Phantom Hourglass: Characters

Link

Role: Protagonist

The Hero of Winds returns, immediately drawn into a new crisis when his close friend Tetra is seized by the cursed Ghost Ship. Stranded in a strange realm, Link demonstrates his unwavering courage and adaptability. He quickly masters the DS stylus controls for movement, combat, and puzzle-solving (like boomerang paths and bombchu routes). Though silent as ever, his determination to rescue Tetra is clear. He forms crucial partnerships with Ciela and Linebeck, navigating the seas and braving the perilous, trap-filled Temple of the Ocean King with the help of the Phantom Hourglass.

Tetra / Princess Zelda

Role: Pirate Captain / Link’s Friend / Damsel in Distress

The spirited leader of the pirate crew Link sailed with in The Wind Waker, whose lineage as Princess Zelda is known to Link. Her adventurous spirit leads her to board the Ghost Ship alone when it appears, resulting in her capture. Early in Link’s quest, he finds her aboard the ship, but she has been turned into a stone statue by the evil Bellum. Her petrified form is taken aboard Linebeck’s ship, serving as a constant, tangible reminder of Link’s primary goal throughout the adventure. Her fate remains linked to Bellum’s power until the very end.

Linebeck

Role: Link’s Partner / Sea Captain / Transport / Comic Relief

Perhaps one of the most memorable characters in the game, Linebeck is the self-proclaimed “great man of the sea” and captain of the S.S. Linebeck. Initially, he’s driven solely by avarice, agreeing to help Link only for the promise of legendary treasure and complaining loudly about any danger or inconvenience. He is notoriously cowardly, often hiding in his cabin or offering flimsy excuses to avoid conflict, especially encounters with the pirate Jolene or any monsters. His interactions with the equally sassy Ciela provide constant humor. However, Linebeck undergoes significant growth; spurred by Link’s courage and Ciela’s faith (and perhaps Oshus’s subtle influence), he eventually performs acts of genuine bravery, such as helping navigate during the final battle, marking a compelling character arc from selfish coward to flawed but loyal friend. His distinctive theme music often underscores his presence.

Ciela

Role: Link’s Fairy Companion / Guide / Spirit of Courage

Link’s primary fairy companion in this adventure, discovered on Mercay Island with no memory of her past. Ciela is bright, energetic, and fiercely loyal to Link, though often exasperated by Linebeck’s antics. She provides essential guidance, points out targets, and offers commentary. Her significance deepens as the plot unfolds; she’s revealed to be the Spirit of Courage, one of the three spirits serving the Ocean King, mirroring the Triforce virtues alongside her counterparts Leaf (Power) and Neri (Wisdom). Her connection to time and courage becomes vital within the Temple of the Ocean King, where she eventually learns to create Phantom Spheres – temporary safe zones within the temple using the Phantom Hourglass’s power – and plays a key role in wielding the Phantom Sword against Bellum.

Oshus / The Ocean King

Role: Mentor / Guide / Deity / Protector of the Seas

Introduced as a sagely old man on Mercay Island, Oshus possesses deep knowledge of the world’s predicament and guides Link’s initial steps, providing his first sword and crucial exposition. His calm demeanor and wisdom hide his true identity: the mighty Ocean King, protector of these seas, who takes the form of a great white whale. Bellum’s parasitic nature has severely weakened him by draining his life force (Phantum). The Temple of the Ocean King serves as a seal and focal point for his remaining power, protected by the Phantom Hourglass. Oshus aids Link indirectly at first, but eventually reveals his true form and power, assisting more directly in the confrontation with Bellum.

Bellum

Role: Main Antagonist / Life-Consuming Parasite

The source of the darkness plaguing the World of the Ocean King. Bellum is not a typical villain with grand ambitions but rather a monstrous parasite driven by an insatiable hunger for life force (Phantum). It latched onto the Ocean King, draining his power and creating lesser monsters, including the invincible Phantom Guardians that patrol the central temple. Bellum operates from the shadows, controlling the Ghost Ship which captures Tetra, and later using her petrified form. It manifests in several forms: small eye-like parasites, its main grotesque squid-like body deep within the temple, and ultimately possessing other vessels in the final climactic battles. Defeating Bellum requires the sacred Phantom Sword, forged from Pure Metals and imbued with the power of the Spirits.

