So many magnificent natural wonders grace the landscape of the fantastic planet we have the privilege of inhabiting, but very few can match the sheer raw splendor of a towering mountain. From unstable beginnings, these behemoths are birthed from the violent clashing of tectonic plates and the fiery expulsion of molten lava from the earth’s core, slowly but steadily climbing up through the sky and gradually strengthening their foundation until they stand triumphantly above the rest of the earth. Each mountain is wonderfully unique, from steep, smooth spikes with razor-sharp edges to undulating, bumpy boulders dotted with trees and flowers, all pulsing with the ancient, terrifying power that shaped their craggy faces so long ago.
But despite their intimidating countenance, mountains are usually gentle giants who help many different creatures thrive and quietly watch over the ever-changing landscape, inspiring humans across the globe to worship them as guardian entities. Also, though they may seem invincible, they do have their vulnerabilities; the seemingly benign forces of water and wind scrape and chip away at the rocks, grinding down the jagged edges as the eons pass by. And in rare cases, all it takes is one explosive, heart-stopping moment for half the mountain to crumble away, leaving behind a mere shadow of its former glory. But even in its darkest moments, the mountain will continue to stand upright, stoically guarding the people who just witnessed its horrific destruction.
The Gorons of the Zelda series not only live atop the mountains that grace Hyrule’s landscape; they embody the very essence of the mountains, in all their powerful, unrefined beauty. Kind, dignified, and fiercely protective, these living rocks have stood as pillars of strength to bolster the Hero of Legend through the ages, their impact on Link’s eventual success as unmistakable as the silhouette of the Dueling Peaks on the distant horizon. But the one who stands out the most, the smiling beacon of hope who inspires us to weather the storm in pursuit of the summit, is the one who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect all that he held dear: the humble Goron Champion known as Daruk.
It stands to reason that anyone chosen to represent their people as a Champion would embody the virtues of loyalty, valor, and honor as they strive to be leaders and sources of positive inspiration to those in their community. If the awestruck gazes and reverent words spoken by the residents in modern-day Goron City are any indication, then the almighty Daruk surpassed these standards many times over during his lifetime. Throughout the century that followed Calamity Ganon’s siege of Hyrule, Daruk’s legacy as the fallen Goron Champion gradually evolved into a kind of heroic folk legend, to the point where one only needs to say, “Who do you think you are, Lord Daruk?” for you to know that the task ahead of you is an exceptionally challenging one that you should think twice about. For a culture that so deeply values hardiness, physical endurance, and a warrior’s spirit, Daruk is the perfect role model, skillfully wielding the bone-shattering Boulder Breaker and summoning a one-of-a-kind, indestructible force field to deflect all attacks. Indeed, this incredible hero of the Gorons was a formidable titan whose iron-clad body could surely pulverize any creature with the might of a speeding freight train.
But just as the cold, hardened exterior of a mountain belies the blazing-hot magma pumping through its veins, Daruk’s intimidating, granite-like form was just the hard shell that protected the sweet, warm-hearted goofball within. This energetic older Goron, who showed support through his booming voice and spine-busting slaps on the back, relished the simple joys that living next to an active volcano could provide. While the other Champions used their personal diaries to chronicle their struggles with complex emotional issues, the contents of Daruk’s “training journal” were relatively light-hearted, extolling the hearty taste of rock sirloin, rock roast, and any other rock-related food he could think of in the moment. In fact, his brotherly bond with Link was forged quickly because of their mutual love of eating, as well as their strong camaraderie on the battlefield.
Outgoing, honest, and unfailingly friendly, Daruk didn’t like to waste time with decorum, preferring to call Link and Zelda by the affectionate nicknames “little guy” and “tiny princess” as opposed to their proper diplomatic titles. But that doesn’t mean he was against all formal practices, as he was the one who wished to liven up Link’s otherwise underwhelming appointment as Zelda’s knight with an official ceremony (even though it failed spectacularly). With most of the other Champions wrapped up in their own anxiety and self-doubt (seriously, Zelda, your tensed-up shoulders are going to freeze one day if you’re not careful), it was wonderful to have Daruk around to balance out the scales and remind them that Calamity Ganon’s presence shouldn’t stop them from having a little fun.
Contrary to appearances, the Goron hero did possess his fair share of weaknesses. By his own admission, he was “green as grass” when he was just a young lad, so timid that stray dogs would feel compelled to chase him around the mountainside on a regular basis. This led Daruk to develop severe cynophobia that endured well into his adulthood, prompting him to panic and cower beneath his protective barrier whenever he spots a seemingly innocent canine. While this scene is played off mainly for laughs in Breath of the Wild, we should all remember the humbling moments in our own lives when we ran away screaming from harmless creatures one-eightieth our size and recognize that we all have reasons behind our irrational fears. Though it’s very unlikely that Daruk could be harmed by a small dog in his adult form, I like to think that this fear taught him valuable lessons in vigilance and caution that he was wise to carry with him as he evolved into a great warrior. After all, if water can erode rock, who’s to say that a puppy couldn’t topple a living mountain?
In addition to this crippling fear, Daruk also struggled mightily with Hyrule’s modern technology. Being from a relatively isolated culture accustomed to using blunt force to solve the bulk of its problems, he lacked the fine motor skills and technological knowledge needed to efficiently operate his Divine Beast, making it more difficult for him to pilot his machine than it was for the other Champions. Even though he quickly recovered from this misstep once Link encouraged him to try a more hands-on approach, Daruk was always bothered by the notion that his shortcomings would prove to be the Achilles’ heel of his team and lead to their demise. That was perhaps his greatest weakness: the overwhelming sense of responsibility he felt towards everyone else. In Urbosa’s diary, she mentioned that she and Daruk, being the elders of the group, saw it as their duty to protect the younger ones so that they could usher in Hyrule’s future. Thus, Daruk couldn’t allow himself to dwell on feelings of helplessness; at any cost, he would act as the impenetrable shield that his friends could duck behind in their moment of peril. Failure simply didn’t have a place in this equation.
But sadly, the deadly eruption that would blow the stoic mountain to rubble eventually arrived in the form of Fireblight Ganon. Trapped inside the Malice-infected Vah Rudania, Daruk put up a truly valiant fight against the demonic plague, but ultimately lost the battle for his life. For the next 100 years, his spirit was haunted by this defeat, undeservedly placing the blame for the world falling to ruin squarely on his broad, incorporeal shoulders. That’s why, once Link fully cleanses Vah Rudania and sets Daruk free, he expresses shame and guilt for allowing himself to be killed and throwing Hyrule into chaos. But in classic Daruk fashion, he doesn’t allow these negative emotions to consume him for long. While he may have lost faith in himself, he always knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that his sworn brother was alive, continuing the battle on his behalf. Thus, Daruk’s enthusiasm and optimism once again win the day, spurring him to finish the job he started so long ago.
And finally, in one of the most uplifting moments in the entire game, Daruk’s spirit gazes across the vast Hyrulian landscape from atop Rudania, admiring its resilience in the face of utter catastrophe. Just as he is quietly pondering how his people have fared over the last century, he catches sight of a lone Goron staring up at him in awe from a ledge below. Not just any Goron, but his own grandson Yunobo, thriving in this new age defined by danger and unrest. Overjoyed by this sight, Daruk gives his descendant a respectful salute, while the young boy happily cheers and waves to him. Even after all this time and all this pain, the spirit of the mountain is still reaching for the heavens, forever watching over the beautiful world it calls home.
