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Kotake and Koume,[4] collectively known as Twinrova,[5] are a recurring pair of Gerudo twin witches in The Legend of Zelda series. They are known as the Sorceress of Ice and the Sorceress of Flame, respectively.[1][2] As the surrogate mothers of Ganondorf, they are among his more devoted, powerful servants.[6] In Ocarina of Time, they serve as the boss of the Spirit Temple. They later appear as non-malicious market employees in Majora's Mask, but return as antagonists once again in the Oracle games.

Biography[]

Ocarina of Time[]

Navi's Comments
Boss battle, second phase
Navi says:

Twinrova
This is the combined form of Kotake and Koume. Turn their magic attack back at them!

show more...
Boss battle, first phase

Twinrova Koume
Ganondorf's surrogate mother. Sorceress of Flame. She seems vulnerable to low temperature.

Boss battle, first phase

Twinrova Kotake
Ganondorf's surrogate mother. Sorceress of Ice. She seems vulnerable to high temperature.

In Ocarina of Time, Kotake and Koume are a pair of 400-year-old twin witches who secretly lead the Gerudo tribe,[7][8] and are the surrogate mothers of Ganondorf.[1][2] They maintain their long lives by using their powerful black magic.[9] They both have green, wrinkled skin and dress in black robes with white Gerudo patterns near the hems, with an obi-like belt around their waists. Kotake's association with ice is noted by a blue jewel on her forehead and blue slippers. The markings on her headband are in red with a blue border, whereas these distinctions are red on Koume to highlight her association with fire.

They first appear outside the Spirit Temple just after child Link obtains the Silver Gauntlets. They kidnap Nabooru, who they subsequently brainwash and dressed in an Iron Knuckle armor.[10] After adult Link defeats her, he fights Kotake and Koume inside the boss room of the Spirit Temple. After being defeated, halos appear over their heads and they are absorbed by a column of light,[11] presumably passing to the afterlife.

Koume, likely the older twin sister, tends to act as the leader of the two, usually appearing first and deciding what their course of action should be. She is the first to introduce herself during the boss battle and is also the one who formulates the idea of combining with Kotake to transform into their combined more powerful form, Twinrova.

Characteristics[]

Twinrova battle

Link reflecting Kotake's ice attack using the Mirror Shield

The boss room where Twinrova is fought has four small platforms surrounding a larger central platform. Link must climb the central platform in order to trigger the battle. Kotake and Koume emerge from the smaller platforms before circling above him, then flying off in different directions.

Kotake and Koume fight using magic beams of the elements from which their respective powers are derived. Using the Mirror Shield, Link is able to redirect the attacks of one sister against the other. After taking a total of four hits, the pair will use their "Double Dynamite Attack" and merge into Twinrova, a large, elegant single being with the combined powers of both witches.[12][13][14][15]

After the transformation, the Mirror Shield remains essential in winning the battle. Link is able to use it to absorb the power of both the fire and ice spells. He is required to collect three consecutive charges of one type of spell, which allows him to release the spell back at Twinrova to stun her. However, since Twinrova frequently alternates between fire and ice attacks, care must be taken to only block attacks of one type at a time. Blocking a fire attack followed by an ice attack, or vice versa, will cause all power currently stored in the Mirror Shield to dissipate and the energy attack will consequently overlap and strike Link, similar to using the Hylian Shield.

Once Twinrova is injured by the reflected attack, she collapses on one of the four outlying platforms, allowing Link to attack with his Sword. After enough damage is dealt, Twinrova will be defeated, at which point she splits back into Kotake and Koume. The two witches intend to keep battling,[16] but soon realize that they are already dead.[17][18] They then enter a comical argument about whether they were actually twins or not due to Kotake claiming she was two decades younger than Koume (380 years old) while ranting about how they're not ready to die in spite their long life,[19][20][21] before both, with a loud cry, eventually threatening Link with coming back to haunt him.[22]

Majora's Mask[]

The sisters reappear in Majora's Mask, though in stark contrast to Ocarina of Time, they are not evil and help Link on his journey.

