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powdermelonkeg · 1 year

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hi there! as someone who can't play CoH but is extremely interested in the game's story and worldbuilding, this is ur excuse to infodump as much as u want abt it if you have the energy bc i'll love you forever. pls tell me more abt it!

remember to hydrate and i hope you have a good day!

Okay so the very first thing that comes to mind:

The music.

I've talked about this once before (well over a year ago) here, but I need to gush about it more in-depth.

Obviously, it's the most important part of the game. It's a RHYTHM game. But it's not just a mechanic, it's something acknowledged in-world:

“This world does have some surprising similarities to my own. For example, whenever there are monsters nearby, you have to move to the beat! You’ll get used to it… Trust me.

"But at least in your world, if there are no enemies around, you can move as fast or as slow as you want. Handy!”

Cadence says this if you talk to her next to Link's house. Not only is this confirmation that the music is present, but that it's also a force in the world that works differently in other dimensions, like magic.

A good number of entries to the series have different music if enemies are around. Some examples:

Ocarina of Time

Wind Waker

Twilight Princess

Skyward Sword

Breath of the Wild

Not to mention that virtually ALL of the games have their own boss and miniboss music.

To have this acknowledged in-game is such a neat bit of worldbuilding if you run with it. My headcanon is that it's a form of synesthesia; ie, something from one sense is causes an unrelated reaction in a different sense. Smelling certain things when you see colors, seeing patterns when you touch materials, and so on.

In this case, I believe it's telepathic synesthesia. Hylians are known for their ability to hear "the voice of the gods," though this most commonly manifests by Zelda talking to Link to ask for help.

Telepathy is the ability to read minds. Enemies, presumably, have the ability to think (at least with enough capacity to see Link as a threat and attack him). With music being acknowledged as an in-world force, my theory is that Link (and by extension Zelda, Cadence, Yves, and any other playable character) interprets the thoughts of the various around him as their own kind of music.

The forest takes on a different theme if it's under attack, because the wildlife is trying to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. People have themes as they come into view, because their thoughts invoke a specific feeling in Link. That's how you get bad-news music for someone who's later going to be revealed as a boss, or pleasant tunes for someone guaranteed to be a friend, or leitmotifs for related characters.

All the Links have this to some degree. The original Legend of Zelda only really has two themes: the theme of the world, and the theme of the monster-infected dungeons. His telesthesia is very low-key.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Cadence of Hyrule has themes for every area, with both peaceful and monster-infested variants. On top of this, he gets a visual indicator as well; there's a rhythm counter at the bottom of the screen that tells you when and how to step, and when it's not around, you're out of danger.

What's really interesting is looking at this beyond the game convenience, because it's both an asset and a disability. On the positive side, Link will always know when he's in danger, or when a place has different life in it from areas he's been to before. In Cadence of Hyrule specifically, though, it lets him predict his enemies' moves, recognizing patterns and dodging in time with their thoughts.

On the negative side, telepathy is, presumably, an at-will power. Zelda isn't always reading minds and sending thoughts to the people around her, as far as we can tell. But with Link hearing the music constantly, this means that he both cannot read or send thoughts himself and cannot turn the ability off. The only way for him to get peace and quiet is to isolate himself, and being in a place with a lot of people walking around can be incredibly overwhelming over time. And even barring that, in Cadence of Hyrule, you're punished for not being on beat; Link is very much dependent on this ability to keep his fighting prowess, something other Links don't have to suffer through.

In that regard, I think it's no coincidence that Age of Calamity has such a vibrant and varied soundtrack, while Breath of the Wild limits itself mostly to piano. BotW is an empty world, full of ruins and quiet, where enemies are remnants rather than an active force. Meanwhile, Age of Calamity is a literal warfront. If the music reflects the people in the setting, Breath of the Wild's Link is experiencing the first real quiet he has in over a century. It's a shame he can't remember it, isn't it?

#loz #zelda #coh #ask bee #fave mutuals #long posts #lots of links (hehe) in this one #trust me tho this is just scratching the surface #i love this game so much and wish it was more popular #this and spirit tracks both

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wintertimestoryteller · 1 year

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Linked Universe x Reader Fairy Tale Collection

A gift for @luimagines , thank you for listening to my rambles and for writing the original prompt and all your work in the fandom so far, it's just the opening chapter in a full fic, and I'm not fully satisfied with it nor all that good of a writer an English is not my first language, but I did my best XD.

Once again, thank you.

-Just an Anon on a Stroll 🐚/WintertimeStoryteller.