Leaf and Neri (Spirits of Power and Wisdom)

Role: Companion Fairies / Power-Ups

Two additional fairies Link rescues during his quest, typically from within the Temple of the Ocean King. Leaf (green) is the Spirit of Power, and Neri (blue) is the Spirit of Wisdom. Alongside Ciela (Courage), they form a trio essential to restoring balance. Once freed, they empower Link’s Spirit Gems, collected from defeated enemies and chests. Players can allocate these gems via the menu to enhance Link’s sword attack power (Leaf) or defense/damage reduction (Neri), providing a tangible upgrade system tied to exploration and combat.

Jolene

Role: Recurring Rival / Pirate / Mini-Boss

A tough, determined pirate captain with a distinct ship and a vendetta against Linebeck. She periodically hunts down the S.S. Linebeck on the open sea, initiating naval battles where Link must use the cannon to disable her ship. Sometimes, she boards Linebeck’s vessel, leading to a one-on-one duel where Link must skillfully use his sword via stylus controls to counter her attacks. Her motivations stem from a past incident involving Linebeck and perhaps treasure. Defeating her often yields rewards or information. Her relationship with her sister Joanne adds a small layer of depth.

Zauz

Role: Legendary Blacksmith / Sage Figure

A reclusive but master blacksmith residing on the frigid Isle of Frost. Zauz possesses ancient knowledge related to the Ocean King, the Spirits, and Bellum. He is the only one capable of forging the Phantom Sword, the legendary blade infused with the power of the Spirits, which is the only weapon truly capable of harming Bellum. Link must prove his worthiness and gather three rare Pure Metals (found on different islands through complex quests) for Zauz to complete this crucial task.

Eddo

Role: Goron Inventor / Shopkeeper

A cheerful and industrious Goron who runs a workshop on Cannon Island. A master of mechanics and explosives, Eddo provides Link with vital equipment (often after completing a task or paying a fee). His inventions include the versatile Bombchu Bag, allowing Link to draw paths for remote-controlled bombs essential for puzzles, the Salvage Arm used to retrieve sunken treasures from the seabed via a touch-screen minigame, and cannon upgrades for the S.S. Linebeck.

Joanne

Role: Side Character / Item Collector / Jolene’s Sister

Found on Mercay Island, Joanne is Jolene’s younger, significantly less intimidating sister. She dreams of adventure and glamour, idolizing mermaids and keeping a diary. She runs a small “business” asking Link to find specific treasures (like a Regal Necklace) and swap them for other potentially useful items, ship parts, or information. Reading her diary entries provides humorous insights into her personality and her relationship with Jolene.

Postman

Role: Mail Delivery / Information Source

A dedicated Rito postman, visually similar to his counterparts in The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. He diligently flies around the World of the Ocean King, delivering letters to the various mailboxes Link encounters on different islands. These letters often contain hints, quest updates, messages from characters like Astrid or Eddo, or even humorous notes, serving as an organic way to convey information and add flavour to the world.

Beedle

Role: Traveling Merchant

The ever-present, slightly eccentric traveling merchant Beedle sails the seas in his distinctive masked ship shop. Link can hail his ship using the cannon or horn. Inside, Beedle offers various useful items for sale, such as bombs, arrows, potions, and sometimes rare ship parts or treasure maps. He often offers a membership program providing discounts, maintaining his characteristic business-savvy personality.

Anouki

The residents of the Isle of Frost, involved in a matching puzzle to identify a liar among them. Nyeve is their elder/leader figure.

Gorons

Inhabiting Goron Island, they love quizzes, sumo-wrestling (briefly), and guard one of the Pure Metals. Biggoron and the young Gongoron are key figures.

Cobble

The Mayor of Mercay Island, often found overseeing island life.

Astrid

The fortune teller on the volcanic Isle of Ember, who uses her crystal ball to guide Link early on.

Fuzo

An explorer and scholar on Goron Island, knowledgeable about the island’s history.

Ho Ho Tribe

Residents of Cannon Island who seem to worship Eddo’s cannon.