The wait is almost over for Tears of the Kingdom, and I know we’re all feeling the same excitement. How many articles, videos, memes, and works of fanart have you seen depicting the feeling of jumping off the Great Plateau since Breath of the Wild was released? Countless, I’d bet.
But when we talk about our introduction to the game, the discourse tends to skim over some of the Great Plateau. We talk about King Rhoam, but do we talk about the Old Man as he is now? There is so much focus on the past, the days before the Calamity, but in the present he is mostly an anonymous woodsman.
His cabin tells us about his current life, such as it is. Just how alive he is is a bit of a mystery. He’s certainly some kind of spirit, so he probably can’t die. But I’m sure he can experience his senses as if he were alive.
The cabin is a shelter from the elements. There’s a bed, several tree stump chairs, and furs covering the floor. The Old Man comes here for rest, and though his comforts are limited they are there. The rugs barely cover the floor, but they do suggest cosiness. There’s another fur beneath the bedsheet, and a block pillow. There is clean, fresh straw in the doorway, like a doormat to wipe his feet. There’s a table that he writes at, his diary there waiting for Link to read it. There’s a sideboard with some ingredients on it. In this shelter, he has all his basic needs met, though they are quite the contrast to Hyrule Castle.
The structure is rustic. Built around a large stone, which provides the foundation for the southern wall, the rest comprises drystone walls and unhewn logs, lashed together with thick chords. The roof is canvas over a log frame, weathered and with holes in places. There are gaps in the structure, some covered with more canvas, but most let some light in.
It’s not the most weatherproof structure, this little cabin, but it was built entirely by a single ghost man. It is very basic, but over the past 100 years, the Old Man’s only goals have been to take care of his basic needs and wait for Link’s return. He’s not there to hand carve exquisite furniture, or build a home fit for Tarrey Town. He needs shelter, a place to rest, somewhere to cook and eat. Little more than that is necessary for his time on the Plateau.
Well, maybe one little thing. Above his dining table is an old, battered, brass lantern. On the table itself is a green cloth. It, like the roof, is tattered and stained. It’s made from the same fabric as the bedsheet. Looking at it closely, the textile doesn’t look quite as rough as the canvas – could it be a remnant from his previous life? Here, he can write as he once did in his study. He has a beautiful view through the door of trees, fields, and mountains.
Here it is peaceful. A little lonely, perhaps. But the Old Man can cook under the stars, listen to the hooting of the owls, and patiently await the Hero’s return.
