Sheikah

"Have you heard the legend of the "Shadow Folk"? They are the Sheikah...the shadows of the Hylians. They say they swore allegiance to the King of Hyrule and guarded the Royal Family..."

- Shikashi

The Sheikah (シーカー Shīkā), or Shadow Folk, are a secretive, magical race devoted to the great Golden Goddesses and the Royal Family of Hyrule. They are a warrior race known for their skill in magic, earning the epithet "Shadows of the Hylians." Much mystery surrounds this race, as only three of its known members are depicted in the games, leaving room for speculation regarding their race's history. It is known, however, that they were the founders of Kakariko Village and are implied to have constructed the Shadow Temple. In ancient times, the Sheikah tribe maintained contact with the Oocca. Zelda's nursemaid Impa is a Sheikah and the Sage of Shadow. Their race's Eye Symbol has constantly reappeared throughout the series, even in games which do not feature the Sheikah themselves, only adding to the mystery surrounding their race. The Sheikah are recognized by their distinctive red eyes and the Sheikah emblem they usually wear.

Appearances
The Sheikah have appeared on more than one occasion throughout the series, and each subsequent appearance has reinforced the overall aspects of them depicted in previous appearances. They made their first official appearance in Ocarina of Time, but only two, Impa and Sheik, are depicted, though both share the typical characteristics of the Sheikah. Though the Sheikah do not appear themselves in Majora's Mask, certain artifacts said to have been created by them that previously appeared in Ocarina of Time do appear, with their name being mentioned in passing. In the Oracle series, a more robust incarnation of Impa appears, though she retains the primary characteristics of her Ocarina of Time counterpart. Similar to Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker does not feature any true members of the Sheikah tribe, though a stained glass window depicting Impa in her Ocarina of Time incarnation as well as the Sheikah symbol do make an appearance. Twilight Princess meanwhile depicts a lone member of the tribe implied to have been named for Impa, Impaz, the last known Sheikah at the time of that game; A fortune-teller named Madame Fanadi is also thought to be of Sheikah descent in the game as well. Phantom Hourglass meanwhile features a modified version of the Gossip Stones once used by the Sheikah.

Ocarina of Time
begins at a time when very few members of the Sheikah tribe remain, though it is implied that they were nearly wiped out defending the Royal Family of Hyrule during the Hyrulean Civil War The primary member of the tribe featured in the game is Impa, the tall, athletic female attendant and guardian of Princess Zelda. She sports the characteristic red eyes and pointed ears that are identifying features of the Sheikah tribe. She is also shown to exhibit the ability to vanish in a flash of light literally in the blink of an eye, hinting at the agility and combative prowess of her tribe. Likewise, a Sheikah named Sheik is also featured, where the young shadow warrior boasts many of the same abilities and characteristics as Impa and assists the Hero of Time in locating each of the five temples located throughout Hyrule to awaken each of the Seven Sages.

Kakariko Village was once a Sheikah settlement, before Impa opened it to all peoples. The Graveyard behind the village is the resting place of the Sheikah and the location of the Shadow Temple.

Link is also able to acquire from the Happy Mask Shop the Mask of Truth, another creation of the Sheikah tribe, that allows communication with the Gossip Stones left around Hyrule by the tribe. Each of these stones bears the Sheikah symbol and can whisper secrets to one possessing this mask. Another artifact, the Lens of Truth, is implied to be Sheikah in origin as well, as it is found deep in the Bottom of the Well that Impa sealed and is shaped like the Sheikah eye.

In the second half of the game, Link is introduced to the mysterious survivor of the Sheikah tribe, Sheik. He gives Link hints about where to find the five temples located around Hyrule and later reveals to him a previously unknown legend of the Triforce passed down by the Sheikah, which states that only one pure of heart may claim the Triforce in its entirety and transform the Sacred Realm into a paradise; Otherwise, if that one's heart is not in balance, he or she will inherit the Triforce only in part (transforming the Sacred Realm into a world of evil in the process), while the other parts will go to two special people chosen by destiny, who will bear the Triforce mark on the backs of their hands. While on his quest to awaken the Seven Sages, Link goes in search of the Sage of Shadow after realizing that an evil shadow spirit named Bongo Bongo, who had previoiusly been sealed at the bottom of the Kakariko Well by Impa, has escaped and taken over the Shadow Temple.

