Role: The Hero
Description: As the legend goes, Link was a member of a tribe in the forest, most likely Kokiri, that is associated with fairies. When it came time for Link to receive his own fairy, he went out into the woods, and came upon the fairy, being marauded by beasts. He saved it, but it died. Then he found Impa in a clearing, being similarly marauded. He saved her, and learned, like always, of Princess Zelda's plight.
Role: Princess of Hyrule
Description: The Royal family were the keepers of the Triforce of Wisdom, and after the Prince of Darkness Gannon acquired the Triforce of Power, Zelda took steps to stop him. She broke the Triforce into eight pieces and hid them in labyrinths around the land. Right before she was captured by Gannon, she told her nursemaid, Impa, to find a hero worthy of restoring peace to the land.
Role: Nursemaid to Zelda
Description: Though Impa never shows her face in the game itself, she's around. The old maid was in the forest, being attacked by Moblins in her quest to find a hero when Link came along and saved her. Not surprisingly, she found her hero.
Role: Prince of Darkness
Description: Gannon, the prince of evil, sought the Triforce, and after getting Power, he captured Zelda to get Wisdom. He held her in Spectacle Rock on Death Mountain, and he's generally evil. Oh, he is. Prince of Darkness-caliber evil. His only weakness is the Silver Arrow, which he stupidly hid in Spectacle Rock, where Link could find it. ^^
Role: The even-more-respected Hero
Description: After saving Zelda in the previous episode, Link is now renowned throughout the land for Gannon's defeat. Approaching his 16th birthday, Link notices a Triforce-shaped marking on the back of his left hand. In this title, Link is described as honorably defending Hyrule even though everyone else is celebrating Gannon's defeat. Link is still afraid of his return...and with good reason.
Role: The Prince
Description: A Prince from Hyrule's past. His father gave him two of the Triforces, Power and Wisdom. But he could not find Courage, no matter how hard he looked. Finally, he discovered that his sister, Zelda, possessed it. But she refused to give it up, so the prince convinced a wizard to get it from her. The wizard cast an endless sleep on her. When the prince saw what he had done, he ordered every girl born into the royal family thereafter to be named Zelda. Is this guy a freak, or what?
Role: The Wizard
Description: The Wizard is an evil wizard, hired by the prince to force Zelda to give him the Triforce of Courage. He cast her into an endless sleep, but alas, the spell was too powerful for him to cast, and he died immediately. ......Hey, quit crying! This guy is the bad guy, remember?
Role: Sleeping Princess of the Past
Description: This Zelda, most likely a different one from the previously mentioned one, was put to sleep by a wizard when she refused to give her brother the Triforce of Courage. She can only be awakened when that Triforce is brought to her bedside. Take a wild guess who gets to go fetch it. Link, of course.
Role: Dead Piggy
Description: Since this title is a continuation from The Legend of Zelda, Gannon is still dead, unfortunately for him. On the other hand, that doesn't mean Link won't have to deal with his surviving minions, because it is said that if the blood of Gannon's killer is poured on his ashes, he will return. Run, Link, run!
Role: Still Zelda's Nursemaid
Description: Impa is the one who sends Link on his quest. He shows her the mark on his hand, and she leads him to a sealed door with the same mark. It opens, revealing the sleeping Princess Zelda within. She also gives Link some nifty crystals to stick in statues or something. ^^;
Role: A Link From the Past! ^^
Description: Since this particular title is a prequel to the other two, Link is rumored to be the ancestor of Links mentioned above. He lives with his uncle, and is forced to go rescue Zelda, and then, save Hyrule. Like you'd expect him to do anything else? ^_^
Role: Leader of the Enchanted Thieves
Description: Ganondorf, AKA "Mandrag Ganon" and his band of Enchanted Thieves stumbled onto the entrance of the Golden Land by mistake. Ganondorf slaughtered all his men to get at the Triforce. He grabbed it with bloodstained hands, and made the wish that turned the Golden Land into the Dark World. He also attempted to unseal himself from the Dark World through Agahnim, by capturing the maidens to break the Wise Mens' seal.
Role: Princess, descendant of Wise Men
Description: When Agahnim came to Hyrule Castle, Zelda suspected him immediately, especially after maidens began disappearing. Then suddenly, she was the last one, and found herself in the dungeon. She telepathically called for help, and was saved by Link. After they escape the castle, what does she do? Change her identity? Flee the country? No, she stays at a small church close to the castle where anyone could find her if they looked hard enough. Of course, she gets recaptured, sent to the Dark World, and stuck in a crystal for good measure. That'll teach her! .....Actually, it won't.
Role: Evil Wizard
Description: Agahnim came to Hyrule when the land was suffering from plague and drought. The wizard used his powerful magic to stop this trouble, gaining the King's favor. No one suspected that it was the wizard who caused these mishaps. Agahim is Ganon's 'alter ego' that takes care of business in the Light World, such as capturing the maidens. His magic can be deflected back at him only with the use of the Master Sword.