You’ve probably seen the bird. If you’ve spent any significant time wandering the rainy, vertical cliffs of the Kass-heavy regions in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you know exactly the one I mean.
Kass is everywhere. His accordion music is basically the soundtrack to Link’s existential dread. But one specific side quest—The Hero's Cache BOTW—is a weirdly quiet moment in a game that usually rewards you with massive cinematic flourishes. It’s a riddle. It’s a bit of a trek. Honestly, it’s one of those quests that makes you realize just how much history is buried under the grass of Hyrule.
Most people stumble into this quest while exploring the Kitano Bay area, near Hateno Village. You’re looking for a shrine or maybe just some hearty durians, and then you hear it. The music.
Where the Heck is Kass? Finding the Start Point
Kass is perched on a jagged stone pillar out in the water of Kitano Bay. It’s east of the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab. If you’re gliding down from the cliffs, he’s hard to miss. The quest itself is officially titled "The Hero’s Cache," and it’s one of the simpler "shrine-adjacent" quests, even though it doesn't actually lead to a shrine.
That’s the first thing that trips people up.
Usually, Kass gives you a hint, you solve a puzzle, and boom—Ancient Sheikah tech explodes out of the ground. Not this time. This is about cold, hard cash. Or, well, gold.
The riddle goes like this: "My former master sang of this day, 'The hero’s cache yields gold for the fray. At 17 by 24, it waits behind the stone door.'"
It sounds like coordinate math. It isn’t. Don't go looking for a latitude/longitude system on your Sheikah Slate because you won't find one that matches those numbers. You’ve gotta think like a clock.
Solving the 17 by 24 Mystery
Okay, let's break this down because the "17 by 24" part is what usually sends people to Google.
It’s about time.
In military time, 17:00 is 5:00 PM. That’s the "17." The "24" is a bit more metaphorical—it’s the position on a clock face or a specific direction. But honestly? You don't even need to wait for a specific time of day to finish The Hero's Cache BOTW. The numbers are a lore hint left by Kass’s teacher, a man who was the court poet for the Royal Family of Hyrule 100 years ago.
The actual solution is physical. Look at the pillars in the water near where Kass is standing. There’s a specific rock formation that looks a bit different. It’s a pile of cracked, destructible boulders tucked into the side of one of the stone spires.
You need bombs. Lots of them. Or one well-placed bomb arrow if you’re feeling lazy and have the resources to spare.
I’ve seen players spend twenty minutes trying to align the shadow of the pillar at exactly 5:00 PM because they think it’s a sun-dial puzzle like the one in Gerudo Desert. It’s not. You can just blow the rocks up at high noon or in the middle of a thunderstorm. The "stone door" in the riddle is just those breakable rocks.
Why the Reward is Actually a Letdown (But Also Great)
Inside the cache, you find a chest.
If you were expecting a piece of the Climber’s Gear or a rare weapon, I’ve got some bad news. It’s a Gold Rupee.
That’s 300 Rupees.
In the early game, 300 Rupees is a king’s ransom. It buys you the Hylian Tunic or a decent stock of arrows. In the late game, when you’re sitting on 20,000 Rupees from selling Lynel guts and Diamond ores, it feels like a bit of a participation trophy.
But here’s the thing: the value isn't the money. It's the lore. This cache was left by the Hero from 10,000 years ago—the one from the tapestry. He hid supplies all over Hyrule to help his future self. It adds this layer of "prepper" energy to the ancient heroes. They knew Link was going to wake up in a cave with no pants and no money. They tried to help.
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Pro-Tips for Navigating Kitano Bay
Since you're already out there in the water, don't just grab the Gold Rupee and teleport away. That’s a rookie move.
- Check the Water: Use Cryonis or Magnesis. There are often sunken chests in the bay near these pillars that contain Opal or Amber.
- The Rocks: The pillars themselves have Ore Deposits. If you're low on Luminous Stones or Iron, bash them while you're there.
- The View: This is one of the best spots to see the sunrise over the Necluda Sea. If you're into the photography aspect of the game, wait for the morning light.
Sometimes the "Hero's Cache" feels like a filler quest, but it’s actually a test of your observation. Breath of the Wild doesn't always want you to fight a Hinox; sometimes it just wants you to look at a rock and wonder if it’s supposed to be there.
Realities of the Hero's Cache BOTW
Let's talk about the master who wrote the song.
Kass mentions his master a lot. This poet was obsessed with Link. He was actually jealous of Link because he was in love with Princess Zelda, but he eventually realized Link was the only one who could save her. He spent his final days traveling Hyrule, finding the spots where the previous Hero had hidden things, and turning them into songs so Kass could eventually guide Link back to them.
When you finish this quest, Kass feels a sense of duty fulfilled. He’s passing on a literal inheritance. It’s one of the few quests that connects the ancient past (10,000 years ago) with the recent past (100 years ago) and the present.
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If you can't find the rocks, look for the pillar that looks "bulkier" than the others. It’s on the north side of the cluster. Magnesis won't show the chest until the rocks are gone, so don't rely on the pink glow to find it. Just use your eyes. Look for the cracks.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you haven't completed this yet, here is your checklist to get it done in under five minutes.
- Teleport to the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab. It's the highest point nearby.
- Paraglide East/South-East. Aim for the water. Look for the tall, skinny rock pillars sticking out of the ocean.
- Find Kass. Listen for the accordion. He’s on the tallest one.
- Identify the breakable wall. It’s on a smaller pillar nearby, slightly submerged at the base.
- Use a Remote Bomb. Toss it, detonate it, and use Magnesis to pull the metal chest out of the hole you just made.
- Take your 300 Rupees. Go buy some Ancient Screws or something.
This quest is a reminder that Hyrule is a graveyard of things left behind. Whether it's a Gold Rupee or a giant mechanical elephant, everything in this game is a remnant of someone who tried to help you before you were even born.
Go get your money. You've earned it, even if it's just for listening to Kass's long-winded stories for the hundredth time. Look for the cracked stone, use your bombs, and don't overthink the numbers—they're just a poet's way of being dramatic.