Note to Wayfarers
September, 2024
Well, where to begin? I'm still not totally finished with Tears of the Kingdom, though I've finished the main story and most of the side quests. And although I've explored every sky island down to the smallest floating chunk and most of the overworld, much of the Depths remains to be uncovered. That said, I've been thinking about how to start this project. And I've been thinking a lot about it. When initially considering this project, a couple things came immediately to mind: 1) The most important (and lengthy) articles will be those about the Hylians and the Zonai (and how they connect); 2) The game is immense, and there are changes in each region to document; 3) The Zonai seem to have their grimy paws on everything. So, how to begin? Originally, I thought I would just track the smaller changes in each region (e.g., what are the changes in Kakariko and Hateno?); then, I thought I should capitalize on people's interest and cover first the Zonai. People are going bananas over Zonai speculation. But how to do that well? That would honestly take me two years. The Zonai seem present in everything in Hyrule, and to capture them in one article doesn't seem possible. Perhaps not even desirable. So, as a Middle Path kind of guy, I decided upon tackling the larger topic of Zonai culture and architecture through relevant regional changes.
So, to complete that project, my goals are to work my way through each civilizational region (Rito, Goron, Zora, Gerudo, and Hylian), making note and analysis of each region's connections to the Zonai. For example, the Zonai seem to have some connection to the Stormwind Ark. That's my first stop. So, gathering various insights from the different peoples of Hyrule step by step, I intend to hone in on the Zonai obliquely. That way, by the end, I'll have a better picture of their various interactions with the peoples of Hyrule as well as (hopefully) a more informed take on their specific architecture. So, I'm chasing the roots through the branches, so to speak.
This circuitous route will also allow me to keep away the looming specter of DLC. I don't want to write the major articles prior to the DLC dropping for fear that it might introduce things that would change the entire course of articles or impressions. I'd rather save those big pieces until all the dust settles.
For those of you that have already come here hoping for a fully-fledged article on Zonai architecture, I'm sorry: You'll have to wait a bit. But, as we travel together, I hope the smaller companion pieces open up new worlds of thought for you. As always, feel free to reach out.
Best,
Talbot
Well, where to begin? I'm still not totally finished with Tears of the Kingdom, though I've finished the main story and most of the side quests. And although I've explored every sky island down to the smallest floating chunk and most of the overworld, much of the Depths remains to be uncovered. That said, I've been thinking about how to start this project. And I've been thinking a lot about it. When initially considering this project, a couple things came immediately to mind: 1) The most important (and lengthy) articles will be those about the Hylians and the Zonai (and how they connect); 2) The game is immense, and there are changes in each region to document; 3) The Zonai seem to have their grimy paws on everything. So, how to begin? Originally, I thought I would just track the smaller changes in each region (e.g., what are the changes in Kakariko and Hateno?); then, I thought I should capitalize on people's interest and cover first the Zonai. People are going bananas over Zonai speculation. But how to do that well? That would honestly take me two years. The Zonai seem present in everything in Hyrule, and to capture them in one article doesn't seem possible. Perhaps not even desirable. So, as a Middle Path kind of guy, I decided upon tackling the larger topic of Zonai culture and architecture through relevant regional changes.
So, to complete that project, my goals are to work my way through each civilizational region (Rito, Goron, Zora, Gerudo, and Hylian), making note and analysis of each region's connections to the Zonai. For example, the Zonai seem to have some connection to the Stormwind Ark. That's my first stop. So, gathering various insights from the different peoples of Hyrule step by step, I intend to hone in on the Zonai obliquely. That way, by the end, I'll have a better picture of their various interactions with the peoples of Hyrule as well as (hopefully) a more informed take on their specific architecture. So, I'm chasing the roots through the branches, so to speak.
This circuitous route will also allow me to keep away the looming specter of DLC. I don't want to write the major articles prior to the DLC dropping for fear that it might introduce things that would change the entire course of articles or impressions. I'd rather save those big pieces until all the dust settles.
For those of you that have already come here hoping for a fully-fledged article on Zonai architecture, I'm sorry: You'll have to wait a bit. But, as we travel together, I hope the smaller companion pieces open up new worlds of thought for you. As always, feel free to reach out.
Best,
Talbot
