The Akkala Citadel Ruins is my favorite location in all of Breath of the Wild. Other spots across Hyrule come close: Dalite Forest in Tabantha, Rito Village, the Coliseum Ruins near the Great Plateau, and the Spring of Courage are all tremendous sight-seeing locales. But in my first playthrough of the game, sharing a save slot with my brothers, I was the first one to head northeast and discover the Akkala region, and with it the towering citadel. The feeling of scaling that fortress without Revali’s Gale, suffering both Guardian Skywatcher blasts and incessant rain, was rewarding beyond belief. But before I began the climb, I first had to rescue a traveler.
Nell is a minor NPC who is found right in front of the citadel on one side of a large chasm. When you find him, he is bravely fending off a blue Moblin; assist him, and he’ll reward you with a meal or a fairy tonic.
Nell is an intriguing character; he carries himself with dignity and strength but also with humility. He also wears a ragged piece of mail that seems to be the same worn by the royal soldiers of Hyrule. Link can attain this very outfit in Hateno Village. Nell tells you all the in-game information you ever learn about the Akkala Citadel: That it was a reputably “unassailable” military stronghold; that it was built long ago, at the peak of Hyrule’s power; and that it was the last bastion of Hyrule’s forces against Ganon and the rampant Guardians, even after Zelda and Link made their final stand at Fort Hateno. More information on the history and military strategies of the Citadel is available in Creating a Champion (also known as Master Works in some regions), the companion guide to Breath of the Wild.
From this interaction, there’s something curious about Nell. He wears the garb of a royal knight, he has knowledge of the fortress and its downfall, and he’s a dab-hand with a sword. Is he a real knight of Hyrule? Not quite. He can’t be, since the knights of Hyrule are gone: One hundred years have passed since the Great Calamity wiped out Hyrule’s military. Even if Nell had survived, he isn’t old enough to be a knight from that period.
So, what is his nature? Fortunately, Nell answers this enigma for us.
Nell states that he came to the citadel after learning that his kin had died there during Hyrule’s final stand. He was intent on offering prayers for his ancestors, but the bridge was as close as he dared approach, lest the remaining active Guardians spot him. This tells us exactly what we need to know: Nell is a descendant of members of the royal army, and the worn-out uniform he wears was likely passed down to him by a father, grandfather, or uncle who served in Hyrule’s military. But by studying other parts of his dialogue, there is evidence that he is uncertain of himself as a warrior.
When Link intervenes in his skirmish with the Moblin, Nell says that “it took all [he] had to stay alive,” and heaps praise on Link’s combat skills in comparison. Even though he wishes he could get closer to the fortress, he doesn’t believe he has what it takes to defeat a Guardian. From this, it seems that Nell knows he is not as experienced as he’d like to be, but that doesn’t stop him from trying.
Despite the long and dangerous journey, he prays at the site of his ancestors’ unmarked graves, striving to make them proud. He proves himself well enough in combat, fighting the Moblin and shouting bravely that “monsters have no business being here.” This, and donning the uniform of his lost family members, proves that — if I have anything to say about it — he is on a steady path to succeed his kin as a worthy knight of Hyrule.
Ever since meeting this character, I’ve admired his unique disposition and depth. Few NPCs in Breath of the Wild of similar, minor importance receive this kind of attention from the developers. Nell is a character I would love to see again in Breath of the Wild‘s unnamed sequel, especially if a new military force is banded under Zelda’s leadership. Who knows, perhaps the Akkala Citadel itself will be a prominent feature of the sequel, and if it is, I hope Nell stands proudly at the front line where he belongs.
