Rauru (Sage)

Rauru is one of the most important and mysterious character in OoT for he is the only surviving from the Ancient Sages and he is the Sage of Light

Biography:

Who is Rauru?

Very little is known about this character. We don't know anything about his former life (before becoming one of the Ancient Sages), we don't know how old he is and we even don't know whether he's actually alive or is not more than a spirit, that remains inside the Chamber of Sages. This article will draw in the evidence and clues OoT gives to write every thing we know about him.

Rauru, one of the Ancient Sages

The Ancient Sages are credited to have had the Temple of Time built. The main function of the Temple would be to protect the Triforce from the evil ones. It seems that for that moment Rauru was the leader of the Sages, because (according to the Official Strategy Guide) he was architect of the Temple of Time.

After the Temple of Time was finished, nothing more is said about them. They all (presumably) die, even one of them (maybe the Sage of Spirit) reincarnates himself into Kaepora Gaebora. Only Rauru remains inside the Chamber of Sages, in theTemple of Light.

Rauru, the Sage of Light

When Link pulled out the Master Sword of Pedestal of Time, his spirit was sealed (by Rauru?) for seven years. After the seven years time, Rauru woke Link up. Then, he told Link he was one of the Ancient Sages and informed him he actually was the legendary Hero of Time. He finally told him to do his destiny, to find the other Sages, revealing himself to be the Sage of Light and giving him the Light Medallion. As Link awoke the other five Sages, it appears that Rauru is the leader of the Six Sages, he is the only (with the exception of Saria) who speaks telepathically with Link. He did it twice:

First, when Link awakened the other five Sages, to congratule him and to tell him Sheik is waiting for you.
Second, when Link went to Ganon's Castle to tell him they six would gather their power to build a rainbow bridge to the castle, where Ganondorf dwelled, and to explain him how the defences of Ganon's Tower were organized.

The last time Link spoke with Rauru was when he dispelled Light Barrier one of the six barriers that protected Ganon's Tower. When Link defeated Ganon, it was Zelda who led them and Rauru who pronounced the spell to seal Ganon inside the Evil Realm. At the end of OoT, all the Six Sages returned to Hyrule All except Rauru, who remained inside the Chamber of Sages.

Rauru's immortality

Evidence from OoT

Rauru is the only surviving of the Ancient Sages. He seems to have lived for many centuries, since the existence of the Triforce is just a legend. Given that Sages are certainly not immortal (all Ancient Sages except him have died) this raises a question: Why is Rauru different? For this questions there might be three posible answers:

Rauru is just a spirit that lives inside the Chamber of Sages. Those who think this also say Kaepora Gaebora is Rauru's earthly counterpart and reincarnation. But this posibility raises more questions than it answers: Why does Rauru remain and the others not? Can a spirit be a Sage?
All Sages are immortal while they are inside the Chamber of Sages. This is possibility seems more probable to me, because at least (as he says), his power is greater inside Chamber of Sages. So why can't the power of Sacred Realm keep him alive? It is also noticeable that Rauru is the only Sage that doesn't go out of th Chamber of Sages.
Rauru doesn't belong to Hyrule but to the Sacred Realm, and because of this he's immortal. This seems to be proven by the fact that he doesn't return to Hyrule like the other Sages. It also seems that if the Forest Sage has to come from the forests, the Sage of Light has to come from the Sacred Realm.

Evidence from WW

More evidence about Rauru's immortality comes to light in WW. In this game is definitely proven that Sages can be killed (Laruto and Fado were killed by Ganondorf's orders, and Rauru seems to have already died, since he's never mentioned. But, more importantly, a new immortal character appears: The King of Hyrule Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule Paralelisms between Rauru and the King of Hyrule are easily found:

Their aspect are very similar (although the graphic style is different): the clothes they wear cover their hands, their beards are nearly the same...

As I've said, they both are the only remaining people (though Ganondorf looks like he's as old as the King) from their time.

Both of them commanded Link to look for the Sages.

Both of them have been defeated by Ganondorf once (Rauru wasn't able to hide the Triforce from Ganondorf, the King had to flood Hyrule to avoid Ganondorf conquering Hyrule).

With these parallelisms it is temptating to think Rauru and the King of Hyrule are "something similar". But, then ehe should ask ourselves what the King of Hyrulereally is. He can teleport and he doesn't choke underwater, so he can't be a living person. He can touch and be touched, so he can't be a spirit. From this I conclude the King hasnt't died, but isn't alive either. Rauru might be something similar... Another possible parallelism is about the King of Red Lions and Kaepora Gaebora. But this should be spoken in the next part of the article.

The Kaepora Gaebora connection

They say that the owl named
Kaepora Gaebora is the
reincarnation of an ancient Sage.