Sheik reveals to the Hero of Time that Impa is one of the Sages and has gone to the Shadow Temple to try to re-cage the beast. After being taught the Nocturne of Shadow by Sheik, the Hero of Time ventures into the so-called "House of the Dead" in search of Impa and the shadow beast, armed with the Lens of Truth, another Sheikah artifact that has the ability to see through illusions. When he succeeds in vanquishing Bongo Bongo, Link witnesses the awakening of Impa as the Sage of Shadow, who implores him to look after Princess Zelda in her stead thereafter. After the Hero of Time succeeds in rescuing all of the Seven Sages, Sheik reveals himself to in fact be Princess Zelda in disguise, having hidden behind the mask of Sheik to evade Ganondorf for seven years. After the King of Evil is defeated, Impa uses her power as the Sage of Shadow to help the other Sages seal Ganondorf in the void of the Evil Realm that was formerly the Sacred Realm. She is last seen overlooking a jubilant Hyrule from atop Death Mountain alongside most of the other Sages.

Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages
The Oracle series seemingly depicts only one member of the Sheikah tribe, once again Princess Zelda's nursemaid, Impa, though she is depicted in a very different physical form and yet retains the classical red eyes and pointed ears in this incarnation. She also exhibits superhuman strength in this game, a difference from her Ocarina of Time depiction. This is likely made possible from her very different physique, which depicts her as being very robust and large-framed, in contrast with her more slender, athletic body-type depicted in Ocarina of Time. Apart from Impa's presence, no other indicators of the Sheikah appear to be present in either of the games apart from a similar eye symbol that appears on the gown of Veran, the Sorceress of Shadows and primary villain of Oracle of Ages.

In both games, Impa has been sent by Princess Zelda to retrieve Din, the Oracle of Seasons, and Nayru, the Oracle of Ages, from the lands of Holodrum and Labrynna respectively due to nightmares Zelda has been having about darkness drawing around the two Oracles. In Oracle of Seasons, Impa poses as the cook for the troupe of Din, hoping to smuggle her out of Holodrum to the safety of Hyrule, though this effort is thwarted by Onox, the General of Darkness, who captures Din and injures Impa amongst others in the process. She largely stays in her refuge north of Horon Village for the rest of the game.

Meanwhile, in Oracle of Ages, the lone Sheikah plays a slightly larger role in the opening events of the game, where she is possessed by Veran, the Sorceress of Shadows, and is used as a puppet to gain Link's trust and have him remove a barrier preventing her from reaching the Oralce of Ages. After she succeeds in this effort, the evil sorceress leaves Impa's body and jumps into Nayru's before traveling back in time. Veran's possession of Impa is revealed to have greatly weakened her, at least temporarily, and she remains at Nayru's House in the Forest of Time for much of the remainder of the game. In the Linked Ending of both games, Impa offers vocal and emotional support for Link as he faces the true villains behind the events of both games, Twinrova, and is there to celebrate at the defeat of the Gerudo witches and the thwarting of their attempt to resurrect Ganon.

Twilight Princess
Twilight Princess once again depicts few candidate members of the Sheikah tribe: Impaz, who resides in the forgotten Hidden Village and professes to be named after the founder of the village (heavily implied to be Impa), and Madame Fanadi, a fortune-teller who bears the Sheikah Eye Symbol on her forehead and also possesses the two classical features of the Sheikah, red eyes and pointed ears; She is skilled in magic as the tribe was said to have been. Though Impaz is heavily implied to be one of the few remaining Sheikah (even possessing Sheikah heirlooms), Madame Fanadi's status is only hinted at by her appearance and use of the Sheikah symbol, leaving her relation to the tribe shrouded in mystery.

