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 and their stealth combat skills, 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 race of Sky Beings known as 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, their pointed ears, and the Sheikah emblem they usually wear. Their tribe's memory has lived on in the generations following their disappearance by means of several magical inventions they created as well as a number of legends passed down by their tribe that would have powerful ramifications for Hyrule and its people for many ages to come.

Ocarina of Time
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, who was born and raised there, opened it to all tribes of the land. 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, a 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, who 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 is revealed to 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 Oracle 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
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.

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

Majora's Mask
The Sheikah tribe's name appears in the in-game description of certain artifacts, including the Mask of Truth. In addition to its normal power to allow the wearer to communicate with Gossip Stones, 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 existed 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. In addition, the human mailman Baito possesses a tattoo on his back depicting the Sheikah symbol, 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 and Spirit Tracks
Gossip Stones return in Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, where in these appearances 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.

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 the sole physiological difference that sets the Sheikah apart from the Hylians.

The relationship of the Sheikah to the Hylian race 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 named Sheik, who possesses both the red eyes and pointed ears that are exclusive 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.

As far as character goes, the Sheikah have always been portrayed as loyal and true to the Royal Family of Hyrule since the inception of the tribe into the series with Ocarina of Time. A good example of this behavior was Impa's steadfast shielding and protection of Princess Zelda as the two made their getaway from Ganondorf when the latter invaded Hyrule Castle in that same game. Despite their mysterious nature and their shadowy magic, they have always been portrayed as being rather selfless overall, evidenced once again with Impaz's assistance of both Ilia and Link in.

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, giving them an edge in dangerous situations.

Artifacts
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.

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. Similar symbols have appeared at different instances throughout the series, with slight differences that distinguish them from the true Sheikah symbol that most have come to identify with the tribe. The official Sheikah Eye Symbol however made its first true 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, and the back of Zelda's robes. 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 villains Agahnim, Veran, and Vaati. As such, their connection to the Sheikah, or lack thereof, is heavily debated by the fan base of the series.

Sheikah Legends
In more than one instance throughout the series, there have been legends passed down by the Sheikah tribe that have been discussed in different games ranging from Ocarina of Time to Twilight Princess. Amongst the most well-known of these are three legends that have had a great deal to do with the plots of both stories. Two of these three legends are featured in Ocarina of Time, one featuring the prophecy of the Hero of Time and his quest to find the Sages that dwell in the five temples scattered across Hyrule, and the other being a previously unknown legend of the Triforce and the Sacred Realm that explained what became of both after Ganondorf penetrated the Sacred Realm's defenses. The third legend of the Sheikah tribe is featured in Twilight Princess, speaking of a race of Sky Beings known as the Oocca and telling of their civilization and the role they play in Hyrule's history.

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; The manga also states that pierced ears were a traditional Sheikah rite of passage for young males.

Theories
There are several theories surrounding the Sheikah and their clouded history ranging from such topics as their possible role in the early games, a possible connection to the Dark Interlopers or the Twili, their relationship to Bongo Bongo, their true purpose for the Shadow Temple, and a possible connection between a series of their relics.