When last we left our valiant hero, Link, he faced a crossroads, perhaps literally – we don’t have the map of Hyrule memorized – but certainly figuratively. After successfully ending his isolation on the plateau, he had a new set of quests in his adventure log: Destroy Ganon (“Hard pass,” snapped Itzal) and Seek Out Impa (recommended by King Rhoam, aka the Old Man). Well then! Seek Out Impa it is.
After setting our quest-o-meter (not its actual name, use your Sheikah Slate, people), we meandered in the general direction of the yellow dot that had appeared on the map, stopping first to open another tower, that of Dueling Peaks.
Zelder Tip #1: Although there are a few enemies along the way, Dueling Peaks is simple to activate; one has only to climb. Coming towers will not always be so easy, so enjoy this one.
A Word (or Two, or Several) with Impa
After a brief stop to open Ha Dahamar shrine and visit the Dueling Peaks Stable, in due course our rambles took us to Kakariko Village, where we met up with Impa. Yes, we realize we’re glossing over a lot in between, like meeting traveling salesmen, arguing about whether to ride wild horses, and chatting with Hestu – but we will talk about all those things eventually.
Impa has a lot to say. So does nearly everyone in Hyrule: When they aren’t beseeching Link to save the kingdom or locate a missing cake recipe – such tasks being apparently of similar importance – they’re lecturing him on the Great Calamity and his lack of memory of same. But Impa’s particularly talky. Indeed, we chuckled to learn that Impa’s name is derivative of the verb impart, because she does enjoy a good imparting.
At the end of Impa’s (first) history lesson, she sends Link to someone else who will also have plenty to say: Purah, a short and sprightly Sheikah at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab, which is located, cleverly enough, near Hateno Village.
A Youthful Elder
It seems that Link’s Sheikah slate isn’t quite in working condition. (Really, what does one expect after 100 years?) Purah’s willing to fix the slate, but before she can, she’ll need Link to light the furnace outside the Tech Lab, which will in turn power the Guidance Stone she requires to make the necessary repairs. To get fire to the tech lab, you must visit the Ancient Furnace in Hateno Village, light a torch with the blue fire, and – occasionally igniting other lamps along the way to preserve the flame, especially if it starts to rain – carry the flame back to the lab’s furnace.
Zelder Tip #2: Once we found the Ancient Furnace, we looked around, expecting to see a torch propped up against a wall. Generally in BOTW, when you need a torch, there’s one right there. But lo, none to be found in this instance. However, we had a couple Boko clubs and a soup ladle, and who knew? Boko clubs and soup ladles work perfectly fine as torches, although they burn up if you don’t periodically put them away to douse the flame.
Embarrassed Zelder Tip #3: Don’t set yourself afire while igniting the Hateno Tech Lab furnace, as we did.
Chagrined Zelder Tip #4: There’s, ahem, a torch next to the door inside the Hateno Tech Lab. We noticed it as we were leaving the lab after losing a Boko club and soup ladle to the blue fires of Hateno.
So – Purah and her assistant Symin fixed the slate, loaded up a new Camera rune, a photo album, and a compendium in which to record photos of the flora and fauna of Hyrule. She also offered us upgrades to our existing runes. And if you have the requisite Ancient screws, shafts, and cores, she’ll do the same for you, adding a + to whichever rune you choose to upgrade. (Zelder Tip #5: Ancient parts can be found by examining dead Guardians – there are a few near the Temple of Time – or defeating live ones. You can also buy them from Teli the traveling salesman, who runs along the road just outside Hateno during regular office hours.)
About that album: It comes with a collection of photos already installed. Purah counsels Link to seek out Impa again, this time to discuss these photos.
And, heigh-ho, it’s back to Kakariko we go.
Impa asserts that the photos in the album are none other than Princess Zelda’s, and Link may have been there when they were snapped. Thus, if Link visits the locations where the photos were taken, it may jog his gone-missing memory. Now, does she tell Link where to find these photo shoots, which would be immensely helpful? No, she does not. It’s left to Link (you) to wander around searching, unless you have the foresight or the dumb luck to run into Pikango the traveling painter. You don’t have to locate the so-called Captured Memories immediately, and you don’t have to find them all at once. But there’s real value to recovering at least one memory right away.
Zelder Tip #6, which is a real spoiler, but one that Pikango will also offer: Head to Lanayru Road, East Gate. It’s close. Just don’t go past the East Gate. There’s a nasty Lynel there. (Is nasty Lynel redundant?) At the East Gate, you should see a shining light . . . go toward the light, Link. And that’s your first memory.
And, now, for the day’s rewards…
Feeling like a ping pong ball, return to Impa again. Instead of more lecturing – okay, okay, there is some lecturing and dispensing of history – this time, she’ll offer Link something to replace the Old Shirt he’s been wearing since at least the Isolated Plateau, and possibly even a hundred years ago. The Champion’s Tunic quickly became our favorite piece of attire, as it signals the location (and health, aka danger) of nearby enemies.
But, you ask, what am I drinking on this day of feeling like a ping pong ball? Thank you for the question!
Our guide through much of today’s play is Impa, a Sheikah elder estimated to be 120 years old (give or take). She certainly has a lot of history to support that claim. On the other end of the spectrum – at least in appearance – is Purah. But Purah is actually older than Impa, for all that she appears to be a youngster. We rudely read her diary, wherein she chronicles an anti-aging experiment, hoping to find instructions to the fountain of her youth, but we were unsuccessful in rolling back time for ourselves. However, in honor of both Purah’s and Impa’s venerable age, we suggest a classic cocktail, the Old Fashioned.
Looking for more to do in Kakariko?