Labrynna

An aerial view of Labrynna in its present state.

Labrynna is a distant land located far away from the land of Hyrule. Like its sister countries of Hyrule and Holodrum, Labrynna is a vibrant country rich in beauty and resources. The land is bordered by a vast ocean, the Zora Seas, that flows to Labrynna's southern border, and the land is home to many interesting tribes such as the Labrynnans (the Human population of Labrynna), the Zoras, the Gorons, the Tokay of Crescent Island, and many other citizens. Labrynna's most imposing feature however is perhaps the great Black Tower that stands at the center of the country, visible from almost anywhere, even from far out into the sea. Rich in history, Labrynna has had more than one type of a ruling government, originating with a monarchy several centuries in its past but ruled in the present day by a democracy, though it has always retained the same capital city seemingly, Lynna City (previously known as Lynna Village). Curiously, the land of Labrynna is most noteable for its deep connection to the flows of time (as the home of the eight Essences of Time) and is best known for being the home of the guardian of the flows of time, the Oracle of Ages, and the Oracle's protector, the Maku Tree.

History

Like the land of Hyrule, Labrynna is a country blessed with a long, rich history. It is unknown how the land of Labrynna was formed, though it is assumed by many to have been created, like the land of Termina, as a side effect of the Golden Goddesses' creation of the land of Hyrule. It is also unknown exactly how long the country of Labrynna has been established, though it is confirmed that the country has existed for more than 400 years by the Maku Tree. Four hundred years in its past, Labrynna was ruled by a royal family (who ruled from the capital city of the country Lynna Village) similar to that of Hyrule, with the ruler of the time being the beloved Queen Ambi, known best for her kindness and benevolence amongst her people. Many diverse races have inhabited Labrynna since this ancient period as well; in fact, pretty much all of the current races inhabiting Labrynna have their roots going back as far as the reign of Queen Ambi and beyond. With the passing of time however, so did the times change, as a new democratic government was formed at some point to supplant Labrynna's ancient monarchy. In the present age, Labrynna is presided over by the mayor of present day Lynna City, Mayor Plen. As the government of Labrynna changed with the passing of time, so too did the land's geography. Over the course of 400 years, previously small deities such as Lord Jabu-Jabu and the Maku Tree grew to humongous sizes, and many geographical features of the land changed, such as Crescent Island's drift eastward, the receding of the Zora Seas, the transformation of the Sea of No Return into the Yoll Graveyard, the sinking of Ambi's Palace, and many more changes that came to pass over the course of four centuries.

Government

At one point or another throughout its history, Labrynna has been ruled by both ends of the political spectrum. Though its political beginnings remain unclear, it is clear that for much of its early history, Labrynna was ruled by an ancient royal family that ruled from their palace at the heart of Lynna Village. One of the most famous monarchs of Labrynna's early history is Queen Ambi, the ruler that commissioned the building of the gigantic Black Tower that stands at the center of Labrynna to the present day, long after the end of her reign. After being ruled by a monarchy for many generations, Labrynna shifted to a democracy at some unspecified point in its history, reverting power into the hands of elected officials and renaming the capital city of the country instead as Lynna City, the city having grown over the course of the 400 years since Ambi's reign. The current ruling official of the country is the Mayor of Lynna City, Mayor Plen.

Currency

Like almost all countries visited throughout the Zelda universe, Labrynna also shares a common currency with its sister nations, that currency being the Rupee. Much of the same values applied to differing colors of Rupees also apply to Labrynna's financial system (e.g. green is worth one Rupee, red is worth five Rupees, etc). Pretty much every shop or establishment throughout Labrynna accepts Rupees as the preferred form of payment for good or services. However, on the mysterious Crescent Island, a system of trade is instituted rather than a currency system of Rupees. As such, while on the mainland of Labrynna Rupees are the dominant form of currency, the trade system is in use amongst Crescent Island's Tokay population.

