List of The Legend of Zelda characters
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This is a list of recurring characters from The Legend of Zelda video game series. This list only covers those that appear in more than one game. For any others, please refer to the respective list of characters for the game the character appears in.
Anju
Anju appears in Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and The Minish Cap.
She was introduced as a nameless Cucco caretaker in Ocarina of Time, and requires Link's assistance in retrieving the escaped birds, as she is in fact allergic to them. In the adult section of the game, she is found tending to Pocket Cuccos, a new breed of Cucco that she is not allergic to and that fit into a pocket. Her father is the carpenter Mutoh, her grandmother is the old woman who runs the Potion Shop, and her brother, named Grog in Majora's Mask, is the pale man who sits under a tree in Kakariko Village at night. Every member of her family plays a part in the Biggoron Sword trading quest.
In Majora's Mask, she is Kafei's fiancée, and the main employee of Clock Town's Stock Pot Inn. She is forgetful, too apologetic, and a procrastinator, and she is such a bad cook that her grandmother refuses to touch anything she makes. Anju's grandmother stays at the inn, telling stories, and her mother does the work at the inn when she's busy. She had a father, Tortus, who died before the events of the game.
Unfortunately, Anju and Kafei's wedding was postponed when Kafei was turned into a child by the Skull Kid and ran away because the theif Sakon stole his Sun's Mask. Anju is desperate to find him, and receives help from Link once she learns that he knows information about Kafei. Kafei gives Link the Pendant of Memories for Anju, and Anju takes it as sign that Kafei is still going to marry her. She waits in the Stock Pot Inn for Kafei, who arrives just before the moon crashes into Termina. The two combine their engagement masks, the Mask of the Moon and the Mask of the Sun, to create the Couple's Mask, which they give to Link as thanks for his help. Despite knowing that the moon is about to crash, the two remain at the Stock Pot Inn, and tell Link to get to safety. During the end credits, their wedding is shown, though Kafei's adult form isn't.
Anju reappears as a Cucco caretaker in The Minish Cap, living in Hyrule Town. Her house is filled with Cucco chicks, and the Cucco catching game, now with a time limit, also has Golden Cuccos, which are harder to capture but somewhat easier to get into the pen. As an allergy to Cuccos is not mentioned, it appears that she is simply unable to catch her Cuccos.
Beedle
In The Wind Waker, Beedle is a peddler of the Great Sea. He travels in a boat and usually sells finite items such as bait and bombs as opposed to permanent items like a bow. His multitude of boats cover much of the Great Sea, so the nearest store generally isn't too far away in case Link requires an item for a task. During the game, the player receives a letter which turns out to be a map that discloses the general location of Beedle's boats. One square of this map is marked differently from the others, by a golden-helmeted image of Beedle. In this anomalous boat, Beedle wears a large golden helmet and pretends not to know Link, yet offers the purchase of a Piece of Heart, an empty bottle, and a treasure chart at a far greater price than his other wares. These items are one-of-a-kind (as sold in Beedle's shop), and when they are all sold out, will be replaced by generic renewable items again like in all his other boats.
The patrons of Beedle's shop are rewarded with points that work in conjunction with a points system, in which the customer acquires a point after each transaction. When a particular amount of points is reached, the customer receives a discount which works in tiers, but reaching the highest level of discount requires a superfluous level of patronage for most players. When Link enters the store, he receives a high-pitched audible greeting from Beedle.
Beedle also appears in The Minish Cap. Once a mat in Hyrule Town Market has been cleaned up, he begins to sell Picolyte.
Biggoron
Biggoron is a very large Goron who will forge a sword for Link if he brings Biggoron certain items dependent on the game. Biggoron's Sword is stronger and larger than the Master Sword but Link must hold it with both hands, so he cannot hold a shield at the same time he is wielding Biggoron's Sword (but while the sword is in its sheath, Link can defend himself with the shield). There seem to be other Biggorons in other locations, such as Holodrum, but it may actually be the same Biggoron traveling. Biggoron has a (comparatively) little brother called Medigoron. Medigoron is not nearly as good as Biggoron when it comes to making swords, since it took him seven years to make a very frail Giant's Knife in Ocarina of Time. However, by the time of Majora's Mask, he has mastered the art of making powder kegs, which are huge barrels of gunpowder that can blow up giant boulders. Majora's Mask is the only Zelda game to date to feature powder kegs. Biggoron also appears in Oracle of Seasons as part of the trading sequence for the Noble Sword; he will trade a vase for lava soup to help his cold. In The Minish Cap, Biggoron appears on the top of the mountains of Veil Falls and will give Link the Mirror Shield in exchange for the regular shield. He also appears as one of the collectible figurines in the same game.
BowWow
BowWow is a pet Chain Chomp who first appeared in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, where he needed to be rescued from a gang of moblins. He later reappeared in Four Swords as an equippable item, where he would eat enemies and knock rupees out of other players.
Dampé the Gravekeeper
Dampé is a mysterious old man whose likenesses and/or descendants play similar roles in the storylines of Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, The Minish Cap and Four Swords Adventures. He was introduced in Ocarina of Time, where he will dig around the graveyard at night for a small fee. When Link is an adult, he dies and his ghost resides at his grave just outside Kakariko Village. He offers to race Link in a lengthy tomb area below his grave. Link cannot win this race, but by finishing without being shut out by one of the timed falling doors Dampé rewards him with the Hookshot. If Link makes it to the end in a minute or less, he is also rewarded with a Heart Piece. During the race Dampé pelts Link with fireballs, and he takes many quick and sharp turns which could throw the player off of the correct course.
