Carben

Carben playing the flute

**Carben** is a character from *Spirit Tracks*. He is a member of the Lokomo race and Guardian of the Ocean Realm who resides in the Ocean Sanctuary. Like the rest of the Lokomo people, Carben possesses a sacred instrument, his being the flute, which generates energy to power the Spirit Tracks when played with another sacred instrument. Carben also has the ability to communicate with birds.

## Biography

In order to access the chamber of the sanctuary in which Carben is located, Link must trace the paths of the stone statues' gazes that are scattered throughout the sanctuary. Once he draws the correct figure on a panel, the door to the chamber will open only to reveal an empty room with a note left by Carben that mentions he is in Papuchia Village visiting his bird friends. Link and Princess Zelda venture to Papuchia Village and find Carben riding up in the air with the accompaniment of a few birds. After Princess Zelda fails to get his attention by yelling out his name, they visit the Wise One to get some advice on how to get him to come down. Link, by word of the Wise One, then plays the "Song of Discovery" which reveals a Air Stone with the melody of the "Song of Birds". Using this melody, Link is able to bring Carben down from the air, who will then be asked to be taken to his sanctuary in order to help the young duo in their quest to restore the Spirit Tracks.

On the trip back to the sanctuary, Link's Spirit Train is raided by pirates, which the young hero must fend off from Carben to protect him. If Link does not prevent the Miniblins and the Big Blin from reaching Carben, they will catch the Lokomo in a cage, ending up in a Game Over. Once the young hero successfully defeats the Pirates and safely reaches the Ocean Sanctuary, Carben will reward with a Force Gem that reveals more Spirit Tracks in the Forest Realm. Link, after talking to Carben inside the sanctuary, plays a Lokomo Song along with the elderly Lokomo to restore the tracks leading to the underwater area where the Ocean Temple sleeps.

During the final battle against Malladus, Princess Zelda sings a duet with Link, and soon after this, all five of the Lokomos, including Carben, join in to form a full orchestrated version of the piece. This melody weakens Malladus and reveals a weak spot in his back, which is necessary to defeat the Demon King once and for all.

Carben is last seen during the ending credits when Anjean, along with the rest of the Lokomos, departs towards the heavens after the defeat of the Demon King since their protection is no longer needed in the land of Hyrule.

## Nomenclature

Carben's name is phonetically identical to carbon, the element of which coal is composed.

## Gallery

* The Sign left by Carben in the Ocean Sanctuary
* Carben carried in the air by a Bird
* Carben playing a duet with Link

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "*Let me reintroduce myself. I am Carben, guardian of the Ocean Realm.*" — **Carben** (*Spirit Tracks*)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "*That white-haired fellow floating in the air... Could he be the Lokomo Carben?*" — Princess Zelda (*Spirit Tracks*)
3. ↑ *Encyclopedia*, Dark Horse Books, pg. 289
4. ↑ "*Indeed. We are called the Lokomos. We are servants of the spirits. They have entrusted us with protecting the temples and the Spirit Tracks. By playing our sacred instruments... We generate energy that powers the Spirit Tracks.*" — Anjean (*Spirit Tracks*)
5. ↑ "*I was talking to the birds about the different places they've seen.*" — **Carben** (*Spirit Tracks*)
6. ↑ "*Follow the gazes of the statues. Trace their paths to open the door.*" — Sign (*Spirit Tracks*)
7. ↑ "*I'm at Papuchia Village visiting my sky friends. -Carben*" — **Carben** (*Spirit Tracks*)
8. ↑ "*Carben! CARBEEEEEEEN! He's in some sort of daze and doesn't seem to hear us...*" — Princess Zelda (*Spirit Tracks*)
9. ↑ "*The nerve! There I was, flying high in the sky, unwinding... Then you play the Song of Birds, and I come crashing down! Don't you know that song has the power to call birds to you? [...] Hmph. Let me guess--you want me to restore the Spirit Tracks, don't you? I was hoping to relax a little longer, but fine. Take me to the Ocean Sanctuary on your train.*" — **Carben** (*Spirit Tracks*)
10. ↑ "*Oh, no! Pirates! We have to protect our passenger!*" — Princess Zelda (*Spirit Tracks*)
11. ↑ "*Ah, we finally made it. It was just a short distance away, but it felt so far. I suppose mortal peril has that effect on a person. You really must be more careful in the future, Link! Here, this is for you. [...] I don't express it well, but the bottom line is that I appreciate your help. Here, please take this. It belongs to you.*" — **Carben** (*Spirit Tracks*)
12. ↑ "*Let's combine my sacred power with the power of the Spirit Flute! I think we can use them to weaken Malladus!*" — Princess Zelda (*Spirit Tracks*)
13. ↑ "*But our protection is no longer needed. Even without the spirits' guidance, you will do well. So I think I will return to the heavens... In the company of my old friend Byrne.*" — Anjean (*Spirit Tracks*)
14. ↑ *Encyclopedia*, TOKYOPOP, pg. 287 (**ST**)
15. ↑ "*Je me présente à nouveau. Je suis Pysto, gardien de la contrée des mers!*" — Carben (*Spirit Tracks*)
16. ↑ "*Je me présente à nouveau. Je suis Pysto, gardien de la contrée marine!*" — Carben (*Spirit Tracks*)
17. ↑ "*Noch mal danke fürs Mitnehmen vorhin, [Link]. Ich bin also Spul, Beschützer dieser Meeresküste.*" — Carben (*Spirit Tracks*)
18. ↑ "*Link, grazie per prima. Mi presento per bene. Io sono Rotaius e mi occupo del Paese dei Flutti.*" — Carben (*Spirit Tracks*)
19. ↑ "*[Link], muchas gracias por lo de antes. Me presentaré de nuevo. Me llamo Bobin, y soy el sabio protector de la Región de los Mares.*" — Carben (*Spirit Tracks*)
20. ↑ "*[Link], muchas gracias por lo de antes. Me presentaré de nuevo. Me llamo Bobin, y soy el sabio protector de la Región de los Mares.*" — Carben (*Spirit Tracks*)