After crossing the desert, a man sits down on the stone steps and slowly takes his boots off. Turning them over, a large amount of sand escaped from the boots and with a few taps from the man's hand, a few more grains exited. He did the same with the other boot until all visable traces of sand were gone.

The Dragoon, continued to sit there, resting his legs and taking out his canteen, took a long drink of water that quenched his dry throat. He decided to rest a bit and catch a breather.

OOC: Open RP

A long shadow cast itself upon the rocky face of the highlands. A fatigued nomad came trekking out of the desert after nearly a day of wandering, his face beat red with exhaustion and his clothing messy and in need of a wash. He kicked a small Leever from his boot, flinging the garment off as he did so, sand flying out and into the air. Placing the boot back on its rightful foot, he continued to travel towards Ruto. It had been some time since he had been to the town of the Gorons. And it's no wonder, he thought, what with this desert standing in the way.

Blank sat down on the steppes and put his hands behind behind his back, leaning on the support of his arms while gazing off into the desert. The sun beat down on him, causing him to continue his sweating. At first, he did not even notice the stranger he had so casually sat beside. The Hylian looked to his right, wondering all sorts of things about this man. What is he, some kind of dragoon? Even I've never seen someone capable of that kind of combat... The stranger appeared to be around the same age, but Blank never could tell.

The heat was getting to him. Blank extracted his flask and took a hearty swig of his ale, a strange brand he had picked up in Rauru. The castle was far too dangerous to go near, so it was very rare that he would be privileged with authentic North Castle beverages. Feeling the need to be courteous, but still tired and not feeling overly energetic, Blank offered the container to the stranger. "You drink?" he asked, innocently enough.

Rugger had noticed the man approach and sit next to him, yet the man seemed to be in his own world or had not noticed him. The Dragoon still sat his face showing no expression until the stranger next to him offered him a swig. His face cringed a little, remember years ago how alcohol consumed him...fueled his rage and was a factor that led to his downfall. He still did not look at the man.

"No thanks, that stuff has led me down the course to a 1000 sins of which I may never be forgiven. It will only lead you down the same path." He then took out his canteen of water and presented it to the man. "Here drink this instead, if anything else that stuff will worsen you in these harsh conditions and make you weak. Trust me the road ahead is not much easier."

Rugger then composed himself and tried to erase the memories of yore from his mind. "The name is Rugger Cole, pleased to meet you. Whom might you be stranger?"

Blank grinned and grabbed the canteen, drinking a mouthful gleefully. When the taste came to his senses, though, he found himself rudely spitting it up on the steppes. He shook his head and wiped the pure liquid from his lips, smiling wryly. "Sorry, it's not that I don't drink water... I just drink less than I should."

"One thousand full sins, huh?" thought Blank aloud, glancing back down at his own flask. His brow furrowed and he sealed the bottle, returning it to his waist. Clearly, the dragoon was the best example of the conflicts caused by too much of a good drink. The nomad forced a smile, but he knew even he could not hide his solemn realization. "Yes, I really should drink less. I've had a few problems in the past, I guess the liquor helps to repress memories... But it's not healthy."

"Rugger Cole? New name. I'm Blank... Blank Fireside is my name, I suppose. Although, even I don't know if that's true." The Hylian took on a seemingly depressed air, and reached for his flask again. He stopped before reaching it, however, and smiled. "Right, less drinking. Good call."

"So, Rugger, why have I never seen you in Hyrule? Granted I've only been here for just over a year, but I've never seen you around before. Where have you been hiding yourself?"

Rugger watched the man spit up the water that he graciously gave him, water that would be needed in the future that this man valued as not worth touching his lips. Rage began to fill in his blood but he quickly subdued it.

He then listend to the man talk, realizing maybe in a small way he was understanding what the Dragoon had said. 'That is what I can hope for right now, small steps...one at a time.'

He then began to listen to the man, who seemed to be a bit more upbeat then before. Rugger became more relaxed and more open.

"I haven't been hiding myself anywhere. I USED to be a Hylian Knight until I disgraced myself. I went away to a foreign land to make myself better and I did that. So I came back here. Trying to redeem those thousand sins I have committed in my past. How about you young man, you seem to be just as confused about your past as I am, what brings you to this hellish wasteland?"