With this gossip from a Gossip Stone in Sacred Forest Meadow began the speculation of whether Rauru and Kaepora Gaebora where the two faces of one character. This rumour was quite popular, given the extreme resemblance (though the former is an owl and the latter a human) between Kaepora Gaebora's head (when he turns it 180º) and Rauru's face. The rumour seemed to be almost confirmed when in WW, the King of Hyrule claimed to be the King of Red Lions. So, many thought, if the King of Hyrule incarnated (or "inwoodated") in the King of Red Lions to be able to protect Link outside Hyrule, why can't Rauru incarnate into the owl to help and to watch him. This theory may seem really atractive but it has two big problems:

Kaepora Gaebora looks after Link much before he first meets Rauru. Assuming he knew Link was the legendary Hero of Time, it wouldn't have any sense to say:

Even I thought that the tales of a boy who could  
travel back and forth through time was merely a 
legend

If he is Rauru, why does he say that?

The rumour says literally "Kaepora Gaebora is the reincarnation of an ancient Sage" It saysreincarnation, not incarnation. Reincarnation means "incarnate again after death". But Rauru is not dead. If Rauru and Kaepora Gaebora were the same character, Kaepora Gaebora would be just an incarnation of Rauru, not the reincarnation of Rauru.

From this evidence I conclude Kaepora Gaebora is the reincarnation of an Ancient Sage, but not the incarnation of Rauru. As I said before, the most likely would be the that Kaepora Gaebora is Ancient Sage of Spirit reincarnation, for he is seen many times around the Spirit Temple.

Relevant quotes

Zelda, when you first meet her, telling Link the legend of Triforce

So, the ancient Sages built
the Temple of Time to protect the
Triforce from evil ones.

Rauru, when Link wakes up inside the Chamber of Sages:

Link...Wake up...
Link, the chosen one...
I am Rauru, one of the ancient Sages...
Ages ago, we ancient Sages built the Temple of   
Time to protect the entrance to the Sacred Realm...
This is the Chamber of Sages, inside the Temple of 
Light...
The Temple of Light, situated in the very center  
of the Sacred Realm, is the last stronghold  
against Ganondorf's evil forces.
The Master Sword--the evil-destroying sword that  
you pulled out of the Pedestal of Time--was the  
final key to the Sacred Realm.
Link...
Don't be alarmed...
Look at yourself...!

The Master Sword is a sacred blade which evil ones 
may never touch...
Only one worthy of the title of "Hero of Time" can 
pull it from the Pedestal of Time....
However, you were too young to be the Hero of 
Time...
Therefore, your spirit was sealed here for seven 
years.
And now that you are old enough, the time has come 
for you to awaken as the Hero of Time!
Well, do you understand your destiny?
But, remember...
Though you opened the Door of Time in the name of  
peace...
Ganondorf, the Gerudo King of Thieves, used it to  
enter this forbidden Sacred Realm!
He obtained the Triforce from the Temple of Light, 
and with its power, he became the King of Evil...
His evil power radiated from the temples of 
Hyrule, and in seven short years, it transformed 
Hyrule into a world of monsters.
My power now has only little influence, even in 
this Sacred Realm...
Namely, this Chamber of Sages.
But there is still hope...
The power of the Sages remains.
When the power of all the Sages is awakened...
The Sages' Seals will contain all the evil power 
in the void of the Realm...
I, Rauru, am one of the Sages...
And...
Your power to fight together with the Sages makes  
you the Hero of Time!
The Hero of Time, chosen by the Master Sword!
Keep my spirit with you...
And, find the power of the other Sages and add  
their might to your own!

Rauru, while Link leaves the Chamber of Sages:

Find the other Sages
and save Hyrule!

Rauru, after Link awakens all the Sages:

Link, the hero!
Finally, all of us, the six Sages, have been   
awakened!
The time for the final showdown with the King of 
Evil has come!
Before that, though, you should meet the one who 
is waiting for you...
The one who is waiting for you at the Temple of 
Time...

Rauru, when Link goes to Ganon's Castle:

Link...can you hear me?
It's Rauru, the Sage.
We six will gather our power to create a bridge to 
the castle where Ganondorf dwells...
The castle's keep, which is known as Ganon's  
Tower, is protected by six evil barriers.
Bring down the six barriers and save Princess 
Zelda!!

Rauru, when Link dispels Light Barrier:

The Light Barrier is dispelled!
Hurry!

Rauru, pronouncing the spell to seal Ganon:

Ancient Creators of Hyrule!
Now, open the sealed door and send the Evil  
Incarnation of Darkness into the void of the Evil 
Realm!!

Miscellaneous Notes

In AoL, most of the towns are named after the Sages or important people from the OoT era. So of course there's a town called Rauru. This was purposely done by the creators as a nod to past Zelda games. However, from historian's point of view, since AoL happens long after OoT, the towns were named after the Sages.

Rauru also has a minor appearance in WW: he is represented as the Sage of Light in a stained window in the chamber where the Master Sword remained inside Hyrule Castle.

Acknowledgements

Entry submited by Arturo

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