The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Difference between revisions

The history of [[Hyrule#Breath of the Wild|Hyrule]] is closely intertwined with the history of the appearances of [[Ganon]] over the ages. The beast was known to have been turned back repeatedly through tales and legends told of a warrior with the hero's spirit and the princess who carried the blood of the goddess.

The legend told is that ten thousand years prior, the land of Hyrule had become very technologically advanced - so much so that fierce monsters were considered little threat. The Hylians crafted technological marvels to ensure the kingdom's safety if Ganon was ever to return. Among these technical marvels was a legion of autonomous [[Guardian|Guardians]] and four [[Divine Beasts]]. The Divine Beasts were piloted by four individuals of exceptional skill from across Hyrule, known as [[Champions]].  

Upon Ganon's return, the princess of Hyrule and the hero fought with the other champions and their Divine Beasts against Ganon. The Guardians protected the hero while the Divine Beasts lay seige upon Ganon, until the hero could unleash his final blow and allow the princess to use her sacred power to seal away the beast.

One hundred years prior, a prophecy warned that the signs of Calamity Ganon's return would be clear, told that the power needed to oppose him lay dormant beneath the ground. This prophecy, combined with the tales from the legends of old, prompted [[Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule|King Rhoam]] and his kingdom to begin excavating the earth. The ancient Guardians and the four Divine Beasts were discovered again, at which point King Rhoam realized that they were set upon the same path as their ancestors as told in the legends.

Zelda conducts a ceremony to appoint Link as her appointed knight, attended by the four other Champions. During the ceremony, Zelda has a hesitant and insecure attitude, which the Champions readily observe and interpret as the princess's melancholy jealousy of Link's ability to fulfull his destiny as the hero. A short time later, as Zelda and Link are traveling to Goron City to make adjustments to one of the Divine Beasts, Zelda shows fascination and enthusiasm for the experimentation with the ancient technology. Again, however, her insecurity regarding her inability to fulfull her destiny shows through as she speaks to Link. Zelda's fascination with the ancient technology becomes even more apparent as she is later seen attempting to gain access to a Shrine of Trials as Link arrives to escort her. She lashes out at Link in frustration, but returns with him nevertheless.

As Zelda and Link continue to travel throughout Hyrule to inspect and make adjustments to the Divine Beasts, Zelda is attacked by three members of the Yiga Clan. Link returns at the last possible second to rescue Zelda from their assault, after which Zelda begins to recognize her bond with Link as her protector. Then, while traveling in the Eldin region, Link repels an attack from numerous monsters - but not without sustaining injuries to himself. Zelda recognizes that not only have attacks have become more frequent, but that monsters have gotten more intense as well. She recognizes these events as premonitions to the imminent return of Ganon.

Taking shelter under a large tree during a storm, Zelda watches Link as he practices with the Master Sword - remarking that his devotion to his role is admirable. She then expresses how she feels as though she was born into a role and set onto a path she may not be able to follow.

At [[Hyrule Castle#Breath of the Wild|Hyrule Castle]], Zelda takes a moment to observe the progress of experiments with the Guardians, noting that the Hylian researchers are now able to control them. Suddently King Rhoam appears and scolds Zelda for spending so much time distracted by the ancient technology in lieu of training to unlock the sealing power. She explains her failings at unlocking the power after having prayed at the Spring of Courage, yet he forbids Zelda from having anything further to do with the ancient machines and to focus solely on her training. Zelda then proceeds to pray at the Spring of Power, however her powers remain dormant and her frustrations become even more apparent.

The day before her seventeenth birthday, Zelda speaks to Link about the final ceremony at the Spring of Wisdom on Mount Lanayru. She hopes that praying at the final Spring will awaken the power within her, but openly expresses her resignation to the fact that she may never receive the power. The next day, she and Link are seen by the four Champions returning from the summit as they realize she has again been unsuccessful in her attempt to awaken her power. As the Champions express consolation over her failure and optimism that her power will be triggered by something, the earth begins to shake and Ganon suddenly is seen encircling Hyrule Castle. The Champions head to their respective Divine Beasts and Link and Zelda make their way to the castle.

