In every story we listen to, there are characters that stick with us. Whether it’s the hero who inspires hope, the villain who ignites our dark side, or the character on the sidelines helping them along. Breath of the Wild in particular has brought many characters to life that the community has fallen in love with, and even five years on are still capturing our hearts. On my journey through Breath of the Wild, the character that stuck with me to this day is Riju, Chief of the Gerudo. She is more than a favorite character. To me, she is an inspiration who gives me the strength to fight the battles of life.
Riju is the youngest ruler in Hyrule. She became Chief of the Gerudo at the age of 12, following the passing of her mother. To lose her mother at a young age was sure to have an impact, but while most children would be given the chance to grieve, Riju had to adjust to sitting on the throne that was rightfully hers and learning to rule over her people. She stood strong, learning fast and listening to the wisdom of those around her. While she still worries that she’ll never be as good as her mother, her people have faith in the young girl descended from a great Gerudo Champion.
Gerudo mature faster than Hylians. Riju may only be a child, but she speaks with eloquence and wisdom. Her strength is admirable even when admitting that she is not ready to be a ruler. She knows she still has much to learn and she strives every day to be a better ruler for her people. In my times of need, I draw from Riju’s strength. After all she has been through, if she can still hold her head up high, so can I.
That’s not to say that Riju is not without doubt. While she has the strength to lead, she lacks confidence in herself. When the Thunder Helm is stolen under her rule, she blames herself, believing it to be a message from her ancestors telling her she is not ready. The Gerudo Captain attempts to shoulder the blame, but Riju refuses to let her guards take hold of the burden. She admits to her faults and works to improve them. Without realizing it, she’s giving herself the foundation to become a great leader one day.
When Link visits her for the first time, it’s hard to see the youth in her behavior, but her childhood innocence is not lost. In Riju’s room, her childish side shows. Multiple sand seal plushies lie around her room and, depending on the time of day, Riju can be found talking to them and having a playful imagination. She’ll be embarrassed about being caught and deny such actions, trying to have that mature front around others, but deep down she is still a child and in her own private time, she deserves to let herself loose and relax a little. Too many of us hide our passions and interests, putting on a mask when we leave our rooms. If Riju can rule her people and still have a room full of plush seals, so can we.
The young chief’s love for seals goes beyond her plush toys. Many of the Gerudo have their own sand seal either for racing through the sands or exploring the desert. Riju is no exception. She was gifted with Patricia, a beautiful sand seal, by her mother and she puts a lot of care and time into looking after her. As a part of her morning routine, Riju walks Patricia in the lower levels of the palace, but dealing with the troubles of Vah Naboris and ruling over her people has made her free time short. However, Patricia is never left forgotten. When Riju goes with Link to calm Vah Naboris, Patricia is by her side, ready to take her through the desert. A ribbon sits tied into her fur, gifted to her by Riju, and acts as a sign of their friendship.
Urbosa, the Gerudo Champion, would look down on her descendant with pride. Despite her doubt, her age, and grief buried in her heart, Riju is full of courage. She doesn’t step down from a challenge. Instead, she learns what she can to be better, and she doesn’t let her new journey get in the way of who she is. She embraces her culture, her love, and her people, and works towards following in the footsteps of her mother. Her strength is an inspiration to us all. Remember that even when the world feels like it’s falling apart around you, it only takes one spark of courage to keep fighting. With one small step at a time, we can survive whatever life throws at us.
