"Your choice", Praxius says to Theo, not at all offended, and plods onwards towards Death Mountain.

"This is your choice, Theo. All I want to say is, if your mom's just sick and might die, ok I get it. The world might be more important. But if she is absolutely dying and that's what the Deku tree told you; well some things you only get one chance to do right." Quiggley will mention. "Make the choice you can accept and live with. We'll back you up either way."

“I mean, it’s not that I ran away from my mother,” Theo says. “I would love to go and see her again. It’s…” he pauses. “It’s mostly my father. He never really cared about me. Barely even spoke to me. Practically ignored me, except to tell me how I was a ‘disappointment’. And a little of my brother, who never liked me. I don’t think that I can face them now. Perhaps after Death Mountain I may go back.”

"I don't want to over step here so please don't answer if it is too much. You speak of your father and brother and their dislike or disappointment of you. I for one can tell you they are blind if thats what they see in you. Look at that, what do you call it again, gun. You made that. Thay is pretty damn impressive. I want to know more about your mother. What is she like?"

Theo smiles. “Thanks for the compliment. I’ve always been a tinkerer, messing around with toys to see how they worked. Of course, my sister sometimes didn’t approve when I ‘borrowed’ hers, even if I put it back together after taking it apart.” He laughed, pulled from his bad mood. “When I got to Hateno village, a kind smith took me in and showed me how to create things. It was everything I could dream of. I could finally create whatever I wanted.”

Theo pauses. “My mother…she…” He shakes his head. “Sorry, it’s been so long that I don’t remember much. She did love me, and encouraged me to do what I wanted. I think that’s what pushed me to leave. It hurt to leave her, but I just couldn’t stay.”

"Then you're mother has much to be proud of," Rae interjects, "You were there to assist in saving Hyrule's King, and though it is Praxius who has been obtained a squireship of sorts we have all been recognized by Hyrule's knightship.  I doubt your father or brother has saved a king before."

The zora places a hand on Theo's shoulder and gives it a light, reassuring squeeze, "Stand tall, Theo."

Rae walks a few paces ahead of the group before turning to face them all, "I also had questions for the sprout.  I may have not made it entirely clear before, but I am no adventure seeker.  I came to Hylia in search for peace and to live out my days simply.  But at every bend in the road I only find conflict and hardship that seems to lead me to some greater purpose.  I've decided to run from it no longer.  The sprout gave me roundabout answers, but it seems like there are gears in motion in Hylia.  Something big is slowly unfolding and I believe all of us have a part to play in it."

Rae looks at Theo once more, "Your father and brother may not have acknowledged you, but the powers above have high hopes for you.  And I think there is pride you can take from that."

"The others speak far better than I, Theo", Praxius joins in. "But you seem an honourable and brave soul, and I am happy to be travelling with you".

He scratches the back of his neck as if uncomfortable.

"Whatever you need, just say it".

If no one else has anything to say, 

You all press forward, continuing your journey towards a new destination. The Looming, smoldering home of the Gorons; Death Mountain. While not technically a mountain as it is an active volcano, it is a frightening awe inspiring sight. One of the two tallest peaks in the lands of Hyrule and viewable from every corner of the Kingdom, even two days travel from it the mountain's looming shadow stretches far enough to block the sun for a few hours before nightfall. With a constant, thick plume of black smoke pouring from its crater. Few in Hyrule actually ever dare to venture towards it, not only for the imposing nature of the mountain but mainly for the staggering heat that it produces. 

Your first day of travel goes smoothly, ending with Paca once more conjuring a hut for you to slumber peacefully on your travels. Halfway through you second day, you reach the very foot of the Gorons territory, where the soft grasslands turns to jagged and barren wastelands. A stark contrast from what all of you are used to, in this land there is no vegetation. Save for the odd, long dead tree. You no longer hear or see the scamper of wild animals as whatever scurries on the ground here is quickly snatched into the air by a bird of prey. 

The sheer size of the mountain at this point leaves you breathless everytime your eyes wander to the top of it, forced to crane your neck back to the point where you think you should be seeing the clear blue sky. Instead all you see above you is an ever present cloud of black smoke that chokes the light of the sun, casting the land in an ominous ever present shadow. You stick close to one another as your press forward, With Praxius alerting you to the odd threat whenever his sword began to hum. Yet whatever it was, always seemed to scurry away upon catching sight of you. 

Then it hits you, an almost swletering wave of heat washing down from the mountain. You are forced to ration your water, despite how dry your tongues become and they do become very dry. Since entering these lands you have not seen a single source of water, yet there must be one for whatever animals do live in these lands. Your second day of travel comes to an end with a very uncomfortable sleep within Paca's Hut. 

In the morning, you all wake up with the intent to tackle the road up the mountain. To find and aid your friend, Dagoro. Yet you are met with a rather unexpected sight. Completely surrounding the dome in which you had slept, are six very large Gorons. Who seem to be examining Paca's hut. 

"W'hut iz it?" One speak's, tapping on the outside of it. 

"Dunno, Nevah seen it 'fore." Another responds.

"Should'n we get da Boss?" Another chimes in. 

