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One of Link’s first stops in Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is Kakariko Village, where he’ll speak with Impa. Upon his arrival at Impa’s house, Link will come upon a young woman named Paya, who is busy working. While she may not seem important at first glance, Paya is the key to unlocking a shrine near Kakariko Village.
There’s plenty to know about Paya, who she is, and why she spends so much time with Impa. Keep reading our guide to all things Paya and we’ll tell you all about her.
Key Details Up Front
Paya is a quiet and shy woman who busies herself by performing chores for her grandmother, Impa. However, she has more to offer than just cleaning and tidying up. She is faithful, loyal, and willing to lend a helping hand when it comes to protecting her people.
Paya
As Link enters Kakariko Village, he is directed to Impa’s house. Once there, he’ll meet Paya for the first time. She is busy scrubbing the deck but isn’t too busy to stop and say hello to Link. Although she’s embarrassed and shy in front of Link, Paya is a Sheikah Scholar and is knowledgeable about all things Sheikah.
Paya has a problem with stuttering, which Link exacerbates, forcing her to cover her face when she’s speaking with him. However, due to her Sheikah education, she immediately recognizes the Sheikah Slate upon her first encounter with Link. Initially, she calls the game’s protagonist Master Link and has trouble talking when anytime he is near.
Paya’s name came from a birthmark she has, which is in the shape of a papaya seed. When Link asks Paya where her birthmark is, she gets quite embarrassed, forcing Impa to jump in and suggest Link talk about something else. However, Paya does promise that she’ll tell Link in the future.
Even though she is timid, Paya has been marked as a future leader o the Sheikah. This mark is a symbol inked on Paya’s face. This talisman is customary for those who are part of the Sheikah lineage.
It honors the ancestors of the past while indicating current and future leaders. Those who pay close attention will notice that Purah doesn’t have this mark, even though she is from the same line. This is because Impa is marked as the leader of the Sheikah.
Routine
Once Link speaks with Impa, he’ll complete the quest titled “Seek Out Impa.” With this done, Paya begins to fall into a scheduled routine. Her day begins at 9 am, at which time she goes downstairs to keep an eye on the Sheikah Heirloom. The orb glows orange and sits next to Paya. She will spend most of her day near it.
Paya spends so much time next to the orb because she is protecting it from an evil organization known as the Yiga Clan. She suggests that Link approach them with caution should he cross their path. During the day, Impa and Paya tell Link to speak with the Great Fairy Cotera who resides on a hill that overlooks Kakariko Village.
At 7 pm, Paya will leave her station and walk down to the statues outside of Impa’s house. Here she’ll kneel and pray while polishing the statues. She does this despite most women in the village staying indoors at night. This is due to a recent Yiga attack on a guard’s wife.
However, with Cado – one of the Sheikah Family Guards – nearby, Paya doesn’t worry about being attacked. Interestingly, she does have a problem with rain. While Paya is quick to state that the rain is a blessing sent from above, she’ll quickly return indoors.
Taking Notes
If she’s outside at 1 am, she’ll go back inside, then up to her room. She takes a few hours to write her thoughts into her notebook, then spends a few more hours praying.
Before she realizes it, morning has arrived. As a result, Paya doesn’t get much sleep. This is something she’s come to terms with since she’s helping to protect Kakariko Village.
If Link speaks to Paya during her journaling, she’ll admonish him, telling her not to sneak up on her. Even though she doesn’t get much sleep, she will head to bed around 6 am each morning, instructing Link to leave as it is her private time.
Should Link happen to speak to Paya while she’s asleep, he’ll discover that she’s dreaming of him.
Paya also has a diary laying open on a table near her bed. If Link decides to read it, he’ll gain more insight into who Paya is and how she feels about him.
Unlocking the Stolen Heirloom Quest
Near Kakariko Village is the Lakna Rokee Shrine. Paya plays a part in completing it, but to kick the shrine quest off, Link must first complete several side quests. Unlocking this quest takes some time, but if you want to get all the shrines, you’ll have to put in the effort to get this one.
Here are the side quests Link must finish to unlock the Stolen Heirloom Shrine Quest:
Finding the Great Fairy Fountain
Across from Impa’s house in Kakariko Village is a painter working on his latest masterpiece. If you approach him, he’ll tell you his name is Pikango and will mention a nearby Great Fairy Fountain. Keep talking to him and he’ll offer to take you to it.
Follow him up the hill where he’ll soon pass Tal’oh Naeg Shrine. At that point, he’ll have to stop and catch his breath, but he’ll tell you where to go to find the fountain. When Link comes to the fork in the path, go left, which will take you right to the Great Fairy.
When you see the fountain, crouch down and quietly move forward so Link can collect some of the fairies flying around. These are handy to have as they’ll automatically resurrect Link should he die. They’ll also restore hearts if you use them in food or in an elixir.
Examine the pod, walk up to it, then speak to the entity within. You’ll have to give her 100 rupees if you want to meet her. Once you do, she’ll come out of her pod and give you the ability to enhance your armor. Typically you need monster parts to do this, so don’t sell everything you have to Beedle if you can afford it.
Take a picture of the Great Fairy Fountain before you leave, then show it to Pikango. Once he sees it, the Great Fairy Fountain side quest is complete.
Flown the Coop
The next side quest Link has to complete is the Flown the Coop quest. This one Link gets from Cado, who is one of the guards Link can speak to in front of Impa’s house. After a while, he’ll walk over to his Cucco coop and has a minor meltdown. It would appear that his Cuccos have not yet returned. Cado tasks you with returning them if you would be so kind.