Dark Link
Dark Link (known also as Shadow Link in Four Swords Adventures) is a recurring boss in the series, and is a doppelgänger of Link, except that he is usually completely black with red eyes with the exception of four Dark Links that wear Green, Red, Blue, and Violet tunics in the GBA version of A Link to the Past. In the Japanese games, he is referred to as Doppelgänger. In general, Dark Link copies just Link's swordplay, but in some games, he is able to use Link's full arsenal of weapons. He is formed in various different ways between the games. When he first appears in The Adventure of Link, he is the final boss of the game; a test that Link must overcome for the Triforce of Courage. In other games, various incarnations are created from a dark power to combat Link, while some don't have an explained origin, and others appear for various other reasons.
Shadow Link's largest appearance is that of a main character, a recurring boss, and respawning enemies in Four Swords Adventures. These Shadow Links are created by the Dark Temple's Dark Mirror, and one tricks Link into drawing the Four Sword from the Four Sword Shrine, which releases Vaati and splits Link into four clones. They plague the Links throughout the game by both directly attacking him, and impersonating him while they attack the citizenry, causing it to be suspicious and mistrusting of the Links. The Links finally eradicate them in a final battle in which he destroys them while Zelda undoes the seal on the Dark Mirror and takes it into her possession.
Epona
Epona is Link's horse, a light sorrel mare with flaxen mane and tail. She is used mainly by Link for faster travel across the overworld. Epona is named after a Celtic goddess of horses, and has a unique song, which is often used as a way to tame and/or summon her.
In Ocarina of Time, Epona was born and raised at the Lon Lon Ranch and was personally handled by Malon herself. According to Malon, Epona is shy towards everyone else, but after Malon teaches Epona's Song, a song used to summon Epona, Link is able to befriend her. After the ranch is taken over from Talon and Malon by the farmhand Ingo, Link saves Epona from being given to Ganondorf by winning her in a race, and is from then on in possession of her. In Majora's Mask, the Skull Kid steals her, and Epona ends up at the Romani Ranch in Termina, where Link reclaims her.
In Four Swords Adventures, multiple Eponas serve as steeds for the players, mainly in the Lon Lon Ranch level. She is also summoned by picking up a carrot in multiplayer play.
Epona makes a cameo appearance in The Minish Cap, where she is only seen pulling a cart of Lon Lon Milk for Malon. Although she isn't available to ride, it is possible to talk to and fuse Kinstones with her.
In Twilight Princess, the player is able to name Link's horse, with "Epona" as its default name. As a wolf, Link is able to talk to her. Epona plays a larger role in this game, as she is used by Link in multiple horseback battles, including the final battle with Ganondorf.
Ganon
Great Deku Tree
The Great Deku Tree is the 'Father of the Forest', and his first appearance is in Ocarina of Time, where he is charged with watching over the Kokiri who live in the Kokiri Forest. He is an exceptionally large tree with a human-like face.
When Ocarina of Time begins, the Deku Tree is suffering from a curse cast upon him by Ganondorf in an effort to gain the Spiritual Stone of the Forest which is in the Deku Tree's possession. Knowing Link's destiny, the Deku Tree sends Navi the fairy to retrieve the boy (who is, at this time, living among the Kokiri as one of them) and asks him to destroy the cause of the curse, a spider called Queen Gohma, within him. Although Link defeats Queen Gohma, the Deku Tree was doomed before Link had begun; before he dies, the Deku Tree gives Link the Kokiri Emerald and tells him to seek out The Princess of Destiny at Hyrule Castle. After adult Link completes the Forest Temple and returns to the site of the Deku Tree, he discovers a little sprout, which grows into the Deku Sprout. It is this sprout who tells Link the truth about his past, and reveals that Link is not a Kokiri, but rather a Hylian who was entrusted to the Deku Tree by his mother, who died soon after.
In The Wind Waker, the Great Deku Tree is the guardian of Forest Haven and a is legendary forest/earth spirit. He is at first plagued by ChuChus and, after Link assists in removing the ChuChus, the Deku Tree tells Link about Forest Haven and the Koroks who live there. He confesses to Link that his energy is actually waning and that he has become feeble with age. It is assumed that this is the same Deku Tree that was a sprout in Ocarina of Time, as he speaks Hylian and remembers old times when he sees Link's green tunic. He gives Link the Deku Leaf to help him on his quest, and later Farore's Pearl after Link rescues Makar from the Forbidden Woods. Like Valoo and Jabun, he speaks Hylian, but he can also speak the modern language of the Great Sea.
The Great Deku Tree is not to be confused with the two Maku Trees in Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages.
Great Fairy
Great Fairies appear in all of the games as giant fairies that reside in springs called "Great Fairy's Fountains". They are much older than other fairies, and are thus much more powerful.[1] Most of those depicted wear dresses, full-length or knee-length, though in Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Twilight Princess, they are almost completely nude. According to their figurine in The Wind Waker, they were born on the Angular Isles, and are destined to aid the "Great Hero", Link.[2]
In all games, they will completely refill Link's health. In some of their appearances, they will reward Link with new items or upgrades of his items or meters, usually for merely visiting them, though sometimes he must complete a task. These tasks usually involve some altruism on the part of the player, at least once something comparable to "Mercury and the Woodsman", one of Aesop's Fables.
Venus, Queen of Fairies
Venus is the Queen of the Fairies, and the most powerful fairy in the series. She was introduced in A Link to the Past, but it was not revealed how important she was until the ending credits. This is also the only game in which the name "Venus" is given. In both Link's Awakening DX and Twilight Princess, she rewards the player for completing optional dungeons.
