks and turns into ash as it's plucked from the air by Esava's sword. "Phew, that's bettah! Roight, escapin'!" Tommy and Esava blitz toward the portal room as nasties start pouring into the throne room from the other doorways. They're running to safety, right? There's nobody guarding the portal, right? There's nothing unpleasant waiting on the other side, right? C.C;

Esava APP [8:20 PM]
Sheathing his sword while on the move, Esava follows Tommy Twiggins into the room where he remembers the portal to be. Out of his periphery he can see streams of enemies flowing into the throne room. The hair on the back of his neck stands on end at the impending sense of doom. In a sense they had rolled the dice. If this room did *not* have the portal in it as Esava recalled, or it had been removed or if he was simply wrong, they were in all sorts of trouble!

With that on his mind, Esava doesn't even bother to look if the portal is there upon arrival. As soon as he gets to the smaller room he turns to try and close any attached door. Assuming there is one, of course! Close it and lock it. And then maybe even barricade it for good measure. >\_>; The more time and distance that he and Tommy could put on between themselves and their enemies the better.

Eventually he will turn around, looking at the interior. To hopefully something that is bright and glowing and leading somewhere else.

Tommy APP [9:24 PM]
The room they're in turns out to be a relatively small one with a fairly long table and lots of (mostly fallen-apart) chairs around it. Very likely it was some sort of conference room where the king could speak with whomever he chose to allow in with privacy and security. As such, it does indeed have a nice solid door, with even a heavy beam to bar it, although of course the wood has seen far better days. Tommy helps Esava to throw whatever furniture they can in front of the door (the table itself is too large to move unfortunately), then turns his attention to the back wall. There it is, the portal! At least Tommy hopes that's a portal, he doesn't know what a portal *should* look like. 'Big glowy mass of swirling light' does seem to fit the bill, but then, it would also fit the bill for things like a magical minion factory or even a garbage disposal. c.c; Certainly can't be cautious about it right now, though! "If this kills me, you owe me three lives, mate!" Tommy quips, then plunges into the vortex.

Esava APP [4:23 AM]
Esava similarly doesn't move the table. He's a strong guy, but moving something that big would take time that they didn't have! After throwing a few chairs, the tanned figure casts a look behind him as Tommy takes the extraordinary leap of faith. With his own shoulders rising and dipping, sweat glistening on his skin as the effort used to perform the earlier manoeuvres starts to show, he turns and faces the portal. With an audible gulp he dives through, just as the monsters from behind begin to crack and break through.

The experience of being inside the portal is unlike anything that Esava had felt before. His body is twirling and spiralling, tumbling out of control as if he had fallen down a cliff-face. Magical energies strike at his body like lightning bolts upon a lightning rod, shooting waves of pain up his nervous system. For a moment it feels like his entire body splits into multiple fragments, only to re-form again... and then split... and then re-form again. The man wails in pain, before...

**HAUNTED WASTELAND**

Esava APP [4:27 AM]
THUMP!

Esava tumbles out of the portal upon a sand dune, the searing sun above him biting at his exposed skin with dreadful intent. The harshness of the environment smacks him like a punch in the face, immediately rousing him from whatever state he was in.

"Blurghh--..." Esava, his body literally smoking just a bit from the experience, tries to get to his feet but stumbles, falling onto all fours before vomiting on the dunes. Grosss.

The portal behind him spatters and spits, its blue hue turning a dark purple. Then a deep, dark maroon. It crackles with with a red energy, signalling that it may not be so friendly any more for visitors that pass through it.

"Tommy?" His voice croaks, looking up from his pile of breakfast in a puddle - already disappearing into the sand.

Tommy APP [9:33 PM]
A brief puff of sand goes up as Tommy blows out of his snoot. XO He shakily pushes himself up and pats himself down. "Unnnngh...let's...call that two an' a 'alf, shall we?" XP Tommy staggers over to Esava. "...Y'don't suppose that means they can't come after us, do ya mate?" he asks, waving a hand vaguely toward the portal.

