The scarlet sun sets over the Zinzuri savanna, casting its redness across the land. At the very edge of Zone E, Ningan gazes out across the desert wasteland. The eternal sandstorm rages on, shrouding the area in mystery and mysticism.
"You'll find Gerudo fort directly to the south!" Lieutenant Seth calls from behind him. "Don't get lost!"
"If you follow the wilted trees, you should be safe." Indy informs him. "Avoid being sighted at all costs."
Aurarius trots forward. Laurel leans from the saddle to speak to his friend. "I cannot thank you enough for doing this. Aurarius and I will wait for you back at lodge. Are you ready?"
Ningan nods firmly and ties the bandanna across his face. "I'll be back before the Gerudo even realise I've been."
Laurel smiles. "Good luck. Please…stay safe."
The congregation at the gate watch as Ningan boldly ventures into the barren desert, wrapped in his crimson cloak. The sand enshrouds him almost instantly, and he disappears from view.
He uses the setting sun as a compass for direction and heads south. Just as the soldier had said, the silhouette of a tree in the distance marks the path ahead. The billowing gales bombard him with sand as he powers through the storm.
Eventually, he emerges from the wasteland and arrives at a canyon bathed in red twilight. Ningan scans the area for danger. Dotted along the plateaus above are numerous flat-roofed stone buildings. Two tall wooden watchtowers each boast the Gerudo flag. He squints his eyes and counts the guards scattered along the rock. Ten? Twenty? He is more than outnumbered. Nevertheless, he has arrived.
His first task is to find a way to climb the canyon without been seen. A path spirals up the mountain, clearly intended to be used by horses. This would be the obvious route, and no doubt the guards already have their sights set on it. He would have to be smarter than that. Time for some initiative.
Ningan steps up to the wall of rock and draws his daggers from beneath his cloak. He digs the first into the rock, followed by the second. He heaves himself up with his arms and repeats the process, rock-climbing his way to the top.
He lifts himself over the edge and stands up to assess his surroundings: an open space enclosed by walls of rock. The two watchtowers stand at either end, manned by Gerudo guards. Others patrol the area below, marching in between piles of wooden boxes. There was no clear indication of a cell where they would keep a captive. He needs a better view.
Crouched on his knees, Ningan scuttles silently behind a pile of crates. He watches a guard pass just metres away: tall, red-haired and dark-skinned, wearing a pair of lilac trousers and wielding a bow in her hand. Perfect.
He deliberately knocks on one of the wooden crates. The noise alerts the guard, and she dashes over to investigate. When she veers around the corner of the crates, she finds nothing but sand. Suddenly, she is struck in the head. The force knocks her straight to the floor. Ningan snatches the bow from her loose grip and takes the arrows for himself.
He points the bow to the sky and narrow his sights. He boasts only average archery skills, and in the half-light, accurate aim is challenging. Nevertheless, he lets the arrow fly and hopes for the best.
The arrow pierces the watchtower guard in the back. She lets out a small squeal and topples from the tower. Ningan let's her fall and impact on the ground, before swooping in and dragging her motionless body behind the crates to join her comrade. Once he is certain the coast is clear, he scurries up the ladder. From his vantage point atop the watchtower, he has a monopoly of views over the whole fort. Guards wander about below, totally unaware of his presence. He inspects the buildings lined up along the perimeter for a clue…
There it is. The building on the western side of the stronghold has a window with bars. Bingo.