Signs of Sheikah civilization appear in the game, such as the presence of a statue bearing the Eye of the Sheikah that was given by Impaz to Ilia when she was imprisoned in the Hidden Village by Bulblins as well as the Howling Stones, which bear a strong resemblance to the Gossip Stones shown in Ocarina of Time. A sign over the entrance to the Hidden Village, when translated from Hylian, reads "Welcome to Old Kakariko", implying that the Hidden Village may have been the Kakariko Village featured in Ocarina of Time. This is supported by a statement made by Impaz, saying that the village was once home to the proud tribe that protected the Hylian royalty. The Sheikah are implied to have been well-known amongst the Gorons of Death Mountain, who state that the tribe dwindled in the prolonged wars, as well as the Oocca of the City in the Sky, who left the Ancient Sky Book in the hands of the Sheikah some time before they lost touch with the surface-dwellers of Hyrule.

Curiously, the Sheikah symbol makes an appearance on the back of the robes worn by the imprisoned Princess Zelda when Link meets her for the first time in the overthrown Hyrule Castle. In addition, when she is seen in her royal garb later in the game, her shoulder pads also bear the Sheikah symbol, with blue gems serving as the eyes. The symbol also appears on the back of the Fused Shadow as well as above the throne of the ruler of the Twilight Realm in the Palace of Twilight. It has also been noted that Luda, the daughter of Renado, bears a similar symbol on the back of her clothing.

After she is abducted from Ordon Village by the henchmen of King Bulblin, Ilia is brought to the Hidden Village, where she befriends fellow prisoner Impaz. Shortly before helping Ilia escape the village, Impaz gave her a parting gift, a Wooden Statue that was an heirloom of her clan, though Ilia accidentally left behind with Impaz a charm she had made for Link. When Ilia made her way to Hyrule Castle Town, she visited a doctor and forgot the statue in his office when she developed amnesia and forgot all about her past, before she was taken in by the kinda barmaid Telma. Meanwhile, Impaz remained captive in the Hidden Village, now overrun by Bulblins.

Some time later, Link comes in search of the Hidden Village on a quest to restore Ilia's lost memory after returning the statue to Ilia, who remembered that a kind person that gave it to her helped her escape. The Goron elders who were nearby noted that they had seen the statue's Eye Symbol before, stating that it was the symbol of a tribe that had once served the Royal Family that lived in a lonely place hidden away from the world. After Darbus cleared the pathway to the village, Link put his archery skills to use and purged what remained of the village of the Bulblins afflicting it. It was then that he met with Impaz, who stated that she was the last member of the village and that she was named for the great one who founded the village. After speaking to her about Ilia, Link receives the charm Ilia had left behind from Impaz and takes it back to Kakariko Village, where the sight of it fully restores Ilia's memory to normal.

Shortly after this, Link returns to the Hidden Village after hearing Ilia mention something she heard about the "Rod of the Heavens" and the Oocca from Impaz. After showing the Dominion Rod to Impaz, the overjoyed old woman declares that Link must be the fabled "Messenger to the Heavens" she has long been waiting for and gives him the Ancient Sky Book, an relic left in the hands of the Sheikah tribe long ago before the Oocca lost touch with surface dwellers and a vital clue to reaching the Oocca's legendary home, the City in the Sky. This action fulfills her obligation by royal decree to remain in the village to await the heavenly messenger.

Cameos
While no actual members of the Sheikah tribe make an appearance in these games, references to them and their symbolism endures.

Majora's Mask
Their tribe's name appears in the in-game description of certain artifacts, including the Mask of Truth and the Lens of Truth, both making their second appearance following Ocarina of Time. In addition to its normal power to allow the wearer to communicate with Gossip Stones (also making their second appearance), the Mask of Truth is also said to possess the power to read the minds of animals in this game, a notable difference from the power it possessed in Ocarina of Time. The appearance of these artifacts in the land of Termina has given rise to speculation that the tribe perhaps exsited in Termina at one time as well, mirroring the appearances of most other tribes from Hyrule that are also found in Termina.