\*\*\*\*\*

Back in Ikana Castle, Calix is pondering the same question. That doesn't look the way it did before. c.c It doesn't take a genius to surmise that going into that portal would be a risky move. But hey, that's what thralls are for. >) Calix lays a hand on top of a mad scrub's noggin. "Go through there, then come back and report the situation," he mutters, impressing the directions on the creature's mind. The scrub quivers as it steps forward, survival instincts struggling hard against the externally-imposed programming. #.# But at last it hops into the doomful doorway.

Esava APP [3:26 AM]
"I don't know." Esava admits with a befuddled shrug. "I've never used the portals before. My understanding was that you are meant to pass between them effortlessly. And they are *certainly* not meant to turn that colour after use." Pause. "I don't think." Rotating his shoulder around to try and get some feeling back into it, Esava casts his outlook out and to his surroundings.

"This is meant to lead to lands that belong to the Gerudo. The Gerudo back in Termina are loyal to Ganondorf. I don't know if we can make that assumption here, but if you see any of them? Be wary."

At that moment, the portal hisses and sizzles from behind the pair. The deep maroon glowers angrily as a strike of red energy arcs out, zapping at the ground right next to Tommy! What follows is what look to be dry pieces, or rather chunks of wood. They fall out of the portal, every piece looking to be uneven in how it was cut. There are a couple of leaves that float out as well.

"One of the scrubs must have tried to follow us through?"

Tommy APP [7:13 PM]
Tommy shakes his head. "Takes a special flower fer that. Tossin' me up ain't a bad idea th -- " Tommy yelps and tumbles aside as the spot next to him gets turned to glass. Then he gapes as chunks of his species' cousin come tumbling forth. @.@ Tommy manages to regain control of his actions and turn swiftly away before he becomes seriously ill. "Prob'ly pieces of furniture an' such," he says stoutly. "C'mon, chuck me up."

While doing his brief aerial reconnaisance, Tommy also lets out a loud "COOOOOEEEEEEE!!!" His reasoning is, even if they end up attracting *un*friendly attention, the direction from which that attention comes might give them a clue where survivable conditions lie.

Esava APP [4:29 AM]
Ignoring the chunks of deku scrub that the portal spat out like a child spitting its chewed vegetables, Esava focusses on propelling Tommy up and into the air as best he can. It's not exactly an elegant manoeuvre, as the human isn't rippling in muscle. But by using the flat of his sword as 'springboard' as it were, the man is able to launch his partner up and high into the air.

Fortunately the day is clear - with bright sunshine piercing through the sky without obstruction. Nothing. Nothing but sand, sand and more sand. But wait... what was that?! Over out yonder, right on the horizon, a discolouration can be seen. It's not sand, but equally not lush forest. Was it... a rock of some kind? A mountain perhaps? From this distance it was impossible to tell. But it was certainly a darker shade than the sand at the very least.

The loud call that Tommy makes carries no answer. His voice just radiates out into the oblivion that is the Haunted Wasteland.

"See anything?" Esava squints, lifting a hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead. This was getting dangerous already.

Tommy APP [6:41 PM]
Tommy peers all about quickly at the apex of his flight, then extends an arm out as he falls. \*THUMP\* "Oof. Thataways. Dunno what it was, but there's a change in color that direction. Better'n headin' toward more sand." Tommy scrapes a furrow in the sand to mark the direction with a tiny bit more permanence than 'I think it was this way', then gets up. "Well, let's get movin'."

Esava APP [6:01 PM]
"A change of colour?" Esava doesn't seem *as* keen as Tommy with that observation, but he cannot deny that the logic is sound. "Right you are. Heading towards more sand would be a death sentence." With a low exhale the man rubs his palms together before trudging forwards.

