Linebeck

Linebeck
Species	Hylian
Debut	The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Linebeck is a treasure hunter that roams the sea on his small steamboat.

Background

Although he considered himself a man of adventure, Linebeck was always something of a coward despite his risk-filled occupation. During one of his many voyages, he lost control of his ship and ended up crashing into a monster that was attacking a vessel owned by the pirate Jolene. The two ended up sailing together for a time, but it soon became obvious to Linebeck they were very different. Although Jolene was rather smitten with Linebeck, he disliked putting himself into open danger and found it rather embarrassing that she was stronger than he was. So he left her company... but not without taking some of her treasure with him.

The earned him her ire for the rest of his seafaring days and he spent a lot of time avoiding her. However he had started hearing stories about a Ghost Ship and decided it must be full of treasure. He tried to get information from an old man, Oshus, on Mercay Island. He was turned down, but soon after a young boy named Link washed on shore. His friend, Tetra, had been taken by the Ghost Ship and he was resolved to find it. The boy was advised to go look for Linebeck for help and so he departed with a fairy named Ciela.

By then Linebeck had already wandered into the Temple of the Ocean King and become trapped in a circle of spikes. Link found him in the temple and following Linebeck's instructions (who claimed to have had hurt his foot), was able to free the sailor from what would have been his demise. However Linebeck sent Link to continue into the temple so he could find a sea chart that would help them get to the Ghost Ship.

Afterwards, Linebeck grudgingly agreed to work with Link, though only because Link had no interest in the treasure that Linebeck was after. However it soon became obvious to Ciela that Linebeck was a coward with no interest in doing any of the hard work himself. Each time they arrived on an island, Linebeck sent Link out to find information on the Ghost Ship while finding an excuse to stay behind, like to work on the ship. Throughout their adventured they were constantly dogged by Jolene. Whenever she boarded their ship, Linebeck would hide in a crate while Link did the fighting.

When they finally found the Ghost Ship, Link found Tetra to still be in stone form and that there was no treasure. Linebeck was ready to call off his help, but when Oshus revealed himself to be the Ocean King, he promised to grant Linebeck one wish for helping Link on his quest. Reinvigorated by this, Linebeck stuck with Link for the rest of the quest. Gradually he became less concerned with the treasure and more about defeating the evil Bellum that had cursed Oshus.

When they at last Link drove Bellum from the Temple of the Ocean God, Linebeck piloted the ship to pursue the demon who had taken to fleeing on the Ghost Ship. With Link manning the cannon, they were able to disable the Ghost Ship. While he and Link went aboard the remains of the Ghost Ship, Bellum launched an attack that sunk Linebeck's ship - with Oshus still on it. Bellum then turned to seize Link, causing him to drop the Phantom Sword in the process. While Link struggled to get free, Linebeck - trembling in fear - took the Phantom Sword and stabbed one of Bellum's tentacles.

Bellum released Link and Tetra and took hold of Linebeck. While Linebeck was pulled away, he tossed the sword back to Link. Once Bellum had covered all of Linebeck, it enhanced him with a giant suit of armor and took control of him. Completely under Bellum's control, he engaged Link in battle. Ciela attempted to freeze time so Link could strike Bellum's eye, but one of the tentacled ended up seizing her. She was able to still charge up Link's Phantom Sword so he could freeze time and eventually Link was able to free Linebeck of his possession.

In the aftermath, Linebeck apologized for attacking, even though he was not in control of himself at the time. Afterward he lamented the loss of his boat (as well as Oshus), but was soon greeted by the site of the Ocean King in his true form (that of a giant white whale). The Ocean King made good on his wish and asked Linebeck what he desired. To the surprise of everyone else, Linebeck asked if he could have his old boat back - a request that the Ocean King granted. Afterwards he sent Link and Tetra back to the beginning of their adventure, on board the Ghost Ship next to Tetra's pirate ship.

While Tetra tried to explain what happened and how it wasn't a dream, Link looked over the deck and spotted Linebeck's boat sailing away into the distance.

Trivia

• A sticker of Linebeck appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.