Sage: Difference between revisions

|image= File:TP Sage Render.png

|race= Various

|game= TAoL, ALttP, OoT, TWW, TP, PH, ST, ALBW, TotK

|other= {{SSBB}}

Currently, nine Sage positions are known to exist, divided in a group of seven and a group of two. The original and presently most featured group consists of the first seven, hence their common designation as the "Seven Sages." The leader of them, the seventh Sage, is commonly an incarnation of [[Princess Zelda]] (or possibly the best suited member of the [[Royal Family of Hyrule]] of that time). The seventh Sage is not a core member and the other Sages have just as often been seen working as a group of only six, appropriately referred to then as "The Six Sages." {{TWW}} brought two more Sages to the roster, seemingly functioning independently from the seven Sages. This group's total number is not specified and due to their current one-time appearance, it is also unclear if their responsibilities outrange solely taking care of the Master Sword's [[Power to Repel Evil]].

The original Sages, commonly known as the '''Ancient Sages''', have not, as a group, made an in-game appearance with the exception of [[Rauru]],<ref name="ancientsageRauru">{{Cite|I am Rauru, one of the ancient Sages...|Rauru|OoT}}</ref> who assumes in several instances the form of an [[Kaepora Gaebora|owl]] in order to provide guidance to the [[Link|Hero of Time]].<ref name=Rauru_Gaebora>{{Cite Book|quote= |book= HH |publisher= |page= 87}}</ref>  

==Appearances==

Prior to Link's quest, [[Agahnim]], the late [[King of Hyrule|King]]'s right-hand man, used his power to find and capture the seven [[Maiden]]s, who were descendants of the Seven Sages. While not as strong as their ancestors, the Maidens had inherited their magical abilities.<ref>{{Cite|Link, thanks to you, I was able to escape the clutches of the evil monsters. Thank you! They say the Hylian people mastered mysterious powers, as did the seven sages. But the blood of the Hylia has grown thin over time. And we who carry the blood of the sages do not possess our ancestors' powers, either. But our power will increase if we mix the courage of the knights with the wisdom of the sages!|Maiden|ALttP}}</ref> Agahnim planned to send them to the [[Dark World]] one by one in order to destroy the seal that kept Ganon locked up.<ref>{{Cite|A mysterious wizard known as Agahnim appeared as from nowhere... and with strange magic powers he eliminated the good king of Hyrule... He cast spells on the soldiers and kidnapped young maidens descended from the sages in order to break the seal...|N/A|ALttP}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|Ganon captured us because he couldn't break the seal of the sages with his power alone. And then, using the wizard Agahnim as his pawn, he drew us to the Dark World. After cracking the seal with our powers, he sealed us inside of these crystals.|Maiden|ALttP}}</ref>

The owl [[Kaepora Gaebora]], who kept track of Link since the start of his quest, is a form taken by Rauru.<ref name=Rauru_Gaebora/>

Zelda waited for Link at the [[Temple of Time]] to reveal herself as the seventh Sage, leader of them all, and speak with Link about the battle ahead. However, Ganondorf found her as well and abducted her to his tower. Link went after them and freed her, causing Ganondorf to change into Ganon. While Link took him on again, Zelda prepared for her role as Sage from the sideline and when Ganon fell, she united her powers with the other Sages to lock him away. After that, she and Link had a private conversation about all that had happened since they met, and Zelda revealed that she wished to use her powers as a Sage to return Link to the past, so time could flow as it should've done.<ref name="TimeSage">{{Cite|Link, give the Ocarina to me... As a Sage, I can return you to your original time with it.|Princess Zelda|OoT}}</ref> Goodbyes were made shortly thereafter.

Prior to the Great Flood, Laruto had been awakened as Sage to pray for the Master Sword's power. Ages later, she was murdered by Ganondorf to remove the threat the Master Sword posed to him. As a ghost, Laruto remained in the [[Earth Temple (The Wind Waker)|Earth Temple]] until Link traveled to [[Headstone Island]] to visit the Earth Temple. She told him about the events of her death, and that if Link hoped to defeat Ganondorf, he'd have to find the new Sage and play them the [[Earth God's Lyric]]. When Link played for Medli, she went into a trance in which Laruto appeared to the new Sage, motivating her to play as well. Not long thereafter, Medli and Link came to the Earth Temple to perform the ceremony to restore power to the Master Sword. Laruto made her final appearance then to perform with them, passing on finally.

Medli was practicing on her [[Medli's Harp|harp]] when she was visited by Link, who offered to conduct for her. She accepted and played the [[Earth God's Lyric]]. Upon hearing the melody, something in her mind stirred and she went into a trance. In her vision, she was visited by her predecessor Laruto, who motivated her to play her harp again. This caused Medli to realize her status as Sage and she requested Link to bring her to the [[Earth Temple (The Wind Waker)|Earth Temple]] immediately. Link sailed her to the temple and helped her get to its sanctuary. There, they performed the ceremony to restore power to the Master Sword, bringing Link another step closer to his goal. Medli remained in the temple until Tetra's crew picked her up once the battle was won.