As the hours pass, so does the sun's position across the sky. It slowly moves across the heavens, eventually casting long shadows as its brightness shifts to more of an orange than white. "This is not unlike the Sunlands back home." Esava speaks as the pair make their way across the hot sand dunes of the Haunted Wasteland. "You saw a peak of it when we went back to my village. If you went even *further* east than that? Well, this is all there is. Just sand. Heat. And death. If you were human I would advise to keep the amount of effort you're expending down, but... I don't know how deku scrub physiology works."

The discolouration that Tommy saw far off slowly yet surely gets closer. Though sometimes it looks like it's actually getting further away. @\_@ That's what all that heat does to the senses! By the time that it becomes a real identifiable structure, the sun has dipped beyond the horizon to cast the area into twilight. Yet still, even in the dimmed light, the Gerudo Fortress is as imposing as ever. As is the wooden door that allows people entry or exit to the structure.

It's shut.

Spoof APP [4:28 PM]
It's not often that visitors come from the other side of the Valley. It's almost unheard of. The Haunted Wasteland is not a popular traveling route, after all. It leads to places, that much is known, but working up the resources to trek through it to discover what's on the other end is nothing the Gerudo wish to invest in at the moment.

So, why have guards there? Because Ganondorf, that's why. Out that way is where his influence tends to grow, especially within the oasis that has been unfortunately claimed by him. As a result, a couple of what appear to ne Vagabonds are addressed from above.

"Who is out there!? Reveal yourselves and your intentions!" A guard spoke up, holding out a torch to view the duo below. Other guards were stationed with bows and other weapons held at the ready.

Tommy APP [10:20 PM]
Tommy gives Esava a raised-brow look, despite not really having any brows. "Fizzy-wot? I think the heats gettin' to ya already, mate."

As it turns out, deku scrubs *are* decently resilient against the desert, at least in the short run. Tommy's bark hide holds water in well, and seeing as plants ABSORB sunlight for energy, having lots of it tends to give Tommy a slight buzz. On the flip side, having been BURNED shortly ago certainly doesn't help.

When they finally reach the gates and are accosted, Tommy is in no mood for formalities. "We're a coupla half-dead tramps an' our intention is t'not turn all-dead! Wot's it look like!?" >.<;

A guard on one of the high turrets peers down into the dimness. "Hey, wow!" she exclaims. "He's got a talking coconut!" "That's crazy talk," a guard on the opposite turret calls over. "Coconuts are native to seaside habitats." "So? We get seagulls migrating by every so often," counters guard A. "Are you telling me coconuts migrate too?" asks guard B incredulously. "Of course not, they could be carried." "What, a seagull carrying a coconut?" "It could grip it by the husk!" "I don't care how it's gripping it, there's no way a one-pound bird could carry a coconut that big!" "A Holodrum gull might be able to do it!" "Well maybe, but they're non-migratory." "Oh yeah...hey, maybe it was several gulls working together!" "Listen you, in order to maintain air-speed velocity each gull needs a clear wingspan of over two feet! They can't all be crowded around a coconut!" "Well they could've been attached to it by bits of creeper!" "WHAT, HELD UNDER THE DORSAL GUIDING FEATHERS!?" "WHY NOT!?"

Esava APP [4:33 PM]
Esava winces as Tommy answers the gerudo warriors with such aggression. "Dial it back a little bit, hey? We want to get through here alive. Or at the very least not get turned away." Though he can admit such a thing would be hard to do given their latest trek through the sands and winds of the wasteland.

The following argument that catches alight in front of him is enough to loosen Esava's jaw, the man just sort of staring at the two guards in a state of wonder. Perhaps the stories and rumour he had heard about the gerudo had become exaggerated? >\_> Regardless, he lifts a hand to wave at the pair, trying to gain their attention amid the bickering.

"My name is Esava Ratugolea. This is Tommy Twiggins. Despite... appearances to the contrary," The man looks down at Tommy with a bit of an apologetic look. "This is not a talking coconut. Nor was he carried from the seaside. He's a deku scrub. I'm from the Sunlands, a land not unlike this one." True enough, he had the dark skin to match the gerudo! Perhaps even slightly darker.

