Skyloft is brimming with life, filled with various characters full of unique personalities and stories, from the wacky bazaar shop owners to the residents of the Lumpy Pumpkin and the knights that keep everyone safe from the monsters of the night. Creatures of the sky weave through their culture, forming the statues that roam their island and giving life to the Loftwings that guide them through the skies. Furthermore, each resident is named after real-life birds, but no one quite knows birds like Orielle does. No wonder she was named after not just one, but two birds.
Orielle is a character seen in Skyward Sword that has always been a favorite of mine. At first, my liking for the character came from our similar appearance and the stylish color palette of her design. However, as I took the time to speak to her over and over again throughout the game, I discovered there was more to her character than being a hint-giving NPC. She is a passionate individual with a love for the birds rich in her culture.
The first opportunity Link has to talk to Orielle is before the wing ceremony. She asks Link who he thinks will win but fades off before she can give her own answer. We can only assume that the knight-in-training right before her is the winning knight on her mind. She goes on to speak about how romantic the ceremony is, admitting that she’s been dreaming of playing the goddess and completing the ceremony with a handsome, winning knight. With Link as the obvious winner, I don’t blame her — I, too, would switch with Zelda in an instant to get close to Link. I am sure that when the Wing Ceremony begins, Orielle is watching from the cliffs of Skyloft or maybe in the skies itself, rooting for Link and wishing that she was in Zelda’s place.
It doesn’t take long for Orielle to get her knight-in-shining-armor moment. One of the first sidequests available to Link is a quest to find Orielle at the request of her brother. Her Loftwing got injured in flight and the duo crash-landed onto one of the many little islands in the sky. It’s up to Link to provide Orielle with the Mushroom Spores she needs to heal her bird or else be left stranded on the island. If Link refuses to give her Mushroom Spores, she calls him a monster for being so heartless. When the sidequest is completed, the story takes a twist and doesn’t pursue Orielle’s potential crush on Link, but rather shows her passion for Loftwings and her deeply caring nature towards the resident birds. Orielle’s Loftwing is one of the few Loftwings we get to see. Her bird is a simple brown-feathered Loftwing with a single braid tied with a green ribbon, matching Orielle’s hair and reaffirming her connection to the bird.
Orielle’s passion stems from more than just love and care. She has a deep understanding of the birds, knowing many things that others do not. Even Fi comments on her knowledge of Loftwings being expansive and more than the average resident. After her sidequest is completed, more of her dialogue shows her love for the bird. Most noticeably, after the Statue of the Goddess falls back to the Surface, Orielle mourns the loss of a great palace for Loftwings to rest. She really does rank Loftwings higher than anything else.
Orielle is not a character to forget. She’s a beautiful and caring girl with a love for the birds she has grown up surrounded by. Her crush on Link makes her relatable while her knowledge throughout the game shows her intelligence. In every playthrough, I always take the time to visit Orielle and hear her splices of dialogue as she is a resident that brings life to the islands of the Sky. Sometimes it’s the NPCs with the smaller roles that are the ones that stick with you.
Skyward Sword is 10 years old on November 18, 2021! We’re celebrating with dedicated articles all week.
