Summary
TheLegend of Zeldafranchise is no stranger to strange characters. Besides the main green-clad hero, the magical princess, and the evil they’re meant to defeat, most of these iconic games are populated with basic townsfolk. But every so often, players come across a character who is, by all accounts, an absolute weirdo.
Tingle is the oddball most players think about, but then there’s Dampe. He’s the hunchbacked gravedigger with a heart of gold who’s never seen without his trusty shovel. Despite looking like a mix betweenThe Hunchback of Notre Dame’sQuasimodo andFrankenstein’sIgor, Dampe is actually one of the least threatening people in the kingdom of Hyrule. He’s not the brightest tool in the shed, but he’s worth meeting before having need of his funerary services.
6He Has The Steadiest Career In Hyrulean History
The Only Certain Things Are Death And Graveyards
RecurringZeldacharacters often like to switch jobs in between games. AfterKotake and Koumewere defeated inOcarina of Time, they retired to a new life duringMajora’s Mask. Tingle seems to find some new side hustle every time players see him after being unemployed in his first appearance.
But good ol’ Dampe knows his place in the world, and it’s digging graves. It’s just histhing. And for a kingdom that’s constantly under threat from ancient evils, he’s not likely to be out of a job any time soon.
5He Prefers to Isolate From Society
Perhaps it’s because of his looks. Perhaps being obsessed with grave digging is off-putting for some people. Or perhaps he’s just an introvert. Either way, Dampe has never been a social butterfly. In every game he appears in, he tends to stick to himself. Even when his graveyard is attached to a settlement likeKakariko Village, Dampe never sets foot in the village square.
Of course, Dampe’s design is meant to complement the creepy, unnerving atmosphere of a misty graveyard. Seeing him among the bustling townsfolk doesn’t really match that sort of vibe. But it also just seems to be how the guy prefers to live.
4He’s Surprisingly Good With Kids
His Hunchback Is Caused By His Massive Heart
Dampe doesn’t really hang out with many people other than Link, but there’s one important exception to this rule. InOcarina of Time, the only other person inthe graveyardis a young boy. He marches around with a stick in hand, pretending to be the old grave digger tending to the plots. Dampe doesn’t seem to mind the tyke, especially since the kid seems to look up to him for his morbid profession.
Of course, Dampe also proves that he’s a responsible adult. No matter how much hero-worshipping the kid does, he’s still not old enough for the graveyard tour. Hanging around the cemetery during the day is one thing, but the guy isn’t looking to give some poor kid nightmares.
3He’s One of the Few Recurring Characters to Actually Die
Whether His Passing Was Ganon-Related Or Not Is Up For Debate
The Legend of Zeldacan sometimes tip-toe around the idea of characters dying. For a franchise that’s all about sword-fighting against the forces of darkness, it’s very rare for a character to be explicitly killed off. Even when it does happen, the games like to use euphemisms for death, like “existing in spirit form,” to soften the blow for younger players.
However, inOcarina of Time, after Link wakes up from his seven-year adventuring hiatus, Dampe is just straight-up dead. His graveyard feels empty without him. His ghost only exists now in a secret tunnel, offering to race Link for some fabulous prizes. At least he’s having a good time. The guy’s just gotten so comfortable with death over the years that he views his own as more of a vacation than anything else.
2He Might Have The Sixth Sense
So, how does someone get into digging graves for a living, anyway? Well, for Dampe, his lifelong passion for six-foot holes was seemingly inevitable. InThe Minish Cap, Dampe is believed to have the power to communicate with the dead. Link even asks him to use his power over the other side to help him in his quest.
It’s never stated whether Dampe acquired these skills on the job or if he’d always had them, but it would make sense for them to be a natural ability. After all, a loner with the powers of a medium would probably feel more at home amongst the dead than the living. It’s entirely possible that his ability iswhyhe’s so isolated from everyone.
1He’s Been Married More Than Once
Proof That Looks Aren’t Everything
For a character so sweet yet misunderstood, it’s heartwarming to know that some people appreciate Dampe for who he is. InMajora’s Mask, Dampe’s dialogue has him reminiscing about how he won the heart of his wife. Players can only hope she’s as wonderfully weird as he is.
More impressive still, Dampe specifically refers to his missus as his “current wife.” That means this big guy has given his heart to at least one other lucky lady. Using the word “current” rather than “second/third wife” also gives the impression that, perhaps, Dampe lost his former wife to death rather than divorce. Perhaps her grave is one among his care, another way to keep her close, even after death had parted them.