At the mention of Hylian Knights, Blank almost sprang from his sitting position and took off into the mountains. However, the key words "USED TO" kept him relaxed. He continued to pursue his casual attitude; after the negative talks of sin and alcoholism were aside, conversing with Rugger was an enjoyable thing to do.

"Yours is an interesting tale of redemption, Rugger. I daresay my own story is enough to put even the wildest of children to sleep. Course, I've never, ever, told a soul about those days. I... prefer to keep that a secret. It all happened in Calatia - not sure if you've been there, it's just west of Hyrule. I grew up there... in a way. I don't know who my parents were, or where I was really born. That's why I don't know what my real name was intended to be, see. I was named Blank by... the Moblins..."

Blank paused for a moment and gazed off into the desert, looking northeast. It was in that far corner of Tantari that he had first arrived in Hyrule, and he remembered the day perfectly. "I was a Knight as well. I served Calatia for about.. eight years, I think it was. But... I ended up in a casket on my way for Hyrule. It was a bizarre execution, I'm guessing. Hmm... first person I met here was a scholar called Denning, who trained under some infamous man named Marin. If you were here years ago, that name may ring a bell."

"That's all there is to it, really. The past is something that has haunted me for years; again, I suppose it may be why I looked to drinking to repress the horrible memories. Even my closest companions in this land do not know of said memories, so I am sorry if I come off as secretive. As for why I'm here... I'm a nomad. I do love to wander, and Ruto is a town I have long forgotten about. The roaming also serves as a means of easing the plague of nightmares... since I began to wander, I have not thought of the past as greatly. Life's too short."

Hearing the man's, who apparently is named Blank, Rugger's eyebrows lifted slightly at the hearing of the names of Denning and Marin. However it was not enough for him to interrupt the man's tale...it was not HIS name that he mentioned. Rugger pondered, 'I wonder if HE is still alive, and if he is where can I find him.'

Forcing his thoughts awayt from that and back onto Blank, Rugger found himself greatly interested what Blank had last said.

"Hmm so traveling has made assisted you from not recalling the past? I wonder if that would work for me. But yours is also equally if not more fascinating tale. I have never been to the land in which you speak of, yet I do not know what the name of the land I went to train myself."

"The names you mention do sound familiar, I have never met this Denning but I am quite familiar with Marin, alas I haven't seen them in many many months. Amazing though, tothe similarities we share with our past following us. I suppose it is true to say that you cannot see your greatest foe."

Seeing Rugger's eyebrow elevate as the names Marin and Denning were mentioned, Blank could not help but grin. Clearly, the dragoon was familiar with one or both of the two; the nomad guessed Marin was this character, as he himself had never met the man. It seemed more natural for a newcomer to Hyrule to have been associated with a person not seen in quite some time.

"So, you've never been to Calatia? Horrible place; absolutely infested by monsters. Well, the fields are. You can't pass from town to town without being confronted at least twice, and the beasts there are as wretched as they come. The cities are the real focal point of the visit. And in the capital city, there stands a library so grand a lowly foot-soldier such as myself was only allowed access to the first and second floors. I was last there... Hm, it would have to be just over a year ago. Of course, my review of it is hardly worth noting.

His previous suspicion came to light as the ex-Knight told of his association with Marin, and how Denning - the pupil - had never been met by the lancer. "Ah, Denning. A cleric, that Sheikah. Although they're a religious bunch, he's probably one of the more bearable ones in Hyrule. I myself do not hold religion very close; I can scarce remember all three of the goddesses' names!" Blank let out a solid chuckle, despite making the statement in all seriousness. "

The Hylian nodded in agreement with Rugger's last proclamation - Blank did not really have a real "foe," aside from those creatures. Alas, they were long gone. The only recurrence of their mangy hides was about a year before this meeting; he looked at his scarred palm and shuddered, hoping it wast he last he had seen of the murderers. "Aye, it's true. Tell me, Rugger, what do you plan on doing now that you're 'home,'" inquired Blank with an intrigued smile.

Rugger smiled when Blank mentioned the Goddesses and his unfamilarity with them. Rugger recalls his former hatred for the Goddesses, how he blamed them for everything and cursed them. 'This Blank, he reminds me of myself, yet I am not one to give advice to anyone or to be a leader anymore. Besides I am sure this Blank is stronger then me anyways.' Rugger looked at his new friend.

