"Go Forth and Learn All You Can"

After an ungodly amount of climbing, the Gerudo traveler took a moment to catch her breath before composing herself. The Goron city was... Quieter than she expected. Not many seemed to live upon and within the mountain, but those that did seemed very happy to stay within their volcanic home. Iltani took a deep breath and approached the entrance to the chief's chambers. The pair of massive guards at the door looked down at her... Despite being so tall for a Human, especially being taller than Hylians, Iltani couldn't help but feel small in contrast to the giant stone men before her.

"You're expected," one said as the pair stepped aside, "Behave."
"A-gin zae-e di," replied the Gerudo. She bowed her head to the guards before entering.


True to the fashion of her people, she entered, stopped in her tracks, bowed at the waist, then stepped forth to meet this "Solveig" she had heard about.

"Ah! Another little human climbs our mountain!" the elder Goron bellowed, seeming to shake air and earth with every syllable, "And by the look of your hands, you took your own path! Is Solveig correct?!"

"That is correct, Honored King of Death Mountain," Iltani answered, her voice rather soft in comparison. She performed a slow flourish with her arms as she performed a dancer's bow, dipping low with her arms splayed out wide and one foot fixed in front of the other.

Her display of reverence earned a laugh out of the energetic chief, "Stand up! Thank you for the respect! But Solveig doesn't demand bowing unless you've done something wrong! Come in! Sit down!"

The mountainous Goron turned and stomped back to the semi-circle of collected leaders and elders of the tribe. He slapped a younger Goron on the back and bidding the man something in a language Iltani did not understand. The younger Goron nodded to his chief and stood, moving to the caves behind where the elders seemed to be lounging. The Gerudo stood back up and walked up to sit in front of the Elder council, unbelting her sword and laying it across her lap as she descended into a cross-legged position.

@solveig

One of the Gorons around the council of Elders rested a Goron-sized tankard of water for Iltani. She bowed her head and uttered a simple "Thank you" in her tongue to the younger Goron. To be fair, the tankard was more like "bucket" to Iltani; being as how the container was easily the size of her own head. But keeping in the spirit of courtesy, she set her sword aside and made room for the massive cup to sit between her legs.

"It's safe, human er... Can Solveig get your name?" the giant Goron asked, his apparently usual bellowing reduced to simple 'conversational shouting.'

"I am Iltani-En-Baraqu, of the Gerudo people," Iltani answered simply before looking to her drink.

The Gerudo was unable to lift the cup to her lips and drink without making a fool of herself, so instead she cupped her hands and drank by palming amounts of water and sipping what was in her hands. She took a moment to relax in the temperature of the water... Cold... How the Gorons were able to perform such a feat was beyond the girl, but she did not question it.

"And can Solveig ask what human is doing on this mountain?" asked Solveig,  "A very dangerous trip."

"I have come before you to ask a favor..." Iltani began. She shifted her position to be able to kneel on all fours and kotow to the Goron chief, her head resting upon the backs of her hands in prostration, "I am to reclaim the homeland of my people, and I cannot do so with a blade that is a cut away from breaking. You are well-known as perhaps the best blacksmith in Hyrule, and I implore your aid in forging a weapon worthy to take up the cause of reclaiming one's home."

@solveig

The chief of the Gorons explained his bargain to Iltani. Venture into the mines with him to fetch the ore, survive its rigors, and return; in exchange, Iltani shall receive a weapon of the elder's craft. The Gerudo looked up from her prostration to look at the mountainous Goron in the eyes for a moment, gauging his... Spirit. The elder did not reach venerability for nothing, and it showed in his gaze; yet throughout all of the hardships, there was still an energetic jubilation in that gaze of his.

"It is very hot, and very few humans have made it through without Solveig having to carry them out half way through," the chief warned.

"Heat does not frighten my people," Iltani replied with confidence as she cupped a few more handfuls of water before standing, returning the aged shamshir to her belt.

"Of course, Solveig will not let Iltani go without a weapon if you choose to go," the Goron commented, noting upon Iltani's earlier comment, "Solveig has a spare sword somewhere in the forge."

"Respectfully, lord of the mountain, I would feel comfortable to have this at my side," Iltani said, "If the last thing this old sword does is protect me long enough for it to bear a successor, than that will be good enough."

@solveig

The wave of hot air made Iltani feel as if someone had thrown a blanket at her. That... Was definitely going to be a challenge. But just as soon as the heat came did it leave as Solveig's might slammed the door to the mines shut behind him. Iltani sat there on her knees as the chief of Gorons explained that not only were the mines an inhospitable environment to Humans, but they were also filled with various creatures that thrived on the heat.

"But if Iltani truly wishes to go into the deep mines, then Solveig at least request you spend the day in Kakariko to prepare," said the chief, nodding in confidence as he crossed his arms.

"If the chief is permitting, I would like to set up camp here in the Goron city," Iltani said, "I would like to be at my fullest strength when we enter the mines."

@solveig