#on the great sky island

[linksthoughtbrambles]

The First Step in All Cases

A little totk fic for Linktober 2023 Day 8 Prompt: Constructs. 1200 words.

AaaaaAAAAND face-plant.  Of course.

Somewhere along the line, he really thought he’d gotten better at this.  All that Calamity-smiting might’ve gone to his head.

(Definitely, it definitely had, because he let Zelda he let Zelda fall)-

“No,” he said with a sputter of grass, grit, and adorable little purple petals (What were those?  They didn’t taste half-bad) from his mouth, the sting of a long scratch the full length of his face an annoying reminder of his utter lack of elixirs and determination to find out where the frick they went whenever he got home.

He ignored the downed wing behind him and jogged toward the nearest ruined foundation.  The conditions here had preserved materials so well.  Maybe he’d find something to patch himself up-

-like a cookpot!  Link smiled, huffing at the similarity between those strewn about Hyrule and this ancient example, sitting near the center of a home from far longer ago than the previous Calamity.

“Okay, except I don’t have any monster parts.  Could make myself some dinner, though-“

“BrbrEEEEEbr.”

Link’s feet returned to the stone, his first coherent thought being gratitude at not face-planting for the second time in two minutes.

“Allow me to offer unsolicited advice,” the sneaky steward construct said.  It meandered toward Link, though it didn’t enter the ancient footprint of the house.

“…Uh,” Link said.

“Are you going this direction?”

Link glanced at the hands it held loosely, the fingers dangling and not at all pointing any particular way.  “…Uhh-“

“This mountain path is especially rugged.”

Link looked around.  “What mountain pa-“

“You must take your environment into account when traveling.”

“…Right.  Hey, I don’t know how much Rauru clued you in, here, but I kept my memory this time.  Totally got this.“

“I have developed guidelines for traveling this mountain path.”

“Guidelines, really?  That’s great- I think I’m all set, though-”

“Shall I tell you them?”

“Uh.  I think I got it.  Stay warm, right?  Yep.  All set.”

The construct cocked its head at him.

Its strangely adorable head.

“…Don’t give me those dangly robot earrings.”

“Allow me to offer unsolicited advice.”

‘Please?’ its sideways face said in a way only mysteriously non-metallic rigid features can.

Link loosed a sharp sigh, nodding to himself.  He could spend a few minutes listening to a robot who’d been lonely for tens of thousands of years, couldn’t he?  Zelda was safe and here, right?  Of course, she was.  He saw the glow lift her up.  She’s up here in the temple, and he just has to get in.

“Let’s hear it!” Link said.

Something vaguely stern seemed to enter the construct’s inanimate stance.  “Very well.”

Link swallowed, hands on his hips to ride this out.

“Fire is a crucial tool when traveling the mountain path.”

Oh dear Hylia.  “Damn right!”

“A fire can be used either to cook or to warm yourself.”

“Yep.”

“I recommend using flint as a Fire starter.”

“Fantastic recommendation.”

“Place flint next to a bundle of wood. Then strike it with a metallic or stony weapon.”

Dear Goddess, it really does think I have no idea.

“This is my recipe for fire.”

Link blinked.  “That’s- amazing.  It’s mine, too!”

“There are several other methods.  But it is best to internalize the basics first.”

“Makes sense.  You know, you can also use red chu chu jelly-“

“Would you like to hear about cooking?”

That sounded more interesting.  Ancient cooking?  “Yes, please!  Teach me about cooking!”

“You can cook anytime and anywhere.”

Wow.  Optimistic robot.

“All you need is a pot with a lit fire.”

“Oh.  I- know about pots-“

“One method of cooking-“

“-I use them all the time.”

“-is simply to throw random ingredients into the pot.”

“I’m a pretty good cooOOH RANDOM?”

“Others are more careful.”

“I’m sorry, did you just start a newbie’s cooking lesson with ‘put RANDOM things in a pot?’”

“This is the best way to make meals that can warm you up.”

“Wait wait wait, careful how?  You have to be specific!  A newbie needs clear instructions!”

“Other effects are also possible.”

“Yeah, true, but let’s start with the basics-”

“Insects and monster parts are not edible.”

“No no no no, you don’t start with stuff you don’t put in the pot-“

“Do not cook horns or guts with food.”

“I don’t tell people ‘by the way, don’t put a bunch of soap in a cookpot’ and then send them off to cook their first meal!”

“Save these parts as materials for elixirs.”

“Elixirs?!  You haven’t talked about cooking normal food yet!”

“Elixirs are also helpful in the mountains.”

“So are pants!  That doesn’t make them part of a good first cooking lesson!”

 “They are an alternate way to warm your body or recover stamina.”

“Noted, but-“

“The first step in all cases is to start a fire.”

Oh- okay, maybe this is where the cooking lesson starts.