You can find the Cuccos spread throughout Kakariko Village in the following locations:
- Running around near Pikango in front of Impa’s house
- Directly across from Cado on the roof of the armor shop
- Hiding in a shed on the south side of Kakariko Village
- Near the watermill, on top of a shed
- Near the apple tree located on the north side of Kakariko Village
- In the plum garden. If Mellie is there, you’ll have to wait until she leaves to jump in and grab the Cucco.
- Near the main entrance to Kakariko Village, near a campfire
They aren’t too hard to find. It just takes time to gather them up and return them to their coop. Once you do, speak with Cado and he’ll give you 50 Rupees for your efforts.
Firefly’s Light
The last side quest you need to complete to unlock the Lakna Rokee Shrine quest is By Firefly’s Light. To start the quest, visit Lasli’s house during the night and speak with her (yes, it’s a little on the creepy side). Speak with her and she’ll tell you all about how much she misses going outside in the evening and catching fireflies.
Link is then tasked with bringing her five fireflies. You may already have a few in your inventory, but if you don’t, no worries. Head back outside, crouch down, and move around Kakariko Village. There are plenty flying around for you to grab.
When you have at least five in your inventory, head back to Lasli’s house. Go inside, hold them, then release them. She’ll get excited seeing the fireflies moving about within her home and reward Link with 50 Rupees. Grab those fireflies back up, then head down to Impa’s house to start the Stolen Heirloom quest.
Completing the Stolen Heirloom Shrine Quest
Now that Link has completed those three side quests, the next time you visit Impa’s house, a new storyline is available. Speak with the guards in front of the house. They’ll instruct you that a thief stole the orb that Paya was protecting.
Continue the conversation, then spend the day alongside Paya. You won’t need to do anything, however, doing so sets up the timing for the next piece in this quest. After Paya is tucked in for the night, take a seat in front of Impa’s house next to Pikango.
Around 10 pm, you’ll see Dorian leave his post in front of Impa’s house and begin to make his way up the hill. Stay back for a moment, otherwise, you’ll ruin the quest and have to start over.
Follow Dorian, but give him some distance. If you have some, eat a stealth-boosting meal. Or throw on your stealth armor. Either way, you want to stay as quiet as possible.
Follow Dorian up the hill, keeping as out of sight as possible. He’ll continue on past the Talo’oh Naeg Shrine you passed earlier when locating the Great Fairy Fountain. This time, stay to the right when you reach the fork. Continue following Dorain, but keep your distance.
He’ll cross the bridge, but don’t follow him. Give him a little more rope. Plus, crossing the bridge will tip Dorian off and will force you to start the whole walk over. Once he’s across the bridge and starts talking, it’s Link’s turn. Cross the bridge and get ready for a fight with a member of the Yiga Clan.
Defeat the Yiga Jerk
Yiga Jerk’s are tough to beat, but not impossible. A single hit will decrease Link’s heart count by five, so be sure to avoid that hard-hitting weapon of his. If you’re smart and take your time, you can defeat a Yiga Jerk with a good shield and some nifty jumps and backflips.
However, if you’re a little less patient, have some elemental arrows on hand. You can hit him with some bomb arrows to take care of him quickly. Or, if you have some ice arrows, hit him with one of those, then jump attack with a high-damage two-handed weapon. Either way will work.
Once he’s defeated, he’ll drop the heirloom and his Windcleaver. Speak with Dorian to get a better grasp of what’s going on. When your conversation is over, find the heirloom orb, grab it, and drop it into the hole in the middle of the pedestal. Watch the cutscene as the shrine rises from the ground below.
Lakna Rokee Shrine
After all he’s been through, Link is rewarded with a simple shrine. All he has to do is walk in, grab the Edge of Duality from the chest, speak with the monk, and get his spirit orb. That’s all there is to it.
FAQs
As Impa’s grandaughter and next in line as the Sheikah leader, Paya plays an important role in the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Here are some frequently asked questions about her:
Question: What is Paya’s Role in the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild?
Answer: Paya is the granddaughter of Impa and next in line as the Sheikah leader. In the game, she serves as a side character and can often be found within Impa’s house in Kakariko Village.
Question: What is the Stolen Heirloom Shrine Quest?
Answer: The Stolen Heirloom Shrine Quest is a quest given to Link by Impa in which he must track down and retrieve a stolen heirloom orb from Dorian, a former member of the Yiga Clan.
Question: What is the Edge of Duality?
Answer: The Edge of Duality is a weapon obtained by Link after completing the Lakna Rokee Shrine. It is a two-handed sword that deals double damage when used on enemies vulnerable to fire.
Question: How to Find Paya?
Answer: Paya can be found within Impa’s house in Kakariko Village. She is usually found near the front door or in her bedroom on the second floor.
Question: What are the Three Side Quests Link Needs to Complete to Start the Stolen Heirloom Shrine Quest?
Answer: Link has to do the Fairy Fountain, Flown the Coop, and Firefly’s Light side quests to kick off the Stolen Heirloom Shrine Quest. Once those are complete, Link needs to speak with Impa’s guards to start the quest.
Quiet but Strong
Paya may seem like a meek and shy young girl, but she’s strong in her own way. Despite the fact that she’s next in line to lead the Sheikah, she often spends her time in Kakariko Village helping others.
Paya is a valuable asset to her people, as well as Link, as she does her part in protecting her village from the forces of evil.
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