The Wind Waker
In The Wind Waker, a modified version of their symbol makes a small appearance near the top of the Forsaken Fortress, where it can be seen hanging next to the door leading to Ganondorf's chamber within the wrecked ship that makes up the topmost chamber of the fortress. In addition, the human mailman Baito possesses a tattoo on his back depicting the Sheikah symbol as well, implying he may have some connection to the tribe. The symbol also appears as a feature of the Hero's Charm, a golden mask whose eyes both resemble the Eye of the Sheikah. This mask gives the wearer the ability to look into the life forces of his or her enemies, thus providing a means to judge their strength. An advanced version of the Gossip Stone is also seen in the game, under the new name of the Pirate's Charm, which is said to have been made by King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, hinting at the Royal Family's connection to the tribe.

In a direct reference to the Sheikah however, an image of Impa, the Sage of Shadow from Ocarina of Time, appears in one of the stained-glass windows of the chamber that is home to the Master Sword in the basement of Hyrule Castle, alongside the rest of the Seven Sages that sealed Ganondorf away. The orb above her image marks yet another appearance of the Eye of the Sheikah, serving as the representative symbol of the Sage of Shadow.

Phantom Hourglass
Phantom Hourglass marks yet another appearance of the Gossip Stones, where in this appearance Link can communicate with the stones without the benefit of the Mask of Truth. These Gossip Stones can unlock certain challenges or reveal the locations of certain treasures in various dungeons. The design of the Gossip Stones in this game is slightly different from the design used in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. For example, the eye appearing on the stones is more circular than other depictions of the symbol featured previously in the series. It is unknown how these stones came to exist in the World of the Ocean King and why they appear somewhat different from those featured in previous games, though some suspect that this could be due to the disappearance of the Sheikah tribe and, like the land of Termina, the World of the Ocean King may also have once housed a sect of the tribe as well.

Characteristics and Abilities
The Sheikah are a humanoid race, bearing great resemblance to the Hylian race in both appearance and magical capacity. As far as physical features go, the two identifying features that distinguish a Sheikah from other humanoid races are their distinctive red eyes and their pointed ears, though they share the latter with the Hylian race. The distinctive red eyes are primarily the sole difference that sets the Sheikah apart from the Hylians. Apart from this however, their anatomy seems nearly identical.

The relationship of the Sheikah to the Hylian race, or whether one even exists for that matter, is unknown. It is true that the Hylians do share certain characteristics with the Sheikah, primarily their pointed ears and their ability to make use of magic. For example, the alter ego of Princess Zelda is a Sheikah boy named Sheik, who possesses both the red eyes and pointed ears that are distinctive of the Sheikah race; It is unknown exactly how she achieved this however, whether by magic or by means of a simple disguise, thus throwing this instance of a Hylian-Sheikah crossover into question. On the other hand, Zelda does wear a robe displaying the Sheikah Eye Symbol in the later game of Twilight Princess and even possesses the mark on her regal gown's shoulder pads as well, though this could simply be a reference to the Royal Family's relationship with the Sheikah rather than the Hylian race at large.

The Sheikah seem to put their magic to even greater use both in technology as well as combat. For example, the Sheikah have been notable for their creation of such powerful magical artifacts as the Mask of Truth, the Lens of Truth and their race's Gossip Stones, as well as their ability to use magic to improve their stealth skills, such as their ability to vanish in a bright flash of light without a trace. The Hylians, though they have powerful magic as well and have been known to use it to aid their kingdom, have yet to produce items or abilities such as these through their own magic.

Artifacts
As mentioned previously, the Sheikah were noted to have been very capable craftsmen and magical inventors. Relics of their tribe that possess unique magical powers have survived the generations and still function as they were originally intended. They had an affinity for powers related to the element of shadows (hence their tribe's nickname) and thus showed an aptitude for developing tools that could help the wielder see through illusions or learn secrets that may not seem apparent to the user.

