stones of far (out) speech, 7/20

[wisdomspring]

Hello? [ Comes a voice new to the "network." It's young, feminine, and maybe British-esque, if you have to pin it down. ] Is it true that everyone on the island - on the islands, I think - can hear me?

[ It's the kind of tech that the Sheikah might come up with, like a more advanced version of the Gossip Stones spoken of in Hyrule's history. ]

Are you able to respond? If so... oh, I would really love to learn more about how these devices function. I'm happy to meet with you in person, or to speak by using the stone in order to receive a more "hands-on" lesson.

[ She giggles a little, clearly delighted by the opportunity. Who wouldn't be excited about something like this?? ]

But I've forgotten myself. I am Zelda, and I thank you in advance for anything that you might teach me.

Comments

[wisdomspring]

I see. [ She's a little curious about its composition, however morbid that might be.

Zelda follows as he leads, eventually coming to stand before one of the mana pools. She blinks at it, leaning in curiosity, lips parting in silent questions.

And then in one that's voiced: ]

You... travel through this?

[counterblows]

You, uh. Yeah. You use the flowers.

[God, it just sounds stupid, no matter how much he awkwardly clears his throat and tries to make it sound not.]

Pick one, and focus on where you want to go, and throw it in, and it...takes you to the nearest pool like this one.

[wisdomspring]

[ She realizes that it's... a little unusual, but Hyrule has a lot of strange magic, too, and so she doesn't really question it. Instead, Zelda nods intently as she picks a flower, but then there's a quizzical frown that follows. ]

How... can I focus on where I want to go? I've never been to another part of these islands.

[ Can she just imagine the concept? Otherwise, it'd be impossible for her to picture it, right? ]

[counterblows]

[He starts counting off the known locations, brow furrowing.]

There's...the islets, off-shore of the mainland. There's this compound place with these houses built in the trees. There's one on top of a mountain. Every time a new island shows up, supposedly we get one there too.

I think if you just concentrate on there being islets, you'll be fine.

[wisdomspring]

All right. I can manage that...

[ Or, she'll try her darndest. The princess hesitates, stem pinched a little too tightly between her fingers. ]

... Here I go.

[ As if he needs the announcement, but. All the same, Zelda takes a deep breath and thinks of the islets, just as he's said. She tosses the flower in, and not long after, she blinks and the scene has changed. ]

Oh! [ It's surprised and delighted, because - well, this is quite the revelation. Of course, Wash isn't there, so she turns to look for him and realizes he hasn't come along. Yet.

Maybe he'll follow behind? ]

[counterblows]

[He follows suit a moment later. It's a little like using a teleportation grenade, only instead of using what Grif gleefully termed a "futurecube," it's a pinch of petals thrown in some glowing green water. Which is...fine, if a little weird.]

[He materializes by the pool on the islets, shaking his head once to clear it, and - good. She ended up here too.]

Takes some getting used to.

[wisdomspring]

I imagine that it does. [ Zelda laughs, at ease again, and happy in the face of this wondrous technology. ] This is the most common form of transportation, then? Is it powered by anything, that you can tell? That is... [ hmm. ] Does the Storyteller use his abilities to keep the pools functional, or are they more of a natural feature of the islands?

[counterblows]

I have...no idea.

[His form of exposition is limited solely to the minutiae of Project Freelancer.]

I think people have to place them? Or...the Storyteller places, but they ask them where they go?

[wisdomspring]

I see. I would like to learn more about them, and to ask the Storyteller, if I can...

[ She has a lot of questions for the Storyteller, which will surprise no one. ]

Thank you for bringing me this far. [ Zelda says then, emphatically. ] I think that I can find my own way from here. It certainly seems safer than where I was last...

[counterblows]

They're usually around in their temple. If you, uh...ask around, I guess.

[He's just concerned that this small child was all alone for WHO KNOWS HOW LONG, OKAY.]

You sure you don't need a place to...stay or anything like that?

[wisdomspring]

All right, then, I will. ... Ask around that is.

[ She draws a deep breath, offering him another smile. ]

I think that I should be just fine for now. [ Little do they know that they'll be living under the same roof before long. ] If I am in need of any help, though... what should I do?

[ What if an Upsy-thing shows up again?? ]

[counterblows]

You've got that rock, right? You don't have to use it to call everyone. You can call...me, or whoever else you need.

[Whoever else, as if anyone else bothered to tELL HER SHE COULD LIVE SOMEWHERE THAT WASN'T THE TEMPLE.]

[wisdomspring]

You can send a message to an individual? Do you accomplish it by thinking of them?

[ Similarly to the mana pools, minus the magic flower?? ]

[counterblows]

Something like that, yeah. The big rock near the Temple - people tend to leave messages there, there too.

[Better for group announcements, or island-wide messages that aren't on a time limit.]