| Where | A volcanic land beneath Holodrum, reached through swirling portals in several Holodrum regions. |
|---|---|
| Currency | Ore Chunks. Rupees have no value here, and the Ore Chunk counter replaces the Rupee counter on the screen. |
| Key rewards | Boomerang (first Dance Hall win), Rod of Seasons (Temple of Seasons), Ribbon for Rosa, Piece of Heart 5 of 12 (Market), Iron Shield and Pirate’s Bell (Smithy), Sign Ring (sign-loving Subrosian) |
| Season | Winter for the portals at Eyeglass Lake and Spool Swamp. Each Tower of the four Seasons needs its own season power. |
Subrosia is the underground home of the Subrosians, and you reach it by stepping onto one of several portals in Holodrum. The Temple of Seasons stands in its middle, and that is where the Rod of Seasons gets its four powers. Along the way you can win Ore Chunks at the Dance Hall, buy from the Market, forge shields at the Smithy, and meet Rosa, whose Ribbon opens the temple doors for you.
Portals into Subrosia
| # | Portal | Where to find it | Route note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eyeglass Lake | Far bank of the frozen lake in winter | Cross the ice; this is the portal used in the first visit |
| 2 | Spool Swamp | Southwest corner of the swamp, in a snowy clearing | Needs winter at the swamp stump first |
| 3 | Horon Village beach | Near the beach, beside the pirate house route | Used for the pirate’s bell trade |
| 4 | Mt. Cucco highlands | Swirling portal on the red ledge among the yellow hills | Used on the Tower of Spring route |
| 5 | Goron Mountain cliff top | Yellow hills at the top of the mountain | Used after the Great Moblin’s Keep |
| 6 | Temple Remains | Snowbank on the south side of the temple | Reached after the second stump is set to winter |
For the full route to each portal, see the chapters on the Tower of Winter, Spool Swamp, Mt. Cucco and the Temple Remains.
The Temple of Seasons and the four towers
Take the Rod of Seasons
Walk from the portal screen to the easternmost stairs, then go south and east, and follow the green carpet path north to the large temple. Inside, stand on the pedestal at the central altar to receive the Rod of Seasons. The Rod has no season power yet, and it works only from a tree stump. See the Tower of Winter chapter for the first trip.
Tower of Winter: the power of winter
Leave the temple sanctum, go south two screens and east one, and enter the tower with the purple dome. Throw the Boomerang at the crystal switch across the lava river to raise a blue bridge, then climb to the top room to meet the Spirit of Winter.
Tower of Summer: the power of summer
Rosa’s necklace opens the locked doors on the way to the temple. Clear the maze of rocks in the first chamber with the Power Bracelet, then climb the middle stairs to the highest room, where the Spirit of Summer waits. See the Tower of Summer chapter.
Tower of Spring: the power of spring
Cross the lava rivers with the Roc’s Feather, climb two flights of steps and stand before the pink statue. The Spirit of Spring gives the Rod the power of spring. See the Tower of Spring chapter.
Tower of Autumn: the power of autumn
The rock blocking the tower needs a Bomb Flower, which you find in a remote corner of the lava lake and carry to the smiths near the Smithy. Then follow the lava path to the Temple of Seasons. See the Tower of Autumn chapter and the Smithy guide.
Rosa and the Ribbon
Meet Rosa on the lava shore
On the beach, near the southeast end, a yellow-hooded Subrosian girl waits by the lava. Rosa has lost her favourite Ribbon at sea and cannot go out in public without it.
Find the Star-Shaped Ore and trade for the Ribbon
Equip the Shovel and dig in the sand on the beach. The Star-Shaped Ore appears in a different spot on each visit. Take it to the keeper of the Subrosian Market, who trades the Ribbon for it.
Give the Ribbon to Rosa
Return to Rosa on the lava shore and give her the Ribbon. From then on she follows you, and her necklace opens any locked door on the way to the temple.
Subrosian secrets
The sign-loving Subrosian and the Sign Ring
Enter the house with blue stone walls and a purple carpet, south-east of the Great Furnace. Break the signs with your sword until the Subrosian has counted a hundred or more. The house then resets with a joke, and he gives you the Sign Ring. The ring does nothing when worn, so take it to Vasu’s Jewelers in Horon Village for appraisal. See the Tarm Ruins chapter.
Red Ore and Blue Ore
A flying Subrosian on the path north of the portal hints at Red Ore and Blue Ore, which fuse into Hard Ore for the Iron Shield. Both ores are in chests in Subrosia, and the full steps are in the Smithy guide.
The volcano and the Sword and Shield Maze
In the cave under the volcanoes, stand near the lava pit and bomb it. The chain reaction erupts three volcanoes, which opens the way to the Temple Remains. Past the Subrosian portal near the temple, climb the steps, go north twice and enter the volcano to reach the Sword and Shield Maze.
Where to go next
The Subrosian Market sells the items you need for Hearts and rings, the Dance Hall pays Ore Chunks and the Boomerang, and the Smithy makes the Iron Shield and polishes the Pirate’s Bell.
