Every leader needs a grand home to entertain guests, hold necessary meetings, take big decisions, or do something even more important: rest! This is true even for the leaders of the proud Gerudo, but since their town is located in the ruthlessly hot desert, the home for a Gerudo chief needs to be something special. Gerudo Town Palace needs to act as a sanctuary from the heat while also representing who the Gerudo are to the rest of the world.
Gerudo Town’s palace is a little piece of heaven on earth, offering not only shade for its guests but also shallow canals with water running through all floors to calm the senses. Since water is the most valuable thing you can have in a hot and dry desert, the presence of it is perhaps what makes this a proper palace instead of the sparkling gems and jewels decorated on the corners of pillars and walls. There’s no other place in town where you can find as much water, making the palace luxurious despite its, perhaps, sparse decorations.
Looking from the outside, it’s not difficult to tell that this is where the Gerudo chief must live. If the staircase leading up to the main entrance isn’t a big enough hint, then perhaps the massive waterfalls falling from the impressive cliff and right onto the palace will make a visitor understand.
Two guards are stationed outside of the entrance facing the bazaar, and it will be difficult to get past them unless you have some kind of business with the Gerudo chief. Beyond them is a room with enough space for two tall statues of Gerudo warriors that greet any guests. Behind the impressive statues is where you’ll meet the most respected woman among the Gerudo, namely the Gerudo chief herself. With water and bejeweled pillars surrounding her, she sits on her throne and rules over her people. With a view over town in one direction and the dry desert in the opposite, it makes for an excellent throne room.
When a long day is coming to an end, it is time to go to sleep, and upstairs from the throne room is the chief’s personal quarters. A hundred years ago, it might’ve looked slightly different from how the current chief, Riju, prefers her bedroom to look. Compared to Urbosa, Riju is still a child and several, colorful, stuffed Sand Seal toys can be seen on her large bed. But what do I know; perhaps Urbosa did have a favorite stuffed Sand Seal stored somewhere? Looking at Riju’s seal, I feel as though I want one as well even though I’m past 20. I wouldn’t judge Urbosa if she still had kept one.
The bedroom is otherwise rather mature and worthy of a leader; there are several bookcases on one wall and an equally spacious gap on the other meant for storage. Monstera plants decorate the room, as do water sprouts from protruding Sand Seal heads. The morning sun enters through the arched windows to hit the large canopied bed in the center of the room and, behind it, a pedestal holding a tablet filled with Gerudo text. It’s a room meant for relaxation and reflection. Without knowing that books are kept in the bookcases, the room feels as though it is better suited for someone older than Riju. Someone like Urbosa, for example.
At first glance, the palace might seem to be quite peaceful compared to the busy bazaar, but it isn’t just a place to rule from. To the right of the main entrance is a training ground where Gerudo warriors can master their strikes and follow orders from their commander. It makes sense that soldiers are located so close to the palace, not only because they need to be available to protect their leader if anything were to happen, but also because they truly represent who the Gerudo are. For as long as anyone can recall, the Gerudo have been strong women who know how to handle a sharp blade. The warriors are a display of power, heritage, and tradition to any observer from the terrace above.
Interestingly and perhaps not very surprisingly, the palace also houses a small school to give fellow Gerudo tips and instructions on how to flirt and talk with men — but more on that another time.
Wherever one goes, they will see words written or engraved in Gerudo here and there. They are there to remind the reader of who they are and what their values are: stay vigilant, face the sunlight, be brilliant. They are encouraging words meant for the Gerudo to read but would also surely be comforting for others to hear as well. Now that we know them, what do you say; shall we both try to face the sun and be brilliant today, too? I may not be a Gerudo, but it won’t stop me from trying.
To celebrate the recent launch of Age of Calamity, we are dedicating all of our regular columns this week to the mighty Champions! Check out our Champions Week 2020 page.