Kotake[]

MM Kotake Model

In Majora's Mask, Kotake is the owner of the Magic Hags' Potion Shop,[23][24] where she sells Red, Green, and Blue Potions. However, she does not sell Blue Potions immediately, as she requires a Magic Mushroom in order to make them. If Link offers her one, she will make a free Blue Potion for him.[25] The Blue Potion becomes available for purchase for the remainder of the three days.

When Kotake hears that Koume was attacked by the Skull Kid in the Woods of Mystery, she gives Link a Bottle of Red Potion to deliver to Koume.[26] If Link does not help the sisters after the First Day, Kotake will leave her shop and proceed to the Woods of Mystery to search for Koume herself.

Koume[]

MM Koume Model

Koume is the guide of the Boat Cruise.[27] She occasionally goes into the Woods of Mystery to look for mushrooms for Kotake to use in her Potion Shop.[28] One day, she ran into the Skull Kid and was injured.[29] Link is sent by her sister to find her in the nearby woods. Upon being discovered, she asks Link to heal her with a Red Potion (or Blue Potion).[30] If Link tries to give her a Potion in any form other than his normal self, she will call him a "weirdo" and tries to avoid his attention by playing dead.[31] After Link gives her the Potion, she returns to her post at the Swamp Tourist Center, where she gives Link one free tour in return for healing her.[32]

Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages[]

TAoL Defeated Link Artwork
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Koume Kotake OOX

In Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, Kotake and Koume send Veran and General Onox to cause chaos and light two of the three flames needed to resurrect Ganon; the Flame of Sorrow and the Flame of Destruction.[33][34] They appear as a disguised old lady to dissuade Link from his quest,[35] revealing themselves when he reaches the final dungeon.[36] In a Linked Game to either Seasons or Ages, they show up to taunt Link and his allies in Labrynna before leaving[37] or rub the Flame of Destruction being lit in his face after he completes Unicorn's Cave.[38] Once the flames are lit, the two kidnap Princess Zelda to light the final flame, the Flame of Despair, by sacrificing her.[39] In a Linked Game, Link fights the sisters both individually and as Twinrova. After Link defeats Twinrova, she chooses to become the vessel for the ritual herself instead of Zelda, so that Ganon can return.[40] Unfortunately for the pair, their sacrifice is in vain as it only allows a mindless, raging Ganon to come forth.[41]

Characteristics[]

Twinrovaoracles

Twinrova casts magical projectiles at Link that he must deflect back at them. However, unlike in Ocarina of Time, Link must use his Sword to deflect them rather than his Shield. The Mirror Shield, an upgrade that can only be attained in a Linked Game, can only protect him from their magic attacks. After the sisters have taken three hits, they fuse together and become Twinrova.

Twinrova alternates between two phases of attack, which affect the room around her and Link. In her cold phase, the room's floor is covered with slippery ice and Twinrova materializes spiked ice crystals that she launches at Link and which ricochet off the walls. In her fire phase, parts of the floor become lava pits and Twinrova launches fireballs. Link must strike Twinrova with his Sword several times to stun her, and once stunned, he must use a Mystery Seed to actually damage and defeat her.

Tears of the Kingdom[]

TotK Twinrova

Koume and Kotake behind Ganondorf

In Tears of the Kingdom, Koume and Kotake appear behind Ganondorf Dragmire in the Memory A Show of Fealty. They are much younger in this game than in any previous appearance. The twins have no dialogue and are not identified by name, but wear fabrics on their shoulders styled after Koume and Kotake's hairbands, with their names written on them in the Hylian writing from Ocarina of Time, just as their names were written on their hairbands in that game. They also have red and blue gemstones on the foreheads of the masks they wear, and green skin unlike the brown skin of other Gerudo in Tears of the Kingdom.

Other Appearances[]

Ocarina of Time (Himekawa)[]

