Many tales are told of the peasant boy that one day grows up to be a king or a great hero. We tell these stories to our children in the hope that we might encourage them to believe in themselves and to reach for the most distant stars in their dreams. But as the cruel reality of life often teaches us – so very few are ever able to climb beyond the boundaries of their parents' lives.

The Family Beginning

While the Hylian faith taught that all of the people within the central kingdom were descended from the Goddess herself, the reality of life was that some were born to rule and many were born to serve. One of those servants was a man named Hamlon – a simple farmer from the lands near Horwell in East-Central Hyrule. Throughout his entire youth and early adulthood, Hamlon accepted his position in the world and never expected to rise higher than his father or grandfather had. When there was work to be done, they worked. When there was ale to drink, they laughed at the Baron's expense, and when the Baron rode by, they bowed low and pretended to appreciate his presence – just as they were supposed to do.

But as mundane and tiresome as the world can be for most, life can suddenly throw an opportunity for others that was completely unlooked for. Like a shooting star – one can go a thousand nights without seeing one, only to have the fiery stone suddenly crash down at their feet, the next.

In the Summer of the Great Kingdom 499, as the royal family and much of the Hylian capitol were preparing to celebrate the Quincentenary, Hamlon was working in his fields under the sun's oppressing heat. He had recently been married to the daughter of his father's friend and the young farmer was struggling to earn enough rupees to satisfy his new bride. Within hours of completing their vows, she had begun to scold him for 'being lazy' and 'not doing enough with his life.' So, day after day, from sunrise to sunset, Hamlon toiled in his fields alone – trying to be the best husband and farmer that he could.

But on this day, something rather different occurred. A storm had passed the night before and its thunder had kept poor Hamlon awake throughout the night. Exhausted and not thinking clearly, he had forgotten his water skin in the rush to get out into the field before his young wife woke. Now, standing in the middle of his small field, he looked up at the blazing sun and wiped the sweat from his brow. "I should go back." He thought to himself, "but she'll be angry at me for leaving the field."

In his heart, he knew it was wrong for her to push him so hard – but she was his wife, and it was his duty to provide for her and to give her as comfortable a life as he could. He worked for another hour before giving up the struggle and returning to his small farmhouse. He paused first at the stone well to drink and to pour some cool water over his head, before moving inside. Unfortunately for Hamlon, his wife and her handsome visitor had not expected his return. He found them in the midst of their embrace.

Throughout the farmer's shouting, the scoundrel quickly dressed and stole a bag of rupees that Hamlon kept on his bedside table, before diving out of a nearby open window and running for the horizon. Armed with only a farming hoe, the wounded husband chased after him while his traitorous wife screamed for him to not harm her lover.

The exhaustion and dehydration that had plagued Hamlon only a few moments before vanished, and he doggedly chased after the scoundrel – South over-land for nearly an hour, before the wretch turned Eastward on the Necludan Road and made for the Dueling Peaks. As the high sun tilted over into the afternoon, the thief slowed his pace and checked his surroundings. Hamlon, thinking quickly, ducked into the tall wheat field beside the road, and hid from his sight. Satisfied that he had lost his pursuer, the man continued Eastward at a walk.

Hamlon was not a violent man by nature, but the bitterness that flooded into his heart now – the fact that another man had taken his wife, stolen his money, and fled like a coward! But more than that: the fact that he was so angry at a man for touching his wife… when his own wife had no respect or love for him. She had even cried out to him to not harm her lover… she cared more for him than for Hamlon! – all of it drove him to the edge of hatred and reckless apathy. He no longer cared for the consequences of his actions – he was just too wounded to care. All he wanted was to smash his farming hoe into the back of this thief's head, reclaim his money, and return home.

