Rauru


 * This article is about the character from Ocarina of Time. For the town in The Adventure of Link that goes by the same name, see Rauru (Town).

Rauru is an ancient Hylian and the Sage of Light in Ocarina of Time. He is one of the ancient Sages who built the Temple of Time, and possibly their only survivor. He resides within the Chamber of Sages within the Temple of Light, itself located in the Sacred Realm. During the events of Ocarina of Time, Rauru is not seen outside of the Sacred Realm except as Kaepora Gaebora, his owl form, which he uses to aid Young Link during his quest.

Ocarina of Time
In ancient times, Rauru built the Temple of Time. Afterward, he seems to have remained within the Temple of Light, only leaving the Sacred Realm as Kaepora Gaebora. Among the populace, it is widely rumored that Kaepora Gaebora is the reincarnation of an ancient sage, although they do not seem to know that he is Rauru in particular.

After Link defeats Queen Gohma and leaves the Kokiri Forest, Kaepora Gaebora awaits him at the edge of the woods, giving him encouragement on the adventure the Great Deku Tree has tasked him with and directing him to Hyrule Castle, then leaving with a promise that they'd meet again.

True to his word, Kaepora Gaebora often appears to tell Link about a new area whenever the young hero comes upon it, and he picks Link up and carries him twice when Link could not progress on his own. Once Link reaches the Spirit Temple, after navigating between the eras of his childhood and adulthood, Kaepora Gaebora compliments him on his growth and bids farewell, after giving one final piece of advice on how to defeat the witches, Twinrova.

When Link opens the Door of Time and draws the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time, Rauru keeps Link with him in the Sacred Realm so that, in the safety of the Light Temple, the boy could grow old enough to truly assume the role of the hero. Rauru speaks with Link for the first time after those seven years, informing him of what has happened and what he is supposed to do as the hero. After instructing him to awaken the other Sages, Rauru gives him the Light Medallion. Afterward, he only reappeared as Kaepora Gaebora once, to watch from afar while Sheik taught Link the Requiem of Spirit.

Rauru contacts Link again when he has freed the other five Sages. He tells Link to meet "someone" waiting at the Temple of Time before facing Ganondorf. This person turns out to be none other than the seventh Sage, Princess Zelda. Unfortunately, by revealing herself to Link, Ganondorf also was finally able to find her. Rauru then instructs Link to save Zelda and informs him that he and the other Sages would aid him by providing entrance to Ganon's Castle. When Link defeats Ganon, Rauru leads the other Sages when they use their powers to seal away Ganondorf.

The Wind Waker
Rauru is memorialized within one of the stained glass windows in Hyrule Castle's basement, where the Master Sword is enshrined.

Trivia

 * Rauru, aside from the seventh sage, is the only Hylian Sage in Ocarina of Time. This causes speculation that each sage is chosen from a race to represent an element. Considering that Rauru is the Sage of Light, this may most likely be a way to connect the Hylian race to the element of light.
 * Rauru, like several other characters from Ocarina of Time, inspired a town featured in The Adventure of Link to be named after him (that is the in-universe explanation anyway, in fact it was his name that was reused by the Zelda team from a town in the previous game).
 * King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule is similar to Rauru both in appearance and in the fact that he is a wise man who aids Link in his quest. Additionally, both of them seem to have traits that seem to imply that they may be spirits who give Link guidance from beyond the grave.
 * The character Auru from Twilight Princess seems to be a reference to Rauru.