The Beginning: After the intro sequence with the Triforce, you’ll wake up in a forest. Head south.
Meet Din: You’ll find a traveling troupe. Talk to the red-haired dancer, Din. Enjoy the dance!
Onox Attacks: General Onox crashes the party, reveals Din is the Oracle of Seasons, and kidnaps her. The Temple of Seasons sinks, and the seasons go wild.
Impa’s Task: Din’s attendant, Impa, finds you. She says you need to see the Maku Tree in Horon Village. Follow her south, then west across the bridge into the village.
Horon Village: Impa waits near the village entrance. She can’t get past the guards blocking the Maku Tree’s path. Head north to the house with the chimney (Mayor Ruul’s Villa). Talk to Mayor Ruul inside to get the Village Key. Use this key on the locked eastern village gate Impa is standing near.
Hero’s Cave: Follow the path east and north. Impa points out the Hero’s Cave entrance. Head inside.
Mini-Dungeon: Hero’s Cave
Entrance Room: Push the left block up. Go north.
Key Room 1: Step on the button to make a chest appear. Open it for a Small Key. Go back south, push the right block up, and go east.
Locked Door: Use the Small Key on the locked door. Go north.
Key Room 2: Push the block onto the button. Grab the Small Key from the chest. Go east.
Block Puzzle: Push the bottom block right, the block above it up, the block to the left left, and the block below it down. Go north.
Wooden Sword: Open the chest to get the L-1 Wooden Sword! Equip it immediately.
Exit: Step on the warp tile to leave the cave.
Preparing for the First Dungeon
Buy a Shield: Head back to Horon Village. Go to the shop (building with a shield sign). Buy the Wooden Shield (L-1) for 30 Rupees. If you’re short, cut grass and defeat enemies outside the village.
Meet the Maku Tree: Head back to where Impa was waiting near the Maku Tree’s clearing (north part of the village). With the path now open, go talk to the Maku Tree. He’s weak because the seasons are messed up. He needs you to gather the 8 Essences of Nature to restore his power and save Din. He gives you the Gnarled Key to enter the first dungeon.
(Optional) Vasu the Jeweler: In Horon Village, find the building with the ring symbol. This is Vasu’s shop. He’ll give you the L-1 Ring Box (holds one Ring) and your first Ring. Talk to the red snake to appraise Rings you find and the blue snake to manage the ones you carry.
(Optional) Gasha Seeds: You might find Gasha Seeds by defeating enemies, opening chests, or in shops. Find soft soil spots (look like tilled earth) scattered around Holodrum and plant them. After some time (defeating enemies helps), a Gasha Nut will grow. Hit it with your sword to get items, often a Ring or a Heart Piece. Plant one in the soil spot just south of Vasu’s shop if you have one.
(Optional) Bipin and Blossom: In the house west of the Mayor’s, you’ll find Bipin and Blossom. They just had a baby boy. You can give them Rupees to help raise him and suggest names. Your interactions influence his growth throughout the game. Do this whenever you pass through town if you want.
Path to Gnarled Root: Head east from Horon Village, past where the Hero’s Cave was. Continue east across a bridge, then north. Use the Gnarled Key on the keyhole in the large root blocking the path. Enter the Gnarled Root Dungeon.