"We came from Termina - through a portal on the other side of the horizon. While I imagine my word will count for naught, you must believe me when I say that we intend to do no harm on this land. We are simply looking for passage. And maybe some information."

Nabooru APP [11:11 PM]
Nabooru, as was usual, was given the word about the two visitors at the gate and came upon it at the time the guards were arguing over bird flight mechanics and coconuts. She motioned for the gate to be opened and the action was performed without much question. As the gate rose, she looked between Esava and Tommy with cold eyes, though once she had time to examine them, their warmth returned.

"You'll have to forgive the guards. They've been undergoing a great deal of education. I desired it to be this way, though sometimes it can manifest in unusual ways among us," she smirked. "If you came through the desert from that direction, you are either friends or foes. However, I get the impression you are the former," she gestured for the two to come inside. "I am the leader of the Gerudo, the Sage of Spirit, Nabooru," she introduce herself. "I expect an explanation about your arrival here. It's rare that visitors come through the northern desert."

Tommy APP [6:55 PM]
"Huh, I'm lookin' fer a good job more'n that," Tommy mutters while the gates winch upward. "A mug o' water big enough fer me t'stand in fer starters, an' some chow wouldn't go amiss." Tommy stands in silence for a long moment, then the clank of the gate latching into place seems to spark his tired brain. "Ratugolea? Really?" =.=

When Nabooru asks for an explanation of their presence, Tommy shrugs. "This 'un's yours, mate. I've forgotten why we evah went on this fool's quest. Didn't find any jewel-encrusted magic artifacts, that's fer blinkin' sure." e.e

Esava APP [4:55 AM]
Though Esava had not mentioned food, his stomach does growl quite angrily when Tommy mentions it. It's one of those growls that can be felt through his entire body. Oof! Yes. Food may not be bad either.

That very topic is on the forefront of his mind as the gates raise, revealing the form of Nabooru before him. Her towering figure isn't met with the same sort of awe that other guests might typically greet her with. It's more one of... surprise. And sadness. His brows raise, mouth opening to gasp a small breath. For a moment that drifts along entirely too long and well into awkward-lengths, Esava just *stares* at Nabooru like she was something he had never seen before.

Then, his brain kicks back into gear. "Uh. What?" He lifts a hand to rub his forehead. "Yeah, we can get some jewels soon, Tommy. Erm --" Esava lowers his eyes down to look at his feet, breaking his gaze away from the Sage and deku scrub both. "We passed through Ganondorf's Castle in Ikana Valley. Once we exited the portal, this is the only sign of civilisation that we saw. So here we are." The normally-stoic figure keeps his eyes strangely broken from that of Nabooru in front of him.

"Are you loyal to Ganondorf?" Seemed an appropriate question. The gerudo in Termina were! Esava's gaze rotates a bit to look at Tommy, his much lower height meaning he can keep his gaze downward. If Nabooru answered 'yes', they would have to get creative on how to get through here.

Nabooru APP [9:00 PM]
"You *passed* through Ganondorf's Castle in Ikana Valley and you're asking me if *I'm* loyal to Ganondorf. That's a bold question, given the position you're in," Nabooru remarked sternly, her guards looking over the visitors warily. "You're wondering if you're safe or if you need to escape. Let's be clear, there won't be any escape for anyone loyal to Ganondorf. Are *you* loyal to him?" She inquired, already aware of the answer.

"Of course you aren't," she slowed in her step and turned to face the two adventurers. "But you've been used by him before," she stated knowingly, looking over Esava in particular. She's familiar with that feeling, having been manipulated and lost her will to him for all those years. "I know from where that question comes." Her eyes land on Tommy next. "You're no scrub I've seen around here, but we can fulfill your request for water. We don't have a tub of it, but we can give you enough of it to drink," she offered to him. "That goes for the both of you. Along with food, we will attempt to make you as comfortable as we can."

