Authors note He is not Kass but he'll do.
Disclaimer Zelda is owned by Nintendo including monsters, characters creatures races and locations. This is an unoriginal work not cannon to the series and unlicensed it is intended as a supplement to the boredom relieving games that inspired it.
Gigantic Optimism Chapter XVIII The Current Bard.
Across the desert small dust cloud rolls, it is not the smooth roll of a boulder the cloud seems to hover on occasion lifting from the road for no apparent reason. As the object lumbers towards the gerudo capital the goron begins to slow down bouncing up and back down Uvo quickly enters the city, for some reason Goron are allowed in the Gerudo stronghold most likely due to the severe anatomical and biological differences between the two races. With his bucket hat made of felt and giant round drum strapped to his back the bald goron looks rather comical normally he walks across the land rolling getting in the way of his job as a Hylian bard keeping pitch while rolling over the pitch proves impossible. Today haste was vital leading the goron to roll his way to town pausing to check the instrument strapped vertically to his back, removing a cloth covering he sees that the drum passes muster. Replacing the drum to its former position he is summoned into the palace.
Bacta starts at the goron's appearance in the throne room so much dust, dirt, and sand clung to the bard it obscured every feature wasting no time Uvo sets the drum down with a heavy thud it comes to rest on the tile floor. Uvo attempts to speak but, it is only a hoarse cough that issues from the road weary throat. "Come with me you are early, her majesty is still conducting a meeting with the racing committee the buzzards want the palace to see to the repairs of the rally course, I will fetch some refreshments." Surely, they still had some delectable rocks in the larder from the last Champions meeting. Uvo patiently waits for his meal comprehending why the rally track is publicly funded it was neither royal property like the icehouse or a sacred site like the statues of the seven. This was clear from the ancient songs taught to him by Kass so many moons ago. The goron silently eats his meal minus the loud crunching, of the rock shattering in his mouth, the only sound. Uvo had been a young goron when he had first met the large theatrical Rito bard, by simply singing as he walked around the mine in which he worked. From that day he was under the bard's tutelage, and replaced him after they were separated by a thunderstorm in the rain forest. Saving his voice for when the queen returns to hear the song she commissioned five years ago, Uvo is content to think of these things while he eats.
When Riju returns the rich booming voice of Uvo finally rings in Gerudo City for the first time, without hesitation the bard begins ever glad for a listening ear. "Before I sing my song I want to give you some background on the time period the song is from, Hyrule was not even Hyrule then the races were varied neither the zora nor the rito existed. There was a plant-based race that was extremely secretive, gorons likely the first ones, and an underground race of creatures, and Hylian ancestors were the dominant races during this time .The master sword was awakened due to a hero's efforts but, there was a second sword of like make that is the demon lord who cursed Groose. It is odd that the supposed reincarnation of Demise should always wield a sword according to your legend I wonder if it could have been the same blade if somehow Demise tied its existence to that last curse for when Demise died that sword was lost." Dumbfounded the two royals wait for him to finish when he does the queen stands as if passing a royal decree" We have no proof though, I can tell Zelda as a precaution it will be well, normally I would seek King Doreaphan's counsel but, his specialty is zora history and they did not exist then apparently." Bacta interjects "Uvo what did the blade look like?" Adjusting his drum for a moment the bard forces his audience to wait before he speaks up. "If it is like the blade of evil's bane then who knows, the holy sword went through several incarnations before it assumed its current aesthetic the important thing is that you realize the sword was sentient and took demon form to fight the first wielder of the Master Sword. I however would like to start my song we have dwelt too long on unconfirmed legends. With a slow rhythm Uvo plays a soft slow yet magnanimous song his rich voice spilling out into desert air it sounds like the people of that wasteland, he had accurately recreated the ancient ballad. Uvo stays for some days passing on his song orally as is the bard way then he requests to move on. "Where are you headed Uvo? Bacta states after he announces his departure at his last meeting with the gerudo who learned the song Lorrue is also in attendance. "I have never been to the Domain and I would like to see the famed luminous rocks I will stop in Tarrey town there is a story about Link I want to set to music and the location would help my song." "Then could you take a copy of our handbook on Patricia Standard's grandmother keeps pretending that she forgot to send it to our new breeding project out there. Uvo leaves to deliver the breeding resource his rambling journey taking a month all told.