Opening Act, Scene I

It was a cool, beautiful summer night, the fields of Hyrule beautiful under the moon's light, the stars shone, and the fire crackled merrily away. to the side there was the sounds of lighthearted chatter as everyone finished settling in for the night as Wild took over cooking duties, it's been a while since you've started traveling with the Chain and peaceful as it was, traveling on the road for so long and never knowing when you'd all be spirited away again by a portal to face the shadow and it's tricks could leave anyone on edge and homesick.

Hence, with a night as lovely as this, it was the perfect time for stories to get the group to relax, and today was your turn, everyone likes tales of many kinds, and you had many from your world to tell, as many as you remembered anyway, and it was always a treat to see the heroes of Hyrule look forward to you telling them and a balm to your soul and theirs. A simple and nice distraction.

"-And so the doorknob was placed onto the door, everyone in the family and village held their breath, a beat later. And the house was engulfed by a warm, golden light, one of the hinges moving on it's own as if to welcome them all back inside as their gifts returned, causing celebration to spread through the hidden village. Now finally reunited, they could step forward to a brighter tomorrow as one no matter what they'll face, the end." You finished, pausing to take a big breath and a sip of water to soothe your parched throat, trying to condense an entire one hour movie into a a different format can take a lot of time. At least you didn't add in the songs.

Flushing slightly as you try to ignore the eyes of your enraptured audience, had anyone told you a few months before that you'd be stuck in Hyrule with arguably some of the strongest men in it's history in what's basically an almost textbook definition of the Hero's Journey, you'd have probably laughed in their face. Now here you are, telling stories from your world around a campfire, with two long since dozed off Heroes by your side.

Honestly, even if without finding out just how you were going to set up your bedroll with Sky and Wind both pinning your legs down wasn't a minor issue, you probably wouldn't have it any other way.

"That was probably one of the more sweet stories you've told yet." Came from Twilight, ruffling your hair with a smile, Hyrule nodding from his side and chiming in with a head tilt, "It's fairly open ended though, isn't it? It's not like the problem was really solved. What if the house starts cracking again?"

"He's right, it can't have been that simple as just 'hugging and talking it out.'" came the scoff from Legend, derisive as he aided Four in sharpening the Chain's weapons for another day on the road. The smith lightly elbowing him on the side, making you chuckle.

Humming while shifting just enough so your leg won't fall asleep, you answer, "Well, clearly it isn't, problems like the ones told in this story aren't just solved in a day and all. It's difficult to break a bad habit, or to try not to strive for perfection or notice you're wrong. But it's a step in the right direction no? So it's worth something."

"I see, so basically like scars."

"Precisely!" Came your nod to Hyrule as you smiled warmly at him. His ears twitched, how cute, "Can't exactly swing a sword at a wound and hope it goes away after all, it will heal in time, even if the marks remain."

"Have any other good ones for today, o' lauded storyteller? Be a nice thing to fall asleep to, a beautiful voice telling us even more lovely stories." Came a faint nudge from Warriors as he winks, you lightly push him back with a small smack to the shoulder, playful in nature even as he leaned back, mock wounded, it brings a smile to your face, "Flattery will get you nowhere, I did say I'd rotate them didn't I? I won't go back to your favorite just yet."

"Worth a try anyway."

"Oh! Could we maybe have that one about the girl in the tower? It's been a while since you've told that one." Asked Wild eagerly as he handed you a bowl of soup, which you gratefully accepted, it smelled divine and honestly? It is a fantastic motivator in getting you to agree. Besides you can't really go wrong with Rapunzel, it's one of the classics for a reason.

"Or you could surprise us, no pressure." Chimed in Four from his side of camp, "You honestly seem to know a lot of them, why not tell us one you really like instead? To make it fair." He smirks a bit, "Although if one about a certain little brave mice is your favorite..."

"Don't think I don't see your angle mister." You make a small 'I have my eyes on you' gesture towards him, making the Hero of Minish raise his hands in surrender, you both giggle, "Well, I wouldn't say I know that many...", You chuckle sheepishly behind your soup, "I just heard many back home in many ways and my memory is decent enough, is all. Hm... Do you think it's getting too late for one more, Time? I'll retell the one from today later on when it's my turn again, it's only fair everyone gets to hear it rather than miss out since Wind and Sky fell asleep midway too."

The leader of the group, who had just returned from his shift with the Hero of Calamity and The First Hero and was just in the process of putting most of his armor down turned to you, voice steady as he inclines his head, "We'll need to move on early, but there's not too much rush so one more should be fine. Thank you, (Reader)."