Kotake and Koume first appear alongside the Gerudo and an Iron Knuckle after Ganondorf realizes he was tricked with the Fairy Ocarina 7 years ago. Their first speaking roles are in the chapter "Shadow Guide:Shiek", where they convince Ganondorf to allow them to brainwash Ingo so they could lure Link into Lon Lon Ranch (as Ganondorf initially planned to have Ingo executed for his failure to keep Epona around long enough for Ganondorf to acquire her). They later witness Link slipping the crystal out of Ingo's ear, revealing the reason for the Gerudo tribe's brainwashing and hostile behavior in the Adult timeline. Later, they disguise themselves as fortune tellers when Link stocks up for the trek into Gerudo Desert telling him he would find the one he seeks by entering the Spirit Temple. After a brief questioning of Shiek's true loyalties to Ganondorf, they have Nabooru work with the Sheikah to capture Link and find out if he really is a traitor, which the Sage of the Temple agrees while one of the witches creates a sandstorm to make Link's journey into the desert more difficult. Afterwards, they confronted Shiek over "his" treachery (as he initially seemed to attack Link, only for him to save Link), making the ninja reveal he was never one of them and flees with Link on Epona fending off Lizalfos and Moblins the Gerudo witches summon. Later when Shiek reveals himself to be Zelda, they attack and demand the Hero of Time to give them the Princess. Link defends Zelda with his Hylian Shield against Koume's flames, but almost gets burned to a crisp until Nabooru gives Link the Mirror Shield, allowing the Hero of Time to give the witches a taste of their own medicine. They die, while cursing their own loss and vow for the King of Evil and their surrogate son to avenge them.

Oracle of Seasons (Himekawa) and Oracle of Ages (Himekawa)[]



Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS[]

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, Kotake and Koume appear in the Gerudo Valley stage. They appear as a stage hazard, with Kotake attacking the right side with ice, and Koume attacking the left side with flames. Twinrova also appears as a Trophy.

Trophy Information[]

# Trophy Appears in Description How to unlock
3DS Logo WiiU
227 SSBfN3DS Twinrova Trophy Model N/A Ocarina of Time

Ocarina of Time 3D
Koume and Kotake are twins who can merge to form Twinrova. They have about 800 years between them, but as Twinrova they appear young and alluring. It is best to remember that Twinrova possesses the magical powers of both sisters, making her a very dangerous foe, even to herself... Random
Twinrova

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[]

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, they act the same as in SSB4/3DS, however their graphics are more improved. If the Gerudo Valley stage is set to Battlefield or Final Destination design, they will not appear at all.

Trivia[]

Twinrova Seals

Twinrova's magic seals

  • In Ocarina of Time, the magic seals out of which Kotake and Koume rise in the boss room interestingly display the Fire Medallion and Water Medallion symbols, respectively. The design for the Water Medallion was originally intended for the Ice Medallion, which was removed from the final release, but it is still found in the game's code.[42]
  • If Link attempts to block one of the sisters' (or Twinrova) magic attacks with the Hylian Shield, the beam will overlap the shield and hit the ground behind him, harming Link. The same result will happen with the latter if blocking the incorrect magic with the Mirror Shield. It is possible to avoid damage by the player forward rolling the instant the beam strikes the floor.
  • If Link attempts to hit Koume or Kotake with any weapon (such as an arrow) during the battle in Ocarina of Time, they will spin around quickly on their broomsticks to deflect the attack. This also occurs after they combine into Twinrova, and she will move to a different platform immediately after spinning, without conjuring a spell first.
  • Despite being villain characters, when they were defeated in Ocarina of Time, the twins' souls are surrounded in angelic halos and they ascend in a column of light, a Western depiction of rising to Heaven.
  • In Majora's Mask, Koume is certain that the potion given to her is Kotake's, even if it was purchased from the Trading Post in Clock Town or other means.[43] Therefore, Kotake may be supplying the Trading Post with its potions. As an alternative, it may simply be an oversight of the developers.
  • In the linked ending fight against Twinrova, their boss theme is a remix of the mini-boss theme from the game (as well as the boss theme for Link's Awakening).
  • In The Wind Waker, Koume and Kotake's names are engraved on Ganondorf's swords in Hylian. Similarly, in Tears of the Kingdom the Gloom Weapon set has their names engraved as well.

Nomenclature[]

Twinrova is a modified version of the characters' Japanese name ツインローバ (Tsuinrōba).
Their individual names come from the Japanese mystery novel 八つ墓村 (Village of Eight Gravestones). In it, a pair of elderly twin sisters bear the names Kotake and Koume.[44]
Kotake come from 小竹 (Kotake): 小 (ko) and 竹 (take).
Koume comes from 小梅 (Koume): 小 (ko) and 梅 (ume).

