Sheikah

The Sheikah (pronounced ), also known as the Shadow Folk, are a race in. They are a mysterious and secretive tribe with pointed ears, red eyes and shadowy magic abilities. They are the chosen guardians of the goddess Hylia and later the protectors of the descendants of her mortal incarnation, the Royal Family of Hyrule. They are also the founders of Kakariko Village, which would become one of the main settlements of Hyrule.

While the Sheikah were prominently mentioned during the events of Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword, very few Sheikah actually do appear, with the only confirmed member of the tribe being Impa. Princess Zelda also pretends to be a Sheikah while in disguise as Sheik. While much about the tribe and their history is shrouded in mystery, one recurring reminder of their connections to various times, places and objects is their symbol, an eye with three pointed lashes atop, two curling on each side and a tear drop. This symbol can be found on various objects around Hyrule such as Gossip Stones and Sheikah Stones, the Lens of Truth, the Mask of Truth, Howling Stones, Timeshift Stones, and the entrance to the Shadow Temple, among many others.

Characteristics
The Sheikah are a humanoid race, bearing great resemblance to Hylians in both appearance and magical capacity. As Impa is the only confirmed Sheikah to have appeared in the games, very little can be known about their shared traits. The Sheikah, however, are known for their distinctive red eyes and pointed ears, which they share the latter with the Hylians. Despite physical similarities, the true relationship between the Sheikah and Hylian race is unknown. For example, the alter ego of Princess Zelda in Ocarina of Time is a Sheikah named Sheik, who possesses the red eyes that are exclusive to the Sheikah race.

The Sheikah were originally chosen by the goddess Hylia to serve as guardians, and have been highly devoted to the Royal Family of Hyrule, her reincarnation's descendants, since the inception of the tribe. Various incarnations of Princess Zelda are often protected by different Sheikah women who share the name of Impa. Often Impa is shown to be very protective and concerned for the safety of the princess. Several examples of this include Impa's steadfast shielding and protection of Hylia, reborn as the mortal Zelda in Skyward Sword; persuading the princess to return to Hyrule Castle for her own safety in the ; and protecting her from the clutches of Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time.

The Sheikah Eye Symbol
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. The official Sheikah Eye made its first true appearance in Ocarina of Time, where it was prominently displayed as the representative symbol of the Sheikah, as 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 temple. A variation of the symbol also appears on Gossip Stones found scattered throughout Hyrule.

The symbol has subsequently appeared in numerous other games since its inception, though often in stylized variations derived from the original. The symbol reappears in Twilight Princess with its original shape in several places, such as on the Howling Stones and the back of Zelda's robes. The symbol also appears in Skyward Sword on the Sheikah and Gossip Stones.

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. Two of these 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.

Ocarina of Time
implies that the Sheikah 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. Impa is awakened as the game's Sage of Shadow, after Link defeats Bongo Bongo in the Shadow Temple late into his adult quest.

Likewise, Sheik, Princess Zelda disguised as a Sheikah, is also featured; Sheik assists the Hero of Time in locating each of the five temples located throughout Hyrule. Sheik tracks Link as he travels from dungeon to dungeon, teaching him warp songs on a lyre and pauses infrequently to inform Link of the magnitude of his trials ahead. Sheik also shares two legends passed down by the Sheikah during the first and last meeting. Though revealed to be Princess Zelda in disguise at the finale of Ocarina of Time, Sheik displays the traditional Sheikah red eyes characteristic to the tribe.

Kakariko Village was once a Sheikah settlement before Impa, who was born and raised there, opened it to "the poor folk" of Hyrule. The Graveyard behind the village is the final resting place of the Sheikah and the location of the Shadow Temple.

As the game progresses, Link is given the opportunity to acquire a Sheikah relic, the Mask of Truth, a creation of the tribe that allows communication with Gossip Stones scattered about Hyrule. Each of these stones bear the Sheikah eye 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 before the events of Ocarina of Time. To further establish Sheikah origin, the tool is also shaped like the Sheikah eye symbol.

Twilight Princess
While does not feature any confirmed Sheikah, it does feature a character who is implied to be a member of the tribe: Impaz. Impaz is an old woman who resides in the forgotten Hidden Village and professes that her name is a homage to the town's founder. 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 Hylian royalty. The Sheikah tribe is also alluded to by the Wooden Statue, which resembles the Sheikah eye symbol. Gor Coron mentions that the statue belonged to the tribe that protected the Royal Family of Hyrule and who dwindled in the prolonged wars. This Wooden Statue was given to Ilia by Impaz after the woman saved her from monsters. Impaz later gives Link the Ancient Sky Book, a book implied to have been guarded by the Sheikah intended to be delivered to the messenger to the heavens.

Aside from the Wooden Statue, several signs of the Sheikah eye symbol appear throughout Twilight Princess. These include the many Howling Stones scattered about Hyrule, which depict the eye symbol as their motif. Curiously, the Sheikah symbol makes an appearance on the back of the robes worn by the imprisoned Princess Zelda at the game's beginning. Madame Fanadi, a fortune-teller from Hyrule Castle Town, also bears the Sheikah eye on her forehead. Luda, the daughter of Renado, bears a similar symbol on the back of her clothing as well.

Skyward Sword
In SS undefined, Sheikah are mentioned to have served the goddess Hylia as her chosen guardians. One member of the Sheikah tribe, Impa, appears as both a young and old woman in the game. She serves as a guardian to the reborn goddess and protects sacred relics at her bidding, aiding Zelda in her quest to defeat Demise. The familiar eye symbol is tattooed in red on her forehead, and her left eye is tattooed with the three white marks above and a white teardrop below in the form of the same symbol. She demonstrates powerful magical abilities while protecting Zelda from Ghirahim, an intimate knowledge of the goddess's design, and was associated with the goddess before she relinquished her immortal form.

Ocarina of Time manga
In the, it is explained that the Sheikah Eye Symbol was once represented as a single eye without a tear. 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 long 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.

Trivia

 * While the Sheikah are called a tribe, according to Impaz in both the English and original Japanese text of her description of the Sheikah, she describes them as more of a clan than a large tribe.

Etymology
Their Japanese name,, may be a romanization of "Seeker". This is reflected in the internal files of certain games, such as the Sheikah Stones of Skyward Sword, which are referred to internally as "SeekerStone". Sheikah may either be a mistranslation of seeker or was chosen to reflect the Japanese pronounciation of the word.