Spoiler Warning:
The rest of this article contains significant spoilers for Tears of the Kingdom about the story, gameplay mechanics, etc. that you might not wish to see. Continue reading at your own risk.
In Tears of the Kingdom, the theme of displacement is all-pervasive. Link once again sets out on his arduous quest to locate the elusive Princess Zelda, dispelling the Gloom in his wake. Many of Hyrule’s familiar inhabitants have left the places they formerly called home — Robbie and Purah have abandoned their respective research labs in Akkala and East Necluda and set up camp at the newly constructed Lookout Landing, the epicenter of the recent chaos. Several stables are now out of commission and some have been seized and repurposed by a certain newspaper. Hudson Construction seems to have expanded virtually everywhere.
In this post-Upheaval Hyrule, a plethora of researchers and explorers have been dispatched across various disciplines to investigate the chaos. We meet Zonai surveyors, monster-hunting crews, and Depths enthusiasts who are all trying to make sense of the disturbing environmental changes caused by Ganondorf’s resurgence. Once such aficionado is the bright-eyed child genius, Josha. This spunky little firecracker is a self-proclaimed Depths expert and is already spearheading her own research under the watchful eye of her mentor, Purah.
Josha is the official Head of Depths & Chasms Research at Lookout Landing. She is particularly curious about the Purah Pad’s ability to document the hidden mysteries contained underground. She is part of the Zonai survey team investigating any and all clues related to the disappearance of Princess Zelda. Much to her chagrin, Josha has been forbidden from setting foot in the Depths (she is just a child after all, and it is unspeakably dangerous down there), so she enlists Link and Robbie (aka “Glasses”) to carry out the field work on her behalf.
A mildly frightening goose chase ensues as Link dives headfirst into the ominous Depths to search for Robbie, who has set up a series of checkpoints leading towards the Iayusus Lightroot. Using the Purah Pad, Link captures a photo of the Statue with Raised Arm to present to Josha, who believes the figure contains important clues about an ancient location hidden in the Depths.
Josha’s main focus is piecing together a broken mural using stone fragments retrieved by the survey team. The mural depicts a map pointing towards the Abandoned Central Mine — a key location housing an abundance of Zonai and Crystallized Charges, which Link desperately needs to power up his Zonai Battery. Under Josha’s direction, Link is able to locate the abandoned building and unlock the crucial Autobuild feature (while getting ambushed by Master Kohga and the Yiga Clan along the way). The Steward Constructs point Link in the direction of the other hidden mines, which Kohga is hoping to plunder for more resources.
Rebuilding Hyrule is no easy task, and the gang at Lookout Landing have assembled a ragtag family unit with the resourcefulness to face these trying times. They present a united front in the hefty task of restoring Hyrule to her former glory. Josha’s position of authority in this mission is admirable given her age and lack of experience compared to the adults in charge.
Her relationship with Robbie is especially adorable given how much these two behave like a father-daughter duo, despite not being related. Their usual banter consists of a lot of arguing over what is considered “safe research” and Josha always fiercely guarding her research materials from prying eyes (and hands).
I admire Josha for her enthusiasm and strong backbone in defending the significance of her research efforts to others. Josha exemplifies the true impassioned scientist, unafraid of risking life and limb (but mostly Link’s) in the pursuit of knowledge.
