Task 6: Restore Warmth to Zora's Domain

The Cold Shoulder in Zora’s Domain

After some scrabbling in the dirt for hidden items, you can investigate the spirit of a woman near the sign for her business, which advertises boat rentals to get from here to Lake Hylia. No wonder she seems so upset—there’s no water in the river. Her name is Iza, and she’s cold, fed up with the Zoras and their water siphoning, and wants to know what’s going on.

Iza: In her 30s, Iza is the eldest of three children. Coro and Hena are her siblings. She runs a boat rental shop in the usually wild rapids of the Upper Zora’s River. She is frank and open-hearted but is rather gruff.

There’s little you can do except leap into the dry riverbed from your current location. There’s some evidence of ice in the riverbed and two Bomb Rocks (one in the southern area, and the other in the middle part) in the area. The bed seems to get more icy as you head west.

Head past three thin rocks protruding from the icy riverbed, and continue to run toward the giant ice structure in the middle of this huge cavern. At the base of the ice structure, shatter a little ice for Hearts and gnaw on a few Twilit Keese.

When you’re done exploring the structure’s base, find the snowy ramp. Midna says she can help you leap up to the next series of ledges. Jump six times, constantly holding down ZL for best results. Turn left as you reach the ledge.

Walk along the ledge heading west until a shard of ice smashes in front of you. Run and spin attack it, clearing it from your path. Then move around to this point, where Midna recommends you scale the rest of the structure.

Hold ZL, then leap and ascend the structure, which wobbles under your weight. Leap quickly the first three times, and you’ll narrowly miss a falling shard. Clamber back on, and stop as you reach the fifth total jump. Let the next shard drop, then make your sixth leap. Grab and hold that next ledge!

After another four leaps, you make it to the top of the icy tower. Dispatch a couple of Twilit Keese and maneuver around the icy tundra. There’s a rock blocking a path sloping down in the northwestern part of this area.

Warp Portal Three Twilit Messengers from the world of shadows await your tooth and claw. Head for the Twilit Messenger and bite him or use Midna’s area attack. Then trot around the energy fence to where the other two Twilit Messengers are. Position yourself so you can strike them in one energy circle, and let rip. This battle may take multiple attempts to perfect, as your area attack is stopped if you hit any wall during the takedown. Make sure you’re away from walls when you launch this technique.a

A warp portal opens above you. At the same time, you peer down into the ice; dozens of Zoras lie encased in this frozen pool. If only there was some way of melting it…perhaps with a giant molten shard. Hold on…

Missing Links

1. Grass Slicing and Dirt Digging

You can find many areas where grass and dirt can be disturbed:

• Grass: Just north of the landing spot (Rupees)
• Grass: Southeast area, just off the promontory (Rupees)
• Crates: Just right of where Iza is sitting, by the side of the boathouse (Rupees and Heart)
• Dig spots: In the same area as the crates, near the side of the building (Hearts)
• Dig spot: Behind the sign, next to Iza

2. Smashing the Ice Stalagmites

There’s a couple of large, white ice stalagmites to the west on the riverbed; execute a spin attack when you’re near them and they shatter, sometimes giving you a Heart or a Rupee.

A Much Warmer Reception in Zora’s Domain

Bring up your map and warp to Death Mountain. Run to the molten shard stuck in the ground and contact Midna. She summons great strength and rips the shard from the ground. Warp back to Zora’s Domain. Midna drops the shard into the pool and water begins to flow down the river.

You can now reach the spirit cave and meet the spirit of the lake! Spend a few moments listening to the Zoras as they recover from their forced slumber. They’re coughing, murmuring, and wanting to know if their friends in the waterfall pool are okay. Head south.

As you prepare to leave, a voice tells you to stop. Someone can see you. A slender and tall Zora appears in a ghostly pallor. She is Rutela, leader of the tribe. The dark ones executed her, and she sent her son Ralis to warn Princess Zelda. He grows weak. She urges you to help him. If you do, Rutela will bestow the protection of water on you.

Rutela: When alive, she was between 20 and 30 years old. She and her king were executed by the mad King of Shadows, named Zant, and her tribe was frozen in a deep, difficult-to-reach pool in the northern province that shares the tribe’s name. She is ethereal and elegant, and seeks help for her son.

Follow Midna’s advice and try to head back to Lake Hylia from this point. Swim along the gushing channel and then leap from a promontory, or over the waterfall; you land in the waterfall pool below and are swept downstream. You awaken at the foot of the cave to the spring of the Spirit Lanayru. Enter.

Missing Links

1. Grassy Ledge, High above the Pool

After you speak with Rutela, but before you leap off the waterfall, check out the area to the west, where you spotted the rock blocking the path before. Crates (Rupees) and grass (Heart) are available now.

An Audience with the Spirit Lanayru: Fill the Vessel of Light

Once inside the spirit cave, advance forward and speak to Lanayru, the final Spirit of Light. “Collect my light and lift the final cloud of twilight that threatens to cover all of Hyrule!” the entity gasps. You’re given a familiar item with which to complete this task. There’s little else to do except leave (but first gather a few Rupees from the grass around this pool’s edge).

Vessel of Light

You got the Vessel of Light! Use this to collect the tears that cut through the darkness.