She was given an actual role in the story in Oracle of Ages, as the "Protector of the Sea". She was cursed by Veran into the shape of an Octorok, so that Veran could pollute the sea without the Queen Fairy's interference. She asked Link to obtain Fairy Powder to remove the curse, and when he returned with it, she was returned to her true form and cleansed the seas, allowing free movement across them.
She had another appearance in The Wind Waker, and while visiting her was required to finish the game, she had no prominent role in the story. She has the appearance of a small glowing child, but she is much greater and more powerful than any other Fairy. According to her figurine, she was born on "Fairy Island", which isn't actually featured in the game.
The Fairy Queen appears again in Four Swords Adventures, this time cursed into the shape of a Zola. After the Links find both halves and take them to the Castle's inner doors, the two halves combine and she obliterates all of the evil Soldiers. While she is never explicitly called the Fairy Queen, she shares the same design as The Wind Waker's Fairy Queen.
Happy Mask Salesman
The bizarre man known as the Happy Mask Salesman first appeared in Ocarina of Time, offering to let Link work for him as a "Happiness Salesman". After selling all of the required masks, the Salesman lets Link borrow any of his masks, including the Mask of Truth, allowing him to understand what the Gossip Stones say.
In Majora's Mask, the Happy Mask Salesman plays a larger role, as it is his "Majora's Mask" that the Skull Kid had stolen and is using to destroy Termina. He offers to remove the curse on Link in exchange for help with recovering Majora's Mask, and thus teaches Link the Song of Healing. When Link finally recovers Majora's Mask, the Salesman simply vanishes. The Happy Mask Salesman is best known for his volatile personality, his theme tune (a remix of the Song of Healing) and his ability to seemingly teleport around a room. In one scene, the Salesman plays on an organ that seems to appear out of nowhere. On the Salesman's pack are masks resembling Mario, Darth Maul, the face on the Mirror Shield, the face that is shown on the mayor's chair, and a sad Elvis Presley.
In the last part of the game, Link travels to the falling moon and meets several children who resemble the Salesman — one of them claims that they will eventually become Mask Salesmen. The Mask Salesman, knowing of the apocalyptic nature of Majora's Mask, hints that he has experienced it first-hand, and if time runs out and the Moon falls, Link is shown with the Salesman, who asks him, "You have met with a terrible fate, haven't you?"
He appears as a part of the Trading Quest in Oracle of Ages, in which he runs a mask shop on the outskirts of Lynna City. He is apparently in poverty, as he demands food from Link, and he has the same volatile personality as in Majora's Mask.
Impa
Impa (インパ, Inpa) is a caretaker to Princess Zelda. There are multiple versions of the character named Impa throughout the Zelda series, just as there are multiple Link and Zelda characters. As with Link and Zelda, all versions of the character share personality traits.
The original Impa (appearing in The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link) is portrayed as an old woman who calls for Link to save Zelda from Ganon and his henchmen. The Impa of Ocarina of Time is a Shiekah, and the guardian of Princess Zelda. It is later revealed that she is in fact the Sage of Shadow, one of the seven sages in the Zelda universe. She is also a main character in Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages.
Ingo
Ingo (ēn'gō) is a tall, lanky man with a large black moustache who bears striking resemblances to fellow Nintendo characters Luigi and Waluigi. When child Link first meets Ingo, he is working as a farmhand at Lon Lon Ranch. He is a hard worker but complains about how he must do all the work while Talon, the ranch's actual owner, just lies around and sleeps. When Link returns to Lon Lon Ranch seven years later as an adult, he finds that Ingo, with the assistance of Ganondorf, has taken over the ranch and kicked Talon out. Once Link wins Epona from Ingo and awakens Talon in Kakariko Village, Talon returns to the ranch and takes back ownership. Ingo, apparently regretful of his actions, and fearful of being punished by Ganondorf for losing Epona to Link, returns to working as a ranch hand. Malon says, "he must have been tempted by evil powers". There are several characters, named Gorman, that share Ingo's design. They appear in Majora's Mask, as three brothers, and The Minish Cap, as a landlord.
Jabu-Jabu
Jabu-Jabu (jä'boo jä'boo), referred to as Lord Jabu-Jabu by the Zoras, first appears in Ocarina of Time. It is a giant whale-like creature worshipped by the Zora race as their patron deity and guardian. Its name most likely comes from ジャブ (jabu), the Japanese onomatopoeia for splashing.
In Ocarina of Time, it lives in Zora's Fountain, where the Zoras care for it and bring it food. Ganondorf places a curse on it, causing it to act strangely and swallow its caretaker, Princess Ruto, while she is bringing him food. Link must then enter Lord Jabu-Jabu's belly to rescue her and break the curse. Sometime during the seven years Link is trapped in the Sacred Realm, Lord Jabu-Jabu disappears from Zora's Fountain, and is not seen or mentioned in the game again.
A Jabu-Jabu also appears in the Zora Village of Oracle of Ages. This Jabu-Jabu also has a dungeon in its belly. In the past age, Link encounters a younger and smaller Jabu-Jabu (only twice his size), while in the present Jabu-Jabu is its normal, whale-like size. The filthy water from Veran's curse on the Zora Seas leaves Lord Jabu-Jabu fatally ill in the past age, which requires Link to clean the waters so that he can access Jabu-Jabu's innards in the future.
In The Wind Waker, there is a giant fish named Jabun who is somewhat similar Jabu-Jabu, and is the protector and overlooker of Greatfish Isle. Due to his rising power, Ganondorf was able to destroy Greatfish Isle, forcing Jabun to hide in a cave behind Outset. Jabun gives Link Nayru's Pearl, the final key to the Tower of the Gods. Like Valoo and the Deku Tree, Jabun speaks ancient Hylian, which only the King of Red Lions, Valoo, the Deku Tree, Medli and Tingle can understand. After the player completes The Wind Waker and starts the Second Quest, the player is able to read ancient Hylian as normal, on-screen text when it is spoken in the game.
