Template:Future game Template:Place The Great Plateau is the starting region in Breath of the Wild.
Features and Overview
The Great Plateau is a large region of land that is secluded from other parts of Hyrule, as its steep slopes prevent anyone from traveling to and from it without special equipment, such as the Paraglider.[1] The only active inhabitant is the Old Man, a mysterious elderly fellow with a deep knowledge of the Sheikah.[2]
According to the Old Man, the Great Plateau is the location where the Kingdom of Hyrule was founded.[3] As such, it is a sacred place where no monsters are meant to roam.[4] However, due to the Calamity Ganon's growing influence, it has been corrupted.
Eastern Abbey
The Eastern Abbey with an inactive Guardian
The Eastern Abbey is a ruin surrounding Ja Baij Shrine on the eastern edge of the Great Plateau. The Eastern Abbey contains several broken down Guardians, two of which are still active and will come alive to attack Link if he comes within range of them. The formal entryway to the Ja Baij Shrine is blocked by a bombable wall, which can be broken after retrieving the Remote Bomb Rune inside the Shrine.
Forest of Spirits
The Forest of Spirits is a heavily-wooded area in the north of the Great Plateau. It is lush with wildlife, inhabited by Boars and birds as well as a plethora of organic plant-based Materials. An uninhabited camp containing a campfire and a Cooking Pot can be found in the eastern reaches of the Forest of Spirits, allowing Link to cook various Foods with the Materials littered across the Forest floor. This camp also contains basic weaponry, such as the Traveler's Bow and a Torch.
The Stone Talus, a gigantic golem-like enemy, can be found in a clearing of the Forest.
Great Plateau Tower
The Great Plateau Tower overlooking Hyrule Castle
The Great Plateau Tower is a Sheikah Tower situated in the northeastern region of the Great Plateau. Initially, it is buried beneath the surface of the Great Plateau, requiring Link to use his Sheikah Slate to reactivate it. Upon reactivation, it causes a chain reaction across Hyrule, raising Sheikah Towers across all of Hyrule and activating all Shrines of Trials atop the Great Plateau.[5]
Hopper Pond
The Hopper Pond is a small body of water found west of the Forest of Spirits. A group of Bokoblins have established an encampment beside the Pond, guarding their treasure. Due west of Hopper Pond is another Bokoblin encampment which guards the Fire Rod.
Mount Hylia
Mount Hylia is a cold and snowy region in the Great Plateau, based beside the River of the Dead. It is dotted with several Bokoblin camps, and is inhabited with ice-themed enemies. Ke Numut Shrine lays near a frigid pond in northwestern region, and Owa Daim Shrine rests on the far eastern border of the mountain. At its peak in the center, Link is greeted by the Old Man, who teaches him about the Scope ability on Link's Sheikah Slate.[6] Impressed by Link's ability to travel so far in the cold without proper attire, he gives Link the Quilted Shirt as well.[7]
The peak contains a cairn from which Link may find minerals and similar Materials through searching.
River of the Dead
The River of the Dead
The River of the Dead is a frigid body of water fed by Mount Hylia. The air temperature surrounding the River of the Dead is cold enough to damage Link if he remains in the vicinity without special cold-resistant items, such as the Quilted Shirt. Spicy Peppers grow near the gateway to the River of the Dead leading from the Temple of Time, giving Link temporary cold resistance when consumed. A Raft is docked in the River of the Dead, which can be propelled with a Korok Leaf. On the bank of the River are the remains of a house, which contains a generous supply of Wood.
The River of the Dead leads off of the Great Plateau, ending in a waterfall leading to an unknown location at the base of the Plateau. Near this waterfall is a Bokoblin encampment marked by a platform built around trees. In order to defeat the Bokoblins in this elevated location, he must sever ropes suspending a ramp on the northern side.
Shrine of Resurrection
The Shrine of Resurrection is where Link first awakens, upon hearing a voice pleading for his return to save Hyrule. It is situated in the center of the Great Plateau.
Shrines of Trials
The Great Plateau bears four Shrines of Trials: Ja Baij Shrine, Ke Numut Shrine, Oman Au Shrine and Owa Daim Shrine. Link is tasked with the responsibility of clearing each of these Shrines in order to retrieve the treasure, the Spirit Orbs, granted by the eponymous Monks residing in each Shrine. In exchange for this treasure, the Old Man offers his Paraglider,[8] the only tool capable of allowing Link to leave the Great Plateau.