Geography

Like its counterpart land of Holodrum and even the land of Hyrule itself, Labrynna's geography greatly varies from region to region. The mountains of Rolling Ridge dominate the northeastern region of Labrynna and are primarily the home of the graceful Goron race. Also found in the northern section of Labrynna are the rolling hills and steep ridges of the Nuun Highlands that border Rolling Ridge. In the northwestern corner of Labrynna lies Talus Peaks with its springs and waterfalls as well as the symmetrically-constructed Symmetry Village, a sister city to Lynna City. To the east of Lynna City sits the Forest of Time, well known for being home to many talking animals, and the creepy Yoll Graveyard, where many residents of Labrynna are laid to rest after passing away. Meanwhile, to the west of Lynna City sits the Fairies' Woods, a forest that is magically enchanted to lead travelers astray by causing them to become lost within the woods. To the south is the vast Zora Seas, home to many different locales such as the Zora Village (home to the Zora race), the confusing and violent Sea of Storms, the geographically interesting Crescent Island (shaped like the Crescent Moon and home to the Tokay race) and the Crescent Strait separating Crescent Island's northern shores from the mainland. At the heart of the country sits the bustling Lynna City itself and the massive Black Tower that overlooks the entire land.

Locations and Landmarks

Labrynna is and has always been home to many very interesting and curious locales throughout its history, many of which survive to the present day. With the passing of time, many of these places have changed aesthetically in a variety of ways ranging from the very subtle (e.g. Crescent Island's shift eastward) to the most radical (e.g. the transformation of the Sea of No Return into the Yoll Graveyard). By and large however, many locales are still halfways recognizeable in their present states in comparison to how they looked in the past.

Ambi's Palace

Ambi's Palace is the home of Labrynna's royalty far in the country's past and located in Lynna Village. It is unknown how long it had existed by the time of Queen Ambi's reign, but seeing as it bears her name, it appears that she may possibly have been responsible for the construction of the palace. Another possibility too is that the palace had been the home of Ambi's family for generations and that it merely took on her name when she became queen. In any case, it served as Queen Ambi's home and the seat of government in Labrynna as far back as 400 years in the past. Ambi's Palace has a large courtyard, complete with trees and small mazes. In the southeast corner of the courtyard is a secret passageway leading to an underground waterway that connects to another secret passageway within the palace itself, allowing one to enter the palace undetected if they wish. The palace itself is two stories tall and boasts of impressive halls and large chambers befitting Labrynna's royal family. It is here that Link pries Nayru from the grip of Veran, the Sorceress of Shadows, who subsequently possesses the hapless Queen Ambi herself when she returns to the palace just in time to see Nayru freed. Following this encounter, Link was unable to access the palace until he later pried Queen Ambi from Veran's grip as well and destroyed her utterly. However, in the present, the remains of Ambi's Palace have been sunk beneath water and the palace has vanished entirely, leaving almost no sign of its existence and instead being replaced by Nuun Highlands.

Black Tower

The Black Tower (originally called Ambi's Tower) is a massive tower of stone and grout that was built to the heavens 400 years in Labrynna's past by the order of Queen Ambi. Originally, the project of building the tower was intended to guide Queen Ambi's love, the Captain, home from the sea. Having left Labrynna several years prior and not yet returned, Queen Ambi worried about his safety and decided to build what was originally called Ambi's Tower to the heavens to search the entire land and sea for any sign of his return or to act as a beacon to guide him home. These peaceful plans for the construction of the tower changed however when the Oracle of Ages, Nayru (secretly under the control of Veran, the Sorceress of Shadows), arrived as though from nowhere and became Queen Ambi's most trusted adviser through Veran's cunning. She convinced Queen Ambi to send those closest to her away so as to prevent a power loss and then convinced the hapless queen to push her people much harder to build the tower. Soon she also hoodwinked the queen into believing that if she was able to push the construction of the tower to the heavens, she would go down in history as Labrynna's greatest queen as well as conning her into allowing Veran to use the powers of the Oracle of Ages to create an endless day so the people would have to work on the tower without rest. Oblivious to the suffering and misery she was inadvertently bringing upon her people, Queen Ambi's project, Ambi's Tower, began to earn a new title amongst her subjects: the Black Tower. Near the end of Oracle of Ages, the Black Tower serves as the site of the final battle between the Hyrulean Hero Link and Veran when he comes to pry Queen Ambi from her grip and stop her plot. After Link deals Veran her death blow, the Flame of Sorrow is lit (much to the delight of Twinrova), meaning Veran's purpose for the tower succeeded nonetheless. After Veran's death and long after the end of Queen Ambi's reign over Labrynna, the Black Tower still stands to this day overlooking the land and visible from almost anyplace.