She placed a hand to her hip and displaced her weight to one side. "The only reason you managed to get through his castle is because he isn't there. He's now here, having taken up residence in Hyrule Castle. He's responsible for all of this," she gestured to the refugees that are spread about the Fortress area.

Tommy APP [9:33 PM]
Tommy winces inwardly at Esava's blunt question. >.<; Should've taken the initiative to spin a tale that would leave their own allegiances -- or rather enmities, since they don't *have* any allies to speak of -- ambiguous. That's always the best way to play it, in his rogue's mind. But fortunately it seems these people aren't Gan-fans either (or so she says <.< >.>). Nabooru's words to Tommy specifically are a shower of hope, the proferred nourishment worth being captured if it came to that. "Bless y'pointy shoes missus," he says, doffing his acorn, "an' might I say you 'ave mighty sharp ears, hearin' a poor lad's feverish whispers like that." n.n;

Tommy glances past Nabooru to the sprawling refugee camp. "Oh, brilliant, we went through all tha' just t'be a couple more mouths in th'bread line," he murmurs. Then, remembering what he just said about Nabooru's hearing, he clears his throat and says aloud, "Just terrible wot that blinkin' brute does everywhere 'e goes, eh?"

Nabooru APP [9:46 PM]
"You're speaking to a Mistress of Thieves," Nabooru stated. "We weren't always known that way, but we became good at it. Really good. Keeping my ears to the ground is part of my profession and my position," she winked at Tommy. "But you don't need to worry. I don't bother with commentary unless it's something I need to worry about." She smiled and turned her attention to the refugees, her expression fading just a little. "It's alright," she added to the scrub cryptically. Likely answering more of his murmurings. "This is tame compared to what we had before. If you'd have gotten here anytime sooner, this land would've been bathed in endless darkness. The good news is we got the sun back," she admitted, pointing upwards towards the sky. "But we're going to need to do more work in order to counter what he's done."

Her lips curled up mischievously. "But that's where you guys come in. If you made it through his Castle that means you're both capable. We need more capable people around here. I've got my forces working 'round the clock. Any more help would be welcomed, but it'll have to be your choice. However, I do not condone being here and being a layabout. If you're going to be part of the group here, I expect some weight to be pulled. I've made it clear that we're all in this together. Anyone caught slacking off will be sent to other settlements to be dealt with. I have no time for it here. It's harsh, perhaps, but fair."

Esava APP [5:59 PM]
Let's be clear here. Esava wasn't trained or schooled in the arts of subtle conversation. He was typically just ordered to assassinate things! Though in this case he can at least see the error he's made as Nabooru repeats the question back to him in a different phrase. Phew. Good thing she's not evil.

Letting both the scrub and Nabooru exchange words, Esava runs a hand across the top of his head. Eventually he draws his gaze back up to the Sage, though it's certainly not held with much strength. "Any food and drink you can provide would be welcome." He finally admits. "And perhaps some rest. And yes, your inclinations are correct. We have travelled here to help everyone bring him down." Though the duo certainly don't LOOK like anything that could handle the King of Evil! Esava, sunburnt with grumbling tummy, and Tommy The Deku Scrub.

"The portal that we used to get here sort of seized up after we passed through it." Esava jets a thumb behind him, pointing roughly to where it lays afar. "I don't think you need to worry about anyone passing through any time soon, for what it's worth. It will rip apart anyone who tries their luck. It has this strange feeling of menace around it now."

The man shifts a bit in his footing. "Do you know where Link is? Has he returned to Hyrule?"

Tommy APP [10:59 PM]
Tommy gives Nabooru a surprised and intrigued look. o.o "Mistress of...Thieves?" Looks like for once in his life, Tommy might have found a place where his talents are welcomed. :open\_mouth: Of course, it would also mean he's not a rare commodity around here. Tommy folds his hands behind his head noncommittally and strolls through the gate. "Hate t'be rude, but I'd really like t'get to that food an' water before we keel over." n.n;