Link meets over 100 characters in the course of his quest. Some give him important items or clues; others add to the game’s atmosphere. A few even start out as adversaries, but Link’s courage and tenacity convert them!
Characters of the Great Sea
The following characters are found in Link’s adventures across the Great Sea. Some are found on small islands, and some are floating on the Great Sea. A few appear in several different places.
Beedle
Beedle runs Beedle’s Shop Ship, a traveling boatload of values that sails between several islands of the Great Sea. After acquiring the bombs from the pirates, Link gets Beedle’s Chart, which shows the sectors where Beedle’s Shop Ship appears. Beedle has some of the best prices in all the islands of the Great Sea, so shop with confidence! You can also sell Beedle unwanted items from Link’s Spoils Bag.
You can buy the Bait Bag, All-Purpose Bait, Hyoi Pears, bombs, arrows, and Red Potions from most of Beedle’s locations. If you catch him at Rock Spire Isle (B3), you can also buy a Piece of Heart, an Empty Bottle, and Treasure Chart #4! Beedle rewards frequent customers with a Silver Membership (which entitles you to the Complimentary ID) and a Gold Membership (which gets you the Fill-Up Coupon).
Fairy Queen
The Fairy Queen lives in the center of Mother & Child Isles (B2). The only way to visit her is to conduct the “Ballad of Gales” and warp there. Although she looks young, the Fairy Queen is one of the game’s oldest and wisest characters.
She will not reveal her true form to Link until he meets Princess Zelda for the first time. She then endows his Hero’s Bow with the ability to shoot Fire and Ice Arrows. Link can warp back to her Fairy Pond at any time to find smaller Fairies that help him recover his strength.
Great Fairies
In addition to the Fairy Queen, seven Great Fairies are scattered across the islands of the Great Sea. Six of the Great Fairies increase Link’s bomb-, arrow-, or Rupee-carrying capacity, and the seventh doubles the size of Link’s Magic Meter. You can find the Great Fairies at the following locations, and you can always return to them to find smaller Fairies that heal Link:
- Bomb Fairies: Eastern Fairy Island (E3), Southern Fairy Island (D6)
- Arrow Fairies: Western Fairy Island (A3), Thorned Fairy Island (G4)
- Rupee Fairies: Northern Fairy Island (C1), Outset Island (B7)
- Magic Meter Fairy: Two-Eye Reef (D7) (defeat the Big Octo)
King of Hyrule
Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule was the King of Hyrule, a legendary land that accepted a terrible fate at the hands of the gods to rid the land of a great evil. For generations, no one has seen or heard of its King, Hyrule, or its Princess, Zelda. The King of Hyrule plays an important role in the game, linking the events of The Wind Waker to those of Ocarina of Time.
King of Red Lions
The King of Red Lions is the only talking boat in the Great Sea. He arrives (without a sail) to aid Link in his quest to rescue Aryll, and he sticks around when Link’s true destiny is revealed. He is Link’s transportation from island to island and is Link’s most trusted adviser. The King of Red Lions speaks ancient Hylian and always has more information than he’s willing to reveal....
Fishman
Each of the Great Sea’s 49 islands has a little Fishman who jumps up from the sea near the island. Sail up to a Fishman and sprinkle some All-Purpose Bait on the water’s surface, and he’ll kindly chart the island on your Sea Chart and give you some helpful information. After you speak to an island’s local Fishman, you can bait him again to play an arrow-shooting minigame for Rupees.
Sometime in the past, the King of Red Lions aided these friendly fellows, which is why they’re so willing to help out Link.
Princess Zelda
Princess Zelda is heir to the long-lost land of Hyrule’s throne and the keeper of the Triforce of Wisdom, but no one knows exactly who or where she might be. If there is a young hero dressed in green and an archfiend named Ganon, you know that a Princess named Zelda is sure to appear sometime!
Tetra
Tetra is a main character in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. She’s strong-willed and bossy, but also has a soft spot for Link. When Link’s quest gets under way in earnest, Tetra is a devoted friend and ally, often putting herself and her crew in harm’s way to help Link.
Tetra inherited her ship and crew from her late mother and continues her mother’s quest for a legendary treasure hidden beneath the Great Sea’s surface. Tetra also has a secret, but we won’t spoil it for you!
