The Minish Cap: A collection of three journals

 A collection of three journals

A History of Masks: Another of the three overdue library books, A History of Masks was checked out by the mayor of Hyrule Town. It has been left at his lakeside cabin near Lake Hylia where the mayor goes to relax while making masks surrounded by natural beauty. Link must retrieve the book and return it to the Royal Hyrule Library if he has any hope of meeting the retired Minish adventurer who knows the secret of entering the Temple of Droplets. 

Thank you for visiting the Eternal Archive. The following three memoirs or journals were selected to best assist you with your recent request for information.

Compounding trauma in repeated catastrophe: A time loop case study - Paranormal Psychology Clock Town University

Is it better to have loved and lost? - Connor MacLeod

Am I truly the Hero of Ages? - Alendi

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I am a book lover and a reluctant reader. A quote that helps me stay excited about books even when I’m struggling to motivate myself to sit down and read is as follows: 

“My dear,

We need to make books cool again. If you go home with somebody and they don’t have books, don’t fuck them. Don’t let them explore you until they’ve explored the secret universes of books. Don’t let them connect with you until they’ve walked between the lines on the pages.

Books are cool, if you have to withhold yourself from someone for a bit in order for them to realize this then do so.

Truly yours,

John Samuel Waters”

How to support me:

Ko-fi: Donations and Digital shop

Patreon: Sustaining support and Digital shop 

Red Bubble: Buy a sticker or magnet

Thank you for your support.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Drewly: A chaotic mask

 A chaotic mask

Loki Mask: Cast out from Valhalla for causing chaos, Loki’s desire to cause mischief and make trouble was woven into a rough wooden mask. Whenever a person dons the mask, they are overcome with the pent-up eagerness to cause trouble.

Drewly today is another drawing that I am not fond of. Drewly isn’t about just sharing your highest achievements, its about sharing what you make, and sometimes you make something that isn’t great.

What is Drewly?

#Drewly is the month-long art challenge for July, where you don’t have to make any new art. Just post art you’ve already made and celebrate all you’ve accomplished.

Rules:

Share art you have already made.

Share as often as you want.

When you share, tag your art with #Drewly and #Drewly2025

I will be posting art every day of Drewly, so check back in tomorrow for something new.

Check out everything I’ve shared for past Drewly’s here: #Drewly #Drewly2022 #Drewly2023 #Drewly2024

Since you’re here, please consider supporting:

Make a one-time donation with Ko-Fi:  https://ko-fi.com/theeasyspeaker

Become a sustaining supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ItemCardswithTheSpeakingSquid 

Buy a sticker: SpeakingSquid.redbubble.com

Thank you for your support.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Happy Halloween!

 Happy Halloween!

Have a spooktacular night! 

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Wind Waker: Eye patches to help you truly see.

Eye patches to help you truly see.

Hero's Charm: Wearing the Hero’s Charm allows Link to see how much health a targeted enemy has. This information shows up as an HP bar and when I played through the Wind Waker I didn’t like how gamey it felt so I didn’t use it often. How you get the charm depends on which version of the game you are playing. In its original release, Link must give a total of 40 joy pendants to Mrs. Marie at the school of Joy to earn the charm. In the HD re-release, Link must conquer the challenges of the Savage Labyrinth, an optional dungeon hidden on Outset Island to discover the charm.

Most eye patches aren’t worn because someone is missing an eye, rather they are worn to keep a good eye safe or prepared for different light levels. Some enchanted patches allow the wearer to augment what their mundane eyes perceive. Even rarer patches teach the wearer to ignore their mundane sight and instead open their third eye to glimpse absolute truth.

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No long post-amble. Enjoy the eye patches.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

Skyrim 10th Anniversary: The wrathful visage of Rahgot, priest of the Dragon Cult.

The wrathful visage of Rahgot, priest of the Dragon Cult.

Dragon priest mask: Each of the nine high priests of the dragon cult bore a mask that now bears their name. Based on the coloration, archivists have identified this mask as having belonged to Rahgot, one of the last surviving priests of the dragon cult. Other similar masks are mentioned in the histories of the dragon cults and the frigid north. Each was made from different materials and carried a unique enchantment.

On the fifth day of Skyrim,

tenth anniversary,

one dragon priest mask,

a Talos icon,

knee seeking arrows,

Golden Dragon Claw,

and a helmet of iron and horn.

Check back in tomorrow to take a peek in a daedric book of lore.

Be excellent to everyone.

-Ceph

 

Fan art: Three more items from She Ra and the Princesses of Power to complete the set

Fan art: Three more items from She Ra and the Princesses of Power to complete the set 

Battle staff: When the Sword of Protection is unavailable, Adora must use this staff in the Princess’ war against the Horde. The staff is telescoping and can retract into the central handle for easy storage.