"Oh? Find anything interesting?" Asked Warriors, helping Legend and Four organize and put away the weapons (and failing in snagging the fire rod, from what you can see).

"We discovered a village up further ahead, if we all wake up bright and early tomorrow it won't be that much of a walk. It's close by, but it's best if we rest here for today." He nods to you, smiling slightly, it really wasn't much, but it warmed you how eager they all could get for a story, "So by all means, the floor is yours. Let's see what you can come up with."

"No pressure at all with that, I'm totally not nervous." You playfully rolled your eyes.

"Not at all, you have always done a brilliant job without asking for anything back in and out of the battlefield. We have no reason to believe it will be different now when you've been an incredible storyteller as well." Reassured First, coming by to sit by the fire, from the corner of your eye. You see Calamity nodding along, subtly sitting close and leaning against your other side, Wild giving him an amused look at his anticipation but wisely not calling him out on it as he all but threw himself onto Twilight's side, burrowing and getting comfortable underneath his cloak as the Ordonian yelped, almost dropping his soup. Swallowing the last of your soup (and your nerves) along with it and coughing into your fist to hide a blush, regretfully catching sight and ear of affirmations and nods around the camp as the boys rounded up against the hearth as the last of today's chores was done, you wrack your head for words and for which story to tell next.

Staying composed while having the unwavering support and attention of most of the heroes of Hyrule is quite nerve wracking and flattering in equal measure, can anyone blame you for being flustered?

You had already gone through most of the fairy tales from the West, from Snow White to Beauty and the Beast and Rapunzel and now Encanto, there's their original versions, the one's that weren't made into movies that is, but it would likely just put everyone on edge so we'll save those for another day, it's such a lovely night. You'd loathe to make it sour even if most of those had a good ending, but maybe... Something Eastern? To mix it up, a lightbulb goes off in your head as you grin, giggling, you have it! "Alright then, one more, since you all are so eager." You wink, "Usually the audience knows best. Now, let us start." Taking a deep breath, your voice takes on a lighter, soft tone, the heroes get comfortable, all of you miss the glare of crimson eyes deep in the darkness of the woods. Brief as it was, none would look too closely at a dark colored owl after all, "Once upon a time, there was a brave, noble prince, one day. A maddened, dying god attacked his people and he was cursed defending them, fated to die young..."

----------------------------------------------------------

"If you keep glaring like that, your face will get stuck in that ugly expression." Came a lilting, amused tune, poking the owl between the eyes, laughing as it attempted to bite them through the mask, "Although maybe it would be an improvement to that horrible, nasty mug. For a shape shifter you sure don't make good use of your abilities, are you sure you're up to the task? Having an awful looking performer not playing a wretched character is bad for business."

"Silence." Hissed the owl, flying out of their shoulder and, in a twisting, distinctively wrong surge of shadows. A form like a man's stand in front of the masked figure, unnaturally sharp teeth bared into a too wide smile, "You have your job, I have my own. The question is whether you'll deliver or not. Are you ready?"

The voice hummed, smirking as they pat the Shadow's shoulder, lightly pushing him away, "Don't worry your pretty, wretched head about it. You gave me all I need, play nice once they get here. And I'll give you your rupees worth, I'm not know to disappoint." They look up at the moon as the wraith snarls, but vanishes, laughing as they open a leather bound book, "What a lovely night indeed... Now, let's set the stage, and have some fun, shall we?"

Opening Act, End Scene I.

#linked universe #linked universe au #linked universe x reader #linked universe fanfic #not tagging any boys x reader yet since it's just the opening act #slow start because both reader and the boys can have a bit of soft and slow before it all inevitably comes crashing down. as a treat #Also added in Cal/Age of Calamity Link and First #I know they're not proper part of the Luverse #And that they weren't in the og prompt #But I felt like mixing it up and I know a good chunk of the folks basically adopted them as canon anyway so may as well #Though of adding Spirit/Spirit Tracks Link but still deciding on which story would fit him best plus I don't write Wind x Reader stuff #When I do they have to be the same age or it's just. not okay? So deciding wether I should properly add him or not #but pretend he's there and asleep with Wind and Sky if y'all like #lu sky #lu four #lu time #lu twilight #lu wind #lu legend #lu hyrule #lu warriors #lu calamity #lu first #trust me there's a reason they're in this story besides variety and my sleep deprivation #lu wild #lu chain #lu fanfiction #lu dark link #Dink gets some help this time #he hired them and questions every single second wether or not that's a good idea

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