Cheval's Tomb

Cheval's Tomb is the final resting place of the famed inventor Cheval, who was responsible for the creation of Cheval Rope (a special rope that would not dissolve in water) as well as the Flippers (a special tool that can enable a person to swim). Cheval, who wanted to leave his mark on society and create things that would continue to help people long after his death, was buried with his inventions, and before he died, he transformed his watery tomb into a sort of test course meant to only yield access to his inventions to one worthy to wield them. His tomb is discovered by Link, who comes in search of both inventions in order to reach and navigate the regions around Crescent Island while on his quest to find the eight Essences of Time. Both of these inventions would prove invaluable to Link, who meets Cheval himself in the past and discovers his tomb in the present, discovering both of his inventions soon thereafter and moving him one step closer to reaching the mysterious island of the Tokay.

Coast of No Return

The Coast of No Return is a small bit of coastline on Labrynna's southern border that also borders the mysterious Sea of No Return. It is not easily accessible to many, and the only known resident of the area is an elderly Zora, who gives Link the Broken Sword in return for the Sea Ukulele as part of a trading game that can allow Link to ascertain a more powerful weapon in a new sword.

Crescent Island

Crescent Island is the name of a unique landmass shaped like the Crescent Moon residing a small ways just off the southern coastline of the mainland of Labrynna in the Zora Seas that is home to the reptilian Tokay race. With the passing of time, it is said that the island is drifting eastward, and this is found to be true when observing the island in both the past and present, with the island being further east in the present and a bit more above sea level as the waters of the Zora Seas receded a bit over time. The island can only be reached with the aid of a raft, an animal capable of swimming the waters of the Zora Seas, or some other means of navigating water. Its location is not entirely well known to Labrynna's human population since the island is separated from the mainland by the Crescent Strait, and in turn the Tokay are not entirely familiar with humans visiting their native island, making them cautious of visitors to the island. The island seems to be primarily occupied by solely the Tokay, with no sign of familiarity on the part of the Tokay when they are confronted with a being of a different race (as seen when they first meet Link upon his arrival on the island). The only source of commerce and society on the island is the Tokay settlement located on the island's eastern border, with the Tokay Shop seemingly the only source of supplies to the island. The island is home to a tree nursery, where in centuries past it was well known to house a special Scent Tree that was blown over in a storm at some unspecified point in the past until a new one was planted when the Hyrulean Hero Link came to the island on his quest for the eight Essences of Time and planted a Scent Seedling in the nursery, restoring the island's source of Scent Seeds. Crescent Island is also home to the Moonlit Grotto that is located within a unique statue in the center of the island's bay (considered to be a "guardian" to the Tokay) and extends deep beneath the island. It is here one may find the Echoing Howl, one of the eight Essences of Time, in the present. In the past however, this same passageway within the Tokay Guardian could only be opened by one possessing its missing eyeball, a special jewel that is missing from the statue's edifice, which when restored to its proper place would open the passageway then said to lead into the Sea of No Return and the Ancient Tomb.

Crescent Strait

Crescent Strait is the body of water surrounding Crescent Island that separates the island's northern border from the southern border of the mainland of Labrynna. The strait connects to the region where, in the past, the Sea of No Return is located and where in the present rests the Yoll Graveyard. Link typically must pass through this strait to reach the island whenever he needs to visit it in Oracle of Ages.