[[File:Maidens.png|thumb|x150px|right|The Maidens from {{FSA|-}}]]

In {{FSA}}, the [[Maiden#Four Swords Adventures|Shrine Maidens]] serve a function similar to that of the sages. They are responsible for keeping the powers dormant in the [[Four Sword Sanctuary]] under control. It is they who control the gate to its sacred grounds, preventing anyone from taking the [[Four Sword]] and from freeing [[Vaati]].<ref>{{Cite|These six maidens guard the portal to the Four Sword Sanctuary to keep it safe. I'm going now to make sure Vaati's seal remains strong. Now, the shrine maidens and I must open the portal to the Four Sword's resting place. Step back, Link...|Princess Zelda|FSA}}</ref> The [[Royal Jewels]] that belong in the Four Sword Sanctuary to open [[Tower of Winds|the path]] to the [[Realm of the Heavens]] are left in the care of the [[Knights of Hyrule]], only to be gathered and used through the Shrine Maidens' power if the path were to close.<ref name="GreenMaidenSpeech">{{Cite|You passed through the flames to rescue me! Such bravery. You're just like the Knights of Hyrule! You've heard of the Knights of Hyrule, of course! They're the pride of the kingdom! They would lay down their lives for honor! In Hyrule, four sacred jewels can open the path to the Realm of the Heavens. The safety of these jewels has for ages been entrusted to the Knights of Hyrule. And yet, in these dark times, the knights are nowhere to be seen... I cannot hide my fears. ... ... ... Pardon? Master Kaepora Gaebora, you say? Is that so... Well then, we must go to Hyrule Castle! We must liberate the castle!|Green Maiden|FSA}}</ref>  

[[Kaepora Gaebora]] returns to guide Link through his quest. There is no mention made of him being the reincarnation of an ancient Sage this time, but he is both known and respected by the Shrine Maidens.<ref name="GreenMaidenSpeech"/>

When Link first encounters Osfala outside the [[Eastern Palace]]'s entrance, Osfala recognizes Link as the blacksmith's apprentice and asks him why he is at the palace.<Ref>{{Cite|You, stop where you are! What are you doing here at the Eastern Palace? Oh, my apologies. I thought you were someone I'm looking for. Aren't you Link? You're the blacksmith's apprentice, right? But what brings you all the way to the Eastern Palace?|Osfala|ALBW}}</Ref> The hero proceeds to inform Osfala about Yuga and the events that recently occurred within the [[Sanctuary (A Link Between Worlds)|Sanctuary]], warning him about the peril he's in.<Ref>{{Cite|Vile deeds at the Sanctuary? My master sent you to fetch me back to safety?|Osfala|ALBW}}</Ref> However, Osfala doesn't believe he's in danger, stating that although Yuga is a cause of concern, his master shouldn't be worried about him because he's a descendant of the Seven Sages.

Gulley is the son of the [[Blacksmith (A Link Between Worlds)|Blacksmith]] and the [[Blacksmith's Wife]], and is one of the Seven Sages.

After greeting Link and learning he is looking for the [[Captain]], Seres enters the Sanctuary to call him, only for the doors to the Sanctuary to close suddenly and lock, preventing any from entering. After hearing Seres scream from inside and at [[Dampé|Dampé's]] urging, Link makes his way to the graveyard to use the secret passageway connecting it to the Sanctuary. Once inside, Link witnesses Seres' abduction and transformation of Seres into a painting, having already turned the Captain into a drawing on the wall. Though he complains that the Captain's portrait is unattractive, he praises Seres as "perfection".<ref name=Quote2>{{Cite|My name is Yuga. And I have come here seeking nothing less than... perfection. And you, my dear, are perfection. . . . I will put you on a pedestal. Or rather, upon a wall - perfect forever.|Yuga|ALBW}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|As I suspected, you're even lovelier as a painting. I think that Her Grace will be most pleased.|Yuga|ALBW}}</ref> Although Link attempts to stop Yuga, the sorcerer outsmarts the hero, turning temporarily into a drawing to cause Link to crash into the wall. With Link knocked out, Yuga swiftly kicks him aside and leaves with Seres despite her father's protests.

