Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess
Walkthrough — III. Freeing Eldin and the Journey to Death Mountain

Once outside the Temple, you can backtrack to Coro's hut and from there head north to Hyrule Field. There are many places to go in Hyrule field, and more enemies will be encountered—enemies such as Kargarocs, Bokoblins, and odd running creatures.

The exaggerated Time fluctuation in OoT is back, in all its glory, changing from night to day before your eyes. Head west and you will hear a man yelling. You will come face to face with the Postman (a person you'll come to either love or hate). He warns you about what lies beyond the gate, gives you a letter, and leaves. Continue west to Kakariko Gorge to discover the children's scent. Sniff it to learn the scent and then switch to Sense mode to follow the scent to the broken bridge that crosses the gorge. Midna will say that you need to find the bridge, that the Shadow Beats probably just moved it somewhere.

As such, head back to the Faron Woods in the area outside the Forest Temple. By the south entrance to this area you'll see the massive bridge leaning against the cliff wall. Midna will then transport it back to the gorge so you can continue your journey northwest. From the bridge, continue in your current direction toward a blood-stained gate, destroying anything in your path. Pass through the gate to find yourself in none other than Kakariko Village.

Kakariko looks like a ghost town from the movies. You will have to destroy a few Shadow Beings, and proceed to the water. There will be a light spirit named Eldin. Again, you are asked to destroy the insects, and fill a container with Tears of Light.

Most of the shadow insects will be located in the houses on either side of the canyon, and you'll need to enter each house through the roof. Along the way collecting them, a lot will happen. You will come across a house with a few remaining survivors. These include the village children, and two Kakariko denizens, a man named Renando, the village shaman, and Barnes, the bomb maker.

Colin assures them that you are on the way. "...I can feel it!" He remarks. They also speak of hiding in the cellar, lighting all the torches. You must pick up the stick on the ground near Barnes, and light all the torches. The cellar opens, and you can proceed down to the basement where you'll find some shadow insects and the way out of the cellar.

Now, with Midna's help, climb out into Kakariko graveyard. There are a few interesting things here, chief among them the Zora's grave and the Hylian writing on the graves. Nonetheless, take out the bugs and head back east to town.

Tear through the houses, destroying all the insects in the village, and then head towards Death Mountain where the rest of the insects await. You will have to fight more Shadow Beats along the way. You will also encounter many Goron spirits. They seem to have something against their position and the humans as well. There is a spot where you can get to by jumping from a cliff where you enter, where you will find a stone with the Goron tattoo on it (the one they wear on their right arm).

Explore a little more, and you will come to a spot where you would just be blown off the cliff. You cannot continue from there. Instead explore a bit more, to find a glowing stone. Listen to it, and it will play a melody. Howl along with it, and you will be taken to a cliff's edge, where the golden wolf from earlier will join you in a howling session. There you will play a song that is basically the Song of Healing from Majora's Mask (a nice easter egg). He will ask you to return to him with sword in hand. You will wake up, and his spot will be marked on your map.

Find and deal with the remaining insects on Death Mountain and collect the last of the Tears of Light. You'll warp back to Eldin's Spring, who will thank you by returning you to normal form. Afterwards, reunite with the children and accept the thanks of Barnes and Renando. The former mentiosn that the Gorons have been very testy lately, and refuse to let anyone pass ahead to the mountain. Sounds like a challenge, eh?

Head to the mountain and climb the wall to find a Goron blocking the way forward. He'll roll towards you knocking you off the cliff to the ground below. It's impossible to get past him equipped as you are. So, head back to the Village where Renando will explain that his friend, Bo, the mayor of Ordon once defeated the Gorons in a sumo match, and won their trust. After that, Epona will come flying out of nowhere with enemies hanging on for their lives. They will be bucked off, and you now have to wrangle her. It's not that hard, just jump onto her when the appropriate button appears on screen and then move the joystick in the direction you are indicated to. Once she is calmed, trek over to the Golden Wolf (check your map if you forgot where) and he'll teach you a new technique, the Shield Attack.

Now return to Ordon, and meet with the mayor. You will speak to him about the Gorons, and you will have to Sumo Wrestle with him. It's pretty fun! After you beat him, he will tell you more, and give you the Iron Boots (which are essential for stopping the rolling guard).

When you return from the Sumo match with Bo, and getting your Iron boots, there will be a cut-scene showing the creatures on the boar coming around the corner of Kakariko. Malo turns and runs, but Beth is paralyzed in fear. Colin, the child (who is my favorite so far), though normally quiet and shy, pushes her out of the way, and gets captured. They take off, but not before Link spots them round the corner. Ride Epona, and jump over the blood stained gates and prepare for a rough yet enjoyable mounted battle.

There will be another great cut-scene of Colin tied to the Orc leader's spear, and then the orc will blow his horn, summoning reinforcements. About 5 more creatures will appear over the horizon. Don't bother destroying them, more will only appear. Follow the main creature with Colin, and attack him repeatedly.

After enough damage is done, the leader will head for the bridge, and you will follow. Here there the joust begins. He will rush you, and you will have to attempt to deal a blow without being struck as well. To do this, charge him, riding as close to the right side of the bridge as possible. Just before the collision, veer left, and swing your sword to damage him. Repeat this strategy a few times and the battle will be won, with the Orc leader tumbling off the bridge. And no, that's not the last time you saw him.

After you win, there will be a long cut scene, and you will have to proceed up to Death mountain.

Before continuing to Death Mountain with your new Iron Boots, I would suggest heading into Malo Mart, started by the youngest of the village children. I recommend the Hylian Shield, which will not burn (you are heading to a volcano after all). After you've done so, you should be ready to head up the mountain.

Climb back to where the Goron knocked you off the wall, and equip the Iron Boots to weigh yourself down so much that you can wrangle the Goron (much like you did the goats back at Ordon). Grab him, and throw him behind you and over the edge, which you must also do a few more times as you advance up the path. You will come to a clearing where you must take on some more Shadow Beings, just after a quick cut-scene. There will be a few Goron guards to take on as well.

Each time you find yourself facing three Shadow Beats, the best strategy is to take out all but two of them (taking out all but one will cause the last to summon new allies) and then use Midna's shadow attack, holding [B], to dispatch the last two. Also, you'll notice that every time you defeat a group of these you'll get a new Twilight portal, which will come in handy later.

While taking out the guards, a large molten rock will come crashing down next to you. Remember it, you'll need it later. You want to get up the mountain, and doing so will require using the Gorons to propel you ahead as you saw them do as you entered this area. Therefore, when fighting a Goron, wait for it to open itself to attack and stab it in its stomach, which will make it curl up. Climb onto its back, and let it propel you to where you need to go. Proceed up the mountain until you come to a cave. Enter, and prepare for one heck of a sumo!

About six Gorons prepare to attack when the village elder Gor Coron calls them off. He commends you for your efforts, but forbids you to advance any further, unless you can take him out in a test of power. Equip the Iron Boots for this one. He'll knock out of the ring instantly if you don't have firm ground with your new footwear. Take him on like you did with Bo, and win. It may sound easy, but it took me about three or four tries.

After you win, he will acknowledge your strength and permit you to enter the mines, and save a close friend, the Goron Patriarch, who went berserk upon touching one of the Fused Shadows. After you finish speaking with the Elder, head into the Mines.