"I once thought like you, only more negatively. I once called out the Goddesses and cursed them out. Always blamed them for my families death." Rugger looked down and saw a small pebble near his feet and kicked it softly. He watched the pebble bounce down each step and landing into the sand. "However, I am not ashamed to admit, I was killed once. I was, at one point, dead. In that brief moment of bliss, I saw the Goddesses, in all their glory. They told me, in the softest of voices, 'It is not yet your time young Hylian' and the next thing I was aware of, I was sitting in a hospital being treated."

Rugger then looked at Blank, "My friend, the Goddesses are very much real, I have seen them but we must all trek our own destiny. Now what do I search...I search for a Zoran. Perhaps the most evil of all Zorans. His name is Wyndisis and he used to be a companion of mine, but I know now I must stop him otherwise his actions could ripe apart any stability and peace that Hyrule knows about and send us all into a Dark Age."

Rugger then looked down again at the steps, not enjoying talking about his past or his destiny, "What are you, my friend, searching for?"

OOC: Sorry it's so late. Smite me if necessary XD

"Searching for?" Blank asked back with an air of wonder. He sat forward, curled his knees inwards and leaned on them, staring down the steps at the sand below, deep in though. Well, as deep as Blank Fireside's thoughts could go. It puzzled him as to why life was always about 'searching for something' in the current age. Could life not just be a joy ride? Could one not feign true existence and play to his own standards? Blank wondered what he was searching for, but whatever the object of his desire was, he could not grasp it.

"Nothing, really," he replied. "See, I just wander. There is nothing I can really set my sights on - if I meet new people, I have succeeded; if I find an interesting treasure on my travels, I have fulfilled every man's dream; if I manage to flaunt the demons of my past, I can live for another day; and if I live that extra day, I have truly found what it is I should be looking for. I am a nomad - I live for the day at hand. Or, as a bard would put it, I play it by ear. I'm winging life!" he explained with a wide grin.

This grin gave way to confusion. "What do you want with Wyndisis?" he asked, eyebrow raised to accent his disbelief. Now, Blank had never actually met the villainous Zora, but the adventurers of Hyrule had many ways of sharing stories. During his time in the kingdom, Blank had heard the name uttered only in whispers, and children would be scorned when referring to him. What puzzled Blank was that so many stories were being circulated pertaining to the dark one, and yet Rugger Cole, a companion of the Zora - as mentioned by the dragoon - had gone unheard of. Nonetheless, the Hylian was sure that Rugger was happier knowing few people knew of his name.

"I do know where you may find him, Rugger. There is a lighthouse in Parapa Desert. I have heard stories saying that an ominous presence resides there. I myself even stepped close to it one day, and could feel the grim aura emanating from its old wooden structure. If this Wyndisis is the plague you say, then perhaps the lighthouse is his domain after all."

The Dragoon took in everything Blank was telling him, about being an nomad and just wondering. Rugger couldn't help but think to himself, 'Must be nice to be able to live such a life. Perhaps one day when I execute the sins of my past I may enjoy such a lifestyle.'

He felt the cool breeze of the desert evening blow through his robe, it was a pleasant relief after the bitter dry heat that scorched his skin in the desert. However the cool breeze turned to ice cold once he heard Blank say, "I do know where you may find him, Rugger." While Rugger did pay attention to the rest Blank said, his eyes became fixated towards the direction of Parapa Desert. A bead of cold sweat rolled down his face and his eyes grew narrow and his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his skin causing his hands to bleed. When Blank finished Rugger walked slowly still looking towards the desert.

"What do I want with him, my friend. It is simple. TO KILL HIM. That Zoran is nothing but an evil being that must be destroyed. If not he will stop at nothing to bring all those who are not under him to despair and plague."

Rugger then looked at Blank and stared at the man hard, "I knew him well, I tried to save him as much as tried to bring me to his dark ways. He almost succeeded but I resisted. The fact that he was a comrade of mine makes it even more difficult but any shred of good inside that Zoran's heart has been inflicted by the darkness. I must destroy him to save Hyrule. I must go to that lighthouse of which you speak of."