Termina

Termina (pronounced ) is the name of a parallel world to Hyrule and the setting of. The land is filled with many characters similar in appearance to those introduced in. It is depicted with several diverse regions, each located in the four cardinal directions; including snowy mountain peaks to the north, haunted canyons in the east, forests and swamps in the south, ocean bays in the west, and the village Clock Town in the center. Termina is more technologically advanced than contemporary Hyrule, possessing modern hallmarks such as rock bands, motorboats, clocks, tourist shops, lotteries, pictography, and even plans for space travel.

After Link had journeyed through time to fulfill his destiny and take place among legends as the Hero of Time, he sets out to find a lost friend, his Fairy partner Navi. This leads him to meet the Skull Kid, who, possessed by Majora's Mask, steals Link's mount, Epona, and transforms him into a Deku Scrub. Chasing after him, he finds his way into the land of Termina. Termina is in great danger, as its Moon is about to crash into the central settlement of Clock Town. This was indeed the work of the evil mask that had possessed Skull Kid, and Link is to set out to awaken the Four Giants in order to stop the Moon from destroying Termina.

History and Mythology
The mythology and religion of Termina revolves around the Four Giants.

The Four Giants
Although Termina does not have a known creation story, the legends of its ancient protectors provide most of its primordial history. Long ago, the people of Termina had not yet migrated to the four cardinal directions, and were watched over by the Giants who had created the world. One day, the Giants announced to the people that they would go to the north, south, east, and west and guard the people as they slept. If the people were in dire need, the Giants would awaken and answer their cries for help. However, the Skull Kid, a little imp who was a friend of the Giants, was saddened by this news, and caused mischief in his anger. The Giants rebuked the Skull Kid and he left the world of Termina for the heavens.

The Ancient Tribe
An ancient tribe was known to use Majora's Mask in its hexing rituals, but they sealed away the evil inside of the mask to prevent its misuse. It was this mask that the Skull Kid later found as he waylaid the Happy Mask Salesman in the woods. When Majora possessed the Skull Kid, it brought down the Moon from the sky and threatened to destroy Termina. He trapped the Giants in the temples in the north, south, east, and west of Termina. It took the intervention of Link to free the Giants once more and prevent the Moon from crashing.

The ruined kingdom of Ikana, located in the eastern canyons of Termina, was noted to have a particularly bloodstained and violent history. The Ikana Canyon is haunted by spirits of soldiers who died in its many wars, such as the Garo, who once spied on the Ikana kingdom, and Captain Keeta, who was once the commander of the armies of Ikana. The last king, Igos du Ikana, explained to Link that his people had forgotten the value of friendship and forgiveness after someone entered the Stone Tower, and this was the cause of the kingdom's demise.



The Carnival of Time
Each year, the citizens of Termina hold a festival in Clock Town in order to celebrate the Giants, and it is that time of the year when Link comes to Termina. The festival is called the Carnival of Time. The carnival celebrates the alignment of the sun and moon and the progress of time. During the carnival, it is customary to wear masks made in the image of the Four Giants. If a wedding happens on the night of the carnival, it is also considered a sign of extraordinary luck.

Governance
Termina is a politically heterogeneous land, where each region (with the exception of Great Bay, whose division is never shown or mentioned) has a different local means of government. The center of Termina, Clock Town, is a democracy led by a mayor, responsible for taking the most important decisions. The Southern Swamp houses a monarchy led by a Deku King, a Deku Princess, and their servants. Snowhead is led by a patriarch, the Goron Elder, whose position can be transferred to another Goron who is proven worthy. Ikana Canyon used to be ruled by a king and his servants. Given the current conditions of the last king, Igos du Ikana, as an undead being, it is unknown whether or not he still holds actual power over the region.

Economy
As with most of the other lands in the, Termina uses the Rupee as its main currency, and is circulated across the different regions. Clock Town in particular shows a dense economic activity in matter of public attractions, not only in regards of the availability of minigames, but also because of the performance of concerts and the Carnival of Time. The town also houses a bank for people to make deposits.

Technology
The inhabitants of Termina seem to be more knowledgeable when it comes to technology of different types than their Hyrulean counterparts. An example of this is the Clock Tower in the center of Clock Town. They also have a bank, something which might indicate that the people of Termina are more sophisticated than the inhabitants of Hyrule when it comes to money. The telescope is another example, as well as the fact that nearly every house in Termina has a functioning clock. The Bomb Shop even has a drawing on the wall of a rocket.

Apart from the Terminans, the Zoras are involved in several examples of higher technology. These range from their temple, which behaves similarly to a hydroelectric power plant, to The Indigo-Go's, a jazz/rock band. Also, boats in the Great Bay are motorized as opposed to being manually propelled.