The story of {{TotK|-}} surrounds a group of seven sages similar to the ones featured in {{OoT}} and {{ALBW}}. According to stone tablets found in the [[Ring Ruins]] in [[Kakariko Village]], this group of sages was originally formed as select [[Zonai]] who possessed particularly strong powers over elements such as fire, water, wind, and lightning and were granted [[Secret Stone]]s to augment their powers. Two such Zonai were the siblings [[Rauru]] and [[Mineru]], who possessed powers of light and spirit, respectively; after Rauru fell in love with the Hyrulean woman [[Sonia]], he granted her a Secret Stone, as well, empowering her natural control of time. After Sonia is killed by [[Ganondorf]], the villainous leader of the [[Gerudo]], he steals her Secret Stone and uses it to become the Demon King. To stop him, Rauru grants Secret Stones to leaders from each of the four races -- [[Zora]], [[Goron]], [[Rito]], and Gerudo -- and declares them, as well as Mineru and the time-displaced [[Princess Zelda]], sages. The seven sages face Ganondorf but are unable to overcome his immense power over darkness, and Mineru is fatally wounded as a result. Finally, Rauru chooses to sacrifice himself, sealing both himself and Ganondorf away for centuries, until [[Link]] will be able to defeat him with the [[Master Sword]].

The descendant of Rauru and Sonia, Zelda uniquely possesses a combination of their powers over light and time; this power over light allowed her to play a vital role in defeating [[Calamity Ganon]] during the events of {{BotW}}. Some time after these events, she and Link find the risen body of Ganondorf beneath Hyrule Castle, at which point Zelda accidentally activates her power over time through use of a Secret Stone, sending herself back centuries to the founding of Hyrule and Ganondorf's original rise. She is taken in by her ancestors and provided training in how to use her powers, eventually joining Rauru's group of sages as the Sage of Time after Sonia's death. After Rauru's sacrifice, Zelda receives the damaged Master Sword from across time and realizes that she can use her own sacred light power to restore it if she grants herself immortality by consuming her Secret Stone, at the cost of her humanity. Before she enacts this ritual, she makes plans with Mineru and visits each of the four sages from the Hyrulean races, securing their support in Link's eventual quest to defeat Ganondorf. She then consumes her Secret Stone, transforming into a [[Light Dragon]] and embedding the Master Sword in her forehead, where it remains for the next several centuries, regaining its power through her sacred light.

As the Sage of Time, Zelda is able to send things back in time, moving objects to locations they were previously and sending herself and the Master Sword all the way back to the founding of Hyrule, though her understanding of her abilities are too limited for her to know how to undo this. The power to move objects through their own past is granted to Link as the [[Rewind]] function of Rauru's arm.

The original group of sages consisted of Rauru as the Sage of Light, Mineru as the Sage of Spirit, Zelda as the Sage of Time, and four unnamed representatives of the Zora, Goron, Rito, and Gerudo as the Sages of Water, Fire, Wind, and Lightning, respectively. These sages fought wear masks resembling the four [[Divine Beast]]s and fought alongside Rauru against Ganondorf once he awakened as the Demon King. After Rauru's sacrifice, each sage vowed to have their descendant support Link in his campaign against Ganondorf, hiding away their Secret Stones in temples.

File:TAoL Wise Man Artwork.png|Artwork of the {{Term|TAoL|Sage|link}} guarding the {{Term|TAoL|Triforce of Courage|link}} in {{TAoL|-}}

File:TAoL Link Sage Artwork.png|{{Term|TAoL|Link|link}} talking to a {{Term|TAoL|Sage}} from {{TAoL|-}}

File:ALttP Sages Sealing Artwork.png|Artwork of the Seven Sages sealing the [[Dark World]] from {{ALttP|-}}

File:RauruSageSeal.png|Rauru, the Sage of Light in the Chamber of Sages in {{OoT|-}}

File:SariaSageSeal.png|Saria, the Forest Sage in the Chamber of Sages in {{OoT|-}}

File:DaruniaSageSeal.png|Darunia, the Sage of Fire in the Chamber of Sages in {{OoT|-}}

File:RutoSageSeal.png|Ruto, the Sage of Water in the Chamber of Sages in {{OoT|-}}

File:ImpaSageSeal.png|Impa, the Sage of Shadow in the Chamber of Sages in {{OoT|-}}

File:NabooruSageSeal.png|Nabooru, the Sage of Spirit in the Chamber of Sages in {{OoT|-}}

File:OoT Princess Zelda.png|Zelda, leader of the sages in the Temple of Time in {{OoT|-}}

File:Earth God's Lyric.jpg|Laruto and Medli playing the "Earth God's Lyric" in {{TWW|-}}

File:TWW-EarthSageSuccession.jpg|Medli fulfilling her role as Sage in {{TWW|-}}

File:TWW-WindSageAwakening.jpg|Fado appearing to awaken Makar as a Sage in {{TWW|-}}

File:TWW-WindSageSuccession.jpg|Makar fulfilling his role as Sage in {{TWW|-}}

File:TPSages.jpg|The Sages in the Mirror Chamber in {{TP|-}}

File:Dominion Rod Depiction.png|Temple of Time carving depicting the Seven Sages in {{TP|-}}

File:ALBW Chamber of Sages.jpg|The Sages in the Chamber of Sages in {{ALBW|-}}