Town of Rauru

A few paces from the North Palace we encounter our first town: Rauru.  One of the interesting things of this game that shows up in sequels is quite subtle: the sages from Ocarina of Time are named for the towns of this game with a few exceptions (for obvious reasons, things cannot be linear from one point of the timeline to another).  One way or another, the town of Rauru introduces the element of the non-player character to the Zelda series and forever deepens the series along this level.  As opposed to its predecessor, where you wandered around a monster-infested over-world searching for monster-infested underworlds...the over world has random encounters with enemies and towns dot the landscape, giving evidence that Hyrule is actually a kingdom of people, not just trees.  However, like any video-game NPCs, these characters are blisfully unaware of their surroundings and only tell Link about his immediate dangers...IF they concern themselves as well.  After all, isn't the hero supposed to be helping them?  To hell with Zelda, after all! : )

Link visits the town "healer".

One of the best NPCs in this game, and one that you visit constantly because of this game's difficulty, is the town whore.  It's very subtle, but all of us with even one tenth of an imagination can tell what is happening after the door is closed.  A young woman in a striking red dress (first hint) invites Link into her home so that she can "help him" and beckons him to come inside her home (second hint).  After the door has closed behind the two naughties, she reveals "directly" what she is going to do..."I can refill your life."  A few moments later, and after your life meter has refilled a bit, Link emerges from the house...and the girl does not emerge until several moments later (final hint).  They definitely were doing something more than just drinking potions, methinks.  But hey, I guess even heroes need sexual amusement.  What's more amusing is that there is one of these in each town of the game, and as well, there is an old crone who refills your magic in much the same manner.  Now that one is...disturbing.

I don't see what the big deal is...heroes need some fun and relaxation too!  Helps us function.

Link learns "Shield"

In addition to the town's healer, the game also features a wise man in each town.  His purpose is far more direct and has more longevity in its benefit to us (as opposed to the information other NPCs provide and the health or magic refill that the healers provide).  These wise men are, once we meet satisfactory conditions in our magic level/number of magic containers; intended to teach us the spells that will make it easier to traverse the Hylian landscape/palaces (and in some cases, make us able to finish the game at all).  While learning the entire spell list isn't necessary, every spell that you learn proves invaluable to completing your quest (and there are some that you cannot complete the quest without, such as Jump, Fairy and Thunder).  One way or another, the old man in Rauru teaches you a great spell for the beginning of the game called Shield.  What this does is an effect like the blue ring in Zelda I (and incidentally, the spell turns you red like the red ring) and you take half-damage for the entire screen in which you cast the spell.  This spell is vital as it improves Link's survivability and in this action-packed adventure, he needs all the help he can get.

Magic?!  I'm no spellcaster...but I guess I shall try it out.  I rather like surviving, better than the alternative.


This old man, sometimes like others and like a few key NPCs in the town of Rauru, point you in the direction of where to continue your quest: Parapa Desert, where you'll find the first palace.  Well, you know, there was that huge desert north of this area; I wonder if that's it.  A little more grinding around Rauru and the North Palace and Link is ready to take on his first palace.