When one isn’t adventuring in the wilds, the residential outposts of Hyrule – whether a village, a stable, or even the sheltering branches of a giant tree – offer a respite from the constant danger and anxiety brought on by enemies and, all too often, the elements as well. There’s shopping for clothing and groceries to be done, talking to the denizens to enter into side quests, cookpots to make Link’s dinner, and welcoming inns to restore one’s health and pass the time (check-out time can be morning, afternoon, or even night).
The first settlement you’ll likely enter is Kakariko Village. We say likely, although it’s all but certain unless you’ve taken a side trip to Hateno before, or you’re a freak of gaming nature who treks to the Yiga Clan Hideout instead. In the latter case, we’ll see you on the other side, and we’ll thank you not to make fun of us en route.
As you’ll know by now, Kakariko is home to Impa, the Sheikah elder who sets Link on various tasks and crusades.
Pikango the traveling painter is also found here, and he guides Link to Great Fairy Cotera’s home. Completion of Pikango’s Find the Fairy Fountain side quest is one part of a triad that unlocks the Lakna Rohee shrine, the second shrine near Kakariko Village.
To access Lakna Rohee, Link must also return a flock of missing cuccos (Hyrulean for chickens) in the Flown the Coop side quest. This mission is triggered by talking to Cado, who is a guard at Impa’s house. He takes his lunch hour at a cucco coop, bemoaning the loss of his beloved birds, which to anyone else are annoying in the extreme.
Zelder Tip: We experienced a lag from the time of our return of the final cucco to Cado’s recognition of that fact. If you’re certain you’ve returned all the missing birds, don’t run around Kakariko with your Sheikah sensor set to cucco; it will only return you to the coop. (Not that we did this.) (We surely did this.) Wait a bit, and then chat up Cado again to complete the quest.
The last of the triad is By Firefly’s Light. Talk to Lasli in her house sometime after 10 pm. Really, just walk on in; no one locks their house in Hyrule. She’ll be very sad about the dearth of fireflies in her life. Well, aren’t we all. You can collect them with relative ease, however. Once you’ve released five of them in Lasli’s house, check that quest off your list.
After the three mini-quests are complete, report in to our old friend Impa. (This is the sort of situation in which Itzal is prone to exclaim, “Who figures these things out without help? Who would know to go back to her?” It’s not that Impa won’t give you directions – she’s quite good at dispensing advice – it’s the knowing to visit her after you’ve gathered fireflies and chickens that is head-scratching.)
We found this next section awkward at best, and honestly kind of disturbing. Impa wants you to spend the night watching over her granddaughter, Paya, who’s nervous over the theft of a treasured heirloom. (Cue the recurring theme: people in Hyrule are always losing precious belongings. Begs the question of whether they mightn’t be more vigilant.) Paya is apparently also crushing on Link, but at the same time, she’s unnerved about his presence in her bedchamber. (We’re rather more concerned about grandma’s insistence that Link stay the night.) Nonetheless, awkward moments aside, Link must do so.
The next step in the Stolen Heirloom quest involves Link sneaking around behind another Kakariko citizen, a poor chap named Dorian – no relation to Mr. Gray of the same name – whose wife was murdered by a member of the Yiga clan, although one of his young daughters is in denial about that (enabled by Dorian’s inability to tell her the truth), while the other one cooks to forget her grief. Somehow, this subplot is one of the saddest and creepiest in BOTW.
Anyhow. With Link tiptoeing along behind, Dorian will lead him to the future site of the Lakna Rohee blessing shrine. It’s a blessing! The only thing our hero must do first is defeat a Yiga Blademaster. Argh. (Itzal shouts, “Who does all the fighting?!”)
Perhaps some shopping in Kakariko instead? There’s High Spirits Produce, where Link can fill his pantry with Bokoblin guts, swift carrots, bird eggs, and butter. Now there’s a combination we’d hate to see in a dish. Who is in charge of inventory at this shop?
There’s also an arrow store in Kakariko, called the Curious Quiver, which sounds sort of Harry Potterish to us. Here you can find ordinary arrows and fire arrows. No wizards in evidence, however.
And finally, there’s a clothing store, prettily named Enchanted, where Link may purchase the Hylian set of armor – relatively cheap and easy to upgrade, but no set bonus – or the Sheikah set, which provides Link with a stealth buff. When all three Sheikah pieces have been upgraded twice, Link has the ability not only to be sneaky but also to run faster at night. It’ll cost you dear, however: 1800 rupees for the set, then materials for the upgrades. That’s a lot of restless crickets gathered and sold.
Maybe that Yiga Blademaster is looking easier, after all.