Dark Tribe
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As referenced in Four Swords Adventure, the Dark Tribe was an ancient tribe of invaders that were imprisoned in a mirror after their defeat.
Dampé: "Legends speak of a mirror in which a dark tribe was sealed away long ago."[1]
White Maiden: "Long ago, a dark tribe invaded Hyrule. They were defeated and imprisoned within the mirror. The tribe's mirror prison was then secreted away and hidden in the forest temple to sever its connection to this world."[2]
While there is little canonical information regarding the origin of the Dark Tribe, there are some points of similarity with canonical objects and characters that can lead theorists to their own conclusions.
Theory Warning: Be advised that the following article or section contains unconfirmed, fan-made theories or speculation.
Of all the races, items and locations in Zelda cannon, the Dark Tribe can only be directly connected to the Dark Mirror, which bears a strong resemblance in form and function to the Mirror of Twilight in that it was used to imprison people in (presumably) another dimension. The Dark Mirror is also known to divide a person from their 'shadow', as in the case of Shadow Link, suggesting that either the Twilight Mirror also has this ability or the two are different objects with similar uses. This becomes an important point when considering who the Dark Tribe may have been; if the two mirrors are identical, then the Dark Tribe is likely to be either the ancestors of the Twili or cohabitants of the Twilight Realm with them. If the mirrors are different then the Dark Tribe is not likely connected to the Twili at all.
If the Dark Tribe/Twili connection is followed, interesting similarities begin to surface. The foremost being the debated connection between the Sheikah and the Twili (the presumed descendants of the Dark Tribe). In A Link to the Past, Agahnim is quoted as saying: "With this, the seal of the seven wise men is at last broken. It is now only a matter of time before evil power covers this land... After all, the legendary Hero cannot defeat us, the tribe of evil, when we are armed with the Power of Gold."[3]
The "Tribe of Evil" that Agahnim speaks of could be construed to be the legendary "Dark Tribe" by virtue of similarity in name alone, but further evidence supports this idea. Agahnim's robe bears a single tearless eye (resembling the Sheikah eye with a single tear) while the combined pieces of Fused Shadow which belong to the Twili Royalty bear only one eye as well (the other eye is simply not present). Further, one might connect Agahnim with Veran (from Oracle of Ages), who bears the single eye motif on her clothing as well. Veran also shares another feature with Agahnim; blue skin.
Veran goes around possessing other characters in much the same way that Agahnim is ostensibly 'possessed' by Ganon in A Link to the Past and Shadow Link "possesses" Link in a cutscene in Twilight Princess. This becomes important as one considers Veran's costume more closely; in addition to the single eye she also bears Gerudo symbols on her shoulder-pads. Put together, this places Veran (and by association, Agahnim) as likely members of the Dark Tribe, or Twili, who may have been a cross-breed of Gerudo and Sheikah bloodlines. Certainly such a tribe would both be capable of great ruthlessness and have access to great magic. This idea is supported by Ganon's affinity for relying on these characters, as well as Zant (a Twili) to help him return from banishment in another dimension (or death, which can be likened to a kind of banishment).
As tertiary evidence, the Trident of Power in Four Swords Adventure is said to be possessed by the King of Darkness. Red Maiden: "Evil...spirit of magic trident. You are...the...King of Darkness."[4] It would follow that a Dark Tribe would be led by a King of Darkness (who wielded the Trident of Power). The Trident is weilded by Ganon in A Link to the Past and Ganon could be said to lead Agahnim, who is the member of the Tribe of Evil, if not the Dark Tribe. Midna also wields a trident when she is empowered by the completed Fused Shadow, thus reinforcing the connection between the Dark Tribe in FSA, Agahnim in ALttP and the Twili in TP.
Finally, Agahnim's turbin resembles the style of the Zuna, the tribe in FSA whose ancestors built the pyramids where the Trident of Power was kept. Zuna: "We of the Zuna tribe live in this village. We may not look it now, but we are descended
from the wise pyramid builders!"[5] Further, the Zuna have green skin which may or may not be connected to the blue skin exhibited in Agahnim and Veran. It is noted, however, that there are no other known humanoid races in Hyrule who have exhibited a skin color other than white or brown.
In conclusion, the Dark Tribe may have been an ancient blue- or green-skinned people who may have been a cross-breed of Sheikah and/or Gerudo peoples. The Dark Tribe may have built the pyramids of the desert and forged and enchanted the Trident of Power which was later taken and wielded by Ganon. The Dark Tribe certainly invaded Hyrule, were defeated and were subsequently imprisoned in the Dark Mirror which was later used by Ganon to create Shadow Link from Link's reflection. The banished Dark Tribe may have been the ancestors of the Twili or the Twili themselves who would have undergone a change in physical appearance when they were banished or sometime thereafter. Notable likely members or descendants of the Dark Tribe are Zant, Midna, and the Twili as well as Agahnim, Veran and the Zuna, who may have also undergone a change in skin color (perhaps due to natural evolution or further cross-breeding).
These evidences can only be as strong as one's willingness to believe they are necessarily connected, however, and do not constitute any definite explanation.
As an alternative to the above, there is another explanation for the origin of the Dark Tribe which is perhaps more simple. In Majora's Mask there was a tribe mentioned with comparable vagueness; the tribe that hid away Majora's Mask in shadow. Happy Mask Salesman: "The mask that was stolen from me... It is called Majora's Mask. It is an accursed item from legend that is said to have been used by an ancient tribe in its hexing rituals... The ancient ones...sealed the mask in shadow forever, preventing its misuse. But now, that tribe from the legend has vanished..."[6]
Why did the tribe vanish? Could it have been sealed away in a Dark Mirror? Why was Majora's Mask sealed in shadow? Could it have come from shadow just as Shadow Link came from the Dark Mirror? More perplexing than this is the uncanny resemblance the eyes of Majora's Mask bear to the single eye of the completed Fused Shadow... Perhaps the Dark Tribe is defined by of all of the above explanations, perhaps none. The origin of the Dark Tribe may be so well hidden in shadow that the Zelda community may never know for certain.
Sources
- ↑ http://www.zeldalegends.net/files/text/quotefaqs/FSA%20quotes%20faq.txt
- ↑ http://www.zeldalegends.net/files/text/quotefaqs/FSA%20quotes%20faq.txt
- ↑ http://www.zeldalegends.net/files/text/z3changes/z3-snes-gba-comparison.html
- ↑ http://www.zeldalegends.net/files/text/quotefaqs/FSA%20quotes%20faq.txt
- ↑ http://www.zeldalegends.net/files/text/quotefaqs/FSA%20quotes%20faq.txt
- ↑ http://www.neoseeker.com/resourcelink.html?rlid=74466&rid=68843