Lens of Truth
The Lens of Truth constitute a powerful Sheikah artifact that, when used in conjunction with Magic Power, will allow its wielder to see through any illusion and thus see the "truth" of their surroundings. Its appearance is heavily based upon the Eye Symbol that is the insignia of the Sheikah tribe as a whole, with the actual lens acting as the "eye", the gems atop it acting as the "eyelashes", and the handle acting as the "tear". The artifact has also gained the alternate name of the "Eye of Truth" by those who have researched it in legends of the Sheikah tribe. This relic has appeared in both the lands of Hyrule and Termina, each time fulfilling the same function.

Mask of Truth
The Mask of Truth is a uniquely powerful mask that was also crafted by the Sheikah before their disappearance. Its most notable feature is the presence of the distinctive Sheikah Eye Symbol that adorns much of the mask's surface in colors of red and yellow on a mask of white. However its true power is all the more fascinating in that it allows the wearer to communicate with the Gossip Stones that are scattered across different lands including Hyrule and Termina and thus unlock the secrets each holds.

Gossip Stones
The Gossip Stones are a series of enchanted stones that bear the Sheikah emblem and were created to act as observation tools that would gather information and reveal it to the one bearing the Mask of Truth, which has the ability to communicate with the stones. Due to their ability to gather and whisper information to the mask's holder, their title implies their "gossiping" nature. While they are found primarily in Hyrule, they are also found in other lands such as Termina and the World of the Ocean King, the only notable difference being that the version within the latter does not require use of the Mask of Truth.

At first, when struck, the stones would only reveal the time of the day it was to Link. Their reaction changes however with the Mask of Truth and begins conversing and revealing valuable pieces of information. Similarly, the stones found in Termina, when struck with a sword, will cause a powerful vibration and a high-pitched sound before revealing how much time remains before the Moon crashes into Termina, though they will reveal their true secrets to the holder of the Mask of Truth like their Hyrulean counterparts. The stones make a third appearance in the World of the Ocean King, but these stones will not require use of the Mask of Truth. A strongly similar stone, the Howling Stone, is featured in Twilight Princess and can summon the Hero's Spirit.

The Eye of the Sheikah
The Eye of the Sheikah, more commonly known as the Eye Symbol, is the insignia of the Sheikah tribe and has reappeared constantly throughout the series, even in games that do not feature the Sheikah themselves. Curiously, the Eye Symbol appeared before even the introduction of the Sheikah tribe into the series, appearing at the foot of the entrance to Hyrule Castle Tower and on the robes of the dark wizard Agahnim in A Link to the Past, though this symbol was slightly different from the present-day Sheikah Eye Symbol most fans are familiar with as it lacked the tear that is commonly seen on the true Sheikah symbol. The Eye Symbol as fans know it today made its first appearance in Ocarina of Time, where it was prominently displayed as the representative symbol of the Sheikah and worn by Impa and Sheik. The symbol is also featured on the front door of the Shadow Temple, which in conjunction with Impa's status as the Sage of Shadow, hints at the Sheikah's connection to the House of the Dead.

The symbol appeared in several other places, such as on the aforementioned Sheikah relics, which made appearances in both Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. The symbol makes its next appearance in The Wind Waker, first appearing near Ganondorf's chamber in the Forsaken Fortress and later in the basement chamber of Hyrule Castle where the Master Sword is kept, serving as the representative symbol of Impa in the stained-glass windows of the Seven Sages. It reappears in Twilight Princess in various places, such as on the Howling Stones, the back of the Fused Shadow, and above the throne of the ruler of the Twilight Realm. Finally, its latest appearance has been on a new version of the Gossip Stones featured in Phantom Hourglass. It has been noted that the Eye Symbol bears a resemblance to a similar symbol used to represent the wind demon Vaati in the Four Swords series.

Trivia

 * In the non-canonical Ocarina of Time manga, it is revealed that the Eye Symbol was once represented as a single eye without a tear, similar to the symbol seen in A Link to the Past. This changed when, long ago, an act of betrayal on the part of the Royal Family of Hyrule occurred, resulting in the banishment of the Sheikah tribe from the kingdom of Hyrule for a time. To commemorate this event, the tear was added to symbolize the great sorrow felt by the tribe, which was sworn to protect the Royal Family.