Niek, about the Kokori being worshipped, I wasn't thinking their deaths made them revered deities. I was thinking more along the lines that their tragic destruction caused their spirits to linger on the terrestrial plane, and the Deku are afraid of them, in their paranoia they offer sacrifices every once in a while. The Kokori spirits don't have to be bad for the paranoid Deku to be afraid of them and therefore worship them. But we can do it however, if you still think that them not being worshipped is better, I just wanted you to understand my point, but I'd rather defer to you. I think you're better at this, honestly ;p
I do understand and if you look at the Deku you would think they are based on some inca or aztec culture. I'm not sure, but the Aztecs had sacrifices to reinvigorate the sun. However Hyrule in every Zelda game is some utopian land with its quircks and characteristics. And than a demon (Ganon, Vaati, Maladus, Majora, Demise) comes and upsets the utopian society. I don't think that revering or being afraid of the spirits is a bad thing. The deku might have build some shrine to honor or appease them (which could be the door to the Kokiri Forest).
Human sacrifice or in this case Deku sacrifice, just does not seem to be something that would fit a utopian society. However Majora's Mask showed that it is still plausible that Deku would burn someone at the stake to punish them in a flash of anger. And the Deku are angry at the king for not doing his job and protecting the village, but only protecting himself. Or we would again need to put the focus on the King selling out the cog or something.
The burning at the stake I don't have a problem with the King burning at the stake. The problem is more the reasoning behind it. Actually I think that it could even be hilarious. The stake is lit on fire, the King asking/screaming for water to dowse the flames. And suddenly he get a shitload of water over him, because the monsters came through the roof where the King had his personal pool or something.
(The latter is a bit of a whimpsy brain storm.
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Another idea I had for the tasks was that some bokoblin (or other monster) had stolen the merchandise of a Deku merchant and Link has to get the stuff back. But that could probably also work with the Zora and Goron areas. And maybe a taks that is probably a prelude to what will come later in the game. Link would find either a sick Goron or beaten Zora that is plagued by monsters or is in need for some medicine.