Eyeglass Island Library

The Eyeglass Island Library is one of the greatest sources of literary material in the entire realm of Labrynna and is located on its namesake, Eyeglass Island out in the Zora Seas. The Library's edifice is made of stone and shaped like that of which it is home to, with a large open book as a roof. In the past, it was known to hold Fairy Powder in its depths, stirring the interest of Link when he arrived in Labrynna and discovered the Zora Seas to be heavily polluted by Veran's doing. When he first sees the library in the present, it has long been deserted and locked tight, with not even a sign of a keyhole with which to open it up. Traveling to the past and discovering the truth behind what was happening to the sea from the Zoras, Link received the Library Key from the ill King Zora in order to open up the Eyeglass Island Library (which is shown to have a keyhole in the past) and study its books for a remedy. The pollution, which was laying waste to the entire ocean and threatening the sea creatures including the aquatic Zoras with illness and death (namely their ruler, King Zora, and their patron deity Lord Jabu-Jabu). This caused Link to seek a way to cleanse the Zora Seas and save it from destruction, and he learned of the Fairy Queen who was said to have vanished around the same time the sea became polluted. Upon further investigation, Link discovered that Veran had transfigured the Fairy Queen into an Octorok and was still inhabiting her cavern on the other side of Eyeglass Island. Learning that only Fairy Powder could restore the Fairy Queen to her true form and powers, Link reopened the library and eventually discovered that it did indeed contain Fairy Powder. However, it was located in a room that could only be navigated when a complete set of books giving directions were present. Link discovered that the Book of Seals was missing from the first checkpoint in the chamber and traveled to the present, where he found his actions in the past had caused the library to now be open to the public. Within he was able to locate the lost Book of Seals and traveled with it back to the past, where he restored it to its proper place and navigated the back chamber to reach the Fairy Powder and the old man watching over it. Honoring Link's dedication and skill, the old man rewarded him with the Fairy Powder, which he then used to restore the Fairy Queen to her true form. With her return to her true form, the Fairy Queen cleansed the Zora Seas of all of Veran's pollution, restoring the sea to its natural beauty and restoring health to King Zora and Lord Jabu-Jabu. This enabled Link to enter Jabu-Jabu's Belly in the present to search for the Rolling Sea (an Essence of Time) as a reward from King Zora for his noble aid.

Fairy Woods/Deku Forest

The Fairy Woods (formerly known as the Deku Forest in the past) is a confusing labyrinth of trees found in southwestern Labrynna that, in the present, is home to a group of fairies that have enchanted the woods to cause any foolish enough to wander into them to become hopelessly lost. If any wandered into this forest, the only way the native fairies would yield safe passage through the woods is if the stranger played a game of hide-and-seek with them and won. Link is forced to confront these fairies more than once, once when seeking out the Wing Dungeon and again when he learns Dimitri the Dodongo has become lost in the woods. In the past, the forest was known as the Deku Forest, home to a few Deku Scrubs as well as a very special tree that grew Mystery Seeds, which Queen Ambi seeks at the behest of the possessed Nayru during Link's adventure in Labrynna to stop Veran, the Sorceress of Shadows. Veran, having heard of the Mystery Seeds and curious to know their effect, convinced the queen to offer the reward of Bombs as well a personal audience with her as a reward for one who could locate the mysterious seeds. Link brings the seeds to Queen Ambi and receives his reward, in turn using the Bombs to enter the Wing Dungeon in the past (which had since caved in during the present age) in search of the Ancient Wood, one of the eight Essences of Time.

Forest of Time

The Forest of Time is the home region of Nayru, the Oracle of Ages, in Labrynna. This special forest is home not only to Nayru's house but also to many talking animals that love to hear her melodious voice as she sings for them in a comfortable clearing in the forest's depths. The forest is located in the central-northwestern section of Labrynna and borders the lower levels of Rolling Ridge. This forest is protected from evil by a special stone barrier possessing the symbol of the Triforce and can only be removed by the Hero possessing the same symbol on his hand. It was this barrier that kept the evil Sorceress of Shadows, Veran, from assaulting the Oracle of Ages for a time, until she seized her opportunity by possessing Impa, the caretaker of Princess Zelda of Hyrule who had come to warn Nayru of danger and to bring her to Hyrule for her safety, and using her relationship with the Hyrulean Hero Link to trick him into removing the barrier blocking her way to the Oracle of Ages (since Link possessed the predestined symbol on the back of his hand). Link would continue to return to and travel through this forest throughout his adventure to defeat Veran.

