Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule

Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule (Pronounced  ,   ) is a King of Hyrule, and a character who has a prominent role in The Wind Waker.

Biography
The King of Red Lions is a talking sailboat that Link meets early in the game. It is with this boat that he is able to move from one island to another on the Great Sea. Good-spirited and filled with wisdom, the King of Red Lions was one of Link's greatest allies. The boat speaks to him, explaining what's going on, and what to do next. Later in the game, it is revealed that the boat is operated magically by king Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, preserved under the sea.

The King can speak the ancient Hylian tongue, and often does so on Link's behalf. Neither Link nor the player can understand the language, however, in the second quest, the player can read these words. Link, on the other hand, still can't understand them.

The King of Red Lions is seen at the end of the game, but appears completely lifeless, as the King himself has died. Eiji Aonuma stated that the boat would not reappear in Phantom Hourglass, though a similar boat helmed by another "hero" did briefly appear.

Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule is the last king of the long forgotten land of Hyrule. During the Great Flood he remained in Hyrule, which was to be sealed away and preserved at the bottom of the sea. He instructed the Princess Zelda of that era to split the Triforce of Wisdom in two parts and flee for the mountaintops with a few of her servants. Ages later, after Ganondorf successfully circumvented the Goddesses' seal and reached the surface of the sea, the Goddesses awoke the king from his seal to prevent Ganondorf's plans.

Daphnes revealed to Tetra that she is the heir to the kingdom of Hyrule and by combining the two fragments, the Triforce of Wisdom dwelt within Zelda. He instructed Zelda to remain in Hyrule Castle to avoid being captured by Ganondorf, while he and Link would proceed to restore the evil-repelling power of the Master Sword. Judging by how he fades in and out of existence, he may merely be an apparition. He may also be grounded spiritually to Hyrule, as Link only meets him in person while in Hyrule.

By the end of the game, the King appears before Ganondorf, wishing to the Triforce for Hyrule to be drowned under the Great Sea, and to give Link and Tetra a future. After Ganondorf's final defeat, Daphnes laments to Link and Tetra his regret as he lived bound to the memory of Hyrule, comparing himself to Ganondorf in that regard. The King told Link and Tetra to live for the future in a land which would belong only to them. After the ocean drowns Hyrule, Link and Tetra rise to the surface with the king remaining with his doomed kingdom, possibly (finally) dying.

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

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.
 * A king bearing a great resemblance to Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule appears in The Minish Cap manga, although he goes unnamed.
 * Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule may be the first character in the Zelda series to have fully modeled expressions.