Summary
Highlights
Discover the Bargainers in the Depths, giant living statues that act as merchants. Instead of rupees, they accept "poes," which are implied to be the souls of the dead. The unsettling aspect is the unknown purpose these mysterious beings have for collecting souls, especially given their opposition to the goddess Hylia.
Link encounters a ghostly hand haunting the Night Academy bathroom. This quest, inspired by past Zelda characters and Japanese ghost stories, involves the ghost asking for paper. Depending on Link's choice of giving a love letter to the ghost or the intended recipient, Colin, a student, faces either heartbreak or an obsessive spectral admirer.
Part of a larger trading quest, this disturbing segment focuses on the Master Craftsman's son. After Link encounters him in the Lost Woods, he turns into a Stalfos, a skeletal warrior, according to a Koku girl named Fado. This highlights the grim fate of adults who become lost in the woods.
Mila, a wealthy girl kidnapped by Ganondorf, returns home only to find her family destitute due to the high reward pirates demanded. Forced to work and even resort to theft, her story is a somber tale of a young girl facing extreme hardship, made worse by her father's refusal to work.
After an orb activating a Sheikah shrine is stolen, Link's investigation leads him to Dorian, a former Yiga clan member whose wife was killed by the clan. Dorian was forced to spy on Link and Impa under threat to his daughters' lives, revealing a tragic story of loss and manipulation.
Giovanni, a greedy man, sold his soul to Poes and was turned into a golden statue. Link must hunt down 60 Poes to restore him, but even after his soul and body are returned, he finds no happiness, continuing to drown his sorrows, illustrating a dark fable about the consequences of greed.
Despite a beautiful resolution, the journey of Anju and Kafei is filled with sadness. Kafei goes missing after being cursed into a child and having his wedding mask stolen. Anju endures sadness and uncertainty while searching for him. This quest delves into themes of separation, fear, and enduring love.
The Lorule Graveyard reveals the bleak state of Lorule, a mirror world in ruin. Link encounters a philosopher who speaks of abandonment by gods and a gravekeeper who hasn't seen visitors in ages, painting a picture of a desolate and forgotten land.
Finley, a Zora child, sends love letters in barrels to an unknown suitor. Link discovers the recipient is Sasan, a grown man who then starts a relationship with Finley. This quest is controversial due to a localization change that created an unsettling romantic dynamic, which was not the original Japanese intent.
Sisters Romani and Cremia face "them," alien-like creatures that steal cows. If Link fails to help Romani fight them off, she is abducted and returns without her memories and cheerful personality, leaving Cremia with guilt and the ranch in decline. This quest is a poignant exploration of loss and the impact of unimaginable events.