For five years, the faithful of Seven Maidens have attended church in smaller wooden structures rebuilt after fire destroyed the previous temple, and while their new pastor Abstalar was helpful, kind, and wise, church wasn’t the same. Now, the new cathedral is finally done. All that remains is for the Festival of Heroes to renew the site’s blessings from the gods and it will be as if the Sandpoint Fire had never occurred.
All about the small square before the new cathedral children play, adults talk and vendors ply their wares. Merchants from as far Castle City are in attendance selling all manner of goods: Calatian incense, Goron snap poppers for the kids, and one fellow is wearing all green as he shows his new 'fairy balloon game'. Others sell food, such as Kakariko Spiced Cuccoos, Desert Curry and even stranger, though local favorites dominate the stalls.
The air is clear, the sun shining, and mood quite jovial! Nothing, some say, could ruin this day.
Everyone in the party is in attendance as the crowds go about their business, preparing for the long day and night of festivities ahead.
Lia is practically skipping through town today with a gleeful smile on her face. The Festival of Heroes is one of the local holidays she's looked forward to for years, and it shows. She narrowly avoids colliding with people as she runs through the town square.
"Pardon me--Oops, sorry sir!--Sorry, kinda in a hurry--wow, that guy's cute--OW! Sorry, my fault--Excuse me--sorry, kitty--there we go!"
She stops at a point in the town square where the crowds are the thinnest, and looks down at her gear. Part of her is wondering why she decided to carry her sword, dagger, club, sling and chain shirt around with her today (they certainly didn't make navigating the crowded square any easier); it would have been more sensible to just leave all that kit at home. She pulls a green ocarina out of her pocket and checks it over.
"Phew--no scratches or chips. Alright, let's take this show on the road!" She puts the ocarina to her lips and starts playing a jaunty tune.
As she followed her mother through the streets of Seven Maidens, Lylt unconsciously pulls her grey cotton hood further down over her face. Her yellow-orange hair spills out from beneath the robe, half-covering the blue spiral on her cheek as she takes in the chaos of the festival. Sensing an opportunity to escape the worst of the crowds, she ducks off toward a woman with one of those flute-things that seem to be everywhere. Halfway there, she recognizes the blonde.
"Lia."
The Twili girl nods in greeting before sitting down against a wall and running an off-white finger over the hilt of her own weapon, stroking it almost as if it's a housecat. Her golden-and-orange eyes seem to glow from within the black mask-like skin that surrounds them. She turns her eyes toward the bard again.
"Have you eaten yet? Mother dragged me here too early, and I didn't find breakfast first."
- Hey there, hi there! I didn't eat either!
Bump was right behind them, somewhat close and with a big smile. In the middle of the crowd, the small Kokiri wasn't really something too impressive at all... Mostly bumping and being bumped, you see!
He definitely had the face still dirty from probably eating a big sweet (which he was still somehow savoring), but was smiling and showing his neverending hunger for festive food.
- We should find something to bite, huh?
Lia is focused on playing her tune, losing herself in the music... well, up until someone addresses her.
"Lia."
She interrupts her tune and opens her eyes, seeing the oddly-coloured girl sitting next to her. "Oh, good morning Lylt!" Her face brightens and she lowers her ocarina.
"Have you eaten yet? Mother dragged me here too early, and I didn't find breakfast first."
Lia nods, but she looks a little disappointed. "You didn't have breakfast? I know the Festival's here, but come on--everyone should have breakfast before the day starts. Want me to go get you something?"
She starts looking around at the surrounding stalls, trying to decide what would make for a good snack.
After a second of searching, Lia looks down again and sees a new face. "Oh--hello there." She says, looking at Bump. "Sorry I didn't see you there--lots of people, easy to miss someone. Who are you?"
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A partially burnt Deku Scrub in full armor shoulders his way from out between two of the packed stalls that Lia was just looking at. Several of the Hylians that were obstructing his exit path are now rubbing sore shins and knees that had the misfortune of clanging against his armor. The Scrub mutters "Appologies" as he emerges from the small throng of humanity. Entangled in his hands a steaming mug of broth. After clearing the packed stalls he begins looking for a place to plant himself and enjoy the broth.
Noticing Bump, he advances toward the Kokiri, Lia and Lylt
"Good day Bump. They have an abundance of food over there that can sate even your voracious appetite my friend. Though you may get trampled trying to get your fill."
Turning towards Lia and Lylt the Scrub bows so deeply that his enlongdated snout nearly touches the ground.
Greetings friends, I am Bonsai. May the Great Deku Tree shade you from your troubles this day."
Lylt glances at Lia and looks away quickly, pulling out a little spellbook. "The desert curry sounds interesting." She quickly buries her nose in the spellbook, glancing up after a moment at the Deku Scrub. "Shade would be nice, but I doubt we'll find any today. Why go fully armored to a festival?"
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Bonsai addresses the Twili woman:
"It may be uncomfortable, heavy and ill suited for a day such as this but, with it I am prepared to blossom into action at a moments notice. I wear it for vigilance. I see you have a spell book young lady. When you wake each day do you not spend time to prepare your spells? My armor is my preparation for the day. I pray every morning for the Deku Tree to guide me to seek out and punish those who would harm it and to be the shield of those beneath its canopy. Besides young lady, the strain it puts on my body will be nothing compared to the impending pruging wildfire that will be sent by the Great Deku Tree. "
Lia waves hello to Bonsai. "I'm Lia."
"And I'll be right back with some desert curry, don't you worry!" Lia merrily skips away as Bonsai starts talking about purging wildfires.