After those thirty days Uvo is down in a valley next to Tarrey town inspecting the remains of two guardians, one was split in half the scorch marks evidence of a forceful explosion which had wrought the wholesale destruction of the giant mechanical menace. Turning to the other Uvo is startled by the severed tentacles strewn about the robot, the other noticeable injury on the rusting hunk of metal, is the clear hole where the optical sensor should be. "Now I just have to build the story, there are no arrows embedded in either, Link must have engaged in close quarters combat with them." Uvo smiles happy the facts had collaborated the local story it seems the young man's claim that his ancestor had hired Link to destroy the weapons out of boredom was correct, it would make a good song for Tarrey town's culture. A cavernous rumble from his stomach distracts the goron from his composition he departs for the Akala Sandseal research lab.
Shalsis and Karlovaa are cleaning the sandseals out in the paddock barrels of water, sit beside the pair who have cloths ready to bathe whichever animal comes first. They chat while they work the constant toil on the ranch leading to a fast friendship between the two. Karlovaa had been awkward around the girl at first assuming she was Sidon's age only to realize she was the zora's senior. They mostly talked about their common surroundings including the animals, the differences between their cultures, and local news. Cradd his platinum scales shimmering in the sun is standing outside the paddock having just returned from escorting the previous clean animal into the testing room where Batma has and will continue to supervise the inspection of the stock of sandseals. When the last pinniped is cleaned, the patient farmhand will migrate to the stables and begin feeding the beasts.
The farm is an interesting contrast all around it is always busy simultaneously it is removed and quiet. It had the most advanced diagnostic equipment in the kingdom, yet it all sits on dirt floors. On the last sandseal Karlovaa asks about a point from Sidon's latest letter that had confused her. "Shalsis why is the act of climbing a waterfall important to zora,? Sidon mentions it almost as much as I talk of racing." Continuing to work on the sandseal as if nothing had been said she nonchalantly answers the question. "There are a couple of reasons the first kid up a waterfall is always seen as the strongest one, at least that is what my dad says there are not really any to climb nearby so it was never a thing here. It is also something unique to us like a Rito's flight or the rolling of the gorons, though apparently Hylians and the other races like them can climb falls with a special suit." Throwing her rag into the bucket in her excitement the vai asks the obvious follow up question.
"How do I get one of these suits?" Shalsis ducks behind the sandseal to hide her expression "Well that is complicated for some reason it is tied to an engagement gift from zora princesses to their betrothed, there is a story that explains why, I have not heard it though. Romance is a touchy subject around my dad or at least it is when I bring it up." Signaling Cradd the pair walk towards the next sandseal carrying the buckets the women stop talking while they lug the barrels. This is the scene at the Akala Sandseal lab when Uvo meanders onto it. The quiet goron is glad to see such a quaint, locale it reminds him of the simplicity of a goron mining camp.
"I overheard your stimulating conversation I learned a song from my mentor that tells that story, the name is Uvo the bard it would be my pleasure to play the tune for you I rarely get requests for zora ballads." "After we wash the last couple here and feed the animals, we can break for a meal then we can hear it." Wearing the metaphorical boss hat again it is not long before Karlovaa has her team finishing those tasks, and the afternoon meal is served. The industrious Cradd had told Uvo where to find the best rocks a lesson he learned from Boon. The bard had fetched his meal while waiting on the staff to finish their work, and had snacked on a couple, "it would not do for my stomach to accompany me on my performance of such a sweet song." Is the justification of the hungry goron.
Before the plates cleared, Uvo unsheathes his drum finishing his meager preparations the bard rats out a beat stomping in between drum strokes, feeling the music the bard sings his refrain.
