Remia holds her breath when Sheik mentions leaving the forest, I can't believe we're about to do this... she thinks, looking at Shadow and Yami.
"What is the fastest way to Kakariko?"
And Anya would follow the annoying fairly once more.
As Anya heads up the stairs, she comes out onto a cliff that overlooks the graveyard. In the direction opposite is another cave... the fairy seems to have stopped a few feet in, and Shyrin is visible to Anya. "This! This is what the spirits wanted me to look for! How did I ever not know that this was here!" she seemed exceptionally excited. "I... I need to investigate this place. It has the entire history of my people inside!" she looks back to Anya. "I'll return to the quest when I can... but this is where I'm needed. I'm certain of it!"
"And two down. Anya sighed, guess this mission wasn't as important as she was lead to believe."Catch up if you can then." Anya once again moved on alone.
Not alone at all! She was now being swarmed by a friendly Fairy who was just happy to still have one friend participating in the mission. As the pair went, the little fae was quite busy repeatedly practicing one melody over and over again. Somehow just the sound of it sends a chill down Anya's spine.
Hycorerox would slowly make his way towards the village. Normally he would roll there but it was best he didn't Up and down hills were not familiar and he may run into things and people. His feet slowly beating out a steady rythmn.
As Anya begins to travel into the darkness near where Shyrin seems to be conversing with nothing, she makes it a few feet before everything begins to glow eerily in the distance. It's a deep purple glow that occludes her view to the other side, as it swirls with faces with obvious Sheikah qualities. She can likewise see runes etched on this side of the glowing barrier. It would seem that the way is sealed with powerful magic.
Annoyed at the loss of her allies and now a blocked passage Anya would take the only action she really had left and make her way back, leaving Shyrin to her own devices.
As Anya left the graveyard, it just so happened that Tori was finished prostrating himself in the great Jabu-Jabu's name. Just behind him came the Hylian crusader Khristov, turning the corner and spotting the Zora at the same time Anya did.
At the sime time, a Goron was rumbling down the pathway from Death Mountain, it was an unusual sight, to wit, no Goron had ever come down from the mountain... at least not this way.
And finally, Riza, the Gerudo was just coming to the entrance to the Hylian town, atop her unremarkable steed... perhaps it would earn a name and legacy alongside her. Or perhaps she'd simply release it into the wild.
Torillin straightens when Anya returns. "Back earlier than I expected...was the way barred? And who are these newcomers?"
When introductions are made, the zora makes a sweeping bow and names himself with a light touch of his fingertips to his chest. "And what are your names, may I ask?" the priest asks calmly, in water up to his calves.
Hycorerox calmly moves through the village nodding to the little ones. Seeing a collection of people that seemed out of place he would turn his bulk and heads that direction careful to not step on a little one. Seeing one struggling to reach something he would grab it and hands it to them before slowly making his way to the strange group.
Looking at the one who spoke first he stared at him still as a stone for a long while. The rocky crags along his body glowing a dull red in time with his heartbeat. Which just like him was nice and slow.
"Hycorerox is what I am called, and not because I am bald. A guide is needed for the path ahead, or many of you may end up dead. So a guide I will be. For this group you see. To Death Mountain we must go. Within it our power will grow."
Oh, Muse liked this one! And he glowed as she did! And the rhyming! Muse moved to dance and swirl around the new 'friend' excitedly. It was perhaps the youngest faerie Hycorerox had ever seen, at a glance!
There were a few chirps and other noises from the faerie, but it didn't seem to have anything to actually say.
The Zora blinks slowly at the newcomer's rhyming speech patterns. "Oh, this'll be fun," he says, a smile slowly spreading over his face.
Khristov steps forward and nods to Hycorerox.
It seems unlikely that a goron and a zora would come together here for anything less. They must be here for my goals as well.
Then it seems we best be off. Time is of the essence.
"Yes it's blocked by some kind of magic and the other one stayed up there, new guys aren't with me." She shugged.
"So forceful." the Zora's eyebrow ridges go up slightly at the templar's imperious attitude. He's a natural leader...cute, for a human. "Very well then, warrior, lead on. Maybe we can find a way past the door that barred Anya's way."
Upon hearing Sheik's words, Remia takes a deep breath, "Very well then," she says, turning to Yami and Shadow and taking the rupee from Sheik, "Onward to Kakariko." She nods at Fergus and jumps on his back, running through the woods towards the the town.
