The Twili are a mysterious group introduced in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, residing in the Twilight Realm. They are the descendants of the Interlopers, a group of magic-wielding individuals who were banished from Hyrule after attempting to seize the power of the Sacred Realm during an ancient conflict. This banishment was enforced by the Light Spirits, who exiled the Interlopers to the Twilight Realm as punishment for their greed and misuse of dark magic.
History
The Interloper War & Banishment
After the surface was resettled following the Sky Era, a rivalry simmered between different groups on the Surface. The war was sparked by a faction of powerful magic-wielders—later referred to as the Interlopers—who sought to dominate the Sacred Realm and seize the Triforce, the divine relic left behind by the goddesses. Their greed for ultimate power led to chaos, as their dark sorcery threatened the natural order of the world.
The Interlopers created forbidden magic, which included artifacts such as the Fused Shadow, to overwhelm their enemies and assert control. However, their ambition was thwarted by the intervention of the Light Spirits, divine beings charged with protecting Hyrule. The Light Spirits sealed the Interlopers’ magic and banished them to the Twilight Realm, a shadowy prison created by the goddesses. Stripped of their power, the Interlopers and their descendants became the Twili, adapting to their exile in the new dimension[1]. Keep reading about the Interloper War
References
Post-Banishment History
Over generations, the Twili adapted to their new home, evolving into a peaceful and introspective society that abandoned their ancestors' destructive ambitions. Their unique appearance, marked by shadowy forms and glowing, intricate patterns, reflects their connection to the Twilight Realm’s ethereal nature. The Twili developed a culture distinct from Hyrule, emphasizing harmony and balance within their isolated dimension.
This tranquility is shattered when Zant, a Twili driven by bitterness over his perceived rejection as ruler, forms an alliance with Ganondorf. Zant seizes the throne, corrupts many of the Twili into shadow beasts, and uses their latent power to spread twilight over Hyrule. His actions threaten to destroy the delicate equilibrium of light and shadow.
Midna, the rightful ruler of the Twili, embodies their potential for redemption and change. Through her journey alongside Link, the Twili are shown to be a race capable of overcoming their dark origins and reclaiming their place as a noble people. The Twili’s story reflects themes of transformation, the weight of ancestral sins, and the possibility of renewal.
Artifacts
The Fused Shadow
The Fused Shadow is a mysterious and ancient artifact featured in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. It is described as a powerful relic tied to the Interlopers, a group of magic-wielding individuals who sought dominion over the Sacred Realm. Their ambitions led to a war against the goddesses' chosen forces, ultimately resulting in their defeat and banishment to the Twilight Realm by the Light Spirits. The Fused Shadow is believed to be a remnant of the Interlopers’ dark magic, containing immense destructive power.
The artifact exists as three separate fragments, scattered across Hyrule and guarded by fearsome creatures. Link, with the help of Midna, retrieves these fragments as part of their quest to combat Zant, the usurper king of the Twilight Realm, and his misuse of Twilight magic. The Fused Shadow serves as a symbol of Midna’s connection to her people’s history and their struggle with their darker nature.
Although its raw power is immense, the artifact's destructive potential is contrasted by its ultimate fate. After its brief use in the fight against Zant, Midna destroys the Fused Shadow to prevent its corruption from threatening the worlds of light and twilight again.[1]
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Fused Shadow Front
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Fused Shadow Side
References
- ↑ The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006), Nintendo
Twili Ceremonial Clothing
The Twili Ceremonial Clothing is shown during the events of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Zant can be seen wearing the clothing, but the purpose and reason is unknown.
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Twili Ceremonial Clothing Design
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Twili Ceremonial Clothing Design Print
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Twili Ceremonial Clothing Front
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Twili Ceremonial Clothing Back
Zant's Helm
Zant's Helm is shown throughout the events of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. It's unclear if the helm is considered part of the Twili Ceremonial Clothing or not. The front of the helm features large bulbous eyes and a clucked tongue, not unlike an iguana. The rear of the helm displays relief of three monkeys and a fourth unknown animal in a totem-like style.
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Zant's Helm Front
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Zant's Helm Side
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Zant's Helm Back
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Zant's Helm Rotated
Related Events
Zant Usurps the Throne in the Twilight Realm
After being banished to the Twilight Realm, Ganondorf granted the ambitious Zant magical powers and began plotting to merge the Light World and the Twilight Realm into a single realm known as the Dark World. Under Zant's growing influence, darkness spread across the Twilight Realm, causing the Twili to transform into demons. Midna, the Twilight Princess, tried to resist him but was cursed and forced to flee to the Light World.[1]
The Shadow Invasion
The long-standing peace in the Light World was shattered by Zant's army of Shadow Beasts. Zant, now known as the King of Twilight, launched an invasion of Hyrule, forcing Princess Zelda to make a difficult choice. She had to decide whether to let the kingdom be ravaged by war or to surrender and allow Hyrule to fall under the rule of the Twilight. The princess chose to surrender. As a result, the Light Spirits across the land lost their light to the Twili. The Light World slowly transformed into Twilight, leaving the people, unaware of what was happening, consumed by a shadowy fear.[2]
Link and Midna Repair the Mirror of Twilight
ink and Midna at last arrived before the Mirror of Twilight, the entrance to the Twilight Realm. Midna became furious when she learned that Zant had broken the mirror, and that everything that had happened was the result of Ganondorf's banishment to the Twilight Realm. The two set out to collect the shards of the Mirror of Twilight. Their journey saw them travel not only across the great span of Hyrule, but also to the illusory City in the Sky. They succeeded in repairing the mirror, and then traveled to the Twilight Realm to defeat Zant.[3]
The Mirror of Twilight Is Destroyed
After the curse was lifted, Midna regained her true form as a bewitching princess. She then returned to the Twilight Realm, shattering the Mirror of Twilight to ensure that her world would never again intersect with the Light World. Her final request was for the inhabitants of the Light World to remember that there was another world within its shadows. Link returned the Master Sword to the forest and went back to Ordon Village. Once again, the world received the blessings of the gods, and the land was bathed in light.[4]
References
- ↑ Zant Usurps the Throne in the Twilight Realm, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia (January 29, 2013). Nintendo. Dark Horse Books. p. 114
- ↑ The Shadow Invasion, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia (January 29, 2013). Nintendo. Dark Horse Books. p. 114
- ↑ Link and Midna Repair the Mirror of Twilight, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia (January 29, 2013). Nintendo. Dark Horse Books. p. 116
- ↑ The Mirror of Twilight Is Destroyed, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia (January 29, 2013). Nintendo. Dark Horse Books. p. 118