“This is all I can tell you.  Take care.”

Link’s palm struck his forehead with a loud smack.  “You’re- kidding me!”

“Do not worry if you forget any of this.”

“I wish I could, but I think my forgetting days are over-“

“I am not going anywhere.”

Link stared at the construct.

10,000-plus years… for this?  This poor thing knew literally nothing about cooking, yet was doomed to wander the sky island for all eternity to expel its meager wisdom to random passersby?

“No.  No, this is not cool,” Link said.

“BrbrEEEEEBrrr,” cooed the construct.  It turned as if to attend its other duties.

“Eh- Allow me to offer unsolicited advice!” Link said.

“BrbrEEEErrEebr?” Its head cocked at Link.

“I happen to actually be a good cook,” Link said.

It stared at him.

“I- gh- hmm.”  Link grimaced.  “I… have developed guidelines for cooking simple, nourishing meals!” he said with a smile.  “Shall I tell you them?”

The construct’s head shifted back, the earring-like structures jangling in a way reminiscent of a Hylian retriever’s ears.  “I will listen.”

Link approached the construct with a grin and took its hand.  “Follow me to the cookpot, please.”

“Brr-brr-eEEe.”  It didn’t budge.

“What is it?”

“I have not been invited into my masters’ home.”

A small, half-smile touched Link’s face.  “I… live here, now.  I’m inviting you in.”

“BrbrEEee.”

The construct crossed the threshold without resistance.

“Okay,” Link said with a clap of his hands and a delve into his Korok pouch.  “There are three ways to cook in a cookpot.  You can cook in water, cook in fat, or you can dry-roast.  Um.” Link pulled out a raw pigeon carcass he’d already cleaned—he’d had half a mind to cook it before the construct spoke to him anyway.  “Perfect.  This is raw bird—pigeon!—it has some of its own fat, so we’ll just go ahead and roast it.”  Link smirked and eyed his artificial friend.  “…What do you think the first step is?”

“The first step in all cases is to start a fire.”

Link nodded.  “You got it.”

-----

Epilogue:

“And if you collect enough of these and grind them down really fine, you make flour, and if you cook that in fat you make a roux, and there are all sorts of things you can do with that!”

“Brbrrreeee!” the construct chimed.

#linktober #linktober 2023 #linktober day 8 #constructs #comedy #mostly #but i love the constructs #in a serious narrative way too #totk #tears of the kingdom #on the great sky island

[bettykwong]

Burnout

#tears of the kingdom #totk #zelda totk #link #legend of zelda #totk link #link totk #nintendo #zelda fan art #illustration #fan art #my art #breath of the wild #botw #great sky island #the legend of zelda #speed paint

[fruityrats]

Where the land and sky meet

#tears of the kingdom #totk #loz #legend of zelda #rauru #totk rauru #sonia #totk sonia #sky islands #the great sky island #totk spoilers #Illustration #digital painting

[triptych-of-voids]

in love with totk btw heres some great sky island critters ^^

#great sky island. or skyland for short #ive done quite a lot in the game so far :] #totk spoilers #loz #tears of the kingdom #totk #totk rauru #steward construct #doodles

[mxshkii]

Finals went really great (I’m posting these way too late lol) and I’m pretty happy with how these posters came out! I know I didn’t exactly use the poll but it worked out anyway :)

Ps idk why the quality on these is so horrific i apologize

edit: they are in fact now in my redbubble but without text. they get taken down with the text on 😭

#illustration #loz tears of the kingdom #loz fanart #the legend of zelda #loz breath of the wild #loz totk #loz botw #satori mountain #rito village #great sky island #loz rito #loz fandom #botw totk #botw fanart #totk fanart #tears of the kingdom #breath of the wild

[stephologyyy]

Great Sky Island

❤ https://stephology.bigcartel.com ❤

#zelda #artists on tumblr #illustration #art #legend of zelda #tears of the kingdom #totk #great sky island #rauru

[taboonle]

Linktober day 7

#linktober #procreate art #zelda #legend of zelda #loz #hyrule #tloz #loz totk #totk rauru #tears of the kingdom #rauru #king rauru #great sky island

[illustratus]

Mount Orgueil Castle, Jersey by Henry King Taylor

#henry king taylor #art #mount orgueil #mont orgueil #castle #jersey #gorey castle #castles #sea #waves #sky #clouds #channel islands #english channel #harbour #britain #england #europe #european #middle ages #medieval #great britain #normandy

[chongoblog]

Anyone got any videos of like, edited streams of people playing the beginning of Tears of the Kingdom for the first time?

