Today's post is a simple update on my latest adventures in Hyrule. Last night, I stopped "not playing," fired up Tears of the Kingdom, and let myself get sucked in. The game is so huge! Immediately, I decided to just do what's in front of me, bouncing from one thing to the next. There is always something new to discover. I achieved four small things in the big game.

An Eerie Voice

First, I had left off at the Highland Stable, so that's where my mini-adventure began. Penn, the reporter bird, was there, so I talked to him for clues to the next Princess Zelda sighting. With that, I quickly began and completed "An Eerie Voice" Side Adventure.

By the way, I just now fully understand the difference in TotK: a Side Adventure is lengthy and often includes multiple characters and/or steps or quests, while a Side Quest is shorter, simpler, and usually a one-off deal.

Mystic Trousers

Second, after emerging from the well, I noticed on a not-too-distant hill the obvious multi-colored balloon with the super-strange Koltin. I had several Bubbul gems, so I traded them in for...the Mystic Trousers! Nice, since they pair with the Mystic Robe I already got.

Great White Stallion

Third, I headed back towards the Highland Stable and made my way to the place nearby where in BotW there was a certain fairy fountain. And I discovered...the Great White Stallion! So I drank some Sneaky Elixir to make myself stealthy. I managed to approach and mount the horse and tried to sooth it. But it bucked me off twice. Then the stallion jumped/fell into the nearby water and glitched! It swam to the other side and disappeared only to reappear where it fell in. It repeated this loop three times so I moved on.

Joju-u-u Shrine

Fourth, I found another new shrine on a cliff-top nearer to the Necluda region. I tried to paraglide close to it but a Thunder Gleeok shot me down. Before the ground would break my fall, I fast-traveled to the nearby Skyview Tower. Once there, I shot upward to glide close to the shrine and ended up at the Lakeside Stable below. Since I was there, I rested and then learned I needed to access the well before the rain resumed.

Once in the well, I discovered it was much bigger than I expected and began exploring. Eventually, I arrived on a beach and took out two Electric Lizalfos. My strategy? First, I sent sage Yunobo blasting into them from a distance to knock off some health. Once they noticed me, I froze them with fused Ice Fruit arrows so I could then pummel them with one of my high-level swords (I forgot which one).

After this little side-track, I then reversed time on a nearby rock, rode it upward, then glided down to the shrine. It was an easy one to complete, Building Bridges.

Those four little achievements marked a bit more progress in TotK for me last night. I was simply playing within the game world, taking whatever was around me and checking things out. I love the openness of the game and how full it is with discovery and surprise, rewarding experimentation and exploration. It's a lot to take in, so I keep taking my time, enjoying it to the full.