Hall of Secrets

The Hall of Secrets is a special chamber within the trunk of the Maku Tree in which Link can go to activate secret codes he learns throughout his journey and thus gain new powers or treasures. Farore, the Oracle of Secrets, presides over the chamber and guides Link when he comes to her with a new secret in hand. It is also in this chamber that Link has the ability to link his previous adventure in Holodrum to his current adventure in Labrynna (provided he has already visited and aided Holodrum by the time he visits Labrynna). Farore keeps track of any new secrets Link brings to her and offers her counsel upon Link's request. There is also a twin chamber to the Labrynnan Hall of Secrets in the land of Holodrum, which enables Link to continue his adventures one right after the other.

Hero's Cave

The Hero's Cave is a proving ground for a worthy Hero that is a detour of Maku Road leading to the watery meadow of the Maku Tree. The cave appears after Link inputs the code he learned after the defeat of Onox in Holodrum at the Hall of Secrets, making it appear as a detour that can be found on the way to the Maku Tree's grove. Link cannot fully access the entire cave until he has ascertained all items from within the eight dungeons scattered across Labrynna. At the end of the cave, Link can obtain the powerful L-3 Armor Ring, with which Link increases his defensive power by three, but also decreases his sword's power by three as well.

Lynna City/Lynna Village

Lynna City (formerly known as Lynna Village in ancient times) is the capital city of Labrynna and the seat of the country's government. It is a prosperous city that serves as the commerce center for all of the country and has served as the capital since ancient times, even going back as far as the reign of Queen Ambi herself. The Maku Road leading to the Maku Tree's grotto can be found within the northern boundaries of the city. The city is home to Vasu Jewelers, the Lynna City Shop, a small library, a mask shop, and several homes in the present. In the past, the city was then a village and thus much smaller than it is in the present. However it was then home to the expansive palace of Queen Ambi as well as the massive Black Tower that stands south of where Ambi's Palace was located in the past. The tower still stands over both Lynna City and the entire country of Labrynna in the present. The city was formerly ruled by such monarchs as Queen Ambi, but in the present age it is presided over by the elected Mayor of Lynna City, Plen. In South Lynna, the small region just south of the main part of the city, a special Ember Tree grows and produces the flaming Ember Seeds that prove to be vital to Link's quest for the Essences of Time. In the present, Ambi's Palace has vanished from the city's northern limits and has since been replaced by the watery Nuun Highlands. A small inlet also flows into the city from the Zora Seas and surrounds a statue at the city's heart (originally of a mermaid, but later of Link himself). Link visits the city numerous times in both its past and present incarnations on his quest to defeat Veran, the Sorceress of Shadows.

Lynna City Shop

The Lynna City Shop is a prime location for buying supplies and equipment that is located on the eastern side of Lynna City in Labrynna's present age. It is run by a single shopkeeper and features many different items, such as Bombs, Arrows, Shields, etc. There is also a private section for select members where they may purchase rare and even more valuable items, such as Rings, Pieces of Heart, etc. This shop can only be accessed by one bearing the Member's Card.

Maku Road

Maku Road is the name of a series of caves that leads to the Maku Tree's watery grotto. Maku Road is home to several enemies however, making the trip a dangerous one for those unprepared to deal with the dangers. It is also within Maku Road that Link can obtain several different treasures as well, provided he possesses the necessary tools by that point to reach them while on his quest for the Essences of Time. The caverns eventually lead to a small passageway that leads back up above ground, right into the Maku Tree's abode.