In the Lakebed Temple of Twilight Princess, sculptures that resemble Jabu-Jabu can be seen. Some of the Zora guards also wear masks that resemble Jabu-Jabu as he appeared in Ocarina of Time.
In Link's Awakening, it is revealed the entire island of Koholint to be the dream of a sleeping deity known as "The Wind Fish", another whale-like character.
Kaepora Gaebora
Kaepora Gaebora is a wise owl that guides Link throughout various games in the series. One of the gossip stones in Ocarina of Time (found in the Sacred Forest Meadow) says that he is the reincarnation of an ancient Sage. Another gossip stone in the same area tells Link that Kaepora Gaebora "may look big and heavy, but its character is rather lighthearted." He is sometimes presumed to be the reincarnation of Rauru, the Sage of Light, or at least his physical manifestation in the Hyrule realm, though it may be more likely that he is the reincarnation of an entirely different ancient sage. Despite him guiding Link throughout his childhood in Ocarina of Time, he isn't encountered while an adult except near the end. He is seen in shadows when Link learns the Requiem of Spirit, but other than that he makes no appearance until Link completes the child half of the Spirit Temple.
He claims to not have believed in the Hero of Time, making him the only character in the game to do so. A counterpart of him also appeared in Majora's Mask, first appearing in the swamp area to teach Link the Song of Soaring, and in Snowhead to help Link cross a large abyss. There are statues of his likeness spread across Termina, mainly used as warp points that can be accessed with the Song of Soaring as they are discovered by Link, but also as a way to temporarily save the game—the player's place and inventory are saved, though the game quits to the title screen, and if the player reopens their save file, they must save again or lose their progress. In Link's Awakening, a similar owl guides Link on his quest — it is possible that this owl was the basis for Kaepora Gaebora. In Four Swords Adventures, Kaepora Gaebora serves a similar purpose as in the other games.
In Twilight Princess, ancient flat-topped owl statues are spread out across Hyrule. Perhaps an homage to Gaebora, Link must use the Dominion Rod to move the statues off their bases, on which is inscribed a letter of an ancient language. Upon collecting all these letters, Link can complete the ancient incantation needed to gain access to the Sky Cannon, subsequently needed to access the City in the Sky. Their ability to interact within the Dominion Rod suggests that the statues may be of Oocca design themselves.
Link
Malon
Malon (マロン, Maron) has appeared in several games in the series, and is almost always found at Lon Lon Ranch with her father Talon.[3] Like the series' protagonist, Link, and its namesake, Princess Zelda, Malon is depicted with many varying incarnations. Her largest appearance is in Ocarina of Time, where she interacts with Link on various occasions when he visits the ranch. Link helps her and her father with their ordeals while Malon mainly raises Epona, and teaches Link Epona's Song, which can call the horse to Link at any time. In other games, she has smaller roles, involving Link helping her and Talon. In Majora's Mask, there are Terminan counterparts of Malon, Romani and Cremia, living at Romani Ranch, who respectively resemble her child and adult forms. In Ocarina of Time, if looked at closely, her broach can be seen with Bowser, from the Mario series, on it.
Maple
Maple is Syrup's apprentice, a witch in training. She will sometimes crash into Link on her broom (though she later upgrades to a vacuum and a flying saucer), causing both of them to drop some of their items. She will then attempt to grab anything on the ground, while Link is given an opportunity to do the same. She will go for the rarer items first (Gasha Seeds, Seed Rings, Potions, or even a Piece of Heart), and then for the common ones (Recovery Hearts, Rupees, Bombs, and Mystical Seeds). In both Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, she serves as part of the game's trading quest; in Oracle of Ages, she gives the player a Magical Oar in exchange for a Touching Book, and in Oracle of Seasons, she will give up a Ghastly Doll for a Lon Lon Egg. In the Game Boy Advance remake of A Link to the Past, she is again the old witch's apprentice.
Princess Zelda
Postman
The Postman is usually portrayed as a frantic man in red or white clothes that moves a fast speeds, faster than most other characters in the series. The Postman is dedicated to his work at delivery, so much so he won't leave the doomed Clock Town in Majora's Mask because there are deliveries the next day. He is also commonly seen wearing a red hat during his deliveries, which is called the Postman's Hat.
It is believed by some that the Postman, otherwise unnamed, first appears as a marathon runner in Ocarina of Time running around Lon Lon Ranch during child Link's time. During the mask trading quest, Link gives him the Bunny Hood, and in return is rewarded with as many Rupees as his wallet can carry. This also increases the speed at which he runs, so much so Link can get hurt if he gets run over. As an adult, Link can challenge him to a race, although it is impossible to beat him. It is not confirmed that the Postman and marathon runner are the same character, however.
He later played a significantly greater role in Majora's Mask, where he is the delivery man for all of Clock Town. He is commonly seen running around Clock Town checking the mailboxes and delivering things, such as a letter to Anju. When not delivering, he usually trains himself in order to be prepared for a delivery. He is so dedicated to his work, however, to leave the doomed Clock Town, and in fact needs direct orders from Madame Aroma (the mayor's wife) to leave. When he does leave, he gives Link the Postman's Hat and happily skips away.
In Oracle of Ages, in the past he lost track of time due to the curse Veran put on time, and can't deliver any mail. Fortunately, if Link gives him the Ghost Clock, then he can continue his deliveries and he gives Link an envelope.
