Impa

Impa (pronounced /ˈɪm.pə/ IM-pə or /ˈɪm.pɑː/ IM-pah) is the family name of several female members of the Sheikah, a mysterious tribe that has served and protected the Royal Family of Hyrule for many generations. Many Sheikah of the name so far have been associated with and taken on the role of accompanying an incarnation of Princess Zelda, being like a bodyguard or attendant of sorts in some games. In addition, every Impa throughout The Legend of Zelda series has given extensive information and guidance to the various incarnations of Link they encounter in their time. In the original The Legend of Zelda, Impa appears in the game as an Old Woman, however she is only named in the game's instruction manual. When Hyrule was under attack by Ganon's forces in The Legend of Zelda, Princess Zelda ordered her old nursemaid Impa to secretly flee and find the one who could save them. Ganon soon found out and sent his minions after Impa. Though she managed to stay out of their reach for a long time, she was eventually captured. However, she was saved by a strange boy named Link who managed to chase away Ganon's henchmen. Knowing that this was the one she had been looking for, Impa told him the whole story and asked him to go save Princess Zelda, therefore starting his adventure.