#i know liam triforces is very very good #same with pointcrows #and im watching saltys rn #any other good ones that people can send? #just because i am obsessed with watching people play through totk for the first time #especially the great sky island #i was the same way about people playing through the great plateau for the first time

[viks-art]

i made a reel on my instagram account a while ago that included backgrounds from tears of the kingdom. reuploading them here individually :)

in-game, my favorite place is zora’s domain; I had the most fun painting the great sky islands landscape, though. hope you enjoy these!!

#art #digital art #artists on tumblr #fan art #legend of zelda #zelda totk #zelda breath of the wild #zelda fanart #zelda tears of the kingdom #legend of zelda tears of the kingdom #zora's domain #great sky island

[skykid-void]

what's your favorite place in sky and/or genshin?

Sky has a TON of beautiful places, so it's genuinely hard to choose only one... so uh, have a list

This spot in forest? 9/10 perfect for naps, nice background noises, minus points for other players coming by frequently (and trying to push you off)

This spot, also in forest 9/10 (minus points because the jellyfish isn't here anymore :( )

This spot in forest is pretty great in general, lots of hiding spots 10/10

Similar to the first one, sitting means lots of players will come by, but you have a great view of Eden 10/10

Big fish 11/10

Also there's "illegal" places, such as:

Top of Prairie temple oob. 9/10 because it's fluffing WIMDY

Cotton candy sky over forest 10/10

and finally

big fish under forest 11/10

#also yk #disneyland oob prarie peaks the flight islands #all great #I'll put the genshin ones in a reblog #quartz-the-cosmic-manta #sky children of the light #void the sky kid #sky children of light #sky cotl #that sky game #skyblr #the void speaks #void answers

[wronghordakisbae]

Tears of the kingdom is sooooo castle in the sky coded

#botw totk #totk #zelda totk #loz link #studio ghibli #castle in the sky #ghibli films #switch games #great sky island #great sky island is basically laputa

[bettykwong]

Great Sky Island

#tears of the kingdom #totk #zelda totk #link #legend of zelda #totk link #link totk #nintendo #zelda fan art #illustration #fan art #my art #breath of the wild #botw #great sky island #the legend of zelda #speed paint

[voltfruits]

i know i'm not the first or even the twentieth person to mention this but it disappoints me how homogeneous/interchangeable some of the sky islands in totk are. give me big ass sky trees over the great forest! midair lava and hot springs over eldin! different shapes aside from the classic criss-cross with a launcher in the middle! more places like hebra peak where the sky and land maps meet! and good heavens, why is the sky mine indistinguishable from all the regular islands! where are the rocks! where are the minecarts and caves! we could have had it so much better

#don't get me wrong i still LOVE the sky areas. especially the great island and starview/lightcast isles #there's a lot of good stuff up there! but i just wish they'd put a little more effort into some areas #totk #totk spoilers #volt.txt

[vonaegiremblem]

When I first started playing TotK, I wasn't sure if it would have a Guardian-equivalent enemy, and if it did, I wasn't sure how it would live up to the presence Guardians had in BotW. Now that I've encountered the Gloom Spawn/Gloom Hands (really they should have just been Floormasters), I think they at least live up to the Guardians, though I've yet to decide if they surpass them.

To really get into how the Guardians and Gloom Hands affect their respective games, I have to talk about how BotW creates a sense of danger through isolation and TotK creates a sense of security through companionship in their two starting areas. Despite their many similarities, the Great Plateau feels far, far more lonely than the Great Sky Island. The only NPC you can talk to, save for a few Koroks, is Rhoam, and outside of visiting his cabin, you only really interact with him when progressing the tutorial.

Contrast this with the Great Sky Island, which is filled with non-hostile characters. The Constructs are charming. They crack jokes and aim to be helpful. And they are everywhere. Rauru, who fills the role of Rhoam, doesn't just show up to progress the tutorial. He also just pops up to talk about things you encounter. The feelings of companionship even continue after the tutorial, since the first place you are expected to go after jumping off the island is a fortified settlement with people who know Link and are happy to see him alive. If you go to the first intended location after jumping off the Great Plateau, you probably won't see another person until you get to the Dueling Peaks Stable, and if you head straight for Hyrule Castle, you will be accosted by a whole bunch of Guardians.

The danger presented by enemies in both starting areas even continues to emphasize the difference in feelings of safety between the two starting areas. The Great Sky Island contains two enemies that are likely to kill you: the Flux Construct and the Captain Construct. Both of these are fairly well telegraphed, though. The Flux Construct is sitting in a giant, arena-like circle, and the Captain Construct is standing in a box right in front of a treasure chest. The Great Plateau has a similar boss monster and stronger enemy variant, but they are much less obvious. The Talus is camouflaged as a bunch of rocks and is encounterable by literally taking one wrong turn when you first gain control of Link. The Blue Bokoblin with a Soldier's Broadsword is also just randomly in an enemy camp. The Captain Construct at least has the courtesy to immediately show you that it can fuse weapons, an ability that you know makes weapons stronger, so that you know that you're in for a more dangerous opponent.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the Great Plateau and Great Sky Island is that the Great Plateau forces you to interact with Guardians. To get at one of the mandatory tutorial shrines, you have to get past some Decayed Guardians. These Guardians teach the player some important lessons. Guardians can and will one shot you. Even decayed ones have a ton of HP and killing them with weak weapons is not viable. Guardians that seem deactivated may reactivate unexpectedly. Guardians are large--large enough to see from a distance--so avoid them if you see one from far away.