Hycorerox puts out a hand to let the fairy land. Studying her even if she continued to fly around.
"Fairy young and fairy old, never met a fairy with color so bold. Chirp and shrill in delight, for you are the prettiest fairy in sight." He said nodding to her.
Hycorerox turns to the human and studies him slowly.
"Rush not foward to Death Mountain. Everyone going must be certain. It is dangerous as the dragon awakens. The mountain knows and is quakin'. All must be ready, their hearts steady. It is wise if supplies are gathered. But rush before if you would rather. I know not your name. I gave mine in hopes you would do same. That is the right thing to do? I hope so because I don't want to seem rude."
I suppose my freedom from need of sleep or food or drink does not mean I won't fail to think straight when I go without.
Of course, I apologize. I just assumed such a variety of people must be here for the same reason I am. My name is Khristov.
"The way is blocked but we can re-examine the path way if you wish maybe one of you know how to bypass it."
Riding into town, it's hard to miss the strange gathering. Two Hylians, a Goron, a Zora, and... a child? She didn't like the looks of this. At least the Zora had sided with the Gerudo during the Great War, but the two groups were hardly close allies these days. Riza trots her horse up to the group, her spear resting on her back. "Anybody else met a Sheikah lately?"
The citizens who had been gathering around the strange assembly, made an equally visible effort to disperse as Riza appeared. None of these people were heroes... and Ganondorf had long-ago repealed their guards. The sea of common folk split as she arrived, and broke off towards their own houses and work.
Torillin raises a hand. "It appears he has been quite busy in his recruitment efforts. All's the better, really, since we had been having a hard time of it so far."
The Zora raises an eyebrow at Riza. "I'll counter your question with another...have you ever fought the Redead?"
Hycorerox looked up at the Gerudo studying her calmly. Then time was spent studying the horse carefully. He would slowly lumber around it looking it over before gently reaching to let it smell him before stroking it. His rumbling voice slowly came out.
"Met many new people I have indeed. All united by the same need. What purpose do you bring forward. Is it the same goal we are going toward? My name is Hycorerox of the Mountain. Any Goron would know that name I am Certain."
Riza narrows her eyes at the Zora. "No. Why should I fight something that is already dead?"
"I don't think running from counts as fighting a redead Torilin but it looks like we've got back up at least, if no one knows how to bypass the barrier then we'll have to find a new area to continue."
As Anya and the others continue to talk about the barrier, it sparks the memory in Muse, who begins to sing, and dance around the group in a wide circle.
What do you do?
Khristov is far too serious to be distracted by music.
I can't say I have fought redead either, though I suppose if we're to do what would normally be done by the Hero of Time it's more or less inevitable. Shall we be going then?
Hycorerox looks at Muse and the tune before rumbling and stomping his feet to it.
"Ancient magics in the song. Listen and sing along."
Hycorerox would turn as he beat his feet and rumbled along. Trying to learn the song as he watched the fairy.
It was surprisingly robust considering it was mostly stomping feet. But he managed notes based on how hard and how his foot came down.
Finally arriving at Kakariko, slightly intimidated by the presence of so many big folk Remia walks up to the easily-noticed group, Yami and Shadow at her side,
"G-greetings, my name is Remia, I am of the kokiri tribe of the forest, I was told by a woman to meet you here, these are Shadow and Yami." She said, gesturing to her companions.
Torillin notices that Khristov isn't paying attention to the music, but agrees with the Goron that it might be significant. His fingertip lightly rests on his chin as he considers the faerie's dark and mysterious song.
"I could swear I've heard this melody before..." the Zora looks frustrated, as if trying to remember something that's resting just on the tip of his tongue.
As the fairy dances and spins and weaves around the group, Remia steps inside of the rotation, and Khristov steps out.
Seemingly at that very instant, everything goes dark for a moment. There is no sound aside from muse's song, and one can't even see Muse.
In the next instant, the group is overlooking Kakariko Graveyard and the Village itself, able to see Khristov, just barely, looking around confused. After a moment, he turns and heads back the way he came.
Everyone is standing upon a cliff. A sheikah woman is speaking animatedly with something that isn't even there. Only hearing one half of the conversation makes it quite difficult to follow along.
There is a cave directly behind you, and a cave off to your right.
Anya recognizes this place, having only just left it. She knows that the cave with the barrier in it is directly behind her, and the cave to the right has stairs that lead down into a crypt.
Hycorerox stops his movement when things go dark along with his rumbling.
