2. Southern Swamp

Clock Town Redux

Now that you’re back to your normal Hylian self, it’s possible to leave Clock Town for good.  However, there are a few key things to do before leaving to make life easier for later on.

First, as a general rule of thumb, you will want to play the Inverted Song of Time, which is the six notes of the Song of Time in reverse order, at the beginning of every three-day cycle.  This song – which can be learned from the Scarecrows either inside the Trading Post in East Clock Town or the Astral Observatory – will slow the flow of time by a little over three times. Since everything important you do will be reset at the end of each cycle, it’s important to give yourself as much time as possible.

In South Clock Town, there is an Owl Statue near the Clock Tower.  N64 players should strike it with Link’s sword in order to activate it.  You won’t be able to use this straight away, but later on, we’ll be able to use an ocarina song to warp to any of the Owl Statues that have been activated so far. Clock Town is the game’s major hub and this statue will likely be visited frequently. Owl statues can also be used to save your game once they have been activated. 

Next, the Great Fairy in Clock Town asked us to return to her once we had restored our body back to normal.  However, as her body is shattered again, you should head down to Laundry Pool to retrieve the stray fairy, located in the southwest corner of South Clock Town.  Once you have collected her, return to the Great Fairy’s cave on the west side of North Clock Town.  She will not only restore your hearts and magic meter, but she will also give you the Great Fairy’s Mask.  Each temple has 15 stray fairies hidden inside –  if you manage to collect them all and bring them to the nearby Great Fairy, you can receive additional bonus items and skills.

If you are playing on the N64 version, You can obtain the Bomber’s Notebook by playing ‘hide and seek’ with the Bomber Gang again as Hylian Link.  While not strictly necessary to finishing the game, this is the item that unlocks most of the sidequests found in the game later, leading to pieces of heart, many of the game’s masks, and other rewards.  The Bombers may not have let Deku Link join their troop, but they will let Link join. As you leave the Great Fairy’s cave, equip the Deku Mask to become Deku Link.  Use a bubble to shoot Jim’s balloon as before, but before talking to Jim, take off the Deku Mask.  He’ll invite you to join the Bombers, but you have to pass their initiation test, just as you did the previous time.  The Bombers are still hiding in the same locations as they were before.  Once you catch all five, they’ll make you a member of the Bombers and give you the Bomber’s Notebook, allowing you to keep track of people’s schedules as you meet them.  As for the Bombers, they’ll teach you the secret code yet again, and the Bombers Secret Society of Justice will be added to the notebook with a happy sticker to denote a successfully completed sidequest.

There are a number of goodies you can grab in Clock Town now that you are Hylian again. Observant players may have spotted a Piece of Heart perched in the tree beside the playground in North Clock Town. As Hylian Link, you can climb the platforms behind the slide, then leap across the gap into the tree to collect the Piece of Heart.

In West Clock Town, you can visit the Swordsman’s School located next to the Post Office. Speak to the Swordsman and he will offer you a novice course or an advanced course. If you are proficient at jump attacks, pay 10 rupees and take the advanced course. All you have to do is draw your sword and perform a jump attack at each of the 10 logs that emerge from the floor and he will reward you with a Piece of Heart. 

It might be a good idea to consider buying a Bomb Bag from the Bomb Shop in West Clock Town.  They cost 50 rupees, which is somewhat steep this early in the game, but it will add one more valuable item to your arsenal before exploring Termina Field.  If you saved some rupees from the previous three-day cycle, you can withdraw them from the Bank to help facilitate the cost.  If you still need some rupees, you can try playing the mini-games in East Clock Town or cutting grass patches in North Clock Town to earn the rest of the money.  You can then head for the Bomb Shop to purchase your own Bomb Bag, filled with 20 bombs.  It is important to remember, however, that bombs are a disposable commodity and they will reset to zero each three-day-cycle.