Maku Tree's Grove

The Maku Tree's Grove is a watery grotto lying on the north-northeastern border of Lynna City that is home to the Maku Tree, the powerful guardian of both Labrynna and the Oracle of Ages. Her memory is rooted in the powers of the eight Essences of Time, and when they are out of evil's hands, the Maku Tree has the capacity to produce a Huge Maku Seed which will grant the holder the power to discern truth from falsity and reality from illusion. The grove of the Maku Tree has two entrances: the main entrance which is guarded by a large gate that leads directly into Lynna City and the cavern entrance that leads out from Maku Road. The Maku Tree is shown to have lived in this watery grove since ancient times, roughly about 400 years in total according to her own words. Link returns to this grove numerous times throughout his adventure to visit both the Maku Tree as well as the Hall of Secrets. It is also here in this grove that a portal is later generated that will transport Link to the Room of Rites, the lair of the evil Gerudo witches collectively known as Twinrova, in order to rescue Princess Zelda.

Mayor's Residence

The Mayor's Residence is the official home of the sitting Mayor of Lynna City, the current holder of the title being Mayor Plen. It is unknown if the structure is provided to the sitting mayor of the times as a provision granted during the mayor's elected term or if this has always been Plen's home even before he was elected mayor of the city. In any case, it serves as the working home of Mayor Plen, serving as both his home and his workplace during the present age of Labrynna. The dwelling is located in the heart of Lynna City, fittingly given its status as the home and workplace of the governing official of the realm.

Moblin Keep

The Moblin Keep is a fort/castle-like structure that was built on the heights of Rolling Ridge and serves as the dwelling of the nefarious Great Moblin and his band of Moblins. The Great Moblin builds the structure into the side of one of Rolling Ridge's cliffs and rigs the floor of the entrance hall to collapse shortly upon being walked on so as to prevent any unwelcome visitors from reaching the staircase leading up to his chamber, where he has stockpiled much of the Bomb Flower population of Rolling Ridge. The Great Moblin is known to harass the native Goron race of Rolling Ridge and confiscates their Bomb Flowers in an attempt to create a monopoly for himself using them in order to generate a great deal of wealth. This changes when the Hyrulean Hero Link comes to Rolling Ridge on his quest for the eight Essences of Time and learns of the plight of the Gorons. Using his Pegasus Seeds, Link is able to get past the collapsing floor of the Moblin Keep's entrance hall and works his way to the Great Moblin's chamber, where he does battle with the tyrant himself. Curiously, the very thing the Great Moblin has been trying to monopolize proves to be his undoing when Link turns the Bomb Flowers against the Great Moblin (by means of causing him to drop one of them into a larger pile of the flowers) and causes an explosion that destroys the keep and forces the Great Moblin away from Rolling Ridge as a result.

Nuun Highlands

The Nuun Highlands are a series of watery hills and waterfalls that take the place of Ambi's Palace in Labrynna's present age. Very few remnants of the great palace of Queen Ambi remain in these watery lands, but they serve as the means by which to access Symmetry Village in the present age, which can be reached only after Link assists the Boss of the Carpenters by traversing the watery highlands (often with the assistance of Dimitri in most cases) and finding the missing Carpenters in order to have them build the bridge necessary to access Symmetry Village. The Nuun Highlands are surrounded by Rolling Ridge to the east and Symmetry Village to the west, along with Restoration Wall.

Dungeons

Level 1: Spirit's Grave

Level 2: Wing Dungeon

Level 3: Moonlit Grotto

Level 4: Skull Dungeon

Level 5: Crown Dungeon

Level 6: Mermaid's Cave

Level 7: Jabu-Jabu's Belly

Level 8: Ancient Tomb

Races of Labrynna

Goron

Human/Labrynnan

Tokay

Zora

Notes

The geography of Nuun Highlands alters depending on which animal companion Link has obtained the flute of; Ricky, Moosh or Dimitri. The alteration will suit the animal's strong points. For instance, Dimitri as Link's companion accompanies a watery Nuun Highlands.