Once the light of the world is revealed once again he looks around carefully. Seeing little Remia he smiles and moves over to her before squatting down. "Greetings Remia of the Kokiri Tribe of the Forest. Come, I will introduce you to the rest. Shadow and Yami it is nice to know you, you also can come too." He would stand and moves with her to the group as they look around.
"Remia I have listened well and can make a guess. Torilin is the Zora and Anya the human I must confess. Of the Gerudo I know not a name, but I have not done the same. Khristov has left to travel, where his path goes I can't begin to unravel. Sheikah, ahead seems to be upset. Sheikah's hope is we all met. Now Anya you spoke of the Redead, why would the dead not be dead?"
"Back at the barrier."
At first, it isn't clear exactly what's going on to you, Torilin, but then suddenly you remember the knowledgable young woman that you're traveling with. Most people that knowledgable learn by means of song or some other shorthand.
As before, with Muse, this is a spellsong, an ancient type of magic that binds concepts, feelings, thoughts, and the senses into a cohesive language that speaks to the world around you. Muse seems capable of doing this without the aid of instruments. But you also get the feeling that the effects will not be nearly as focused, and if used in rapid succession could actually be dangerous in their own right.
Still... this Nocturne of Shadow is something that has been rarely heard before: It's a Melody that is used to take a Sheikah's body to the underworld, traveling ancient 'Ways', that exist all throughout Hyrule. This magic is some of the most stable, and while it will likely wear Muse out to use them in rapid succession, they are the most likely to be safe.
Torillin is gazing absently in Anya's direction as he stares at nothing, lost in thought, when his eyes focus on her in the midst of the song. So absorbed was he in his inner musings, that he didn't even notice at first that they had all moved. Blinking away his shock, he comments wryly, "Well, I guess everyone understands well enough now. That spellsong of Muse's allows us to travel secret ways through Hyrule, moving at great speeds without feeling any motion at all. Though it has its dangers, it appears to have served us well here...thank you, Muse." the talkative Zora bows before the fairy.
He notices the strange Sheikah when the Goron points her out. Cocking an eyebrow in curiosity, he remarks, "The lady yonder is conversing with air. Perhaps we should ask if there's really someone there." he grins a little mischievously at the rhyming Goron.
As the world goes back, Riza tenses up, and she jumps back, drawing her spear as the light returns. Crouching, leaning forward, she whips her head around rapidly, looking for whatever threat just stole the sun. Spotting the Sheikah talking to... something, she prepares to attack, but holds when she notices that the others appear unfazed. She straightens up a little, still spooked. She relaxes a bit more as the Zora explains what just happened. "Warn us next time you're going to do something like that, will ya?!" Stupid fairies, stupid Sheikah, stupid quest, stupid Ganondorf... Addressing the walking boulder, she barks, "Hey Rocky! The name's Riza. Don't forget it."
Looking to Torillin he nodded. "Indeed that seems fair, but be careful we don't give her a scare." Hycorerox grins widely as the Zora had adopted his speech patterns. "There is magic in Rhyme, hence why I talk in it all the time." He stomps his feet as he laughs heartily his body shaking before reaching out and clapping him on the back good naturedly.
His attention again turned to the Garuda and her angry retort. His eyes lock with hers and she sees nothing but gentleness and kindness. A wisdom was in those eyes also that spoke volumes. Though his rocky outcroppings pulse slowly like a volcano that isn't as dormant as people would think. "Much thanks for your name. I will in turn give the same. My name is Hycorerox, unlike Rocky it's out of the box. Muse is young and new. Music magic learned as she grew. Until it was used, we were just as bemused. Torillin and Anya both are smart. With their knowledge it gave us the start. Now the knowledge shared makes things clear. From now on we know and have no fear." He stomped his foot and moved to the side. Her anger didn't seem to bother him.
"You are from the proud Garudo are you not? You show the skill of having fought. Your strength will be good indeed. After you if you wish to proceed." He motions slowly and carefully towards the Sheikah who was arguing with nothing.
He didn't once mention about her being spooked.
Muse fluttered tiredly around Riza as she acted upset at the Faerie. There were small, low whistles coming from the faerie as she spoke, the faerie making a slow swirl, rather than an excited one. It doesn't seem to have any musical rhythm, though.
Remia, slightly bemused at the large rocky man looking across at her says, "Pleasure to meet you um.. Big rocky toad-man?.."
"I was told I would be useful to you all by a strange woman, has anyone else met her?"