At around 12 AM on the first night, a thief will appear in North Clock Town and attempt to rob an elderly lady carrying a payload of expensive explosives. If you stop him with Link’s sword, the old lady will gift you a special prize – The Blast Mask – a unique mask that can be used as a substitute for bombs to destroy boulders and damage enemies. Be aware, however, that Link will take ½ a heart of damage every time he uses the mask unless he holds up his shield before detonating the Mask. Because you saved the old lady’s explosives, if you visit the bomb shop in West Clock Town on the second or third day, you can purchase a Bomb Bag upgrade that holds up to 30 bombs for 90 rupees. Now that’s a bargain!

During the night of the First or Second Days, the musician Guru-Guru will be sitting on a bench in the Laundry Pool where you found the stray fairy. If you speak to this eccentric character, he will ramble about his former position as a performer. Eventually, he will stop rambling and present you with his favorite possession – The Bremen Mask. This mask will come in handy for a Piece of Heart quest later on.

Finally, to make your journey easier in the future, it will be prudent to upgrade the carrying capacity of Link’s wallet as soon as possible. This is quite easy and only requires that you deposit over 200 rupees in the bank – doing so will reward you with the Adult Wallet, which can carry a maximum of 200 rupees.

Termina Field

Finally, you’re ready to begin your adventure.  The Southern Swamp should be your first goal, so you’ll want to approach the guard at the southern exit of South Clock Town as Hylian Link. He will try to stop you, but once he sees that you have a sword on hand, he’ll let you pass with a warning of the dangers ahead.

Before you head straight to the swamp, however, there are a number of prizes to be collected in Termina field, starting with an interesting Piece of Heart. To win it, you must backtrack through the Bomber-guarded sewer to the Astral Observatory and utilize the huge telescope to scope the walls around Clock Town. (Additionally, it may be helpful to grab a Moon’s Tear here again for a later quest by looking at the Skull Kid on top of the Clock Tower.)  Back at the wall, A Business Scrub will fly over and proceed to drop into a grotto near the Astral Observatory – It is important that you wait until you see the Scrub drop into the grotto to collect this Piece of Heart – once you do, travel back outside to the field and drop in the grotto. The Business Scrub will offer to sell you a Heart Piece for a high fee, if you decline, he will drop the price in desperation – snatch up this bargain for 100 rupees and exit the grotto. 

Another prize can be won by defeating a Peahat in a large grotto. You can find the grotto hidden in the high grass near the entrance to the Romani Ranch  – some butterflies and a sneaky Deku Baba reveal the location of the hidden grotto. Peahats can be dispatched by attacking their soft root hidden beneath their bodies – avoid its spinning blades and defeat it to earn a Piece of Heart.

In the northern section of Termina Field, you will find a snowy area inhabited by Dodongos. Near a large stone mushroom-like structure, a grotto can be found on the ground which houses two enormous Dodongos – defeat them by slashing at their vulnerable tails to be rewarded with another Piece of Heart. On the first and second nights on top of the same stone structure, a dancing spirit can be found between 12 and 4 AM. Playing the Song of Healing for this troubled soul will gain you Kamaro’s Mask, allowing you to perform his special dance at any time. If you visit West Clock Town at night you can perform the dance for the Rosa Sisters, who will reward you with yet another Piece of Heart for inspiring them with Kamaro’s moves.

Once you are ready to continue the story, head south towards the swamp, and near the entrance, Tatl will stop you, recognizing a picture of the Skull Kid drawn on a tree trunk.  She will relate the story of how she and her brother Tael met the Skull Kid for the first time in a torrential downpour.

The next area is filled with enemies which you may choose to defeat. The eastern path leads to the Swamp Shooting Gallery but we will return here later for some great prizes. Patches of grass near the door will drop red and blue rupees, making this a good spot to farm cash early on in the game. Tingle can be found floating around along this path – shoot him down with a Deku bubble for a cheap map of Woodfall and the surrounding swamp. Additionally, a Piece of Heart can be found sitting atop the lone tree along the southern path. Use Deku bubbles to defeat the circling Bad Bats and climb the vines to reach the prize. Once you’re done checking out this area, head southward into the swamp.

