- "Death Mountain
No passage without a
Royal Decree!" - — Sign
The Death Mountain Trail Starting Point is a location from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Located in Kakariko Village, it is the start of the Death Mountain Trail that can be followed up Death Mountain to Goron City. When Link first reaches the starting point, it is gated off and a Hyrulean Soldier guards the area. Link finds out that he needs a royal decree to travel through the barrier, and after receiving permission from Princess Zelda, the Hyrulean Soldier opens the gate and allows Link access to the mountain.
Before Link sets off, the Hyrulean Soldier recommends that he purchase a Hylian Shield from the Bazaar in Hyrule Castle Town, to protect himself from the volcanic downpour of Death Mountain. He tells Link to mention that he was sent by him to receive a discount. Also, the soldier asks Link to pick up the Keaton Mask from the Happy Mask Shop for him, effectively initiating the Happy Mask side quest. If Link has a Keaton Mask, but refuses to give it to the soldier when prompted to, the soldier would shut the gate until Link leaves the area and returns.
When Link returns to Kakariko Village as an adult, he finds the Keaton Mask Soldier gone, and the gate ripped down, making it so anyone can travel in and out.