Link
Link is a somewhat lazy boy from Outset Island. He lives there with his kindhearted grandma and his excitable sister, Ayrll. Though Link prefers to spend his time snoozing in the warm summer sun, he soon finds himself whisked into a world of danger and adventure when his sister Ayrll is kidnapped, and Link must quest to rescue her.
Tetra’s Pirates
Gonzo
Gonzo’s the tough-guy leader of the pirates, but he’s been known to cry at the drop of a hat.
Mako
Mako is the brains of the pirates’ operation. He’s usually mild-mannered, but he’s unstoppable when angry. Touching his glasses will set him off.
Niko
Niko is last in the pirates’ pecking order, so he’s overjoyed when Link joins up. Although it quickly becomes clear that Link is special, Niko doesn’t take it personally when Link has to leave them.
Nudge
Nudge is Tetra’s counselor. He’s stronger than Gonzo, but he loves sewing.
Senza
Senza keeps the ship shipshape. He’s also a persuasive speaker.
Zuko
Zuko’s keen eyes made him the ship’s watchman, but no one can understand his speech, so they’re never sure what he’s seen.
Tingle
Tingle’s fondest wish is to become a fairy. He thinks fairies wear green jumpsuits, which explains his bizarre fashion sense. Although he can get on your nerves, Tingle is one of Link’s most valuable allies.
Bust Tingle out of his cell on Windfall Island to get the Tingle Bottle, which allows you to send and receive messages in bottles with other players across the Great Sea (an Internet connection is required).
When looking for Triforce Charts and Triforce Shards, Tingle gives you the IN-credible Chart, which reveals their locations. He also deciphers the Triforce Charts that you find for 398 Rupees per chart. His help doesn’t come cheap, but no one else can do it!
Minor Characters of the Great Sea
Ankle
Ankle is Knuckle’s twin brother, and both are Tingle’s younger brothers. Ankle is more responsible and hard-working than his twin.
David Jr.
David Jr. embarked on a quest to recover the Ghost Ship’s treasure, just as his father did before him. One bad bout of seasickness led him in a daze to Tingle Island, and he’s regretted it ever since.
Fairy
Find Fairies in Fairy Fountains and hidden in pots. Touching one refills 10 of Link’s Heart Containers. They can also be captured in an Empty Bottle and saved for later!
Knuckle
Knuckle is another of Tingle’s younger brothers—he happens to be Ankle’s twin. He finished carving Tingle Tower when he was 10 years old. The head is his studio.
Loot
Loot is a robust sailor who fears only the Fishmen. He runs the Boating Course (F7) and spends his earnings at the Windfall Cafe.
Old Man Ho-Ho
Old Man Ho-Ho is on several of the islands of the Great Sea. He’s always looking at something interesting through his telescope. Maybe you should try looking through Link’s?
Salvage Corp.
Salvage Corp. has so far found only enough Rupees to buy their diving suits, but these treasure hunters never give up their dream of the big score! If you find them, speak to them, and they give you Treasure Chart #34.
Salvatore
A frustrated painter, Salvatore now runs the “Squid-Hunt” minigame on Windfall Island (D2) and the “Cannon” minigame on Spectacle Island (C2).
Traveling Merchants
There are three traveling Goron merchants, one on Greatfish Isle (B4), one on Bomb Island (F5), and one on Mother & Child Isles (B2). Trade items with these Gorons during the trading quest that begins on Windfall Island (D2) and ends with Link getting the Magic Armor and a Piece of Heart (p. 296).
Dragon Roost Island Characters
Dragon Roost Island (F2) is home to the Rito, a race of birdmen that serve as postmen for the islands of the Great Sea. The island gets its name because it is the Valoo’s home, the dragon that is the spirit of the skies. Each of the following characters is found on, is from, or has some connection to Dragon Roost Island.
Chieftain
The Rito Chieftain is the strongest and wisest Rito in the aerie, and his people love him. He finds it hard to balance his responsibilities as a stern leader and a caring father, but his son, Komali, is never far from his thoughts.
When Link inspires Komali by defeating the monster that sent Valoo into a rage, the Rito Chieftain thanks Link with a Piece of Heart.
Komali
The crown prince of the Rito, Komali is a boy when Link first meets him. Because of Valoo’s rage, Komali is unable to get a scale from the dragon and grow his adult wings, which has sent him into a spiral of self-pity. After Link calms Valoo down, Komali becomes Link’s greatest admirer. He also gives Link his most treasured possession, Din’s Pearl.