The Woods of Mystery

The first thing you’ll notice when you get to the Southern Swamp is a large hut built on a platform over the water. However, before you enter the Swamp Tourist Center, you can find another Owl Statue near the swamp’s shoreline over to the right that you can activate with your sword. For 3DS players, a giant owl will be located near the statue and will teach a mystical song called the Song of Soaring, allowing Link to warp to any activated Owl Statue. (N64 players will have to wait a little longer until they unlock this ability.) This ability is essential in completing far-flung quests under time constraints. 

If you enter the hut by climbing the ladder on the dock, you will meet Tingle’s father, who is running a Pictograph Contest, although you can’t make use of him yet. You have to go on the Boat Tour first before you can enter the contest but unfortunately, that window is unoccupied.  Looks like you’re going to need to find the owner of the stall to make any progress. Back outside the hut, A Business Scrub can be found. If you grabbed a Moon’s Tear earlier and traded it for the Town Title Deed with the Scrub in Southern Clock Town, this Scrub will trade his Swamp Title Deed for a shot at business in town. After a lengthy cutscene of him flying away, use Deku Link to burrow into the Deku flower and shoot on top of the Swamp Tourist Center to find a Piece of Heart.

Back in the Swamp proper, take the easterly path, swimming through the water or hopping across the lily pads as Deku Link.  When the path branches northeastward and southeastward, take the northern path, and this will lead you to the Magic Hag’s Potion Shop.  You can visit her now if you’d like, but you don’t have a bottle to keep her potions in yet.  

Proceed northward past the Potion Shop to enter the maze-like Woods of Mystery.  In the center of it is a monkey who invites you to follow him. Don’t bother fighting the enemies during this chase or else you may lose sight of the monkey and end up back at the start of the woods. The path that the monkey takes changes each day;

First Day: Left, Right, Right, Straight, Left, Left

Second Day: Right, Left, Straight, Left, Left, Right

Third Day: Straight, Left, Right, Right, Straight, Right

Once you reach the end of the woods, you will find Koume the witch, injured on the ground. She tells you that she got attacked while she was out in the forest.  Apparently, that Skull Kid has been here, causing all sorts of problems.  She’ll ask you for something to give herself a boost of energy, but unfortunately, we don’t have anything of that sort yet.  However, you do know someone who might be able to provide that: the witch’s twin sister Kotake!

Leave the forest by via any of the three paths that have signs in front of them, and this will dump you out at the forest’s beginning, right behind the Magic Shop.  Head around to the front and climb the ladder to talk to Kotake in the shop.  She’ll be horrified to know that Koume is in trouble.  She’s perplexed that the Skull Kid is behind it, but nonetheless, she’s too busy to leave her shop and requests that you take medicine to Koume. She’ll give you your very first bottle, filled with a Red Potion.  Of course, the potion itself is for Koume, but you’ll get to keep the bottle in the end.

Jump off of the platform and head back into the Woods of Mystery, navigating back to Koume.  Talk to Koume first, and when she asks for you to help her, give her the Red Potion.  She’ll feel much better, and she’ll immediately hop on her broomstick. As well as the Empty Bottle, she’ll make it worth your while by giving you a free boat ride for your trouble.

Once you leave the forest, you’ll be interrupted by monkeys.  They seem to be upset by the fact that part of the swamp is being filled with poisonous water.  One of their kin went to Woodfall Temple to investigate, but he couldn’t get in because only the Deku can enter the temple.  Worse yet, he’s been captured by the Deku themselves, and the monkeys are asking for your help to go rescue him. Luckily for us, the boat tour takes its customers straight to the Deku Palace.

