When discussing the theology of Hyrule, the focus often lands on the four primary goddesses of the land: Din, Farore, Nayru, and Hylia. Of course, that hardly means they’re the only gods within the pantheon of Hyrule. For example, the Four Giants of Termina could be their own set of gods considered they allegedly created Termina, and the Desert Colossus of Gerudo Desert was built in revereance to the so-called “Goddess of the Sand”. In The Wind Waker, there are two frog deity brothers that rule over the winds of the Great Sea. As many have come to know after spending enough time sailing on the King of Red Lions, these gods and the wind they control are rather important for a sailor. However, the gods do not always so easily provide their services, especially when they have reason not to trust humanity…
During travel across the Great Sea, it’s likely Link will encounter a cyclone that will pull the King of Red Lions into a dangerous and inescapable whirlpool as a an enormous frog person laughs atop a red cloud. A stressful situation made even more fearful when you realize this frog mocking you is one of two gods of wind, Cyclos. When first visiting Dragon Roost Island, Link will find two stones of worship on a small island, though one is almost completely destroyed. After playing the song carved into the undamaged stone, the wind god Zephos will appear and teach Link how to control the wind as well as informing him about the rage of his brother, Cyclos, who is wrecking havoc on the Great Sea with his cyclones as revenge for his vandalized stone.
There’s not much Link or the King of Red Lions can do once getting wrapped up in one of Cyclos’ traps, but once Link has gotten the Hero’s Bow at the Tower of Gods, there is a fight to be had. After shooting Cyclos atop his lofty cloud, he’ll come down and admit defeat to Link. You’d think a god so used to flying into a rage like him would be angry to be attacked, but he actually ends up feeling incredibly refreshed. In fact, he’s so glad to be shot down that he gives Link a fast travel song that is tremendously helpful when exploring the Great Seas and even necessary to save Hyrule.
I remember being really confused by Cyclos when I first played Wind Waker. I was committed to playing the game without using the internet, and I tried to find a solution to the Cyclos puzzle way earlier than getting the Hero’s Bow. Once I finally beat him, I had built up his threat in my head so much that I was really shocked by how easygoing he ended up being. Despite how aggressive Cyclos seems, he’s actually described by his in-game figurine as a “light-hearted” god. I suppose that explains his heart being changed so easily, but I’m going to have a hard time forgetting getting sucked into his inescapable cyclone as a kid.