Later in the game, Komali earns his wings and matures into a noble young man who saves Link from an untimely demise in the Forsaken Fortress. With Link’s influence, Komali could turn into as great a leader as his father!
Laruto
Born in an area of Hyrule known as Zora’s Domain, Laruto long ago became the sage of the Earth Temple so the Master Sword would always retain its ability to repel evil. Ganon’s minions overwhelmed the Earth Temple and stole the Zora’s soul, weakening the Master Sword.
Laruto advises Link on how to find the new sage of the Earth Temple, Medli.
Medli
Medli attends the great Valoo and never gives less than her best effort. When Valoo begins to rage, Medli takes it upon herself to make the dangerous climb up Dragon Roost Cavern to talk to him. She feels responsible for Prince Komali and wants to see him grow into as fine a Rito as his father.
Medli is fated to become the next Earth Temple sage—a destiny foreshadowed by the treasured harp she carries on her back. During the Earth Temple quest, Medli is a controllable character.
- Pick up and carry Medli by pressing
near her. - While not carrying Medli, press
to call out and get her to follow you. - While carrying Medli, Link can fly by running and jumping off of ledges.
- Press
to throw Medli into the air, and she’ll gain altitude and fly for a short distance. - Press
to put Medli down, and she’ll remain in that spot until instructed to do otherwise. - Conduct the “Command Melody” (hold
for 4/4 tempo and then play 
, 
, 
, 
) to take control of Medli. Press 
to release control and return to Link. - While controlling Medli, make her fly by tapping
. She has limited stamina and drops to the ground when it is depleted. - While standing in sunlight, you can make Medli hold her harp in front of her by pressing #. Use
(or angle the Wii U GamePad) to aim the harp and reflect beams of light.
Quill
Quill is Outset Island’s postman. Link observes him through Aryll’s Telescope at the beginning of the game. Quill later persuades Tetra and the pirates to take Link with them.
This courageous Rito is an invaluable source of advice and help at several points in the game, including during Link’s quest for Nayru’s Pearl. He also makes a timely appearance during Link’s second visit to the Forsaken Fortress!
Valoo
Spirit of the skies and reason for the name of Dragon Roost Island, Valoo has protected the Rito for ages and is served by them in return. Young Rito visit Valoo when they come of age, and a single scale from the great dragon helps them grow a pair of mature wings. The ancient beast only speaks in the long-dead Hylian tongue, which only his assistant, Medli, understands.
As Ganon recovers his power, his minions invade the volcanic cavern inside Dragon Roost Island and harass Valoo, driving the dragon into a rage. After Link defeats the monsters of Dragon Roost Cavern, he restores sanity to Valoo.
Zephos and Cyclos
These lighthearted sibling deities control the winds, and Link finds monuments honoring them on Dragon Roost Island. Zephos teaches Link the “Wind’s Requiem” early in the adventure. This song allows Link to change the wind’s direction, opening all 49 sectors of the Great Sea for exploration.
Cyclos is upset that his monument has fallen into disrepair, and wreaks havoc on ships with his cyclones. If you have the Hero’s Bow, sail into a cyclone and shoot Cyclos with three arrows to calm him down. As a token of his respect for Link’s keen aim, Cyclos teaches him the “Ballad of Gales,” which allows him to warp between several points on the Sea Chart.
Minor Dragon Roost Island Characters
Baito
Baito, a homesick human, tries to fit in with the Rito and match Koboli’s mail-sorting speed, but he needs Link’s help. Aid him by mailing a letter to his mother, and she gives you a Piece of Heart!
Basht and Bisht
Their sincerity and honesty earned Basht and Bisht positions on Dragon Roost Island’s police force. They speak frankly to Link about events on the island.
Hoskit
Hoskit is always looking for the perfect present for his girlfriend. Give him 20 Golden Feathers, and his girlfriend will mail you a Piece of Heart!
Ilari
When things aren’t going his way, Ilari loses his cool. Most of the time, he’s pleasant (although he has trouble remembering faces).
Koboli
A descendant of a postman from ages past, Koboli is the Rito’s mail sorter. If you help him out, he rewards you with Rupees.
Kogoli
Kogoli is concerned about the state of Dragon Roost Island, but he’s never seen trying to improve it.
Namali
Namali is a perpetual worrywart.
Obli
Obli is obsessed with the Rito and dresses up as one when he can. He’s the elder of the two brothers who run the Bird-Man Contest on the Flight Control Platform (G2).