There’s nothing immediately useful to the southeast of this area yet, so it’s time to head back to the Swamp Tourist Center. In the back, you’ll see Koume, so you should talk to her when you’re ready to explore the rest of the swamp.  Once you do, however, not only will she give you a ride on the boat for free, but you will also get a free Pictograph Box in order to take pictures.  This Pictograph Box only stores one picture in memory, but you can overwrite that picture at any time.

You’ll immediately be put on the boat traveling in a clockwise direction about the swamp.  It’s now that you should experiment with taking pictures with the Pictograph Box because you might be able to get some prizes for your pictures later.  The boat will conveniently dispatch the Giant Octorok that was blocking the way and it’s here where the water starts to become poisonous. 

The Deku Palace

The first stop of the swamp tour is the Deku Palace and you should disembark when you are given the option to do so.  You will see a monkey out front waiting for you.  He won’t even wait for you to speak with him but instead will guide you straight inside.

Once you enter this new area, equip the Deku Mask before you talk to the guards.  The guards will only let you inside if you’re a Deku Scrub, and even then only to let you watch the punishment and subsequent execution of the monkey you’re trying to save. Head on in, heading straight to the throne room in order to see the captured monkey and discuss things with the Deku King.  Of course, he’s not going to be much help, but once you leave, you’ll find the monkey who led you here, and he knows a way to sneak inside to see the monkey directly.  To do this, you will need to enter from the Outer Palace which requires a Magic Bean from the Bean Seller within the Inner Palace Gardens. However, before you leave this room, you should take a quick Pictograph of the Deku King – Tingle’s father will likely be impressed with such a rare shot!

At this point, you should disregard the advice the guards gave you by deviating from the straight hallway into the Deku King’s Chamber.  From the King’s Chamber, head through the western gate into the Inner Palace Gardens. These chambers will be filled with Deku Palace Guards who will throw you out of the palace should they spot you, so be careful not to be seen. Generally, they can only see in one direction – so it’s not difficult – but be careful as they turn in place. Continue around the western sections avoiding the guards and collecting rupees as you see fit until you reach a Piece of Heart. Getting caught by the guards is the easiest way to return to the beginning of the palace.  

This time, after you talk to the guards, head through the eastern gate. In this first area, there are three guards, and all of them march around in perfect little squares—the first two counterclockwise while the last one goes clockwise.  Once the first Scrub heads down and then right, this should give you an opportunity to pass at least two, if not all three, Scrubs.  Head down and left to the second Scrub’s territory while staying out of sight.  Once you have an opportunity to pass by the third Scrub, usually when he is looking upward at the wall, that’s your opportunity to sneak by.   Head through the door leading to the next area. In the second section, there are two Scrubs, again, all traveling in squares.  The first Scrub walks in a counterclockwise fashion, so wait until he’s heading right, then up before passing by.  You can hide in a safe spot where there’s a single green rupee while waiting for your opportunity to pass by the second guard, going clockwise.  Wait until he’s heading up then left before diving down into the grotto.

Inside, you will see the Bean Seller that you were told about.  Talk to him, and he will give you a free sample to start, though you can always buy additional ones for 10 rupees if you need them.  However, you’ll also need to water the plant to make it grow. There’s a convenient little pond of Spring Water within the hole, so you should fill your bottle with that.  There’s also a place to plant a bean down here, but that’s not the one that’s important right now.  If you do plant one there, however, you’ll need to buy a second one. (Luckily riding the bean in the grotto will lead to a chest with a red rupee!)

The Outer Palace Garden

Stand in the pillar of light to leave the grotto, and then stand in front of one of the guards in order to be thrown out of the Palace. (3DS players will find a second pillar of light that leads directly to where we need to go.) You can leave the harder way if you want, but where we need to go now is outside of the palace so we can sneak in using the high ground.  Turn to the east and you should see a string of lily pads leading around the palace.  You’ll want to use Deku Link to hop across the poisoned swamp water in order to reach the Outer Palace Garden.

