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Template:Character Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule (pronounced /ˈdæf.nɛs noʊ.hæn.sɛn ˈhаɪ.ruːl/, DAF-nes noh-HAN-sen HEYE-rewl)[citation needed] is a prominent character in The Wind Waker.

Biography

Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule was once the king of Hyrule during the Era Without a Hero. When the goddesses unleashed the Great Flood, he chose to remain in Hyrule which was to be sealed by the goddesses at the bottom of the sea. He split the Triforce of Wisdom into two parts and instructed the Princess of that era to keep one piece and flee to the mountaintops with her servants.[1]

Hundreds of years later, Ganondorf managed to circumvent the Goddesses' seal and reach the surface of the Great Sea. In response, the Goddesses awakened the king from his seal, who assumed the form of a boat and rechristened himself as the King of Red Lions. In this new form, Daphnes began searching the Great Sea, looking for a hero to defeat Ganon and the descendant of the royal family.[2] After Link is captured by the Helmaroc King and thrown out to sea, the King of Red Lions rescues him and aids the young hero in his quest.

Kingtetra

The King revealing Tetra's secret

After Link fails to defeat Ganondorf in the Forsaken Fortress with the newly-obtained Master Sword,[3] he, along with the King of Red Lions and Tetra, retreat to the underwater vestige of Hyrule, where the King of Red Lions reveals his identity as the former King of Hyrule and that he magically operates the boat to guide Link.[4]

Daphnes reveals to Tetra that she is the heir to the kingdom of Hyrule by combining the two fragments of the Triforce of Wisdom, the one in his possession with the one in Tetra's necklace, restoring the Triforce of Wisdom which now dwelt within Zelda. He instructs Zelda to remain in Hyrule Castle to avoid detection from Ganondorf while he resumes his form as the King of Red Lions and proceeds to aid Link in his quest for restoring the evil-repelling power of the Master Sword.

File:King Daphnes Reaching Out.png

Daphnes reaching out to Link during his final moments

Daphnes later appears in-person during the final encounter with Ganondorf. After Ganondorf brings together all three pieces of the Triforce, Daphnes intervenes by using its power to flood what remains of his kingdom and give Link and Zelda a future.[5][6] In response to this, Ganondorf attacks Link and Princess Zelda,[7] intending to kill them.

Once Link and Zelda defeat Ganondorf, Daphnes laments to them his regret as he lived bound to the memory of Hyrule, comparing himself to Ganondorf in that regard. He goes on to encourage them to live for the future and not repeat his mistakes, ignoring Zelda's request to come with them and find a land to be the next Hyrule. As the kingdom floods, Link and Zelda are enclosed within bubbles and begin to ascend to the surface; the former attempts to reach out toward the king, who begins to raise his own hand to meet Link's. Though this seems to indicate the smallest desire to go with him, the king's hand ultimately falls to his side as he presumably drowns.

The King of Red Lions appears when Link is departing from Outset Island with Tetra and her ship, but it is completely lifeless, as the King himself has died.

The King can speak the ancient Hylian tongue, and often does so on Link's behalf, as the young hero cannot understand the language. However, in the Second Quest, these words are translated, though Link still cannot understand them.

Non-canon Appearances

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Daphnes Nohsanen Hyrule appears as a collectible Sticker in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Name Image Artwork from Effect in The Subspace Emissary Usable by
Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule File:Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule Sticker.png The Wind Waker [Electric] - Attack +31 This sticker is usable by Link, Zelda, Ganondorf, and Toon Link

Hyrule Warriors Series

King Daphnes makes his debut in the Nintendo 3DS port of Hyrule Warriors: Hyrule Warriors Legends. His fighting style shows him being able to transform into his boat form, while summoning waves to ram into enemies. Both versions of the game can be synchronized together, resulting in King Daphnes appearing as a playable character in the original Wii U version.

Theory

Theory Warning

The Original Wind Waker

The Wind Sage Fado mentions that it was the King of Hyrule who used to conduct the Sages using the Template:It; this, coupled with the fact that the Wind God Zephos refers to Link as the new Wind Waker when he first meets him, seems to suggest that Daphnes himself may have once held the same title, in the days before Hyrule was flooded.

Trivia

  • Rauru is similar to King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule both in appearance and in the fact that he is a wise man who aids Link in his quest.
  • Daphnes' wish came true when Tetra and Link founded the New Hyrule featured in Spirit Tracks.
  • King Daltus who appears in The Minish Cap bears a great resemblance to Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule.
  • Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule may be the first character in the Zelda series to have fully modeled expressions.
  • Judging by how he fades in and out of existence, Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule may merely be an apparition. He may also be grounded spiritually to Hyrule, as Link only meets him in person while in Hyrule.

Gallery

Video Gallery

Sail gameplay from Hyrule Warriors Legends

References

  1. Template:Cite book
  2. Template:Cite book
  3. "You cannot defeat me with a blade that does not sparkle with the power to repel evil! What you hold is useless." — Ganondorf (The Wind Waker)
  4. "And I am its king: Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule. Link, do you not recognize my voice? Indeed, I am the one who guided you here. I am the King of Red Lions." — Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule (The Wind Waker)
  5. "He who touches it will have whatever he desires granted... That is what you said, is it not, Ganondorf? Gods of the Triforce! Hear that which I desire! Hope! I desire hope for these children! Give them a future! Wash away this ancient land of Hyrule! Let a ray of hope shine on the future of the world!!!" — Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule (The Wind Waker)
  6. "And let our destinies finally be fulfilled... Ganondorf! May you drown with Hyrule!!!" — Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule (The Wind Waker)
  7. "Very well, then... Allow me to show you... Your future... Yes... Allow me to show you... Just what hope you have... See how much your precious Triforce is worth!" — Ganondorf (The Wind Waker)}


TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in Other Regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese Template:Japanese Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule
French-speaking countries French Daphnès Nohansen Hyrule
Federal Republic of Germany German Daphnos Johanson von Hyrule
Italian Republic Italian Dafnes Nohansen Hyrule
Kingdom of Spain SpanishEU Daphness Nohansen Hyrule
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