Masks save lives

Celebrate the coast guard’s birthday with a mask of resist disease.

This is a weak way for me to sneak in my push for everyone to wear masks to save lives and stop the spread of COVID.

Be excellent to everyone, wear a mask.

-Ceph

I'm not an artist: Five items from Oracle of Ages you can use when you are sheltering in place during a pandemic.

Five items from Oracle of Ages you can use when you are sheltering in place during a pandemic.

Stink Bag: While there is no official description of what is in the stink bag, we can be pretty sure it is shit. To get this bag, Link trades his stationary to a disembodied hand that lives at the bottom of a pit toilet. This hand is actually a recurring character in the Zelda franchise. In most of their interactions with Link, they just want some paper, any paper will do. This idea of a hand coming out of a toilet and grabbing you is apparently a popular story in Japan.

Local businesses need your help. If it is safe for you, consider getting takeout or buying a gift card from your favorite local eatery or other shops. Many of these shops exist on a razor-thin margin and the loss of business from people staying home can bankrupt businesses. I went to my favorite BBQ place in town and got way more than I needed for one meal, partially to support local business and also to avoid cooking.

I'm not an artist: Six items from Majora’s Mask you could find in a Pacific Northwest town.

Six items from Majora’s Mask you could find in a Pacific Northwest town.

Mystery Milk: In the rerelease of Majora’s Mask for the 3DS Link is tasked with fetching mystery milk and delivering it within 2 minutes of playtime. If Link is successful, he is rewarded with the empty bottle used to transport the milk. If Link takes too long, the mystery milk cuddles and becomes moldy milk and Link is only rewarded with a foul bottle of rot. 

According to the bartender at the Curdled Calf, the dust-covered bottle of milk above the bar is supposedly the hallowed milk from the Earth Mother’s very own breast. Consuming the milk grants the drinker godlike powers. Unfortunately, the bottle is magically sealed, and no one has even loosened the lid after years of attempts.

I'm not an artist: The final five masks from Majora’s Mask that were worn by legendary individuals.

The final five masks from Majora’s Mask that were worn by legendary individuals.

Giant’s Mask: Donning this mask causes Link to grow to giant size. This mask is found in the Stone Tower Temple and can only be used in the Stone Tower Temple in fighting the dungeon’s insectoid boss. It totally makes sense from a balance perspective that you don’t want to allow your player unfettered access to being a giant, but it would have been cool if they did.

The story of the gladiator is known to many, but the original identity has been lost in the uncountable retelling. Nowadays it is not uncommon to hear that the legendary gladiator grew up just down the street from where the story is being told. The core facts of the story do not change. They were born into common people, conscripted as a foot soldier to die in their country’s wars, and they rose to a high rank through skill alone. Then they were betrayed, all they had worked for taken from them, and they were sent to die in the arena as entertainment for the very people who betrayed them. It was in the arena that the masses discovered the skill and tenacity of the one remembered only as the Gladiator.

I'm not an artist: Five masks from Majora’s Mask used as a disguise by a swashbuckling hero.

Five masks from Majora’s Mask used as a disguise by a swashbuckling hero.

Gibdo Mask: Link obtains this mummy mask by removing a mummification curse from an unfortunate supernatural researcher. When Link wears these wraps, other mummies think he is one of them and are willing to speak with him. Along with chatting with Gibdos, Link can also avoid being attacked by the undead when wearing this mask. 

Valentine Desjardins is known as a courageous hero to some, an unscrupulous scoundrel to others, and is most truly a bit of both. Hot on the trail of a missing archeologist, Valentine Desjardins had to find a way inside of a guarded research laboratory. By disguising themself as a mummy inside a sarcophagus made by a gifted forger, the guards brought Desjardins into the most secure section of the facility where the missing archeologist, along with many priceless relics, were stored. 

I'm not an artist: Fives masks from Majora’s Mask you could find in an explorer’s collection.

Fives masks from Majora’s Mask you could find in an explorer’s collection.

Kafei’s Mask: This mask is given to Link upon accepting the quest to find her missing son Kafei. This mask was hand carved in the image of the missing boy. If Link talks to citizens of Clock Town with the mask on they comment on Kafei’s disappearance and provide leads for Link to track down.

Duels may be terribly out of fashion these days but they are still technically legal as long as the correct protocols are followed. It was at one of those such duels where the master of the house acquired the wig of a barrister who was made to choose between their dignity and their life. As these specific wigs are only given to lawyers upon obtaining their license this is a novel keepsake.

I'm not an artist: Five masks from Majora’s Mask used in a play for children.

Five masks from Majora’s Mask used in stories for children.

Don Gero’s Mask: Link earns this mask by lighting all the torches in the Goron Shrine. A Goron will thank Link for the help illuminating the shrine by giving him a mask that allows Link to speak with frogs. While not a universally useful mask, Link needs this mask to tell frogs that the long winter is over, and the choir is reconvening. If Link can get the whole band back together, he is rewarded with a Piece of Heart.