Once you have crossed the lily pads, you’ll see a small patch of soil on the ground along the wall.  First, take off the Deku Mask and use the Magic Bean on that patch of ground to make a sprout appear, and then water it with the bottle of Spring Water to make it blossom.  This will create a platform that, if you stand on it, will raise you to the upper ramparts of the Deku Palace.

Sneak inside using the corridor, and it will deposit you on top of a Deku Flower.  Ahead you will see another Deku Flower on a moving platform.  You will need to dive into the Deku Flower you are on, charge it up, and then fly over to the Flower on the moving platform when it is close, using Deku Link’s shadow to ensure that he can drop safely.  Be careful as the Deku Flowers that aren’t pink contain Mad Scrub sentries that will shoot Deku Nuts at you; it’s best to avoid those by always moving.  If you happen to be close enough, you can shoot those Scrubs with a bubble to kill them; doing so will allow you to steal their Deku Flower from them and use it as your own.  When the moving platform is as far as it can be, you will have a direct line of sight into the second area of the courtyard.  Dive into the Flower and head off. (3DS players may notice some platforms won’t move until you reach them, making this platforming section a little easier.)

Your target is a moving platform just inside the second area of the courtyard.  You will only have just enough power to reach it, so use caution.  Dive into the Flower and wait until the platform moves all the way to the right.  Let loose and then fly to the raised platform at the far right corner of the courtyard.  There are some Magic Jars in the pots for you to snag.  Now head through the doorway and across the bridge into the third area.  You’re now halfway through.

In the third courtyard, there’s a Deku Flower waiting for you, but before diving in, stand just out of range from the Mad Scrub in the middle of the courtyard and shoot a Deku bubble at him to steal its flower.  This provides a nice, safe Flower that you should be able to reach without any effort before trying for the far one.  Use the flower to fly to the center Flower first, and then use it to reach the far side.  Once you reach the far side, there’s a Mad Scrub that will be shooting Deku Nuts at you from over the wall.  It’s possible to defeat him with a bubble, do so, and then fly over to his Flower.

Now you’re in the fourth courtyard, use the stolen Flower to fly over to the moving platform.  Once you land on it, turn right towards the solid wall, dive into the Flower, and then wait for the moving platform to move as close to the wall and then upwards before finally letting go.  Aim for the large platform set into the wall and then enter the door in order to find the monkey’s cage.

Take off the Deku Mask and speak to him, and he’ll ask you to try to cut him down.  You can make a futile effort to hit the pole with your sword, but you’ll discover that it’s not very effective.  Instead, put the Deku Mask back on and use the Ocarina in order to bring the Deku Pipes out in order to use it as a distraction.  After a comedic moment, the monkey will explain that the Deku Princess has been captured by a monster in Woodfall Temple, but the monkey is accused of trying to harm the princess and enter the forbidden temple. Since the monkey isn’t free to help her, it falls upon you to do it; typical.

But at the very least, the monkey teaches you the Sonata of Awakening. This will allow you to get into Woodfall Temple.  Of course, this does nothing to help the monkey’s plight.  Or yours, for that matter, as you immediately get captured by the Deku guards.  But he gives one last piece of advice and that’s to take the Deku shortcut to the temple.  In other words, you’re going to leave your boat guide waiting a bit longer for your return; don’t worry – she won’t be upset.

Journey to Woodfall

So you’re thrown out of the palace again.  Truthfully, this is a good thing as you’re right next to the shortcut the monkey was talking about.  Turn to the east, just as you would if you were going to the Outer Palace Garden, but instead of following the lily pads around the palace, veer right after you get to the first one to head towards a small patch of ground against the perimeter of the area.  The island should have a sign and a Deku Flower on it.  Dive into the Flower in order to reach the cave above it, and head on through.