After ordering several bowls of curry, she comes back with them, moving slowly and carefully. "Goddesses, this smells so gooooood... I wanna eat some right now, but I'd just make a mess of everything." She hands a bowl of curry off to Lylt. "And the girl who made it was so nice--she had this really stylish and cute black hair tied in a ponytail. I considered growing a ponytail, but my hair tends to get caught in my armour when I do that..."
- Hi! - Bump shakes his hand greeting Bonsai, and then the other people - Like my friend here said, I'm Bump, from the Kokiri Forest! Nice to meet you all.
His smile is absolutely innocent and reveals clear happiness. After food is being ordered, the small (and voracious) fey can barely contain himself.
As the festivities continue on, a small performance by a band of Gerudo dancers winds through the streets and a rather rotund Goron trails them hawking a number of rather nice looking jewelry sets.
After a short while, a rather loud and boisterous crowd begins to fill the square before the Cathedral. A tall, handsome and weather-worn man in his mid-fifties rises up the stage as the crowd begins to clap. "Now now, we aren't opening the Cathedral quite yet. We're going to get to it, and boy, won't you all be surprised when we do! Oh, but first, a word from Mayor Deverin!" The man, Father Zantus, smiles as he waves a women in her mid thirties up onto the stage. This women, who looks a little worn but bright-eyed as any youngster gets a loud round of applause as she ascends the stairs.
"Thank you, Father Zantus. As you all know, several years ago, our little town was struck with tragedy. Not a one of us will ever forget the nightmare or loss of life that came to us from that horrid man..." Shaking her head, the crowd quiets as memories of the 'Recent Troubles' involving a serial killer and the burning of the former church come forth. "But today, as I've talked and discussed with what feels like half of Hyrule, I learned of a new way of thinking of it by a new friend of mine." Beaming now, she looks out to the crowd and then points directly at Bonsai.
"A nice Deku told me to view this as one would a forest fire, for from it's ashes arise new life and new hope. Today marks a new day that honors the recent dead, honors the time and sacrifice of so many in and around our town, and honors the future that is in our grasp. I have even received a letter from Her Royal Highness, Princess Zelda, commemorating our efforts in rebuilding! So, in just one hours time, I and Father Zantus will be so pleased to open the Cathedral to..."
With a sudden shriek piercing the air, the crowd and everyone turn to see a little girl backing away as a dog walks limping forward from a nearby alley, a small trident sticking from it's side. With a collapse, the dog whimpers once more before it's life is taken to the Golden Goddesses.
And then the noise of fear itself begins to flow forth. Stricken with fright, the crowd goes nuts as Miniblins, cruel and sadistic little blins, begin to hop out from the shadows, from under carts and even from a few barrels!
Cela had wandered about with the crowd, her tall red hair making her stand out amongst all the Hylians. Not that she was unused to the stares - especially not with so much to see and enjoy!...at least until the tall old priest got up and introduced the mayor. "Sweet siroccos," Cela thought to herself. "Speeches. BOOORI - wait, recent troubles? Oooh, I love a good trouble!"
Her head whips around at the shriek, though. Amused excitement turns to burning anger in a heartbeat. Blins! Time to worry about how they got in the middle of such a large city later.
Lylt pushes herself off the ground, dark blade already at the ready. She looks left, then right, seeing Blins on both sides. "Which do we go for first? I'm not sure..."
She takes a few hesitant steps toward the north, giving her blade an orange glow that somehow lights only the blade but leaves her hand unlit. "These ones?"
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Miniblins, a blight on Hyrule if ever there was one and the first to be purged in Great Deku Tree's flame. Seeing Lylts glowing sword Bonsai thinks to himself:
Thank you Great Deku for this opportunity to burn away the corruption. Hopefully the Twili lass and Lia can dispatch the ones behind the northern cart. They were well armed and the Twili girls sword just started glowing. I will focus on the group to the south and east.
Dropping his cup of broth to the ground the small tree begins a plodding south and east towards the miniblins behind the cart. As he moves he retrieves his snarl shield strapping the hardened wood to his own living wooden skin. He holds it in front of him preparing for a miniblin projectile attack.
bonsai screams towards the group of miniblins in the common Hylians tongue; "Come out and face my judgement you pestual cowards!"
Lia tunes out most of Mayor Deverin's speech, but when she mentions the troubles, she pays attention and folds her hands.
"Tragic, definitely--" Then she gets cut off by the arrival of Miniblins. "Oh, COME ON! Today's supposed to be a fun day!"
She puts her ocarina to her lips and starts playing an inspiring tune as she runs to Lylt's side!
Sania had joined Cela in her wandering for the Festival, as she the only person that Sania actually knew. The sights and sounds filled her with a familiar sense of wonder. They had plenty of festivals and celebrations back in Castle City, but in a town like Seven Maidens the atmosphere was understandably different.
Sania wore her armor and armaments today, feeling as though it would be good for the locals to see representation of the Hylian Knights here in town.
Upon hearing the scream, Sania drops her hand to the hilt of her sword and positions herself in a defensive yet ready stance. She scans over the crowd for any danger. Upon seeing the numerous miniblins, she draws her sword and prepares for the impending fight.
"Looks as though our revelry today was short lived. Be on your guard, Cela."
Bump looks very sad, for a moment.
Oh, no! Come on! There's food here! - the Kokiri screams, while stepping to the side and pulling his short swords.
Alright! Let's do it! - he finally smiles again.
"No doubt, Sania. At least it doesn't sound like we're the only brave souls out here this evening!" She straps her shield on, then bestows a spirit's blessing on her new friend's blade, helping it to strike true.