For another hundred yards, the two men continued their journey – the thief on the road, and Hamlon swiftly trying to overtake him while hiding in the field. But after a short rise and then a turn downward in the road, an unexpected sight came before them. A large, opulent carriage was turned over on its side, with pieces of luggage scattered over the road. One of the handsome white horses that had pulled the carriage lay dead, while the other three stood close by – being held by rough looking men, holding daggers. On the opposite side of the road, knelt a well-dressed, older man and his wife, while more brigands stood guard over them.

Hamlon noticed these things, but paid them no mind – all of his attention was focused on the man who had wronged him. The thief however, seemed to know these men and -after calling to them- rushed forward to clasp hands and cheer with them. The rich man and his wife shivered with terror as the gang of thieves triumphantly retold their story to their comrade and invited him to take what he wished from the remaining luggage.

Even into his old age, Hamlon could never fully explain what happened at that moment. In his best words: "It was like a great heat suddenly swelled up within my heart… burst forth… and filled my entire body. It was not justice… nor even hate that I felt anymore… it was just a strange sort of determination – I was going to punish these men. I no longer felt anything, besides the heat, and I did not even think any farther upon it… it were as though the Goddess herself took control of my hands, arms, and legs."

Without a word or a cry, Hamlon dashed out from the field, raised his weapon, and struck the first man in the head – knocking him unconscious. In a whirlwind of continuous movement, the otherwise calm, timid farmer, leapt and dashed from brigand to brigand – taking them completely by surprise and incapacitating each of them. Daggers were knocked aside before they could be used, clubs parried, and bows broken all in the span of a few moments. When it was over, Hamlon searched the group of unconscious men until he found the one who had wronged him. He lifted his weapon once more, to finish the job, when the wealthy man's wife choked out, "Goddess… bless you sir!"

Something about her voice -a woman's voice- thanking him, broke his focus and turned his attention to her. The wealthy couple were looking at him with an expression of awe and thankfulness. The heat that had taken over his body quickly faded, and Hamlon lowered his weapon. After untying their hands and helping them to their feet, the two explained that they were Baron and Lady Igalis of Passeri. They had been returning to Hyrule with their son – a young man of nineteen who had been apprenticing under a knight in Necluda – when they were attacked by bandits in the Necludan Pass. Their son had been driving the carriage, and fled like a coward when the thieves forced them to stop.

The Baron was overcome with shame and grief at his son's failure to protect his family, but quickly embraced Hamlon and thanked him for rescuing the pair in their time of need. The farmer was speechless – he had no intention of saving them, he had only thought of getting his revenge against the thief that had invaded his home- but he did not correct the man.

The three struggled to right the carriage and -after an hour or so- the disgraced son returned, creeping through the same wheat field that Hamlon had used for cover. With his help, the family was able to gather what remained of their luggage, re-hitch the three living horses, and prepared to resume their journey. The father harshly admonished his son – accusing him of cowardice and proclaiming him "a shameful embarrassment to both family and Goddess." In his fury, Baron Igalis disinherited his son and promised to turn him out once they had returned to Passeri.

In gratitude for his heroism, the Baron offered to declare Hamlon as his heir – which upon his death, would transfer the right and title of "Baron" to him. "I am only a lesser-baron," the man explained, "I do not have much land or servants… but I cannot grant my legacy to a boy who shames his family so."

Overwhelmed with how quickly things seemed to be happening and unwilling to deny a member of the kingdom's aristocracy, Hamlon accepted. On the slow carriage ride North again, his mind turned over the events of his life up to this point: He had been the son of a poor farmer, had been married to a bitter, spiteful wife who did not love him, and likely would never become anything more than a poor farmer himself. If he ever had any children, he would never be able to give them more than his own father had given him. This was his one chance to break free and become something more in life.

As they came near his home, the wealthy family asked him about himself and whether he had any family. In that moment, Hamlon made his choice. "My parents have passed into the Goddess' care," he answered, "and I am alone." From the small window in his side of the carriage, he watched as his tiny farmhouse came into view and slowly receded once more behind them. He would be a new man now, with a wholly different life.