Hi! It’s… been a while!
As many of you know, gaming is a huge part of my life. It’s my safe place, keeping me sane when other parts of my life feel like they’re spinning out of control. It’s what I do to relax, and to have fun, and accounts for a reasonable quantity of the past 18 months or so since I last posted anything here.
After a rough few weeks, culminating in my failure to get a job I *really* wanted, Terry went onto that Internet they have nowadays and bought me a little present. Cos that’s the kind of husband he is!
I am now the proud owner of an officially licensed Legend of Zelda Link cosplay hoodie! It features an embossed Hyrulian Shield on the back, a long tapered hood and detailing on the front to represent a satchel & belt. It is AWESOME!
On a related note to the disappointing past few weeks, we decided to treat ourselves to a night away. Which is how we came to Warwick Castle on an unseasonably chilly April Saturday ready to explore, learn, and basically tear around the place like a couple of loons!
It should be noted that thanks to an encounter with the hotel Nespresso machine I was bombed out of my head on coffee and sugar. I was so hyper I clocked a few middle age parents with a gaggle of unruly tweens giving Terry a pitying look. I didn’t care. I was Link! Hero of Time! Defender of Hyrule!
But I’m not much of a hero without a sword. So first stop is the gift shop where I get the ‘blue’ sword, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the Master Sword itself! The texture of the foam makes it look really cool in the photos, almost like it’s been added in using old fashioned cell animation! Sidebar: Lots of Merlin Entertainment’s signage refers to Knights and Princesses – bleugh! But the toy sets in the shop have been labelled as ‘blue’ and ‘pink’ which is progress of a kind I guess. #lettoysbetoys
Sword in hand, I pose for a couple of photos in the courtyard
Taking @summerbeth cosplaying in @WarwickCastle pic.twitter.com/i6scd9TFu8
— Terence Eden is on Mastodon (@edent) April 16, 2016
And under the portcullis
And get a cool shot next to a display of shields.
.@summerbeth isn't the hero Hyrule needs, but she is the hero they deserve.#yah! pic.twitter.com/yFYzECWNec
— Terence Eden is on Mastodon (@edent) April 16, 2016
We walk around the state rooms and found the dining hall – almost a dead ringer for the one at the Knight’s Academy in Skyloft!
Looks like @summerbeth has found the Skyloft dining hall.
⚔ pic.twitter.com/Vejj591BO8— Terence Eden is on Mastodon (@edent) April 16, 2016
Me having slain an army of Darknuts!
We join in a free tour which covers some of the history. For our slightly exorbitant entrance fee we want to learn something!
We paid extra for the Dungeon tour. They won’t let us take our own photos in there, so sadly no opportunities for me to pose slaying a ReDead. I’m totally in character by now, but I get the feeling the actors in the exhibit think I’m scene stealing a bit. C’mon guys – haven’t you ever heard that improv is all about saying Yes!
They have a display of the birds of prey on. We watch the show, which is included in the entry price and frankly way better than the dungeon, and includes an owl just like the one which hangs out near Lake Hylia!
Over at the bird enclosure, Terry took this awesome photo which looks like the Eagle is perched on my arm.
Lots of walking through gaps in hedges!
Then we’re off climbing the ramparts!
From the top of Guy’s Tower I survey my kingdom!
We’re pretty exhausted by now. Last stop is the maze where we got two of the best photos of the day!
Shout out to Windwaker!
And finally no Zelda level is complete without a jumping puzzle!
Thanks to Warwick Castle for a great day out, and Merchoid for fantastic customer service! And to my truly wonderful husband for buying the hoodie, taking countless photos and generally being the best Squire a Knight could ask for!