"Nah, He got more 'portant buidness to take care of." The first Goron responds. 

Praxius, who has watched the Gorons approach after once again rousing from his trance far earlier than the others wake from sleep, stands next to the wall of the hut a mere foot from the first Goron.

Once he is sure the others are awake and aware of the visitors, he sticks his sweaty face and empty hands out of the hut, to show who he is and that he is unarmed. "It's a shelter, like a tent. We are friends of Dagoro from Hyrule. Perhaps he has mentioned me, I am Praxius", he says matter of factly.

If they draw weapons and make to fight, he simply retreats.

(OOC: DM - How long is left on the hut?)

Once he is ready Quiggley will wait for the other and the reaction of the Gordon's to see what the group wants to do.

Paca watches to see what happens.

Theo yaws as he wakes up, not realizing the “guests”. Surprised, he listens to Praxius and then continues, “Yes, we met Dagoro at the Centennial Ballad. We actually fought some bokoblins with him. He knows us, so could you tell them that Praxius, Theo, Rae, Paca, and Quiggley are here?”

The Gorons immediately take a step back once Praxius pokes his face and open hands through the Hut, with two of the Gorons actually stumbling and falling backwards. Immediately they raise their fists, ready for a fight. 

"WaitaMinute, Ye know Dagoro?" One of the fallen Gorons inquires as they right themselves, Who is a little larger than yourself Praxius. It seems that not all Gorons are the size of Dagoro, some are smaller so by that logic. Some must be larger as well. With that revelation fresh in your mind, the Gorons surrounding the hut lower their fists. 

"HE DID SPEAK UVYA!" Another Goron belts out, turning to his Brothers. "Member he spoke of the Hylian who bested him in the Sumo ring?" Thats 'im!" The Goron points to you Praxius. The other fiver turn to look at you, each with a  bedazzled gleam in their black eyes. Albeit with a look of confusion on their face. "Thought He'd be bigger." Another chimes in. "Must be stronger than he looks." Another responds. 

"Well If'n ya lookin for Dagoro, He's up at the Mine. Tryin to figure out what them nasties went in there for." The Lead Goron swats at another who informs you of Dagoro's Position. "OI, The patriarch would wanna keep that secret!" 

"Eldin's balls, I forgot!" The Goron smacks the side of his own head, stepping away from the Hut. 

"Ah, my friend Dagoro did speak of me", Praxius says happily stepping fully out of the hut.

"And yes, it was a great sumo match, sadly interrupted by the attack on the city. Not before I bested him though", he says with a chuckle whilst cracking his knuckles.

"Now, you said he is at the mines looking into some", he pauses and looks around conspiratorially. "nasties", he adds in a whisper, assuming that was the secret bit.

"Where is this mine? Take us there, he will surely thank you for re-uniting us".

Paca, still wiping the sleep form his eyes and now realizing his clothes are soaked in sweat, emerges from the hut to greet the gorons. "Morning, do you know of anywhere I can get a red tunic around here? Kind of hot for my liking. If not oh well, I'll just need to bring some extra water." Paca then gets down to more taxing matters, "Dagoro, he was with us through a struggle. We all went to bed that evening but when we awoke, Dagoro left a note saying he was headed back to Death Mountain. Was this because of the problem in the mines? What can you tell us of this circumstance."

"Red Tunic?" The Gorons all look at eachother and chuckle. "Fraid we havent crafted that kind've clothing in a fair while little one, But we can 'elp you out with da heat." The lead Goron ushers one of the other, smaller Gorons over to him. This Goron is no bigger than Rae, yet they have impressive mucular definition in their arms. The Goron immediately drops a large sack from its shoulder, It thumps on the ground. 

"Ya couldnt 'Old it?" The Lead Goron chastises the smaller Goron, who just stares blankly at you Paca. The Lead Goron opens the drawstrings and begins to fish around within the contents of the bag. After a moment, they pull their hand from it and hold it out to you, within his hand are five rings. Nothing fancy or elegant, they look to be crafted from steel or iron. A solid band. 

"These ere rings will elp you lot with da heat, Yur gunna need em ifn ya wants to get to the Mines." 

You each take one and slip it onto you finger, Immediately the Heat from the Volcano becomes MUCH more tolerable. "I'll bring ya to Dagoro, Ifn he wants to tell ya about whas goin on ere. He will." 

Praxius slips the ring on his finger and immediately feels cooler.

"Amazing!", he says. He probably fared better than most of the others with the heat, but even he was concerned to get closer to the volcano if he was totally honest.

"Any more nasties about on the way?", he asks eagerly.

Paca takes hold of a ring and says "Better than a red tunic, I doubt it." He then puts it on his finger, feeling the heat of the air dissipate. "Wow, and I get to wear my normal clothes. Win win. Well then, off to the mines. Can't wait to see how Dagoro is doing. Hope everything is alright."

At takes the ring in his hands and bows his head to the Gorons. "Thank you for this gift." He then puts the ring on feeling a little better.

Theo quickly puts the ring on after realizing how hot he was. “Oh, thank you so much!” He says to the Gorons. “If there’s trouble going on, we’d be glad to help!”