To the surprise of all, Ganon cunningly seized control of the Guardians and Divine Beasts, and turned them against their commanders. Zelda and Link escaped the castle in exhaustion, but not before the four Champions and all those inside the castle, including King Rhoam, lost their lives. As Zelda and Link retreat, Zelda laments to Link about how her failure to unlock the goddess's sealing power cost them their only chance to defeat Ganon, leaving her friends dead and the kingdom in ruin.  

As the relentless seige of the Guardians continues, Link reaches the critical point of physical abuse in his defense of Zelda and collapses to his knees. Zelda urges Link to save himself and run away as more Guardians approach, but Link finds the strength to stand one more time in defense of his princess. At this moment, Zelda selflessly stands between a Guardian and Link in a futile attempt to save his life as it prepares to attack him. Suddenly a glowing white light begins to emanate from her raised right hand and destroys the Guardians in her vicinity. Realizing she has finally unlocked the Goddess's sealing power, she turns to Link who has collapsed on the ground behind her. She holds Link in her arms as he passes out from his wounds and exhaustion, then sees the Master Sword begin to pulsate with a gentle glow. Hearing the call of the spirit of the [[Master Sword#Breath of the Wild|Master Sword]], she realizes that Link can still be saved. Seconds later, two members of the [[Sheikah]] Tribe arrive to help Zelda, but she immediately orders them to take Link to the [[Shrine of Resurrection]].

Zelda takes the Master Sword to the [[Korok Forest]] and drives it into its pedestal in front of the Great Deku Tree. She realizes that Link's Slumber of Restoration will deprive him of his memories, but is confident that he will return for the sword after his awakening. At this point, Zelda informs the Deku Tree that she has more to do, then heads back to Hyrule Castle to use the sealing power to contain Calamity Ganon within the castle until Link's return.

A century after the return of Calamity Ganon and the deaths of the Champions and King Rhoam, Link awakens from his slumber in the Shrine of Resurrection to a mysterious voice, not knowing who or where he is. Waking up and finding a strange device nearby, the Sheikah Slate used by Princess Zelda herself 100 years prior, walsk out onto the [[Great Plateau]] to meets an [[Old Man#Breath of the Wild|Old Man]]. The voice Link hears instructs him to proceed to a point on the map on his Sheikah Slate. Upon arriving at this point, Link activates one of the ancient Sheikah Towers, which simultaneously activates all towers across Hyrule as well as the many Shrines of Resurrection.  

Upon seeing this, the old man tasks Link with accessing the four Shrines of Resurrection on the Plateau to obtain the treasures inside. Inside these shrines, Link obtains [[Spirit Orb|Spirit Orbs]] and activates several runes on the Sheikah Slate, granting him abilities to freeze objects in time ([[Stasis]]), manipulate metallic items ([[Magnesis]]), create and smash ice blocks ([[Cryonis]]), and use bombs ([[Remote Bomb]]).  

The old man then tells Link that he is actually the spirit of King Rhoam from 100 years ago. He details the events of 100 years prior, including the discovery of the ancient relics, return of Calamity Ganon, and fact that Link is the revitalized knight who valiantly fell in battle defending the princess. He tells Link that Princess Zelda is the one who has been calling out to him, and that she has been gradually losing her power to contain Ganon within the castle. He warns that soon Zelda's power will be exhausted, after which Ganon will be free to regenerate and consume the land of Hyrule unopposed. With instructions to head to Kakariko Village to meet Impa, Link sets out on his journey to regain his memories and re-harness control and support of the Divine Beasts in his new quest to defeat Ganon.

After hearing more details about the 10,000 year old legend and events of 100 years prior from Impa in Kakariko Village, Link frees the spirits of the four Champions and obtains the unique abilities each possessed as an aid to his quest. Link also meets Purah and Robbie who help him enhance the runes on his Sheikah Slate and create ancient equipment to aid him in battle against the Guardians.

With the four Divine Beasts taking aim at Hyrule Castle, Link then proceeded to Hyrule Castle to battle the Calamity Ganon once more, freeing Princess Zelda, rescuing Hyrule, and fulfilling their destinies as Hyrule's protectors. Afterwards, the two set out to rebuild Hyrule to its former glory.