The point of all this preamble is to establish how the two games set you up for their scary, dangerous, non-boss enemies that get their own track when aggro'd. BotW prepares you for it by forcing you to interact with them, making you learn how to deal with them, and creating a constant sense of danger to keep you on edge. TotK lulls you into a sense of security early on, and then shocks you out of it with that first Gloom Hands encounter. If you go the "intended" route, your first encounter with them should be in Lindor's Brow Cave, near the tower and the spot where Impa tells you about Dragon's Tears. I think this location works so well because 1) you will be immediately drawn to it while going up the path to the tower, 2) it's a cave, and 3) there's a shrine inside of it. The cave ensures that you can't see the sky, which turns the same shade of red as when a Blood Moon appears. The shrine distracts you from the gloom puddle as it moves towards you. Your only indication that something is happening is the new music and the visual effect that shows up when Gloom Hands spawn. It is perfectly set up to catch new players off guard.

The shrine does not serve just to distract you, though. It's also meant to teach you a simple way to escape Gloom Hands: you have to climb onto a shelf in the cave to get to the shrine, and Gloom Hands can't climb walls. Entering the shrine or waiting around a little bit also reveals that Gloom Hands will just leave after a while. After an initial scare and, perhaps, a few deaths, Lindor's Brow Cave teaches you basically everything you need to know about Gloom Hands, at least for the early game. It also breaks that feeling of safety that the game presented early on and colors the rest of the early-to-mid game when you don't have the resources to properly deal with them. Unlike Guardians, these things are far less obvious, seeming to appear anywhere, at anytime, with very little warning. You have to always keep in the back of your mind that there might just be Gloom Hands somewhere near by.

The Gloom Hands also have one final trick for those that played BotW and became adept at dealing with Guardians. For the most part, once you figure out the perfect parry timing, Guardians are pretty simple to deal with. Your reward for becoming decent at fighting Guardians was the rare, ancient materials they dropped. Those who think they can deal with Gloom Hands similarly are in for a surprise. The Gloom Hands are pretty resource intensive early on. The best way to deal with them safely is to use arrows with elemental effects, which you probably don't have a ton of when you first encounter the Hands in Lindor's Brow Cave. Also, if you aren't fast enough, they will just start regenerating. Once you manage to beat them, you don't get rare materials, you get a miniboss that can oneshot you at that point, especially if the Gloom Hands inflicted you with gloom. Admittedly, the boss is not that difficult if you don't panic; the flurry rush timing is pretty generous and the attacks are clearly telegraphed. And your reward for defeating the boss? Two weapons that have gimmicks relating to health, making them less useful in the early game.

I think that Guardians will probably remain more iconic from both a design and story perspective. Nothing quite hits like encountering a field of decimated Guardians early on and then discovering later that Link was the one who destroyed them. That being said, I think Gloom Hands do a better job of evoking panic in players. The sky changing color, the music playing, the fact that they appear out of seemingly nowhere, the fact that they basically have to be right on top of you to attack, the fact that they are living creatures instead of just being machines. All these things contribute to them being more intimidating to face than Guardians. I still can't make a call on which I think is handled better until I spend some more time with TotK, but I would not be surprised if in the end it just comes down to personal preference

#the legend of zelda #tears of the kingdom #lox #totk #breath of the wild #botw #spoilers #totk spoilers #long post #there are a few other things I could bring up about the sense of safety you get from the Great Sky Island #like how it has a warmer color palette and how the enemy designs are generally less threatening #also how even the first quest that takes you into the depths is extremely safe and you have a companion for it #This took a few days to properly word #but I had to get it out there since I think it's genuinely fascinating how well they set up the initial scare of the gloom hands #and it works anywhere; but I think it is strongest in the cave before the tower near that first impa encounter #but those are a bit more subjective

[malo-mart]

I was playing a 3 heart save file of totk on my girfriends switch profile and it was a no map, no fast travel playthrough but she's just taken over and is reaping the benefits. It's making me so sad...I wish I could play totk for the first time too. I can't even watch cuz I back-seat drive

#she hates tutorials #im happy shes playing it. only zelda shes played is albw and botw and we have been dating 10 yrs #but she gets to have no hearts and a lynel bow cuz of me #by 3 hearts i mean 4 cuz u have to have 4 hearts to get off great sky island