Unveiling the Timeless Connection: Rauru's Role in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Ocarina of Time

Highlights

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom continues where Breath of the Wild left off, with Link and Zelda on a mission to save a missing Princess.

Introducing a character named King Rauru, the game establishes a connection with Ocarina of Time, where a prominent character shares the same name. The Temple of Time in Breath of the Wild and the medallion worn by King Rauru in Tears of the Kingdom also hint at a potential link, though the precise nature of their connection remains uncertain.

The latest installment in The Legend of Zelda series is titled "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom." This game follows the events of its predecessor, "Breath of the Wild," where the main characters, Link and Zelda, come across the Demon King Ganondorf who has escaped from his imprisonment beneath Hyrule Castle. After this encounter, Link finds himself with a mysterious new arm, a damaged Master Sword, and a mission to rescue the missing Princess.

As the story progresses in "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom," it is revealed that Link's new arm previously belonged to King Rauru, a Zonai king who married the Hylian Sonia and established the Kingdom of Hyrule. Both King Rauru and Sonia play significant roles in this game, especially through the Dragon's Tears memories. Fans may recognize the name Rauru from his prominent appearance in "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time."

The Use of the Name Rauru in the History of The Legend of Zelda

The Sage of Light named Rauru has appeared before in the history of the Kingdom. The game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time also featured the sealing of Ganondorf with the assistance of the Sages, with Rauru specifically seeking out Link for help. In Ocarina of Time, Rauru was known for constructing the Temple of Time, inspired by Link's time travel experiences in Skyward Sword.

Interestingly, there is also a town named Rauru in The Adventure of Link, suggesting a deliberate connection between the two Sages rather than a mere coincidence in Hyrulian history. King Rauru, in particular, wears a medallion that strangely resembles the face of Ocarina of Time's Rauru. When King Rauru's medallion is turned upside down, it takes on the shape of Kaepora Gaebora, the other Sage of Light in owl form. However, the exact nature of their connection remains unclear at present.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's Vague Place in Hyrule's History

The name "Rauru" in the Zelda universe is commonly associated with the Tears of the Kingdom's medallion, which resembles the Sage of Light. However, the connection between the two is unclear as the timeline placement of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom has not been determined.

Considering that King Rauru and Queen Sonia mark the beginning of the Kingdom of Hyrule, it is likely that the Zonai Rauru predates the humanoid Rauru who constructed the Temple of Time. Despite sacrificing himself to seal Ganondorf beneath Hyrule Castle, Rauru's spirit lives on and communicates with Link after he awakens. It is possible that Rauru also reincarnated as the Sage of Light in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time while defending his kingdom.

The ruins of the Temple of Time in Hyrule, featured in Breath of the Wild, provide ample opportunity for this theory. However, fans will have to wait for Nintendo to update the official Legend of Zelda timeline to confirm. Regardless of the connection between the two Sages of Light, the use of the name is a wonderful homage to previous Zelda games that many fans are sure to appreciate, just as they do with other nods to continuity between BOTW and TOTK.

You can now play The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on Nintendo Switch.