Temple of Time
Link climbing the Temple of Time
The Temple of Time is situated near the center of the Great Plateau, at the foot of the River of the Dead. With the decay of the Kingdom of Hyrule, it has fallen into disrepair, but it was once used frequently for sacred rites.[9] Inside rests a Statue of the Goddess, Hylia, which Link can pray to in order to receive her blessing.
Woodcutter's House
The Woodcutter's House is a small building based in the southwestern region of the Great Plateau.[10] Inside, a Woodcutter's Axe can be found, as well as several Materials. Outside sits a Cooking Pot, joined by a Pot Lid and a Torch. Resting on the Cabin itself is a Farmer's Pitchfork, a spear-like weapon. Atop the roof, Olivio the Korok can be found. In return for finding him, Olivio will gift Link a Korok Seed.
Minor Enemies and Traps
- BotW Boar Model.png
- BotW Red Bokoblin Model.png
- BotW Stal Bokoblin Model.png
- BotW White Chuchu Model.png
Etymology
 Names in Other Regions 
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|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Name | Meaning | |
 |
Japanese | 始まりの台地 (Hajimari no Daichi) | Plateau of the Beginning |
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Russian | Великое плато (Velikoye plato) | Great Plateau |
Gallery
The Map of the Great Plateau
The eastern side of the Great Plateau, showing the Eastern Abbey and the Great Plateau Tower
An active Guardian in the Eastern Abbey attacking Link
The Forest of Spirits during the daytime
The Forest of Spirits at sunset
The pathway leading to the River of the Dead from the Temple of Time
The peak of Mount Hylia
The pond north of the Great Plateau Tower
- BotW Woodcutter's House Exterior.png
The exterior of the Woodcutter's House
- BotW Woodcutter's House Interior.png
The interior of the Woodcutter's House
References
- ↑ "Here, on this isolated plateau, we are surrounded on all sides by sheer cliffs, with no way off or down. If you were to try and jump, well...no death could be more certain. Or foolish. Of course, if you had a paraglider like me, that would be quite another story!" — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
- ↑ "Seems you managed to get your hands on a Spirit Orb! Well done! [Paraglider, please?] Let's slow down for a moment there, my young friend. The appearance of those towers and the awakening of this shrine... It's all connected to that Sheikah Slate you carry on your hip there. [What do you mean?] It has been quite some time since I've seen or heard of the Sheikah Slate... Long ago, an advanced civilization known as the Sheikah inhabited these lands. It was the power and wisdom of the Sheikah that saved this land time and time again. But their civilization disappeared long ago...or so it is said. It is interesting, however, to think...that something of them might still remain hidden away in a shrine such as this. These shrines are tucked away in numerous places all across this land." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
- ↑ "This is the Great Plateau. According to legend, this is the birthplace of the entire kingdom of Hyrule." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ "My my... It would seem that we have quite the enigma here. This tower and several just like it have erupted across the land, one after another. Very interesting... It appears that some long-dormant power has awoken quite suddenly. Did anything...odd happen to you while you were on top of that tower?" — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
- ↑ "Ahhhh... Quite the view from up here. [B-b-breathtaking...] This may be the best place to get a full view of the entire plateau. Did you know that there's a Scope on your Sheikah Slate? Look through it, and you can stick a pin anywhere you'd like to mark on the map. Those pins will appear on your Map as reference points for your travels. Just stick a pin where you want to go! [How'd you know?] Har har har! Just a few tricks I've picked up over many, many years in the wild... You may take my advice or leave it. Go ahead and take a look when you're so inclined." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
- ↑ "You did well to make it this far wearing that. Please take this Quilted Shirt as a reward for your tenacity. Be sure to try it on if you get too cold. Like...now, perhaps?" — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
- ↑ "[Give it to me!] Har har har! Sure! Why not? But there is no such thing as a free item in this world, you know. Let's see now... How about a trade for a bit of treasure that slumbers nearby? Come. Let me show you something." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
- ↑ "That temple there... Long ago, that was the site of many sacred ceremonies. Since the decline of the kingdom, it now sits abandoned, in a state of decay. Yet another forgotten entity. A mere ghost of its former self..." — Old Man (Breath of the Wild)
- ↑ Template:Cite web
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