Sheikah

The Sheikah, or Shadow Folk, are a secretive, magical race devoted to the Great Goddesses. They swore loyalty to the Royal Family of Hyrule, perhaps due to their religious convictions, as the Princess of Hyrule oftentimes functions as a sort of "priestess" of the Goddesses. Most of the Sheikah died off in the Unification War before the events of Ocarina of Time.

Characteristics
The Sheikah are recognized by their distinctive red eyes, and the Sheikah emblem they usually wear. The only verified Sheikah also had pure white hair.

The Sheikah emblem is a single eye with a tear drop. The Ocarina of Time manga (which may not be canon) states that the emblem used to be a single eye until the Sheikah tribe was betrayed, and the tear was added.

Members of the tribe
The only verified Sheikah is Impa, Princess Zelda's caretaker and the sage of the Shadow Temple. Zelda also disguises herself as the faux-Sheikah "Sheik", but it is unknown whether she actually took the form of a Sheikah, if she has Sheikah heritage, or she merely used a conventional disguise. As "Sheik", she has platinum-blonde hair, red eyes, and wears a prominent Sheikah emblem.

There are many characters throughout the series who have characteristics similar to the Sheikah.


 * Princess Zelda disguises herself as Sheik in Ocarina of Time, and wears the Sheikah emblem in Twilight Princess. Also, in The Wind Waker, it is said that her pirates conquered the Forsaken Fortress some time ago, and the Sheikah emblem is seen inside the room at the top.


 * Kafei, from Majora's Mask, has the distinctive red eyes.
 * The Fierce Deity, also from Majora's Mask, is said to have "dark" powers, is white-haired, and has red flesh around his eyes.
 * Impaz, the caretaker of the Ancient Sky Book and Old Kakariko from Twilight Princess, specifically claims that she is a descendant of and is named after the woman who founded the town and protected the Royal Family. This seems to be a reference to Impa.
 * Baito, the human mailman from The Wind Waker, has the Sheikah emblem tattooed on his back.
 * Madam Fanadi, the fortuneteller from Twilight Princess, has the distinctive red eyes and wears the Sheikah emblem on her forehead.