In The Wind Waker, a Rito postman bears a similar resemblance to him, with similar hair, only white, and the same slit, angular eyes. He will pay Link Rupees if he helps him sort out mail, the value depending on how many letters he sorts out.
In The Minish Cap, the Postman always runs around Hyrule Town. There are also post sorters in an office in the same town, who deliver Link The Swordsman's Newsletter, which is intended to give Link advice about fighting monsters on his journey.
In Twilight Princess, he is commonly seen giving Link mail at various moments, and at other times is usually seen looking at a piece of paper (which one varies) crouching down and muttering something. He is also one of the few Hyrulians that isn't afraid of Link in his wolf form, and even recognizes him in that state.
Skull Kid
The Skull Kid is a character first seen in Ocarina of Time. There are a few of them that can be found in the Lost Woods, a maze-like forest near the starting location of the game. The main one that Link can interact with is in the area immediately left of the entrance to the Lost Woods playing a flute whilst standing upon a tall stump. Link can play "Saria's Song" for him in return for a piece of heart and sell him a "Skull Mask" to hide his face (or lack thereof). Afterwards, he shows friendship towards Link when Link is a child; however, he also tends to show fear or hatred toward adults, as he attacks adult Link on sight by shooting darts out of his flute. Link is told that he was once a child that became lost in the woods. The Skull Kids also show the ability to appear out of and disappear into thin air.
In the direct sequel to Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, one Skull Kid is a main character in the storyline. He was somewhat of a bully and always played tricks, hence he could never make any friends. Four of his closest friends, the Four Giants of Termina, also got angry at him for this reason, and he believed when they left Clock Town to live with their races, they were leaving him behind, much to his sorrow. One day after that, he was taking shelter from the pouring rain, all alone and very unhappy. He then met Tatl and Tael and was quickly befriended by them. He continued to play tricks, eventually scaring the Happy Mask Salesman. Looking through his masks, he stole his favorite: the cursed artifact, Majora's Mask. As he donned the mask, it took at least some degree of control over him as his mischief turned to malevolence.
Under its influence and with the help of the mask's power, he cursed many people in Termina (including Link), sealed away the Four Giants into evil masks and cursed the moon, forcing it to abandon its orbit and crash into Termina, threatening to annihilate its inhabitants. Link eventually summons the Four Giants again, who then catch the moon before it hits Termina, causing the Skull Kid to collapse due to a great emotional surge combined with the mask's attempt to keep control. At the end of the game, after the mask has been sealed again, the Skull Kid regains his friendship with the Giants. The Skull Kid also sniffs Link and says him "You smell like the fairy kid who taught me that song in the woods". This is an indication that he is indeed the same Skull Kid who Link sells a mask to in Ocarina of Time.
His appearance generally revolves around his dark, bark-colored skin and glowing orange eyes. The rest of his face is obscure, save for a beak-like appendage. One description says that Skull Kid is unhappy "not to have a face". There is more than one Skull Kid in the Lost Woods in Ocarina of Time (three altogether), but only this one is featured in Majora's Mask.
A Skull Kid also makes an appearance in Twilight Princess. He is much shorter and has blue skin, giving him an imp-like appearance. He lacks the beak of other Skull Kids and has a stitch-like mouth. Link is required to play hide and seek with him and attack him before he flees, while dodging the dangerous wooden puppets he summons with his horn. He acts as a sort of "guardian" for the Sacred Grove, which houses the remains of the Temple of Time. He also has the ability to open doors in the Sacred Grove, in order to guide the player to the Master Sword (which lies within the ruined Temple of Time). He treats the entire chase as if it were a game, even stating that it was fun after Link attacks him for the final time.
The Legend of Zelda manga tells of how the forest tricks human hearts into wandering the same paths over and over, and if the poor soul loses sight of the exit, he or she will never return again. A Bagu tree, a rival to the Great Deku Tree, for whom the Skull Kid works, is also mentioned in this. A side story in the manga also tells of Link making a mask for a Kokiri festival, which is, in turn, stolen by the Skull Kid, who later instead takes the mask of the festival's "monster" (which, ironically, is portrayed by Link). The Legend of Zelda manga, however, is usually not considered canonical.
Syrup the Witch
Syrup the Witch mainly serves as an elderly potion maker in various Zelda games, concocting various potions and other items depending on the game. In the two Oracle games she is also seen selling Bombchus and Gasha Seeds in her shop, and is revealed to have a granddaughter and apprentice named Maple. Similarly, in Ocarina of Time there is a potion maker who runs a shop in Kakariko Village and is of close relative age. Though this character is not given a name, the potion shop is called Granny's Potion Shop. Also, in Ocarina of Time, she brews a remedy from a forest mushroom for the young man who sits at the front of Kakariko Village at night when Link is a child, but for purposes of running the remedy to him, he can be found in the Lost Woods by the adult Link. In all games in which she appears, Syrup is always seen brewing a potion of some sort.
Talon
Talon is a fat, rather lazy man who bears a striking resemblance to fellow Nintendo character Mario, although fatter. He wears a pendant that resembles Bowser, Mario's arch-enemy (and wears similar clothes), as does Tarin of Link's Awakening. He is the father of Malon and the owner and operator of Lon Lon Ranch. When Link first encounters Talon, he is asleep beside a shipment of milk he had been delivering to Hyrule Castle. After Link awakens him, he returns to Lon Lon Ranch. At some point during the seven years Link spends in the Chamber of Sages in the Sacred Realm, Ingo, Talon's ranch hand, takes over the ranch and kicks Talon out. Once again, Link can find him asleep, this time in Kakariko Village. If Link participates in the Biggoron's Sword side-quest, he can also be awakened by the sound of Link presenting the Pocket Cucco to him. When Talon discovers that Ingo has turned over a new leaf (after Link ruins his business), Talon decides to do so as well. He has a counterpart in Majora's Mask called Mr. Barten, who works at the milk bar and serves the milk. In the ending festival of Ocarina of Time, Talon and Ingo have apparently become friends and are seen shambling in a drunken state.