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in other regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
LanguageNameMeaning
JapanJapaneseツインローバ (Tsuinrōba) (OoT)[45]
コタケ (Kotake) (OoT)[46]
双生魔道師 (Sōsei Madōshi) (OoT)[47]
コウメ (Koume) (OoT)[48]
Twin Old Women
Kotake
Sorceress Twins
Koume
This table was generated using translation pages.
To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery[]

See Also[]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Twinrova Koume: Ganondorf's surrogate mother. Sorceress of Flame. She seems vulnerable to low temperature." — Navi (Ocarina of Time)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Twinrova Kotake: Ganondorf's surrogate mother. Sorceress of Ice. She seems vulnerable to high temperature." — Navi (Ocarina of Time)
  3. "We are the Gerudo witches, Twinrova!" — Twinrova (Oracle of Ages)
  4. Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 239,(OoT) 244,(MM) 250,(OoS) & 254 (OoA)
  5. Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 210 (OoT | OoT3D | OoS | OoA)
  6. "Maybe we should make her work for the great Ganondorf for a little while longer! Ho ho ho! Then we should brainwash her again! Hee hee hee!" — Twinrova (Ocarina of Time)
  7. "But I'm only 400 years old!" — Koume (Ocarina of Time)
  8. "It could be said that the sisters, who have lived for over four hundred years, rule the tribe from behind the scenes." (Hyrule Historia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 90)
  9. "Kotake and Koume, about four hundred years old at the time of Ganondorf's rise, are said to maintain their long lives by way of powerful magic." (Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 45)
  10. "Like I suspected, Nabooru was brainwashed by Ganondorf's followers..." — Carpenter (Ocarina of Time)
  11. "Hey, Koume, what is that above your head?" — Kotake (Ocarina of Time)
  12. "OK, let's get serious now, Kotake!" — Koume (Ocarina of Time)
  13. "Oh, OK, Koume." — Kotake (Ocarina of Time)
  14. "Kotake and Koume's Double Dynamite Attack!" — Koume (Ocarina of Time)
  15. "Kotake and Koume's Double Dynamite Attack!" — Kotake (Ocarina of Time)
  16. "Shoot! What a fresh kid! This time we'll get serious. Right, Kotake?" — Koume (Ocarina of Time)
  17. "What? Hey, Koume, what is that above your head? [referring to halo]" — Kotake (Ocarina of Time)
  18. "I don't know, but you have one over your head too, Kotake! [referring to halo]" — Koume (Ocarina of Time)
  19. "But I'm only 400 years old!" — Koume (Ocarina of Time)
  20. "And I'm just 380 years old!" — Kotake (Ocarina of Time)
  21. "We're twins! Don't try to lie about your age! You must have gone senile! Who are you calling senile?! Is that how you treat your older sister? We are twins! How can you be older? Keeeyaaah!! How heartless you are! How can you be so ungrateful? You're heartless!! You ungrateful..." — Twinrova (Ocarina of Time)
  22. "We'll come back to haunt you!" — Twinrova (Ocarina of Time 3D)
  23. "Magic Hags' Potion Shop. Preparing for business. Open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m." — Sign (Majora's Mask)
  24. "Gone out back to the woods on a little errand. -Kotake, The Manager" — Sign (Majora's Mask)
  25. "What's that? You want a Blue Potion, do you? Well, you gave me a mushroom, so I'll give you one for free." — Kotake (Majora's Mask)
  26. "What's that?!? The Skull Kid got to Koume?!? That's ridiculous... If it's just the Skull Kid, then what harm could he possibly do? Oh!! Well, if that's true, then take this potion to her..." — Kotake (Majora's Mask)
  27. "Old Koume's Boat Cruise. Ticket office closed. Please inquire at the Magic Hags' Potion Shop near the edge of the swamp." — Sign (Majora's Mask)
  28. "Koume has gone into the woods out back, looking for mushrooms..." — Kotake (Majora's Mask)
  29. "I was just busy minding my own business, picking mushrooms, when... BAM! I got hit from behind! That pesky Skull Kid! Did he think an old hag wouldn't recognize him if he hid his face? Oh, ow! To think he's that powerful...and now I can't even move!" — Koume (Majora's Mask)
