River Man

The River Man is a character from the game The Adventure of Link, who lives in the Water Town of Saria. He resides in the western part of the town, guarding the bridge to the other side of the town. He does only let inhabitants of the town through. Link has to get a note from Bagu, who lives in the Moruge Forest, to get permission to cross the bridge. Another River Man can be seen on the other side of the bridge.

In an issue of the Valiant Comics, when Ganon comes to Saria to gain the trust of the townsfolk, he speaks to the River Man's son, Rus, in particular, acting as a father figure. The River Man believed Ganon's words, and thus when Link and Princess Zelda visit the town, he does not trust them. When Ganon attacked Link, and Rus grabed the Magical Sword and refused to give it to Ganon, Ganon tried to attack Rus, which made the River Man realizes his mistake.

In a later edition, after Cassiopia, the River Man's wife which is also the Healing Lady of the Water Town of Saria, returned from the North Palace where she informed Zelda that Lynels have attacked the town, the River Man reveals her that Rus has been gravely wounded. Because of this, and as Cassiopia cannot help her son, Zelda travels to Ganon's lair, where is granted access by Darknut Prime, and finds the fairy Miff and the townsfolk locked in jail. She then brings Miff to the Water Town of Saria to save the River Man's son.

Trivia
The River Man is similar in appearance to the Hyrulean Knight from the Harbor Town of Mido.