Talon also appears in The Minish Cap, where he once again runs Lon Lon Ranch.
In Majora's Mask, Talon's double is Mr. Barton, the owner and bartender of the Milk Bar in Clock Town.
Talon is similar to the character Tarin from The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.
The King of Hyrule
In The Wind Waker, King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule is the last king of the long forgotten land of Hyrule. To meet with Link he remotely operates the King of Red Lions, a talking boat, using magic. He may be a spiritual being like the Sages, as he is still in existence long after Hyrule was sunk, and he can teleport around the area at will. By the end of the game, the King wishes to the Triforce for Hyrule to be drowned, and stays with the kingdom as it is flooded.
Kings also visually appear in A Link to the Past and The Minish Cap. The King in the former shows up only in the ending and isn't given a name, and is uncommonly referred to throughout the game. In the latter, the current, ruling king is named Daltus, who strongly resembles Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, while a former, dead king, named Gustaf, appears in the Royal Tomb, and gives Link a golden Kinstone piece, which is required to open the door blocking the upper part of Veil Falls, and the pathway to the Cloud Tops. He also wonders what's for dinner, and believes that peace is what all true warriors strive for.
The Old Man
The Old Man is a character found in the original The Legend of Zelda for the NES, and also in BS Zelda for the Satellaview. He is a bald character who wears a red gown and had a white beard in the game. Link can usually find the old man inside dungeons or caves, often in an off-the-map location, standing between two torches (and if Link attacks the old man in a dungeon location, the two torches will defend him by shooting fireballs). The Old Man has several in-game functions, ranging from giving the player items to help him in his quest to giving the player advice on how to move forward in the game. He also runs a gambling shop where Link can win rupees, and at times will demand that Link pay a "door repair charge"; a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that in order to access him, Link had either burned down a bush or bombed a wall.
Similar Old Men teach magic to Link in the various villages of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is this same old man, or at least based on the same character. Many people who resemble the Old Man also appear in Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages. This time, they wear hooded robes that are either green, blue, or red and have long white beards, giving them a wizard-like appearance. Most of them hide underground below bushes, which Link, once again, must burn to access them. Some of them give Link Rupees so Link won't reveal his location, while others take Rupees from Link, yet again, for "paying to fix his door". In Seasons, one of them gives Link an item that he uses to gain access to Tarm Ruins, and two of them appear in dungeons to give Link some information. In Ages, in the past a number of Old Men appear in the Eyeglass Island Library in some sort of gathering. One of them also gives Link the Fairy Dust if he completes a difficult puzzle.
The Old Man gained notoriety for his vague and/or poorly translated advice in the original version (one of his most famous pieces of advice is "DODONGO DISLIKES SMOKE", meaning that the Dodongos have a weakness to bombs). In the versions of the game on the GameCube Zelda promotion disc, Game Boy Advance, and Virtual Console, the translation was slightly corrected.
The Oracles
Din
Din is the legendary Oracle of Seasons, with power over the rhythmic cycles of natural order (in other words, the seasons). Pursued by Onox, she traveled incognito with a circus troupe as a talented dancer; Zelda's guardian Impa also posed a member of this troupe, hoping to protect Din as she traveled. When Link is sent to Holodrum by the Triforce, Din finds him unconscious and cares for him. However, Onox soon finds Din and abducts her, putting the Oracle in a crystal seal, in order to turn Holodrum into a barren wasteland as part of the Twinrova sisters' plan. Once Din is rescued, she spends her time in Horon Village, dancing, and when Princess Zelda is abducted by Twinrova, she uses her powers to help Link follow them. She will come to Labrynna in a linked Oracle of Ages game after Zelda is captured.
The Minish Cap refers to her as a famous dancer from Holodrum who shares her name with Din, the goddess of Power.
Farore
Farore is the Oracle of Secrets. She meets Link and helps him use codes and passwords. In both Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, she lives in the Maku Tree, and if you give her a code, she gives you an item. Exchanging codes between games is needed to get some secret items.
The Minish Cap's figurine gallery refers to Farore as a helpful person looking for a house. Like Din and Nayru, she was named after a Triforce Goddess: Farore, the Goddess of Courage.
There was planned to be a third Oracle game, The Legend of Zelda: Mystical Seed of Courage, which would have had Farore star equally as Nayru and Din are in Ages and Seasons. However, Capcom ultimately decided that it would be too hard to link three different games, so they abandoned the third and integrated Farore into the two remaining Oracle games as the "Oracle of Secrets", who is responsible for unlocking special items and features in one game after the player reaches various points in the other game.
Nayru
Nayru is a singer with one of the most beautiful voices to be heard and the legendary Oracle of Ages, with the power to shift through the folds of time. Upon Link's arrival in Labrynna, he finds Impa standing nearby, and she asks Link to lead her into the forest, where Nayru can be found. However, it is revealed that Impa has been possessed by Veran, who in turn possesses Nayru. All of time is thrown into chaos as Veran uses Nayru's powers to alter Labrynna's timeline as part of the Twinrova's plan to resurrect Ganon.
Nayru has a magical harp, the Harp of Ages, which is kept in the basement of her house in the Labrynnan forest and allows Link to travel through time. Her childhood friend and guardian is Ralph.