The music in Majora's Mask follows the theme of advanced technology, containing one of the few electric guitar pieces of music in the Zelda franchise, as well as having electronic theme music for the Ghosts, a modern bossa nova for one of the songs Link can play, and a combination of futuristic and traditional instruments in several locations, such as the inverted Stone Tower.

Geography
The geographic center of Termina is Clock Town, with four regions with a different climate and inhabitants in each cardinal direction.



Clock Town
Clock Town is the most populated area in Termina, and is subdivided into four districts. It is the location of the Clock Tower and the Carnival of Time, and is inhabited mostly by Hylians. The leader of the city is Mayor Dotour, who is attempting to mediate a dispute between the carpenters and soldiers over whether or not to evacuate the city. The Bombers Secret Society of Justice are a group of young boys who try to help people in Clock Town.



Southern Swamp
The Southern Swamp is the southern region of Termina and the home of the Deku tribe. When Link arrives, the swamp is poisoned, hampering the swamp's tourism industry. The Deku people live in the Deku Palace, where outsiders are not allowed to enter. The Twinrova twin witches, Koume and Kotake, run the Magic Hags' Potion Shop and the the Swamp Tour, while Tingle's father runs a pictograph contest. The swamp is also the location of Woodfall Temple and the Swamp Spider House.



Snowhead
Snowhead is the snowbound northern region of Termina and home to the Goron tribe. Most of the Gorons live in Goron Village and stay inside the Goron Shrine to keep warm during the harsh winter. The hero of the Gorons, Darmani, died shortly before Link arrives to Termina. After Link lays his soul to rest, Link is able to use the Goron Mask to impersonate Darmani and participate in many activities and traditions of the Goron people, such as the Goron Race and the use of Powder Kegs. Snowhead is also the location of the Mountain Smithy, where Link can upgrade his Sword, and the Snowhead Temple.



Great Bay
Great Bay is the western region of Termina, bordering the ocean. The Zora tribe lives just off the coast in the Zora Hall. The Gerudo Pirates control the northern portion of the coast inside the Pirates' Fortress, also dubbed the "Pirates' Cove", Far off the coast is Pinnacle Rock, where the water is murky and dangerous. The Oceanside Spider House is on the beach, and was used by a man as an underground shelter to escape the imminent crash of the Moon. Next to the spider house, the Fisherman's house can also be found. The Great Bay is also the location of the Marine Research Laboratory, the Great Bay Temple, and the Waterfall Rapids.



Ikana Canyon
Ikana Canyon is located far to the east of Clock Town, amid the ruins of the ancient Ikana Kingdom. The land is haunted by the spirits of those who died in its bloodstained past. It is the location of the Ancient Castle of Ikana and the Stone Tower, as well as Sakon's Hideout and the Ikana Graveyard. Pamela and her father live in the Music Box House where they study the strange inhabitants of the cursed valley.



Romani Ranch
Romani Ranch is a prosperous farm just southwest of Clock Town and the source of the Milk served at the Milk Bar. Its most popular product is Chateau Romani, a special vintage Milk. The ranch is run by Cremia and Romani, the two sisters who found Epona after Link lost her. The ranch suffers invasions by ghost-like aliens every year as the Carnival of Time approaches. With Link's intervention, the raids on the farm stop and the shipments of Milk resume. The ranch has a rivalry with the nearby Gorman Track, whose proprietors will try to sabotage the Milk shipments for Clock Town.

Termina Field
Termina Field is the area surrounding Clock Town, and the Terminan counterpart of Hyrule Field. Termina Field provides access to each area in the game. The Astral Observatory is located here, as is the entrance to Milk Road and Romani Ranch. The theme music for this area is a remix of the overworld theme from, after its absence in.

Terminans
The people in Termina are almost exact duplicates of the citizens of Hyrule, as Nintendo re-used a vast amount of character models from Ocarina of Time to be used in Majora's Mask.

Other Races
Termina houses Gorons, Dekus, and Zoras, as well as the undead entities haunting the Ikana region. The inhabitants of the land have properties not seen from their counterparts of other lands, particularly Hyrule. For example, the Deku race is able to fly with the help of Deku Flowers, the Gorons are unable to survive underwater, whereas the Zoras live in saline waters (instead of a river or a lake).

Etymology
The name Termina is derived from the Latin word terminus, which means "end," or the end of something, a reference to how Termina was doomed to destruction. It may also be derived from terminate, to end something. Termina is also the Spanish and Portuguese word for "finish/end," thus having the same symbolic meaning. The name may also derive from the phrase "world terminus," used to describe places where one can access many other areas (such as Termina Field) and referring to Termina's compass-like geography.