"A nameless zora king has recently wed his queen their reign has been peaceful, prosperous and plentiful, One night howls break the peace monsters have descended upon the Domain in a single hoard. The inexperienced king must lead the army he is wise enough to know that with low morale victory is impossible. From the day he learns of the monsters approach he is seen muttering and unfocused he is worried. Moved by her mate's distress the queen invents a way to calm her husband, she makes him a fine set of armor and in it she adds a token of her love. Her beautiful white scale a gift bestowed only upon female zora, is sewn into the material of the armor. In the darkest moment the king joins the battle he is an inspiring sight in his war-dress, he makes his way to the leader of the monsters. The troops follow suddenly, the King is stabbed in the chest falling he grimaces, wondrously he is unhurt the scale has saved him, reminded of his love the king gains courage and runs the monster through in return. The battle won he returns to his beloved, his people showering him with praise. Zora princesses after this couple following a tradition set by the daughter of the Unharmed king forge a suit of armor for their betrothed. Always a princess is to place within the mail their white scale, for a zora must protect those they love."
Leaning over to Shalsis Karlovaa queries " That was very sweet but how does it help climb waterfalls?" At a loss the young zora ventures a guess "Perhaps it is in the way it is made it cannot be the inclusion of the scale for then how do male zora swim unless it is a byproduct of a non-zora interacting with the scale. Batma gets to her feet in return I will tell a Gerudo story it is quite similar but, I will leave the singing to you bard. Do you know the tale of the first voe warrior, Uvo?" Signing his unfamiliarity, the two come to a nonverbal understanding and the breeder continues. "There was a merchant caravan that stopped in Gerudo city to buy gems to sell in that caravan was a voe whose job it was to travel ahead scout the location and secure the best stalls for market day a former traveling road showman the waxen haired voe shouted the advantages of the caravan's wares over their competitors juggling as he did so. Arranging a meeting outside the town with the jeweler this merchant falls in love upon seeing her unfortunately the caravan cannot stay he next sees her on his way out, she is acquiring precious stones by the hills past the bazar. She has quite a load the merchant offers his assistance and they head back to the city. Soon they hear the tramp of feet there is a squadron of bokoblins trying to encircle them. The pair fight back to back the voe with some small knives used for his juggling and the vai with her scimitar."
"It is a long bout when one of the last one flees it grabs a sapphire and runs away, chasing it the jeweler stabs the creature only to have a second attack her, without hesitating the merchant throws his knife in a puff of smoke it falls to the ground having struck the neck vertebrae killing the beast they return to the city the merchant leaves when he is left outside the city. In the next town he receives a package the post man searching for his group relentlessly tracks them down. The parcel is a traditional suit of armor worn by the Gerudo King with an additional headpiece bearing a sapphire the gift has a note promising a visit from his jeweler friend anytime he is at the bazar. If a voe has proven himself in battle with a Gerudo either as a worthy opponent or valuable ally he can receive a suit." Cradd raises his hand "Is that anything like the voe armors sold in town? I was there the other day and was told I could purchase one." Batma and Karlovaa are nonplussed unsure how their culture had been reduced to merchandise.
The party breaks up after the story for too much work needs to be accomplished before the day is done. Uvo spends the next hour in that spot committing the story to memory on his travels he would set the piece to music. Once he can recite the entire tale the bard gets up to find the ranch boss and deliver his book, he finds her in Dorn's stable making out a report to Purah one hand on her torc gently rubbing it the bard leaves the parcel on the floor and departs more curious than ever to reach Zora Domain.
Author's Note two
I took a long break but it feels good to be back in Hyrule and I should keep ahead of the weekly upload next week Dorado makes a breakthrough in his work with Ruta and Sidon officially steps down as champion. I just realized I had never mentioned what color Cradd's scales were sorry buddy, at least now he still fits with the other Tarrey town second generation motif of being named after precious metals while keeping his 'son' suffix. This is sans Reypha who being from the Domain originally has the musical scale name origin.