In The Minish Cap, Nayru is referred to as coming from a line of priestesses from Labrynna. She shares her name with Nayru, the goddess of Wisdom, and some believe her to be an avatar of the goddess.
The Sages
The Sages are frequently recurring characters, and in most games must be rescued by Link from the game's antagonist. They usually represent the elements of Light, Forest, Fire, Water, Spirit, and Shadow. Princess Zelda is often considered one of their number, though her element is unconfirmed. The Wind Waker added the Sages of Earth and Wind. In some games, other characters are known as Sages, though they are not associated with a particular element — for example, Sahasrahla in A Link to the Past. Miyamoto revealed in an interview that he originally planned for there to be an Ice Sage in Ocarina of Time, but decided against it.
The Sages were introduced in the backstory to A Link to the Past, in which they are claimed to have long ago sealed away Ganon and his evil in the Dark World. During the events of the game, the Seven Maidens, are kidnapped and imprisoned in the Dark World by Agahnim, in order to break the seal on Ganon. The second half of the game focuses on rescuing them from the Dark World, where they were sealed within crystals. Once they are all rescued, they help Link break into Ganon's Tower.
One set of Sages is fully introduced in Ocarina of Time, and is comprised of Rauru, Saria, Darunia, Ruto, Impa, Nabooru, and Princess Zelda. With the exception of Rauru and Zelda, each of them is initially introduced as a non-sage ally of Link's, and are "awakened" to their destiny during the adult Link section of the game, in which they each help Link to remove the curse on their respective temple. Once they are all awakened, they help Link to enter Ganon's Castle, and at the end of the game they seal Ganon in the Sacred Realm. The sages are also seen during the credits, watching the sun rise from Death Mountain. Each of them appears to have died before becoming a Sage, similar to the Immortals in Highlander.[4]
In The Wind Waker, all of Ocarina of Time's (minus Zelda) are depicted on stained glass windows in Hyrule Castle's Master Sword chamber. Two new sages are introduced, Laruto of Earth and Fado of Wind. Their duties are to pray to the Goddesses to bless the Master Sword and keep its power intact, and to assist the Hero in protecting Hyrule. However, both Laruto and Fado had been killed by Ganon's forces, and need to be replaced by their descendants, Medli and Makar. It is unknown what happened to the spirits of Laruto and Fado afterwards, although Medli and Makar are shown to be on Tetra's Ship during the ending.
In Four Swords Adventures. the Sages return as seven "Shrine Maidens", similar to the Maidens of A Link to the Past. They are captured by Dark Link, who then forces Link to draw the Four Sword and release Vaati, and they are imprisoned at the end of dungeons, similar to A Link to the Past. The Shrine Maidens help Link by summoning the Tower of the Winds and sealing Ganon inside the Four Sword. They are also shown to be able to transform themselves into the shape of a fairy.
In Twilight Princess, the Sages are portrayed as spirit-like old men using Ancient Greek theater-style masks as faces. They attempted to execute Ganondorf with a magical blade in the Mirror Chamber of Arbiter's Grounds, but the malice emanating from the mirror reactivated his powers and he broke free, apparently destroying the Sage of Water with his bare hands (though he is seen again later in the game). In their desperation, the Sages activated the Mirror of Twilight and sent him into the Twilight Realm, thus setting off the chain of events that led to the story. They mianly appear above six pinnacles surrounding the chamber, which bear the symbols of the six medallions from Ocarina of Time. They made their final appearance in the game when the Mirror of Twilight was fixed. They revealed to Link that Midna is the Twilight Princess.
The Golden Goddesses
The three Golden Goddesses are responsible for the creation of Hyrule, its physics, and its life, as well as the creation of the Triforce, which houses a fraction of their divine power.
Din
Din is the Goddess of Power, who created and sculpted the firmament of Hyrule. She is associated with the color red, mountains, the elements of fire, and the cyclic change seasons. The fragment of the Triforce imbued with her power is known as the Triforce of Power.
In Ocarina of Time, Link can obtain the magic spell Din's Fire,which creates an expanding globe of fire that will set nearby enemies and torches alight. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, a modified version of Din's Fire is used by Princess Zelda. The attack consists of Zelda throwing a ball of fire, the path of which she can control from a distance.
Din's goddess statue in The Wind Waker resembles Din, the Oracle of Seasons, who is also named after her.
The oracle Din, from Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, and the Light Spirit Eldin, from Twilight Princess, are both named after Din.
Farore
Farore is the Goddess of Courage, and the creator of all life that inhabits the realm of Hyrule. She is associated with the color green, forests, and the element of wind. The fragment of the Triforce imbued with her power is known as the Triforce of Courage.
In Ocarina of Time, Link can obtain the magic spell Farore's Wind, named after her. It allows Link to create warp points, so that when he exits a dungeon, he may return to where the warp point was made. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, a modified version of Farore's Wind is used by Princess Zelda. The attack consists of Zelda shrouding herself in green-tinted wind and teleporting a good distance away.
Farore's goddess statue in The Wind Waker resembles Farore, the Oracle of Secrets, who is also named after her.
The oracle Farore, from Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, and the Light Spirits Ordona and Faron, from Twilight Princess, are all named after Farore.
Nayru
Nayru is the Goddess of Wisdom, and set in place the physical laws of the realm of Hyrule. She is associated with the color blue and the elements of water and time. The fragment of the Triforce imbued with her power is known as the Triforce of Wisdom.
In Ocarina of Time, Link can obtain the magic spell Nayru's Love, named after her. It consists of creating a crystal layer around the user that prevents them from receiving damage from enemy attacks. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, a modified version of Nayru's Love is used by Princess Zelda. The attack consists of Zelda shrouding herself in a crystal for a split second, allowing her to reduce or reflect enemy attacks. She can also use this move offensively.