The many adventures of Hoppy the friendly toad are moral tales written to teach children lessons like always look both ways before crossing the road and never pick up the unholy idol you found in a secret chamber in the basement. Hoppy always know the right thing to do, but they are very easily influenced and are pushed to take the ill-advised action by their peers. In “Hoppy Finds the Pirate Treasure”, Hoppy and friends bumble their way through a heavily trapped pirate cave in search of the recently lost treasure of Diamond Beard.

I'm not an artist: Five masks from Majora’s Mask used in the ritual.

Five masks from Majora’s Mask used in the ritual.

Keaton Mask: The mask of a fox spirit that looks suspiciously like Pikachu. Link uses this mask to summon Keaton, a popular fox spirit who asks Link a series of questions. If he answers them all correctly, he is rewarded with a piece of heart. 

The fox spirit represents the people’s need to hunt and kill to survive. In the great hunt, one person is chosen as the hunter and wears the visage of the fox. It is believed that how well they hunt and how well they honor the spirits dictates the prosperity of the people in the coming year.

I'm not an artist: Five masks from Majora's Mask worn by outsiders.

Five masks from Majora's Mask worn by outsiders.

All-Night Mask: If Link stops the mugging of an old lady we talked about when we were discussing the bomb bags, the All-Night Mask will be available for purchase from the curiosity shop later in the week. While Link can adventure for 72 hours straight without ever needing to sleep, he is unable to stay awake through Anju’s Grandmother’s stories. The power of this mask ensures nothing can put its wearer to sleep, so Link can answer the old woman’s questions eventually earning two pieces of heart.

Those living in the lands ruled by vampire oligarchy do not take the image of Nosferatu lightly. Thought by many to be the first vampire that brought the curse of bloodthirst to these lands, the vampiric aristocracy worship the ancient creature as a pale patron saint of their kind. The mortal serf class privately malign the name Nosferatu and would shun any who would choose to wear its image.

I'm not an artist: Five items from Majora’s Mask that are being delivered to the museum of ancient history.

Five items from Majora’s Mask that are being delivered to the museum of ancient history.

Odolwa’s Remains: In Majora’s Mask, Link collects the remains of each of the four main bosses after he defeats them. If Link has a boss’ remains, he is able to teleport directly to the boss in each dungeon instead of having to fight through the dungeon anew when he returns in his many cycles through time. When Link is finally ready to confront Skull Kid, he must first defeat each of the bosses one last time so the four giants the four bosses held captive are freed.

Odolwa is a massive masked warrior whose dominion over the swamp from wood fall temple has left the entire region toxic and dangerous.

The Alabaster Pharaoh was a powerful magocrat whose goal of immortality was realized when they completed the esoteric rituals required to complete an apotheosis into an undying lich. According to an obscure source the Pharaoh, as part of the rituals, removed four vital organs and placed them into canopic jars made to look like the creature that would guard the jar for eternity. The historical community was shocked when the ghoul jar was found after having been incorrectly identified and placed in a provincial museums storage room for many years.

I'm not an artist: Five items from Ocarina of Time a diabolical teen cultist might own.

Five items from Ocarina of Time a diabolical teen cult leader would own.

Goron Mask: Once Link has completed selling the Happy Mask Seller’s masks, he is able to borrow masks that change how people react when approached. The Goron Mask convinces some that Link looks just like a Goron and has others editorialize on Gorons.

The Hierophant was not always the leader of a diabolical cult dedicated to breaking the seventy-seven seals and releasing the nine hundred and sixty-three forsaken legions to ravage the world before the coming of the infernal powers. They had once been a regular teen they enjoyed hanging out with friends, daydreaming about their crush, and collecting odd items from online auctions. No one could have known that having the highest bid on an odd bust carved from red ivory would set events in motion that would see them at the head of a black mass chanting the true name of the shepherd of the apocalypse.

I'm not an artist: Five masks from Ocarina of Time you could see at the Night Parade of Ten Thousand Faces.

Five masks from Ocarina of Time you could see at the Night Parade of Ten Thousand Faces.

Keaton Mask: This mask depicts a popular character from children's stories. The Keaton is a fox character visually reminiscent of Pikachu. The mask has no major mechanical effect, but wearing this mask earns warm welcomes from kids and nostalgic reactions from adults.

A story tells of a time when the Sun Goddess was forced into the form a white wolf. The wolf’s glittering fur was easy to spot, so prey could easily elude the hunting wolf. In desperation, the proud Goddess humbled herself to a passing firefly, promising to do good works in exchange for the firefly’s help. This mask is often worn in honor of those that overcome their pride to accomplish their goals.