  30. "You! Don't you have anything that gives you energy?" — Koume (Majora's Mask)
  31. "Ack! Now I've done it! I've gone and attracted some weirdo's attention! Umm...I'll just play dead." — Koume (Majora's Mask)
  32. "Oh! Thanks for what you did back there! As a special just for you, I'll let you take this cruise for free." — Koume (Majora's Mask)
  33. "Look, Veran! The troubles you caused now burn as the Flame of Sorrow!" — Twinrova (Oracle of Ages)
  34. "Behold, Onox! The troubles you caused now burn in the Flame of Destruction!" — Twinrova (Oracle of Seasons)
  35. "Hee hee hee hee! Link... Know this, foolish boy! If you save Din, the world will be filled with destruction, sorrow and despair. Our great sacrifice will be offered, and the Evil King revived!!! Then people will know true pain as darkness falls across the lands. Eee hee hee hee! Ho ho ho ho!" — Twinrova (Oracle of Seasons)
  36. "All will be for naught! Ho ho ho ho! Are you shocked? We are Twinrova, Gerudo witches! Ho ho ho ho! Soon the Flame of Destruction shall burn, and when it does, no one can keep us from holding our rites! Despite your every effort, the Evil King shall return to spread darkness across the land! Eee hee hee hee!" — Twinrova (Oracle of Seasons)
  37. "Oh ho ho ho! Link, Link! Don't forget about us! Nice to see you after so long, Link! We are Twinrova, Gerudo witches! You were quite busy back in Holodrum! Eee hee hee hee! You seem pleased to have rescued Naryu, but Ambi's age is filled with cries of sorrow! By extending the reach of the Dark Realm, Veran has spread sorrow across the land. Soon, the Flame of Sorrow will ignite! Ho ho ho ho ho! Now only one flame remains... When the three flames burn in the darkness... The Evil King shall return! Oh ho ho ho ho!" — Twinrova (Oracle of Ages)
  38. "Eee hee hee hee! Despair, Link... Your struggles are fruitless! Decay seasons! Steal the fruits of the ravaged lands of Holodrum... Raze the earth! Oh ho ho ho! Ho ho ho ho! The lands rot, and the Flame of Destruction burns! The Flames of Sorrow and Destruction are lit! Now, only the Flame of Despair remains! Eee hee hee hee! Our sacrifice will revive the Evil King and guide him to the light of the three flames! Oh ho ho ho!" — Twinrova (Oracle of Seasons)
  39. "Oh ho ho ho! Wandering about? Foolish Princess! Eee hee hee hee! We've found you, Princess Zelda! Hope for the people?We'll snuff it out! And you shall light the Flame of Despair! Eee hee hee hee! The sacrifice is in our grasp..." — Twinrova (Oracle of Seasons)
  40. "Hoh hoh! Ganon's return was but a step away! Link! It is not over! Our rites have failed, but by sacrificing this body, Ganon will return!" — Twinrova (Oracle of Seasons)
  41. "Since they could not sacrifice me in their final rite, the powers of darkness could revive only a mindless, raging Ganon. Your power, wisdom and courage were able to prevent Twinrova's planned resurrection of Ganon." — Princess Zelda (Oracle of Seasons)
  42. "These two icons left inside the rom of Ocarina can be translated as Wind Medallion and Ice Medallion, and they are most likely the leftovers of two temples removed from the final game and probably scheduled for Zelda Ura."Project Zelda 3D: The Development of Zelda 64, Unseen 64, retrieved May 14 2011.
  43. "Ah! That color! That smell... That's definitely Kotake's..." — Koume (Majora's Mask)
  44. 「六つ墓村?八つ墓村じゃなくて?」 (in English), The Case Files of Ho-Ling, June 1, 2011.
  45. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Shogakukan) pg. 144
  46. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Shogakukan) pg. 141
  47. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Shogakukan) pg. 132
  48. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Shogakukan) pg. 141
The Legend of ZeldaThe Adventure of LinkA Link to the PastLink's AwakeningOcarina of TimeMajora's MaskOracle of SeasonsOracle of AgesFour SwordsThe Wind WakerFour Swords AdventuresThe Minish CapTwilight PrincessPhantom HourglassSpirit TracksSkyward SwordA Link Between WorldsTri Force HeroesBreath of the WildTears of the Kingdom
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