Nayru's goddess statue in The Wind Waker resembles Nayru, the Oracle of Ages, who is also named after her.
The oracle Nayru, from Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, and the Light Spirit Lanayru, from Twilight Princess, are both named after Nayru.
Tingle
Tingle (チンクル, Chinkuru) debuted in Majora's Mask. Since then, he has been a recurring character in The Legend of Zelda series, taking part in most games and even starring in two video games, titled Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland and Tingle's Balloon Fight. He is a short, paunchy 35-year-old man who is obsessed with "forest fairies" and dresses up in a green costume with tight red shorts and a necklace with a clock that is permanently stuck at four o'clock. Tingle is normally seen floating around on his red balloon, drawing and selling maps for his father, who sees him as a fool. In Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland, he is shown to sell his maps due to a need for Rupees to survive, although it is unclear if this is the case in other games in the series.
Tingle's Siblings
Ankle
Ankle is Tingle's younger brother and Knuckle's twin. In The Wind Waker, he is found turning the grinding wheel at Tingle Tower with David Jr.. The reason he does so much work is to support his brother, Knuckle. He also had a love of gardening. He also makes a small appearance in Four Swords Adventures, and later in The Minish Cap, where he fuses Kinstones behind Lon Lon Ranch.
David Jr.
Although identical to Tingle and his brothers, David Jr. is actually a normal person from Windfall Island. After getting shipwrecked on Tingle Island, he was set to work to turn the wheel. Unenthusiastic about his role, he does it anyway, although he is prone to complaining. He also makes a small appearance in Four Swords Adventures, and later in The Minish Cap, where he fuses Kinstones in Lake Hylia. When reading his inscription in the Nintendo Gallery, it infers that his father was the one who made the ghost ship chart, but died immediately after doing so.
Knuckle
Knuckle is a brother of Tingle and Ankle's twin. In The Wind Waker, he is largely a side-quest character, requiring use of the Tingle Tuner to find. By doing so, Link can gain the Hand-Me-Down Tuner which has more options. He also makes a small appearance in Four Swords Adventures and later in The Minish Cap where he fuses Kinstones in the Trilby Highlands.
Twinrova
Kotake (コタケ) and Koume (コウメ, Kōme), collectively referred to as the Twinrova Sisters (双生魔術師ツインローバ, Sōseimajutsushi Tsuinrōba, lit. "Twin Magicians Twinrova"), are a pair of Gerudo witches who play an important role in a few games in the series. They are both the surrogate mothers of the Gerudo King, Ganondorf, being somewhat his more devoted servants. They can brainwash others to serve Ganondorf (they do so to Nabooru in the Spirit Temple of Ocarina of Time) and merge to form the stronger witch "Twinrova", where their combined power is much deadlier. The brooms the sisters use to fly become scepters Twinrova performs her spells with. In Majora's Mask, however, the two sisters play a much more benevolent role in the swamps. Link must rescue one of the sisters in the Mystery Woods, the equivalent in Termina to the Lost Woods of Hyrule, with the aid of a monkey and a potion. He then receives a free boat tour of the swamp, the boat destroying the large Octoroks blocking the caves which allow passage to the swamp's far side.
Vaati
Vaati (グフー, Gufū), the Wind Mage, is the main antagonist of Four Swords, The Minish Cap and Four Swords Adventures. His most common appearance is a black orb with a single eye. Before the events of The Minish Cap, Vaati was a Minish that became corrupted by the evil in the hearts of mankind. He used the Wishing Cap created by his master, Ezlo, to transform himself into a Hylian sorcerer, and in the game he begins seeking out the power of the Light Force. As part of his search, he changes Zelda into stone to prevent her interfering with his efforts to find the Light Force. He eventually learns that the Light Force resides within her, and starts to draw it out. Once confronted by Link, Vaati uses what power he has obtained to transform into a greater sorcerer. Once defeated, Vaati is forced to assume the forms of two one-eyed demonic beings, is ultimately dispelled, and later sealed into the Four Sword. In the manga, Vaati realises his mistakes and turns good at the end.
In Four Swords, the seal on the sword is weakening, so a later Princess Zelda goes to repair it, taking Link as her bodyguard. Vaati manages to break free and kidnaps Zelda with the intention of forcing her to marry him. Link draws the Four Sword and eventually seals Vaati with it, rescuing Zelda. In the sequel, Four Swords Adventures, the seal is once again weakening, so Zelda and the other Shrine Maidens go to repair it, and again take Link as protection. However, they are attacked and kidnapped by Dark Link, sent by Ganon to force Link into drawing the Four Sword and releasing Vaati. Once Link reaches Vaati at the top of the Tower of the Heavens, he apparently destroys him, though it is revealed that Ganon was only using him as a distraction.
References
- ^ Nintendo (January 1, 2006). ""Great Fairies" at the official "Great Hyrule Encyclopedia"". Zelda Universe. Retrieved 2007-06-26.
- ^ CAHowell (August 30, 2003). "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker: Nintendo Gallery Script FAQ". GameFAQS. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
- ^ Nintendo (January 1, 2006). "The Great Hyrule Encyclopedia - Malon". Zelda Universe. Retrieved 2007-06-09.
- ^ For example, Darunia tells Link he is going to fight Volvagia to the death while Link saves the other Gorons, but when Link arrives at Volvagia's chamber, Volvagia is still alive and Darunia is nowhere to be seen. Also, Link is forced to defeat a brainwashed Nabooru, and both Nabooru and Ruto imply that their affections for Link cannot be consummated in their current state.
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