You’re now in a new part of the swamp high above the poison water. In the center of this strange-looking tree, you’ll see a Deku Flower, which you can use to fly over to the right to another flower. En route, you’ll encounter Dragonflies; nasty insects with electrical tails.  Avoid them for now, but wait inside the Deku Flower until they’re directly overhead as shooting out of the Flower will dispatch them.  Once you’re in the air again, fly over to the next tree in the sequence.  From there, you’ll fly over to a large log with a flat landing.  This will allow you to head over to an adjoining tree. Once in the flower, turn left towards the greenish wall, and land on the platform there.

Once you do land, N64 players will meet everyone’s favorite owl, Kaepora Gaebora. He’ll ask if you’re familiar with those Owl Statues that you’ve been activating every time you see them, and finally, now you can put them to use!  He’ll fly off, but if you look at the stone carving he was standing on, you’ll see an Ocarina song engraved on it, which is the Song of Soaring.  Playing this will allow you to warp between any of the Owl Statues that you’ve activated with the strike of your sword. 

With this Ocarina song under your belt, dive into the Deku Flower just to the right of the engraving, and fly over the gap by the waterfall to the next platform.  Once you’re there, head through the doorway to meet your biggest challenge yet.

Woodfall

Once you enter, across the marsh there is a treasure chest containing 20 rupees you can collect if you use Deku Link’s water-hopping ability.  But to proceed forward, you’ll need to hop across the lake using the lily pad to the right and then head to the small island with a wooden ramp leading upward to the left.  Remove your Deku Mask, and then you’ll see a new enemy—the Hiploop—guarding the ramp.  They’re fairly weak, but they’re extremely aggressive.  If they see you or if they approach, they’ll wind up to charge.  Block them with your shield until they’re pushed back, and then strike with your sword.  You can defeat them either with enough hits or by pushing them off into the poisoned swamp.  There’s a second Hiploop on the second ramp upward, and then at the top of a tree stump, you’ll find a Mad Scrub that you can defeat to produce a Deku Flower. Don’t forget Deku Link can drop Deku Nuts on unsuspecting enemies to stun, or even defeat them, which may make platforming over the poison swamp easier.

Climb into the Deku Flower and fly in the direction of the horizontal bridge just ahead.  There’s a Deku Scrub on the near end awaiting you there that’s fairly dangerous, so keep some distance before you land; you can dispatch him afterward.  The far end also has another Mad Scrub waiting for you, so defeat him to steal his Deku Flower.  Finally use this to fly over to the ceremonial platform in the distance.

When you land there, Tatl will inform you that she’s found the Deku symbol, representing a place where they worship.  If you stand on it as Deku Link and play the Sonata of Awakening that you learned from the monkey, then Woodfall Temple will erupt from the depths of the swamp, allowing you access. But before heading into the dungeon, you’ll want to hit the Owl Statue on this platform with your sword to use this as a future warp point. With the statue activated, there is another treasure to collect here. If you continue to navigate the platforms anti-clockwise around Woodfall you will encounter a stump with a Mad Scrub and a treasure chest – open it to find a Piece of Heart. One final prize is left for you to take. Soar to the Swamp Tourist Center and deliver the pictograph you took of the Deku King to Tingle’s Father, who is amazed at the grandeur encapsulated in your shot; he will gift you with the first prize – a Piece of Heart. 

With that in hand, it is time to make an important decision. By this point, time is likely dwindling and your wallet may be nearing capacity. It might be a good idea to return to Clock Town, deposit your rupees in the bank and play the Song of Time to return to the first day. In this way, you will have the maximum amount of time to complete the coming dungeon. When you have done this, and the three-day-cycle has been replenished, utilize your fancy new warping song and soar to the Owl Statue you just activated at Woodfall. Once there, play the Sonata of Awakening to reveal the hidden Woodfall Temple. Some jars on the platform here can be broken to drop some goodies, including a fairy that Link can bottle – a useful prize for the upcoming dungeon.